“The last thing any
driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather,” said
Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A vehicle check before the
temperatures drop is a sensible way to avoid the inconvenience of being
stranded out in the cold and with the unexpected expense of emergency repairs.”
The Car Care Council
recommends the following nine steps for winterizing your vehicle.
1.
Have the battery and
charging system checked for optimum performance. Cold weather is hard on
batteries.
2.
Clean, flush and put
new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a general rule of thumb, this should
be done every two years.
3.
Make sure heaters,
defrosters and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold
weather washer fluid. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every
six months.
4.
Check the tire tread
depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider
special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should
be checked weekly.
5.
Be diligent about
changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell
trouble in winter. Consider changing to “winter weight” oil if you live in a
cold climate. Have your technician check the fuel, air and transmission filters
at the same time.
6.
If you’re due for a
tune-up, have it done before winter sets in. Winter magnifies existing problems
such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling.
7.
Have the brakes
checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item.
8.
Have the exhaust
system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous
during cold weather driving when windows are closed.
9.
Check to see that
exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed.
Motorists should
also keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to decrease the chances
of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Drivers should
check the tire pressure of the spare in the trunk and stock an emergency kit
with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket,
extra clothes, candles/matches, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed
medication.
