Jason’s Tips and Tricks

Instructions

STEP 1: Don’t put off a 30,000-mile full service, if your car is due.

STEP 2: Flush the cooling system and replace the coolant.

STEP 3: Replace the windshield wiper blades. Put windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer reservoir (plain water will freeze).

STEP 4: Have the battery serviced (clean the battery terminal ends and add water) and load-tested to check its ability to hold a charge. If the battery is more than 4 1/2 years old, replace it.

STEP 5: Use a tire gauge to check the tire pressure. Air contracts with cold, and the tires may become low as the temperature drops.

STEP 6: Make sure there is air in the spare tire and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk.

STEP 7: Make sure the tires are in good condition. If you are not sure what this means, ask a mechanic (in a shop that doesn’t sell tires) for an opinion.

STEP 8: Check the lights, heater and defroster.

STEP 9: Keep the gas tank as full as possible to prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines.

STEP 10: Get a brake check if you haven’t had one in the last six months.

STEP 11: Put together an emergency winter kit for the trunk of your car: blanket, extra boots and gloves, ice scraper, small snow shovel, flashlight and kitty litter (for traction when stuck in the snow).

This entry was posted on Monday, November 6th, 2006 at 3:31 pm and is filed under Used Engines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.