When Old Man Winter comes knocking on the door, you would be wise to have already made sure your vehicle was ready for the harsh conditions. Winter preparations can be fairly easy if you’re pretty good about keeping up with regular maintenance on your vehicle. Check out all the winter preparations suggestions available at Cars.com including these main items that must be checked before the snow falls.
Your brakes and tires can save your life in winter weather. You should have both inspected by a trusted mechanic some time in the fall months. If you don’t have a trusted mechanic, you can find one of those too with the convenient provider locator on Cars.com that will identify mechanics and service stations in proximity to your location. Your tires should feature enough tread to provide the traction necessary for stopping in slippery conditions. You should also be sure to keep them properly inflated throughout the winter for the same reason which can be tough since air constantly condenses in cold temperatures setting off tire pressure lights everywhere. Your brakes are critically important too and should have sufficient life left in the brake hardware (learn more about your brakes here) to keep you safe.
Your mechanic will also make sure to top off all of your fluids in your vehicle and check your battery for any excessive corrosion or other problems that might creep in. You should also ensure that your windshield washer fluid is rated for freezing weather. If it isn’t, you could find yourself creating a sheet of ice across your front window when you only meant to clean it. A little preparation goes a long way and when it’s cold outside, the last thing you want is to find yourself stuck on the side of the road by a simple car problem that could have easily been avoided.