With winter in full effect, the cold temperatures can put a strain on your vehicle, which could leave you stranded if these simple yet important items are not checked. Here are five easy things to make sure is in working order to reduce your chances of having car issues during a winter storm.

WIPERS

The cold weather dries out the rubber and causes the wipers to not work as efficiently. General life expectancy of wipers is about one year. If you hear a rubbing noise when your wipers are in use, it is time to get them replaced.

TIRES

Low tread or dry rotting of your tires can cause poor traction in slippery road conditions, therefore it is imperative to get your tires checked. Ensuring your tires have the proper traction will ensure safer driving and better traction in less than ideal road conditions.

ANTI-FREEZE

Your anti-freeze, or coolant fluid, is green or orange fluid that cools your engine. It ensures that your engine does not overheat, and that components of your engine does not crack from freeze-thaw temperatures. Ideally, your coolant should have a freeze point of -34ºF. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to change your anti-freeze every 60,000 miles or every 5 years.

BATTERY

Cold weather is especially hard on car batteries. At 0ºF, a car’s battery loses about 60% of it’s strength. at 32ºF, it loses about 35%. During cold temperatures, starting an engine can take up to twice as much current as needed under normal conditions. It is advisable to have your battery tested, as well as your starting and charging systems prior to the deep cold of winter.

SPARK PLUGS

Spark plug reliability weakens during winter. A bad spark plug, ignition component or clogged filter may cause your vehicle not to start. The colder temperatures make it harder for your vehicle to turn over, making your spark plugs fail if they are close to the end of their lifespan.

Stop in today, or make an appointment online to make sure your vehicle is reliable for what mother nature has in store.

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