Is your car ready for Winter?

 

1.  Check your battery.  Getting stranded in the cold with a dead battery is no one's idea of a good time.  If you have a maintenance-free battery, there should be a window on the top of the battery that tells you the state of it's charge.  If it's not, check the fluid levels, and top off with distilled water as necessary.  if you're not sure how to check your battery, most any auto parts store will be able to check it for you.

2.  Check your tires.  While a dead battery can leave you stranded, balding tires on snowy and icy roads can lead to a much more dangerous situation.  If you live in an area that gets a significant amount of snow, you may want to consider snow tires.

3.  Check your wiper blades.  Going cheap on your wiper blades or ignoring them can lead to very unpleasant driving in the winter.  Bad wipers can't do an adequate job of keeping the snow and ice off of your windshield, no matter how high you have the defrosters blasting.

4.  Check your fluids.  Check your owner's manual, but for most vehicles, the cooling system should be flushed every two years.  If your vehicle is overdue, prior to winter setting in is as good of a time as any to have it taken care of.  Also, refer to your owner's manual to find what type and what mixture of anti-freeze you should be using.  You will also want to keep your windshield washer fluid full, using a fluid that is designed for not freezing in the cold weather.  If you get stuck behind a truck throwing dirty snow at your windshield, you will be glad you did.  As always, change your oil regularly.

5.  Keep your vehicle supplied.  Normal emergency materials are key for the winter.  If you do get stranded on the road, you want other driver's to be able to see you.  Roadside flares are not excessive to keep on hand.  Keeping extra warm cloths, gloves, and a blanket or two are always good ideas as well.  Be sure to have lock de-icer on hand- and keep in mind that it doesn't always help to have it in the car.  Some in your house, and some at work are a great idea. 

6.  Care for the interior of your car.  In and out of the snow, ice, and salt can be particularly rough on your carpets.  Be sure to have at least an inexpensive set of floor mats for your car.  Better yet are the kind that can hold the water and keep it away from your carpets completely.

7.  Let your car warm up (and revving your engine doesn't really help).  Keep in mind, though, thieves are excellent at watching for cars that are running but unattended.  Have an extra door key that you keep on you and lock the doors while it is warming up, even if you are at home. 

8.  Be safe.  Allow extra time to get where you are going, leave plenty of space between you and the driver in front, and use good common sense.  It's better to arrive a few minutes late than not at all.