We have all heard of those stories about people’s cars breaking down or getting stranded in the middle of nowhere in three feet of snow on the coldest day of the year. It always happens under the worst conditions for these unfortunate motorists.
What do I really need to have my car ready for winter driving?
It is a question many people ask and it is a good question to ask. The last thing anyone wants or needs is for their car to break down on a snowy road in the middle of winter.
Here is a checklist of items from Ken’s Automotive, along with some maintenance items that are recommended by AAA, to ensure that your car is ready for winter driving conditions:
- Battery checked
- Level and condition of your Anti-freeze
- Thermostat
- Heater
- Defroster
- Tires, adequate tread (snow tires are best because the tread is more aggressive for better road traction on those snowy and slushy roads)
- Tire pressure
- Spare tire. Do you have one? Is it in good shape? Has it expired?
- Wiper Blades. One thing that is often overlooked. Incur the extra expense and invest in top quality wiper blades that can swipe through the snow, slush and ice.
- Make sure the nozzles where the windshield wiper fluid comes out are unclogged. Snow and ice can prevent these from shooting the wiper fluid out onto your windshield.
- Cooling system flushed
- Transmission fluid checked. It should be a bright, clean pink color.
- Is your 4 wheel drive working? We tend to overlook this one because we haven’t used it all spring and summer so we forget about it.
- And of course, it is really important to make sure all your maintenance repairs are up to date (oil changes, plugs, timing belts and car hoses). Have a trusted auto service and repair shop check to be sure all are in good condition.
Keeping up with your car’s maintenance schedule on a regular basis and checking off the above suggestions will help keep you and your family safe and give you worry free driving throughout the winter. After all, isn’t peace of mind worth it?
