Winter Weather: Best Winter Car Tips

The winter season is rapidly approaching, and while there are lots of exciting things to look forward to like family time, vacations, and holidays, it is important to be prepared for the changing climate. Winter can hit you like a truck if you are not ready for it, but Wrench is here to make sure that does not happen. Preparing your car for the colder months can save you time and ensure that you will not find yourself stranded on the side of the road on Christmas Eve because you forgot to get your battery tested.

Car maintenance is extremely important, especially going into the coldest time of the year. Following the maintenance schedule in your car’s manual and scheduling regular appointments with a Wrench mobile mechanic will keep your car running smoothly even as temperatures drop. In order to best prepare you for the winter months, Wrench has put together a list of common winter car repairs that we recommend prioritizing to keep you safe on the road.

• Keep your tires properly inflated. It is completely normal for your car’s tire pressure to drop as it gets colder. Your car should alert you when this happens, telling you that it is time to fill up your tires with air. This is not a notification that you can ignore; head to the nearest gas station to fill your tires back to the appropriate pound limit, but be careful not to overfill them because this can cause different issues. Failing to refill your tires could cause your car to hydroplane in winter weather because there is not enough pressure to stick to the ground.
• Consider getting winter tires. If you live in a place where snow is inevitable and you do not want it to keep you from getting somewhere you need to be, winter tires can be the right solution. It is important to evaluate the climate you live in and how necessary these tires would be, because they will cost you some extra cash.
• Turn off your windshield wipers before exiting the car. Wipers freeze in place when the car is turned off, so if the weather is cold the wiper motor will have to work extra hard to free your wipers from the position they got stuck in. Turning off your wipers before turning off your car will ensure that your wiper motor does not go into overdrive and short out. It is also a good idea to replace your wipers once a year, and there is no better time to have new wipers than during winter months. If your wipers suffered through a harsh winter the year before, it is all the more reason to replace them before the weather gets worse.
• Examine all external lights. As the days get shorter and the weather worsens, it is critical that all of your headlights and taillights are working properly. Not only is it extremely unsafe and often illegal to have a light out, it can also hinder your visibility in winter weather. Assess your lights for cracks or damage because these are signs that it is nearing failure. An additional tip is to lightly wax your lights so that they do not frost over and shine brightly at all times.
• Make sure your heating system is working. Finding out your car’s heating system is broken when you are sitting frozen in your car would be a nightmare, so if you have another reason to get your car checked out by a Wrench mobile mechanic before it gets too cold, have them look at your heating system as well. This is one of the top winter automotive repairs, but you will thank yourself later if you get this checked out before it gets too cold.
• Take care of your car’s battery. A dead battery in the dead of winter is another thing you’ll want to avoid at all costs. Follow the steps in your owner’s manual to keep your battery in top shape, or schedule an appointment with a Wrench mobile mechanic to have it tested by a professional. And if worst comes to worst, make sure you know how to jump start a car!
  

While some minor problems due to winter weather may be unavoidable, there are lots of things you can do to prepare your car for the colder months. Wrench is here to make sure you never find yourself stranded on the side of the road because you did not listen to your car when it was trying to tell you something. Our final piece of advice is to be extra careful when driving in winter weather because there are many more opportunities for accidents and mistakes to happen and want to make sure that you stay safe at all times!