October is Fall Car Care Month — Give Your Vehicle Some TLC
By Victor Ivan Coll
Updated April 23rd, 2023
Fall is a time to celebrate the harvest, to watch the trees change colors, and to try to ignore the approach of winter. One thing you should not do is ignore important preventative car maintenance. In fact, this is a great time to check up on a number of vehicle maintenance items before Old Man Winter arrives.
A dead battery, an overheated engine, or bad brake pads, rotors, or calipersare a nuisance any time of year. But it is easy to imagine that any of those dilemmas can become far more than an inconvenience while driving in snow, ice, and in bitter cold of winter. In temperate climates and moderate months, car troubles are an annoyance. In the deep freeze — well, they are just plain painful.
Here are some vehicle maintenance suggestions for October Car Care Month that will ensure that you have a worry-free winter drive.
Battery
Is there anything worse than trudging through the snow and darkness in the morning to warm up your car only to hear a clicking sound when you turn the key? Probably. But a dead battery in the winter ranks pretty high on the “not having a good time” scale. You can avoid battery-related problems by having your battery tested to make sure it is putting out proper voltage and that the electrical connections are sound. Corrosion on the terminals can lead to a dead battery, so the battery terminals should be cleaned. If your battery is more than four years old (the average lifespan of a car battery), consider having the battery replaced. And if you store the vehicle for a long period of time, install a battery tender to maintain a charge.
Brakes
When temperatures drop, windows close. This is true for your house and it is true for your car. One downside to closed windows is the difficulty hearing what your brakes might be telling you. When brake pads are near the end of their service, a wear indicator sounds out a piercing squeal to let you know it is time to replace the pads. It is more difficult to hear the wear indicators with the windows up, the stereo up, and the heater up. Other brake system problems that result in strange noises coming from underneath your car may also be masked in the winter. Fall is a great time to have your brake system inspected and serviced — before you enter into the long months of “windows-up” weather.
Tires
While we are on the topic of braking, your brakes are only as good as your tires. Especially in wet or wintery weather. If you are an enthusiast who utilizes a separate set of summer and winter tires, you are approaching the time to have them changed over. Most drivers, however, opt for the more economical option of an all-season tire that works well in any season. But if your tires are not in good shape, they will not provide adequate traction for stopping — or going. Make sure your tires not only exceed the minimum tread depth, but that they have enough material to offer traction through the winter months. Better to replace your tires now than to find yourself in a slippery situation later. At the very least, make sure your are current in your tire rotation schedule.
Coolant
In summertime it is important to keep your cool. But the same goes for winter. Your engine is designed to run within an optimum temperature range no matter what the thermometer or the weather channel reports. A bad thermostat or degraded engine coolant can lead just as easily to overheating in the cold as they can in the heat. Have your coolant level and condition checked, and make sure there are no leaks in the system. The coolant is also responsible for providing heat in the passenger compartment. So, low coolant can cause overheating, but it can also keep you in the deep freeze. Have your coolant system — radiator, hoses, water pump — inspected before winter hits.
Wax and Wiper Blades
The exterior of your car could use some attention at this time of year too. A wash and wax will go a long way toward protecting the body of your vehicle from snow, ice, and salt. You might even consider professional detailing while the weather is still nice. A quality detailer will provide a quality sealant to protect your paint. Other exterior items, such as dull headlight lenses, loose trim or accessories, and worn wiper blades can be addressed as well.
While you prepare to rake up piles of leaves, design costumes for Halloween, and sip pumpkin spice lattes, make sure to give your car, truck, or SUV some attention too. Make plans this fall for pre-winter prep.
Victor Ivan Coll | Victor Coll | Author: Victor Ivan Coll | Copyright 2023
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