Safe and Sane in the Rain-Protect your Valuables!
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Winterize Your Auto for Safety
I realize that the first day of winter (could have fooled me:o) was Dec.22nd in US, but take a look here to make sure you or your loved ones don’t get stuck on the side of the road this winter from something preventable. There is nothing more dangerous than being stranded along a highway or freeway, especially in rain or snow. Don’t take a chance this winter. Follow these easy steps to eliminate preventable winter chaos and danger along the road.
First of all make sure your oil change is up to date and that the fluids were all checked and at the proper level. Ask them twice.
Let’s start at the front bumper. What do your headlights look like? Most newer vehicles have plastic or “composite” headlamps. If yours are foggy, get them resurfaced and make sure they are adjusted properly. The re-surface should be around $ 50-$100 which is a fraction of the cost of new light assemblies. Dim headlamps are a sure way to end up in a snow bank or ditch. Also you want to be as visible as possible to other drivers at night and in gloomy weather. Make sure to have all your lights checked for proper operation as well and keep them on in rain and dark weather conditions, especially at dusk, for this is the worst time of visibility on the road always.
We will skip over the hood for now and look at your wipers. Wipers should be changed every year although some of the one-piece styles like the Anco Contour™ may last longer. These newer solid arched blades offer superior performance and longevity while preventing snow “caking” or freezing up due to their internal spring design with no external moving parts (frameless). MAKE SURE if you live or will be driving to freezing temperatures that your window washer fluid has anti-freeze in it. You can buy pre-mixed fluid or add a concentrate to your existing fluid (read the label, it always has a good- to temperature on it). Also there is a recipe for adding a certain type of alcohol to your fluid to prevent it from freezing (not suggested). And make sure you squirt enough through the lines so that the anti-freeze is all the way to the nozzles BEFORE you hit the cold, otherwise the fluid will not come out. NOTE: WINSHIELD WASHER FLUID ANTIFREEZE IS NOT THE SAME AS ENGINE ANTIFREEZE! By the way, if your windshield is cracked, get it fixed. It is not only a visibility hazard but a windshield offers protection in a crash; and if it is cracked before the crash, your car’s safety rating just went down. And please, clean the inside of your windshield at least once a month. The glare from oncoming headlamps can cause zero visibility and also it won’t fog up as bad.
Okay, let’s get something to kneel on and take a look at your tires. Go ahead and turn your front wheel all the way to one side with the engine on then shut it off. Do your tires look worn on the edges? Here is a very old trick. Take a penny and hold it in your fingers so that the president’s head is away from your hand; push the penny into one of the grooves in the tread where the tire seems to be the most worn. If the top of his head is visible, the tire is unsafe and should be replaced. Don’t skimp on tires. Bad tires in the rain, especially when it’s been dry for a while- leading cause of wrecks. Notice I did not use the word accident. Accidents can’t be prevented :o) Get yourself some good tires for the climate you live in. And bottom line is an inexpensive new tire is way better than a high-priced worn out tire. Don’t wait until you’re sorry and you can’t change what happened. Get some tires.
A short note on shocks and struts; If you are not a race car driver, and do not go off-raoding with your vehicle, then your shocks and/or struts can last up to 100,000 miles if you don’t hit slow bumps going 35mph. The exception is if one breaks internally or develops a fluid leak. Here’s a quick test: Drive in a parking lot and come to a quick stop from 10mph. When the front of your vehicle dives down and pops back up does it bounce a few times or come up and stay? If no bouncy then front shocks/struts are probably fine. I have been in the industry for many years and shocks and struts are the #1 most over sold item.
Now for under the hood; Proper antifreeze in your engines cooling system could be life or death of your engine in a cold spell. Have the freezing point checked before winter and have the cooling system flushed every 90,000 miles or so, and drained and refilled every 30,000mi (unless you have extra long life coolant; in that case every 90k). Make sure that either pre-mixed coolant is used or be sure that distilled water is used to dilute the antifreeze mixture. Tap water or high mineral water is like pouring dirt into your radiator. It causes premature leaks, component failure, and early coolant break-down. The minerals in tap water cause oxidation and electrolysis inside your engine that eats away at the gaskets, seals, and metals.
Make sure have you drive belts check and replaced if there is any question. Most vehicles have a “serpentine” belt, or continuous drive belt in that one belt drives all your accessories. Also, find out if your vehicle has an automatic belt tensioner, and if so have it tested and replaced if worn. Typically these last around 100,000 miles.
Well that’s it for now. As always find a shop you can trust and keep your service records up to date. Yelp™ is a great resource to find a trustworthy shop, but word of mouth is the best. And if you’re on the road or in a strange place an AAA™ approved repair facility is your best bet because they are regulated, inspected, and watched closely by AAA™ and must uphold certain standards and customer satisfaction ratings.
Happy Winter Travels!
Disclaimer; Please do not take this article as a replacement for having your vehicle serviced and inspected by a qualified well known service center frequently. This information is generalized and intended for general knowledge. Take your vehicle in as scheduled for all the manufacture recommended service. They recommend it for a reason other than just making money. It’s for your safety and that of your loved ones.
