Improving Your Vehicle

If you live in a cold climate, and winter is approaching, you don't want to delay in getting your car ready for it. It is important that your car is fully prepared for the swift change in temperature, as well as the extra ice on the windshields, and the tires driving in the snow. Here are some simple ways to get your car ready for the cold weather season.

Inspect Your Battery

The battery in your car can take more damage in the cold winter season than you might think. It is important to inspect the battery before the temperatures start dropping and decide now if you need to replace it. You are looking for any signs of damage, such as erosion or cracks around the battery, terminals, or the cables. Try to clean the terminals the best you can, as this will prevent rusting when the weather starts getting cold and wet. This is also a good time to make sure the connections are tight, and that there is a good amount of charge in the battery. You don't want to be stuck in the snow because of a dead car battery.

Pay Attention to Your Windshields

With a lot of rain, snow, and hail, you also want to make sure your windshields are in good condition. If there are small cracks in the windshield, the ice that forms could lead to larger cracks, which is never a good thing. Inspect the windshield on your car and try to repair any cracks or chips you find. Also, consider replacing your windshield wiper blades so that you have new ones for using when there is rain or snow. Also, check that you have a sufficient amount of wiper fluid.

Check the Fluids

Part of getting your car ready for the cold winter season is checking all of the fluids. Start with the water and coolant, making sure there is enough water in there. If you live in an extremely cold climate, you might want to adjust the coolant to water ratio, increasing the coolant a little bit to prevent freezing. Also, check other fluids and top them off as needed, including oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid.

Get Snow or All-Season Tires

The last step is to check your tires and decide if you need new ones. If you have low tread on your tires or a lot of cracks around the sidewalls, this is a good time to replace them. If you live in a climate that is extremely cold with a lot of snow and ice, you might want to switch to snow tires or all-season tires for a few months. For more information on how to prepare your car for winter, check out a company like City Wide Auto Glass.