As we welcome December, now is the time to make sure your car is in good shape for the winter. We know that Wilmington isn’t exactly the North Pole, but there are still some things you should do to make sure you don’t end up with an expensive auto repair bill or shivering on the side of the road.
Winter Vehicle Maintenance Tips
Test your car’s battery
A dead battery is one of the most common reasons you might get stuck in the cold somewhere. And unfortunately, cold temperatures can really take a toll on your car battery’s strength, causing battery loss of more than 50%. Not only that, car batteries that are at the end of their life will freeze around 32°F, while batteries with a longer life won’t freeze at any temperature we’re going to see in Wilmington.
Avoid getting stuck in the cold this winter by testing your car’s battery. If it’s close to the end of life or has extreme corrosion, you should go ahead and replace it. You can bring your vehicle by our auto repair shop today to test your battery and overall winter readiness!
Check your tires
While Wilmington only gets snow once in a blue moon, we get rain frequently. With colder evenings this winter, there is potential for a lot of ice patches at night and early in the mornings. For that reason, it’s important to make sure your tires are in good shape.
Take a look at each tire’s tread to check for baldness or any extreme wear. If your tires are worn down, it’s time for new tires.
You should also regularly check your tire pressure in the winter. Keep in mind that for each 10-degree drop in temperature, your tires lose roughly 1 PSI. Low tire pressure can damage your tires, cause premature wear, impact your steering control, and lower your gas mileage. All of these things pose risks to you while driving, so make sure your tires have strong tread and routinely check your tire pressure.
Replace windshield wipers
During the summer, windshield blades can dry out and crack. Don’t wait until you’re in a bad rain, snow, or sleet storm to find out. Take a look at your wiper blades to check their condition. If they seem to be getting old, go ahead and replace them. You can do this yourself by buying blades at an auto store, such as AutoZone.
While you’re at it, take a few minutes to check your wiper fluid level. This is crucial to keep mud, salt, snow, and other residue from blurring your windshield. If you need to refill your wiper fluid, be sure to get a kind that is freeze-resistant. A clear windshield with strong wiper blades is paramount to your safety on the road.
Check headlights
With the sun setting at a depressing time of 5 o’clock in the winter, you really can’t afford to have faulty headlights. If you commute to work, this is especially important. Chances are your drive home will be in the dark for the next few months. And please don’t be that vehicle using your brights all the time because one or both of your regular lights are out.
With the potential for rain, snow, and fog, it’s important for your safety and the safety of other drivers and passengers that your lights are working properly. If you look at your lights and they seem cloudy or yellow, they have a buildup that needs to be cleaned off. This buildup can limit your headlights strength significantly. To clean foggy headlights, you can buy a cleaning fluid at an auto repair store, or use a home remedy, such as toothpaste and baking soda.
Test your headlights function and clearness to keep yourself safe on the roads. If any of your headlights are out, get them replaced as soon as possible!
Test your heat
Test to make sure your vehicle’s heat is working properly, and thank me later! If the air blowing out isn’t getting warm, isn’t flowing as strongly as it should be, or smells weird, take your car to an auto repair shop to get the heat fixed before the really cold temperatures set in!
Emergency Car Kit
With winter on the horizon, it’s a great time to check that you have the proper emergency items. Don’t wait until your battery dies in a cold parking lot while Christmas shopping to learn that you do not in fact have those jumper cables you could’ve sworn were in the trunk.
Here are some items we recommend keeping in your car:
- Jumper cables and flares
- Ice scraper
- Blanket
- Flashlight (with batteries)
- Multitool
- Gloves
- Foldable shovel
- Spare Tire, Jack, and Lug Wrench
While it may not be necessary here in coastal NC, if you’re traveling up north or to the mountains this holiday season, you should also be carrying a traction aid, such as cat litter or sand.
Follow these tips to keep your car functioning smoothly this winter and prevent you from being stranded in the cold. Most of these are things you can do on your own, but we’re always happy to help take care of your car’s winter needs. If you’d like to get a professional’s opinion, call our office to make an appointment or bring your vehicle by our auto repair shop today!