Auto repairs are an unavoidable part of winter. To winterize your vehicle there are a few simple things you can do in advance. Follow our guide to winter auto maintenance, which includes the six most frequent winter auto repairs you may expect in the coming months. We are prepared to provide you with all the guidance and practical winter automobile maintenance suggestions you require to ensure that you arrive at your destinations this season, even if it is a frozen tundra. Redline Auto Repairs is proudly a part of the Redline Auto Sales Group providing all services listed and even more at the most affordable prices.
First Winter Ready Tip: Prepare for a dead battery
Winter is the period when batteries typically fail. You can still revive them, and you don't absolutely need to get a brand-new battery because of this. Many repair shops will perform a "load test" on your battery for free, especially when the possibility that you need a new battery can be verified on-site, so stop by before you fall down either of those treacherous slopes! You'll be able to determine with more certainty how much juice is still in your battery and whether you should go ahead and get a new one when you get your battery load tested.
Second Winter Ready Tip: Avoid flat tires
The air pressure in your tires decreases as the temperature drops. For many drivers, this is something that comes extremely naturally. Your vehicle will frequently emit some sort of signal or light to let you know when your tire pressure is low. Check your tire pressure even if your car doesn't immediately notify you of low pressure. You can find out how much air should be in your tires from your car's manual, and you can check the pressure with a cheap tire pressure gauge.
Normally, for every 10-degree Fahrenheit change in temperature, your tires will lose around a pound of tire pressure. Don't overfill the tires; doing so could weaken the tire walls. Instead, refill the tires to the proper pound limit. Keep in mind that you risk experiencing issues on winter roads if you fail to maintain the recommended tire pressure in your tires and permit them to remain low. For instance, if your tires don't have enough pressure to grip the ground, your automobile may hydroplane.
Third Winter Ready Tip: Avoiding Wiper Meltdown
During the icy winter months, it's extremely normal to forget to switch off your wipers before turning off your automobile. This is due to the fact that when your wipers freeze in place, the wiper motor will be working overtime to liberate the wipers from their frozen prison. In the end, your wiper motor can become damaged. So keep in mind to turn off your wipers before turning off your car. Make sure your wiper blades are in good shape for the winter as well.
At the very least once every year, wiper blades should be changed. If they have survived winter, you could find some of the plastic is coming off due to deterioration. Make sure to repair your blades if they are split. Additionally, it's a smart idea to switch out your current wiper blades for what is referred to as "beam-style" wiper blades. This blade won't freeze over in the winter because it doesn't have an outward-facing spring.
Fourth Winter Ready Tip: Turn on the lights.
You need all the light you can get throughout the winter because the months are darker. Make sure the headlights and taillights on your car are in good operating order. You don't want one to venture out into an icy, dark road.
By rubbing a little vehicle wax on your lights in the winter, you may also preserve their brightness. To begin, be sure to give the headlights and taillights a thorough cleaning with water and a strong soap. There shouldn't be any debris on the lights' surface. Apply a coat of decent auto wax after that. Apply a gentle cloth to remove the wax once more. The idea here is that clean, buffed surfaces that are devoid of dirt and debris will allow the lights to shine through clearly.
The additional benefit of preventing your lights from becoming covered in ice is that ice naturally reduces the amount of light that your headlights and taillights can produce. The long haul is when hard work pays off.
Fifth Winter Ready Tip: Take Winter Tires into account
Remember that winter tires add an extra level of security but it largely depends on where you live and how much cold weather you anticipate. Winter tires contain grippy, solid treads that have been shown to operate effectively in icy circumstances. They will cost you a little more money, but if you live in a location that gets a lot of snow, you'll be glad you didn't get stranded on the road and could go home.
If winter is approaching, prepare your automobile with these six fast fixes for typical winter auto issues. By performing a little maintenance on your automobile each day, you'll get to know it better and be ready to troubleshoot should something goes wrong in the middle of a snowfall.