![]() ![]() If you do and find yourself caught in the snow fixing up your car, review our top ten tips for winter wrenching. Also, if your car breaks down at a bad time, it’s a good idea to have blankets, gloves, road flares, a flash light, or phone charger in case of an emergency. If you don’t store your windshield scraper in the car during the sunny months, now is the time to dig it out or purchase a new one if you’ve misplaced it. Prepare for an emergency or a snowy morning With a multimeter you can measure battery voltage and test to see if your battery is the problem. If it’s being cranky and slow starting up and it becomes a recurring issue, you may have a problem with the battery. Fluids take longer to warm up and battery power drops in the winter. Measure the battery voltageĬars hate starting in cold weather. If you haven’t changed them in a while, now is a good time. The owner’s manual will have recommended intervals to change these fluids. Now is the time to check your transmission fluid, wiper fluid, and coolant. If you see all of Lincoln’s head or a lot of it, your tire doesn’t have much tread left. Check and replace fluidsįluids are often neglected. With Lincoln’s head facing upside down and toward you, check to see how much of his head is visible. Often forgotten about and neglected, these filters can give you a boost in gas mileage and better performance in the colder months when your engine needs it the most. Replace dirty filtersĬheck and replace dirty air filters, fuel filters, and cabin filters. If your interior lights seem weak across the board, your alternator or battery may be failing. Check each light and have someone confirm that all lights are working. The easiest way to check is with another person. This goes for internal bulbs, as well as tail lights and headlights, parking lights, and brake lights. If you’ve noticed squeaking or grinding while braking, or circular grooves on the rotors, or a spongy or sinking brake pedal, you most likely need new brakes. The thickness of brake pads should be no less than ¼” inch. ![]() Some car’s oil change intervals last longer than 3,000 miles, and you can confirm this in the owner’s manual. If you haven’t in the last 3 months or 3,000 miles, make sure to do it before winter hits. Change your oil and oil filter, if neccessary Before the icy roads set in, December is a great month to put on your winter tires if you have them. Ideally you want to rotate your tires every 3,000 to 7,000 miles to extend their life. You can see an example of the quarter test in this video, around the 2:30 mark: If you can see all of George’s head, your tread is worn. You can also insert a quarter with Washington’s head upside down into the tread. ![]() Many tires have wear indicators that will be level with the tire tread when worn. Rotate your tires and inspect the tread for wear If you’re having trouble seeing during foggy or rainy weather even with your defroster on, a worn blower motor could be the cause. A noticeable drop in heat could mean your thermostat needs to be replaced. While the snow hasn’t fallen yet, you can test these during the current cold mornings and nights. Changing wiper blades is so easy, you might even be able to do it blindfolded. ![]() They’re affordable and you can replace them in minutes, giving you better vision and a safer drive during snowfall. Look at the blades for wear and tear and possible splits on the blade. Most are quick and easy and shouldn’t take much time. So what better time to prepare for it than now? Here’s a list of the most crucial parts to check to ensure your car is ready for the winter. Before it snows, have the tree's health checked and remove any dead limbs - or any that could cause serious damage if they fell.Living in a cold weather state means there’s plenty of snow coming your way in the next few months. The weight of snow after a storm can cause limbs to snap, or bring the entire tree down on your home or power lines. Trees surrounding your home can cause severe damage to your house and even cause you to lose power. Turn off outside water faucets and pipes, clear the lines of water and insulate them to prevent water leaks in your yard.Keep your gutters free of debris, ice and snow, which can pull down your gutters and cause roof damage.Properly insulate walls and ceilings to prevent condensation, which can lead to mold or mildew.Make sure your sump pump works properly and there is nothing clogging the exterior drain.Insulate any exposed pipes in your attic and basement to prevent them from bursting.Instead, add some basic winter home maintenance to the checklist and complete it long before the cold takes hold. Cold weather can do a number on your home, and you don't want to have to clean and repair after winter. ![]()
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