No one wants to break down in any season, but especially not in cold or snowy winter weather. Start the season off right by ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition.
- Visit your mechanic for a tune-up or other routine maintenance.
- Have your entire vehicle checked thoroughly for any leaks, bad hoses, or other needed part repairs or replacements.
- If you plan to use snow tires, have them installed now. Check out www.safercar.gov for tire ratings before purchasing new ones. For existing tires, check to ensure they're properly inflated (as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer), the tread is sufficient with no uneven wear, and that the rubber is in overall good condition. Note that tire rubber starts to degrade after several years, and tires need to be replaced even if they have not seen much wear.
When the temperature drops, so does battery power. Plus, it takes more power to start your vehicle in cold weather than in warm. Find out if your battery is up to the challenges of winter:
- Have your mechanic check your battery for sufficient voltage.
- Have the charging system and belts inspected.
- If necessary, replace the battery and/or make system repairs.
When coolant freezes it expands. Such expansion can potentially damage your vehicle's engine block beyond repair. Don't let this happen to your vehicle this winter!
- Make sure you have enough coolant in your vehicle and that it's designed to withstand the winter temperatures you might experience in your area.
- A 50/50 mix of coolant to water is sufficient for most regions of the country. See your vehicle owner's manual for specific recommendations.
- Thoroughly check the cooling system for leaks or have your mechanic do it for you.
- If your system hasn't been “flushed” (draining the system and replacing the coolant) for several years, have it done now. Over time, rust inhibitors in anti-freeze break down and become ineffective. Coolant also needs to be refreshed periodically to remove dirt and rust particles that can clog the cooling system and cause it to fail.
You can go through a lot of windshield wiper fluid fairly quickly in a single snowstorm, so be prepared for whatever Mother Nature might send your way.
- Completely fill your vehicle's reservoir before the first snow hits.
- Use high-quality, “no-freeze” fluid.
- Buy extra to keep on hand in your vehicle.
Safe winter driving depends on achieving and maintaining the best visibility possible.
- Make sure your windshield wipers work and replace worn blades.
- If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow and ice, consider installing heavy-duty
winter wipers.
- Check to see that your window defrosters (front and rear) work properly.
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