It is important to make sure that our car is fully prepared for the winter. One of the most common problems is that the car won’t start, especially if it is already half-buried in snow. It will only make a clicking sound and no more. The light usually comes out, but it is often dimmer. So, it is likely that the real culprit is the battery. It is important for us to do specific things that can prevent costly repairs. By being fully prepared, we should be able to make our life a bit more enjoyable. We should make sure that our car is able to withstand the sub-freezing temperature.
When the fall is coming to an end, it is important for car owners to immediately check their car and make sure it will start in the very cold temperature. As an example, the battery load should be tested, so we won’t be left out in the cold. There are some tools that can help us to test the battery. We should also know whether we are still within the warranty period of the battery. Older battery will perform poorly during very cold weather and we should consider replacing it with a new one. We should also make sure that the cooling system won’t be affected by the cold weather.
The coolant should have enough antifreeze additives and they are needed in areas where the temperature constantly drops below zero. We should check the expected low for the following day. The coolant should be tested properly or the result might become quite disastrous. We should obtain a small sample of the coolant from our car, put it in a small, tightly sealed contained and place it inside the fridge’s freezer. The coolant shouldn’t freeze after being left inside the freezer for a few days. When the coolant is frozen inside the cooling system, some areas can be cracked.
This may cause leakage and we could be surprised when our car has overheated engine even during the coldest winter day. This could happen when enough coolant has escaped the system through various leaks that developed during extremely cold temperature in early morning. Drive belts and hoses could also suffer from wear and tear during cold winter days. They should be inspected regularly. It is a good idea to bring the car to the mechanic’s shop regularly to make sure that it can withstand another month of cold winter. The oil should also work well with the cold winter days. It is important to choose the type of fuel that’s recommended by the Owner’s Manual.
Tires should also be checked and we should make the have the proper traction during cold days. The overall pressure should be kept at a recommended level. Colder temperature will have an effect on the ga pressure. Washer and windshield wiper blades could also be frozen and we may need to replace special containers that don’t freeze easily.