![]() ![]() If you do and find yourself caught in the snow fixing up your car, review our top ten tips for winter wrenching. Also, if your car breaks down at a bad time, it’s a good idea to have blankets, gloves, road flares, a flash light, or phone charger in case of an emergency. If you don’t store your windshield scraper in the car during the sunny months, now is the time to dig it out or purchase a new one if you’ve misplaced it. Prepare for an emergency or a snowy morning With a multimeter you can measure battery voltage and test to see if your battery is the problem. If it’s being cranky and slow starting up and it becomes a recurring issue, you may have a problem with the battery. Fluids take longer to warm up and battery power drops in the winter. Measure the battery voltageĬars hate starting in cold weather. ![]() If you haven’t changed them in a while, now is a good time. The owner’s manual will have recommended intervals to change these fluids. Now is the time to check your transmission fluid, wiper fluid, and coolant. Check and replace fluidsįluids are often neglected. Often forgotten about and neglected, these filters can give you a boost in gas mileage and better performance in the colder months when your engine needs it the most. Replace dirty filtersĬheck and replace dirty air filters, fuel filters, and cabin filters. If your interior lights seem weak across the board, your alternator or battery may be failing. Check each light and have someone confirm that all lights are working. A bright flashlight can provide much-needed light to either work on getting back on the road or signal to others for help. The easiest way to check is with another person. Nighttime or near-blizzard conditions can decrease visibility to near-zero. This goes for internal bulbs, as well as tail lights and headlights, parking lights, and brake lights. If you’ve noticed squeaking or grinding while braking, or circular grooves on the rotors, or a spongy or sinking brake pedal, you most likely need new brakes. The thickness of brake pads should be no less than ¼” inch. Some car’s oil change intervals last longer than 3,000 miles, and you can confirm this in the owner’s manual. If you haven’t in the last 3 months or 3,000 miles, make sure to do it before winter hits. Change your oil and oil filter, if neccessary Before the icy roads set in, December is a great month to put on your winter tires if you have them. ![]() Ideally you want to rotate your tires every 3,000 to 7,000 miles to extend their life. You can see an example of the quarter test in this video, around the 2:30 mark: If you can see all of George’s head, your tread is worn. You can also insert a quarter with Washington’s head upside down into the tread. ![]() Top of our winter car maintenance checklist is your battery. Many tires have wear indicators that will be level with the tire tread when worn. If your car isn’t ready for wintry conditions, make alternative travel plans. Rotate your tires and inspect the tread for wear If you’re having trouble seeing during foggy or rainy weather even with your defroster on, a worn blower motor could be the cause. A noticeable drop in heat could mean your thermostat needs to be replaced. While the snow hasn’t fallen yet, you can test these during the current cold mornings and nights. Changing wiper blades is so easy, you might even be able to do it blindfolded. They’re affordable and you can replace them in minutes, giving you better vision and a safer drive during snowfall. Look at the blades for wear and tear and possible splits on the blade. Most are quick and easy and shouldn’t take much time. So what better time to prepare for it than now? Here’s a list of the most crucial parts to check to ensure your car is ready for the winter. This isn’t a car maintenance tip, but it sure is something that will have you fully prepared for the season. In case an accident does happen, having a survival kit in your vehicle can save your life if you’re planning on taking rural roads with heavy snowfall.Living in a cold weather state means there’s plenty of snow coming your way in the next few months. On the other hand, a full gas tank and windshield washer reservoir are key to avoid being stranded in the middle of a snowstorm. Motor oil has a tendency to thicken up when it’s cold outside, which further damages your engine. Meaning motor oil, gas and windshield washer. These are probably some of the most important features of your car for this cold time: the climate control system helps to keep the vehicle warm and prevents foggy windows, while the defroster melts the frost, ice and snow from them. 3- Check your Defroster and Climate Control System ![]()
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