The colder months can really take their toll on your vehicle. But a few simple preventative measures taken now will keep your car both working and looking good during the long, harsh winter.
Angie’s List tips to prepare your car for winter:
- Check your tires: Make sure the hot pavement you were driving on all summer long didn’t wear the tread down on your tires. If it did, stopping on wet roads may cause you to hydroplane. To check the tread, insert a penny in a couple of spots on each tire. If you see the entire top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace the tires.
- Test your battery: Have a qualified technician check the condition of your battery. The summer’s hot weather takes a toll on car batteries, but your battery may not fail until the cold weather hits.
- Protect your cooling system: Check your antifreeze to make sure your car is ready to move into winter. If coolant is constantly low, you may have a leak.
- Wipers and fluid: Replace worn wiper blades and keep plenty of washer fluid on hand to fight road salt and other grime.
- Four-wheel drive ready? If you have four-wheel drive, check the status of your system to be sure it’s working correctly.
- Equip your car with an emergency kit: Include flares, boots, gloves, ice scraper, shovel, flashlight, high-energy snacks and a blanket.
- Keep it clean: During the winter, wash your car every 10 days to remove mud, salt, and other debris. They can all damage your car’s finish.
- Follow your owner’s manual recommendations: Failure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule could lead to breakdowns, poor fuel economy, and a higher cost of ownership in the long run. Having a certified mechanic inspect your car according to these schedules will help catch problems before they get you stuck or escalate into larger repairs. Build a relationship with a shop or mechanic.