It’s getting colder and colder, and before long, winter will be here. Fortunately, you still have time to get your car ready for the ice, snow, and falling temperatures. Let’s go over some tips you can use to get your car in tip-top shape for the winter.
1. Test the Battery
Your car’s battery made it through the heat of summer, but the high temperatures could have put a strain on it. Check your battery now, so you don’t end up stranded this winter. You can buy a computerized battery tester to test it yourself or take it to a shop to have it done for you. If your battery is near the end of its life span, replace it now before it goes out.
2. Inspect the Tread on Your Tires
If your tread is too low on your tires, it’ll take your car longer to stop. Plus, you’ll notice some handling issues that can be dangerous any time of the year, but even more so when there’s snow on the ground. Make sure your tires are ready for the season by inspecting the tread.
You can buy a tire tread depth gauge to find out if you need to replace the tires. While you need a tread depth of at least 2/32-inches, you’ll be even safer if your tires have a depth of 4/32-inches. You’re less likely to skid and slide with this depth.
3. Clean the Battery’s Terminals
Corrosion tends to build up on battery terminals and posts, and that can make it hard to start your car in the winter. It can also prevent your battery from recharging. Thus, spend a few minutes cleaning the terminals and posts.
First, disconnect the negative cable, followed by the positive one. Then, scrub the terminal posts with a wire brush. Follow that by cleaning the cable terminals. Use a paper towel to remove the residue before reattaching the cables. Start with the positive cable terminal this time, and then attach the negative cable.
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4. Replace Your Wipers With Winter Blades
If you stick with standard wiper blades this winter, they’ll get packed with snow. Then, your windshield will be full of streaks, decreasing visibility. You can easily avoid this problem by swapping them out for winter wiper blades. Keep these on throughout the winter, and switch back to standard wiper blades when the weather warms up. You can put your old blades back on instead of buying new ones when it’s time to make the switch.
These tips will help you get your car ready for the winter. If you run into any trouble, Berglund Automotive in Roanoke, Virginia, can help. You can schedule service with us, and then we’ll make sure your vehicle is road-ready.
If your car is on its last leg, though, repairs might not be enough. Instead, you can start fresh with a new ride from Berglund Automotive. Then, you’ll know your car is ready for the season. We carry vehicles from top manufacturers, including BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Mazda, and Lincoln. We also have pre-owned options, so stop by and check out the inventory today.
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