Winterization 101

Getting ready for winter? If the answer to that is “no,” well, reevaluate your life, friend. It’s November! You need to be preparing for whatever Nature is going to throw into your face for the next few months. That means getting your car ready, too. Here are our tips for getting that taken care of easily and quickly.

First, make sure your radiator and the coolant in your tank are in good shape. Take your vehicle to us to top up the coolant if you’re low, and make sure everything is in working order. Take a look at your defrosters, front and back, and put some windshield fluid in the reservoir that has a higher amount of antifreeze. Use nontoxic antifreeze wherever possible. When you’re checking your defrosters, make sure that they function fully and properly. Take your car to us if any are broken.

If you’ve got a garage, use it. Take some time to organize your garage so that you can park your car in there safely throughout the winter months. A car cover is a good option for those who don’t have garages.

Replace your regular windshield wipers with wipers that are meant to handle winter weather. This is important not only when your windshield becomes covered with ice and snow, but also to make sure that you won’t wear your wipers out faster than normal by using them in the wrong season. If you have snow tires, put them on your car when it starts getting cold enough to snow. Otherwise, if you’re in an area that gets a lot of snow and ice, invest in snow chains or other tire traction accessories that you can easily take off of your tires when the roads are clear.

Make sure that your battery is strong, working right, and in good condition. If it’s old, let us replace it for you. Check to make sure the connections on the battery are tight and not corroded and that everything is working properly in the electrical system. Check to make sure your lights are all fully operational and bright – you need them more as the days grow shorter.