Get Your Car Ready for Winter

November 5, 2019

Here’s How to Get Your Car Ready for Winter!

It’s fall and time for milder weather, sweet relief from the heat of summer. It is also time to get your car prepared for the winter conditions to come.

No matter how new or well-maintained your vehicle is, the extremes of heat and cold can wreak havoc on batteries, tires and more, leaving you stranded when you least expect it.

It pays to do some preventive maintenance to be sure that your vehicle is prepared to work properly in the cold. Read on for more suggestions on how to get your car ready for winter.

Wheel and Tire

Did you know that the air pressure inside your tires can fluctuate 1-2 psi with every 10-degree temperature change? If you live in places where the temps can change drastically from day to day, you may be surprised with a low-tire indicator on your dash after a sudden cold front.

While it doesn’t mean you have a flat, it does mean you need to check and adjust your tire pressure for the current conditions. Driving on low tires can sacrifice traction and handling of your vehicle and can also prematurely wear down your tread.

If you have performance tires, they may be prone to cracking in cold weather. While checking your tires, the service technicians can also make sure your wheels are in good shape. Any slight crack can become significant in freezing conditions.

Auto Electrical

If your electrical system is compromised, you aren’t going anywhere. The most frequent vehicle complaint during a cold snap is dead car batteries.

Your battery has to work much harder to start your vehicle during extreme cold, and the older the battery is, the more likely you’ll experience problems.

Batteries typically need to be replaced at least every four years, but they should be checked before extreme temperatures, even if they are three years old or less.

Your repair shop in Denver, CO can do a test for you to make sure your battery is ready for winter weather.

Exhaust

It is essential that you have your vehicle’s exhaust system checked. A leak can be deadly. Paddock Imports can inspect your entire exhaust system for leaks and look for holes or other problems that could cause toxic fumes to end up inside your car.

Signs that you may have a faulty exhaust system may be as obvious as a tailpipe that has become loose. Also, if you’ve noticed your car is much noisier than usual, you may have a problem. Finally, if you’ve noticed that your fuel efficiency has dropped or your vehicle is not accelerating as it should, you should have your mechanic examine your exhaust system.

Diagnostic Service

One of the best ways to get your car ready for winter is to have a professional auto technician do a full diagnostic service.

The computerized systems in most vehicles require highly technical diagnostic tools to ensure that all parts of your vehicle are performing optimally. A full diagnostic report on your car could show potential problems before you even notice them.

Engine Repair and Maintenance

If your engine needs any repairs, you’ll want to take care of that before the temperatures get extreme. The first reason is that you don’t want to be stranded in the cold.

The second reason is that you don’t want to wait in line for days for the shop to be able to get to you because you are stuck behind all the other people who didn’t do their preventive maintenance before the winter weather hit and now their cars aren’t working, either. Cold weather has a way of exploiting any slight problems with your vehicle and making them worse.

Contact Paddock Imports in Denver, CO Today!

Getting your car ready for the Denver, CO cold weather is extremely important to its functioning. To make sure your vehicle is ready for winter, schedule your service with Paddock Imports today.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Syda Productions