Everyone is excited for the holidays to come in December, and while Southern California isn’t known for its distinct seasons, we also tend to look forward to cooler weather. However, there is one part of the family that doesn’t always look forward to winter… your trusty car.
Once Halloween and Thanksgiving roll around, the weather starts to cool down and you need to pay a little more attention to maintaining your car to stay protected during the winter.
Note the end of the game
How long do you want your car to last? Most of us can’t easily afford to buy a new car when the old one starts to show signs of wear and tear. Regular, routine maintenance can help improve gas mileage, reduce pollution (did you get your smog check?), and catch minor problems before they become major disasters for you and your bank account.
know your car
Have you been sticking to your car service schedule? If “What hours of service?” just crossed your mind, you may want to read your owner’s manual to see what is recommended. You may have missed a lot of regular maintenance, which means your car might not be in as good a condition as you think it is.
Some people like cars more than others, but it is important that we have at least a basic understanding of how a car and its various parts work. You never know when this information will come in handy. When you’re familiar with your car, you can tell when something’s wrong, whether it’s how it sounds, how it accelerates, brakes, or turns. Can you tell if your car is not braking properly due to your brake pads or your tires? You should be able to, for safety. Bald tires are no laughing matter.
Your Driving Vacation Checklist
Cold weather makes existing problems worse. Just because we have a milder climate in California doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take winter car maintenance seriously. To help you keep your car happy and running during the winter season, here are some tips:
- Replace dirty filters to make your engine more efficient. A dirty engine burns more gasoline.
- Make sure the heater and defroster are in good working order.
- If there is any problem with drivability or engine performance, have it repaired before driving in rain or snow. Remember that the most dangerous time to drive on the road is the first rain.
- In sub-zero temperatures, add a bottle of fuel de-icer to your tank once a month to help prevent moisture from freezing in the fuel line. Keeping the gas tank full also helps prevent moisture buildup.
- Replace old wiper blades regularly and stock up on wiper fluid.
- Change your oil and oil filter regularly, and more often if your driving routine involves frequent short trips or lots of stops and starts.
- The cooling system should be flushed and refilled (even if you don’t plan to use it during the winter).
- Have your battery checked. Nobody wants to be stuck in the rain with a dead battery.
- Check and, if necessary, clean or replace all lights and bulbs.
- Have your brakes checked. Just because you think they’re okay doesn’t mean they are.
- Make sure the exhaust system is checked for leaks and problems while the vehicle is on a lift.
- PULL! Make sure the tread is in good condition and check the tire pressure once a month.
- Attention to transmission. Have it checked regularly.
- Always carry an emergency kit in your car: gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, tire chains, a flashlight and extra batteries, a cell phone and extra car charger, water and some energy bars.