Don’t wait until diving temperatures cause surprise delays in travel. Cold weather creates extra demands on your car and can exacerbate existing problems. Prevent automobile problems with these winter tips.
Most of us have had the unfortunate experience the unexpected problem of a dead battery. Your battery needs extra juice or current to start your car on cold days. A trained auto technician at your local service station can run a battery test. Look for corrosion or cracked cables or terminals and make sure connections are tight. It’s a good idea to carry jumper cables in your trunk.
Your belts and hoses tend to weaken in cold temperatures. Belts and hoses are important in keeping your engine running. You can prepare by checking all your belts and hoses for cracks or signs of wear and tear.
It’s frustrating to find in the middle of a rain storm or snow storm that your windshield wiper blades need replacing because you can’t see out the windshield. Check them and replace them before winter weather. And fill your windshield wiper fluid with freeze-resistant fluid to keep your windshield free of ice, snow, salt and mud. Make sure you have a good quality ice scraper and snow brush in your car.
Check your tires for remaining tread life and uneven wear. If your area gets a lot of snow, consider snow tires with treads specially designed to keep their grip in snow and ice. Cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop so check your tire pressure regularly and rotate your tires as recommended by your auto technician.
Cold weather tends to thicken oil and reduce its ability to circulate through the engine, so make sure that you have fresh oil to keep your car running smoothly. You may want to use a thinner oil in winter months.
After a snow or ice storm you might find your car door locks frozen so you can’t even get in the car to start it or get your ice scraper! In this case, its good to have a de-icer to spray on the lock. (Make sure you store it in the garage or house and not in the car). Or if de-icer isn’t available, try WD-40 or hand sanitizer on your key and try to gently insert it in the lock. Or blow hot air on the lock with your breath or a hair dryer.
Despite your best efforts, unexpected delays may occur. Could be car problems, traffic congestion/accidents, or inclement weather closing roads. In order to avoid a dangerous situation, you should equip your care with an emergency kit filled with supplies including jumper cables, blankets, flares, a jack, a first-aid kit, flashlight, shovel, food, and kitty litter or sand for traction if you get stuck.