Fall and spring are prime times to take care of vehicle maintenance. As you head into the months that can be somewhat harsh on a vehicle you’ll want to make sure it can handle winter driving conditions. Extreme temperatures, hot or cold, will affect the components in your vehicle. If you haven’t maintained your vehicle on a regular schedule or you own and older vehicle, it’s particularly important to be sure your vehicle is prepared for winter driving. No one wants to deal with a vehicle breakdown, but especially so when it’s cold, rainy or snowing out. Here are several car care tips for you on how to winterize a car.
Your Car Windshield and Visibility: Have your wiper blades replaced. The worst time to learn you need new blades is in the middle of a snow or rain storm. It’s equally important to deal with small cracks or dings in your windshield. The cold temperature of the air outside your vehicle mixed with the heated air inside your vehicle can cause a minor crack or ding to spread. We’ll be happy to take a look at your windshield to let you know if it is something we can repair or if it must be replaced.
Changing and Checking Fluids: We all know we should change the engine oil and filter on a regular schedule (typically every 3,000 miles for regular oil and more for synthetics). Just like the engine oil, every fluid in your vehicle should be changed according to a specific schedule. Check your owner’s manual or ask our technicians to find out when you should replace all the fluids in your vehicle. You’ll also want to get in the habit of checking antifreeze, transmission, power steering and brake fluids regularly. You want to be sure they are still in good condition and filled to the correct levels. When you’re checking all the other fluids, don’t forget to fill up the windshield washer fluid.
Batteries and Cold Weather: If you’ve got an older battery in your vehicle, the one thing that will kill it quicker than anything else is a cold morning. The average auto battery should last around 4 years. If your battery is nearing that age or older, you’ll want to replace it before you can’t start your vehicle.
Tires: The tires on your car are your direct contact with the road – make sure they are in good condition. Worn, bald, badly aligned or unbalanced tires will make it more difficult to hold the road, especially when it’s wet or covered in snow. We can help you select the right tires for your vehicle and budget. You can find some tips on tire care in our blog post “Caring for Car Tires.” It’s also good practice to regularly check tread depth, wear and inflation. We recommend doing this once a month.
Other Rubber Parts: Rubber hoses and belts undergo a great deal of wear and tear. As they get older and are in contact with the elements, rubber parts weaken and might crack, split or bulge. Inspect these parts regularly so you can pre-empt a breakdown on the road (we do this for you when you bring your vehicle to us for maintenance). Replace belts and hoses, when necessary.
Brakes – Don’t Leave Home Without Them: If you have any concern about the reliability of your brakes, schedule a brake inspection. When we perform a brake inspection, we’ll take a look at how much is left on your brake pads. We’ll also check discs for rough spots or signs of damage and will examine the brake lines for cracking and corrosion. We’ll let you know when your brakes need to be replaced (click here to learn the signs you may need a brake job). Please don’t postpone needed brake work.
Lights: Make sure you can see and be seen by other drivers. Inspect all your lights and replace the bulbs in those that aren’t working.
The most effective way to be certain your car or truck is prepared for winter driving is to take it to Shade Tree Garage. With every service and repair job, we perform a courtesy inspection and will alert you to items that will need to be replaced. Call Shade Tree Garage in Morristown, NJ, to schedule an appointment.