A good way to avoid costly car repairs is to be sure you are ready for the weather and using some good sense in how you deal with it.
What could be worse than having a vehicle that’s entirely unprepared for the oncoming season? Weather conditions alter the driving environment by a large degree every season.
If your car is not modified to withstand the climates and weather conditions, you risk getting yourself into an accident or causing auto problems that require major auto repairs or rebuilding. It is always a great idea to bring your car or truck in to a trusted auto repair shop for a quick once-over and the regular car maintenance.
Luckily for you, until you can get in to the car repair or auto service shop, we have some helpful tips on how to ensure that your vehicles are prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings your way.
Cold Weather Auto Tips:
The most vital feature of your car that you need to worry about for this season is your auto glass. When snow freezes over your windshield, it hardens into frost and ice. You may find yourself waking up every morning to a few centimeters or inches of snow and ice that you need to pick off your shield with an ice scraper. If you don’t have an ice scraper at your disposal, try using a plastic spatula. Using a tool without a plastic surface can cause scratches and gashes in your car windows. Leaving the ice on there for too long can slowly deteriorate the quality of your auto glass as the months pass by.
Some of you may think that you can just melt the ice off in one wave and you might even consider pouring hot water over your windshield. Don’t do it! Large temperature changes such as cold to hot or vice versa can cause any glass to shatter, even the windows of your car. If you choose to melt the ice off, it’s safer just to turn on the car defroster and allow the glass to slowly warm up.
Make sure you replace your windshield wipers. Despite the fact that your wipers may still look brand new, it doesn’t mean that they work like brand new wipers. The rubber on the wipers deteriorates and cracks over time. During a season when you need wipers to clear off snow and freezing rain, using old blades without sturdy rubber will scratch your window surface.
Another issue that you may find yourself dealing with is foggy windows. Fogged windows reduce visibility and increase the risk of you getting into an accident. This is caused by the amount of moisture in the car, which in winter often comes from wet boots or clothes. To get rid of this foggy window problem, spray shaving cream on the inside of your shield and wipe it down with a cloth—the glycerin aids in preventing window fogging.
Lastly, check your tires and motor fluids. Make sure your tires are in good shape and filled with the right amount of air. With the drop in temperature, tires tend to lose a vast amount of air and pressure. Less pressure doesn’t necessarily mean better traction, especially during a season when the roads are filled with black ice. Be sure to check your engine’s fluids. Maintaining proper motor fluid levels will help your car to run smoothly and perform at its optimum under the harsh weather conditions. Also be sure to add proper levels of anti-freeze to you radiator. It is imperative that your auto has enough water and that the water is properly circulating through the entire system. It is advised to occasionally have a professional auto repair shop perform a check-up on all your car’s components and systems. Proper maintenance, tune-ups and early detection and repair of auto problems are the best way to keep your vehicle running great, no matter what the weather. Best of all, doing so will save you from bigger, more expensive car repairs and auto shop bills in the future.