As you grab your snow coat and boots to jump in the car and head to a friends house for some winter fun, you will be completely confident in your ride because you prepared it for the icy winter months. It is very important that you are prepared for winter with proper clothing and food, your car is no different! Spend some time before the super cold weather to make sure your car is ready to hit the road once the snow comes.
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Winter Maintenance Checklist:
- Check Your Battery
Extreme temperatures are very hard on your car's battery, so be sure to keep an eye on it. Inspect it before the cold comes so you can decide if it can last through the winter. You can have one of our mobile mechanics come out and let you know how long your battery will last, and they will even be able to replace it for you if needed! - Prepare The Exterior
Make sure you wash the body of your car one last time before it gets covered in dirty snow. While you're at it, add a coat of wax to prevent damage to your paint job due to an accumulation of road salt. Wipe down the windows so you will start off on the right foot. - Check Your Headlights and Taillights
You don't want to get caught in a snow storm with broken headlights or taillights, so be sure to look at the before the cold weather comes. If they are beginning to dim or are already burnt out, be proactive and get them replaced! Our mobile mechanics will be able to handle that for you so you can continue preparing yourself for the winter. - Inspect Your Tires
There is nothing worse than trying to drive on ice with bald tires, in fact it is nearly impossible. If you live in a very icy or snowy area, you should consider switching to winter tires because your usual summer tires might not get enough traction to keep you safe. If it doesn't snow very often in your town, you should still do the penny test to see if you need to switch your tires.
To do a penny test, get any penny and insert it into the grooves of the tire tread with Lincoln's head pointing down. If you are able to see Lincoln's whole head, then your tires are bald and you should invest in new ones.
While you are checking the tire tread, you should also check the air pressure. You want to make sure that the pressure is in the proper range to prevent any future tire issues. Keep in mind that cold weather will change the tire pressure a bit. - Change Your Windshield Wiper Blades
You will be using your windshield wipers a lot in order to see, so make sure you have new windshield wiper blades. You can even get blades that are made for wiping away ice and snow! Don't get caught in a snowstorm with compromised windshield wiper blades, book an appointment with us today! - Top Off The Antifreeze
Your coolant system should be 50/50 water and antifreeze. If the winter comes and you don't have the proper proportions, it could freeze! So have a mechanic check the proportions and top it off before you find yourself running low. - Check Your Heater And Defroster
It is very important that your heater and defroster are working properly, not only for your comfort, but your safety. If they aren't working, you may not be able to melt the ice on your windshield and this would impair your visibility, making it extremely dangerous to drive. If you are having problems with your heater and defroster, contact Wrench and one of our skilled mobile mechanics will come to you and get it up and running before the cold weather comes. - Update Your Emergency Kit
You may forget this step, but it is quite important! If you already have an emergency kit, that's great! Just add a few winter specific items such as an ice scraper, road salt, blankets, hand warmers, and whatever else you want. You want to be prepared for anything but the harsh, cold winter months are especially dangerous in emergency situations.
If you don't have an emergency kit in your car, feel free to make your own or buy a pre-made one online. Make sure you have plenty of tools to get a broken down vehicle up and running, or if you aren't comfortable with fixing it yourself, you have a few ways to get professional help. - Get an Inspection
Finally, if there are any issues you have noticed, get your car inspected by one of our mobile mechanics so you can drive without worrying. Let us know if you notice any weird sounds or smells so we can diagnose and solve the problem as quickly as possible!
In no time you will be able to spend time with your family and friends outside in the snow, or inside drinking a cup of hot chocolate. Don't worry about your car and leave the seasonal maintenance to us! At Wrench, we have a large team of skilled mechanics, waiting to service your vehicle in the quickest, most convenient way!
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