The past few years, winters have been pretty harsh here in New Jersey. Shoveling your car out from snow and ice isn’t very much fun. Even less fun is having to deal with car problems on a cold, wintry morning… or evening. Cold weather can wreak all sorts of havoc on a vehicle, especially if you haven’t been keeping up with maintenance. Here are some tips to help you keep your vehicle running right to avoid these 5 common winter car problems.
Fluids – When temperatures drop below zero, vehicle fluids can get thicker. Make sure you change the fluids in your vehicle according to manufacturer recommendations. Do oil changes regularly and use winter weight so it flows better during those cold days. It’s also important to make sure your antifreeze isn’t too old and can protect your engine from freezing. We can do a simple test of your antifreeze to let you know if there’s enough protection. If it’s been more than a year since you changed the antifreeze, make an appointment to have that service done before the colder weather sets in.
Tires – When temperatures drop, so does the air pressure in your tires. If your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (see our article on TPMS), that’s good. It will alert you to a problem with low tire pressure. The issue with relying on the TPMS to let you know when to add air is that the system is designed to alert you when the tire is well below recommended pressure. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking tire pressure once a month and adding air as necessary. You will want to do this when the tires are cold as the air expands once you start driving and the tires heat up.
Battery – Just as hot weather is harsh on an older battery, so is the colder weather. To avoid not being able to start your vehicle on a cold winter morning, have the battery tested. You will also want to replace it before it can’t start your vehicle. In New Jersey, the typical battery life is around 4 years old.
Fuel Lines – The water in fuel can end up frozen in fuel lines. This means you won’t be able to start and operate your vehicle. To avoid having this happen, in the winter don’t let your fuel gauge get to empty before filling. In fact, it’s a good idea to fill it when the gauge is showing ¼ to ½ tank remaining. Not only will it prevent water from freezing in the lines, it will provide extra weight in the event you get stuck having to drive during a winter storm.
Visibility – The dark mornings and evenings require extra care when driving. Maximize your visibility by checking headlamps, directional lights, and brake lights to make sure they are working. Replace wiper blades. Make sure you fill the windshield wiper fluid and carry extra in your trunk. Have yellowed or cloudy headlamps restored. Replace or repair cracks or dings in windshields. Do all you can to make sure you can see and be seen.
Taking a preemptive approach to car care is the best way to avoid winter car problems. The auto repair technicians at Geller’s Automotive can help you avoid unnecessary car repairs when you bring your vehicle to our shop in Byram, New Jersey, on a regular basis. Click here to schedule an appointment to have your vehicle winterized now.
