Fall Car Care Tips

Sure it’s not winter yet, but car-care experts advise consumers should use these final fair-weather days to get cars ready for what lies ahead.

AC Delco, a global replacement parts and vehicle service provider, offers up the "four B’s" of fall car care: blades, batteries, brakes and belts/hoses. Mopar, Chrysler’s service, parts and customer-care brand, adds to that list, suggesting attention also be paid to tires, shocks and struts, oil, fluid levels, air filters and headlamps and tail lamps.
Regular maintenance is the best preventative for winter breakdowns, but here's a closer look at the areas experts call out for extra attention:

• Blades – If you’ve ever tried to scrape frost from your windshield by dousing it with washer fluid and running the wipers excessively, you know worn wipers can't clear your view. Driving through a snowstorm with frosty buildup eroding your visibility is a horrible feeling. Avoid it by replacing your wiper blades before the weather becomes nasty.
• Battery – Mopar advises the extreme heat of the summer months can reduce battery life, resulting in batteries that then fail in high-demand winter months. AC Delco tells consumers to watch for corrosion on cables and posts and seek help from a professional if these contact points require cleaning.
• Brakes – Before winter has you sliding your way through intersections, have your brakes checked and replace the pads as needed.
• Belts and hoses – These will leave you stranded if they snap or leak. Look for thinning or cracking in belts and check all hoses for imperfections, too.
• Tires – Changing temperatures can alter tire pressure. Make sure all tires are filled to their recommended tire pressure. Also check for tread wear. Tires play a huge role in how well your car handles in sloppy winter driving conditions.
• Shocks and Struts – Mopar says shocks and struts are the most overlooked parts on a car but argue that this should not be the case. While not a factor in most winter-driving calamities, shocks and struts do improve vehicle handling, extend tire life and improve ride control and comfort for the driver.
• Oil and other fluids – Top off all fluids that have run low. Windshield washer fluid is used frequently in winter driving, so keep a gallon in your trunk to ensure you will always have a clear view of the road. Check the oil, and change it if the time is right.
• Air filters – Mopar includes these on their fall inspection list. A dirty air filter is not generally going to cause your car to break down, but while you’re checking everything else, have it inspected too.
• Headlamps and tail lamps – So you’ve completed a complete prewinter inspection of your car, but the guy behind you probably didn’t. Check your lights to make sure you are as visible as possible to other drivers.

This may seem like a lot, but many items on this list can be handled quickly and easily. If inspecting your ride is not your cup of hot cocoa, watch for dealerships and other shops to offer deals on fall car care in the weeks ahead. Once your car is prepared, you will be a more confident driver. Too bad there isn’t a list on how to prepare ourselves for winter’s wretched wickedness.

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