With its darker days, colder temperatures, ice, and snow, winter poses many challenges for driving in Cumberland County, PA. If you want your vehicle to conquer anything that is thrown at it during the cold season, follow these maintenance tips from Lawrence Chevrolet in Mechanicsburg.
Examine your heating system.
Your climate-control system and defroster are critical to winter driving, so make sure that they’re working before cold weather comes. The former will keep you and your passengers warm, and the latter prevents your windows from fogging up.
Change the tires.
All-season or summer tires are not designed for the extremely cold temperatures of winter. Their treads do not handle ice and snow, and the tires themselves harden at freezing temperatures, which eliminates traction. In contrast, winter tires have special treads that grip the snow and are designed to remain flexible when cold weather hits.
Before winter starts, swap out your regular tires for winter versions to stay safe on the road. When spring hits, you can then swap out your winter tires for your regular versions.
Check tire pressure
At least once a week or when temperatures suddenly drop, check your tire pressure. You could be losing up to one pound per square inch with every 10-degree drop in air temperature. The recommended tire pressure is listed on the driver’s-side door jamb or in your owner’s manual. Driving with low pressure increases wear on your tires and the chances of tread separation. If you don’t have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, you can buy an inexpensive pressure gauge. You can fill your tires through the air pump at your gas station.
Inspect the lights.
You may not notice that your exterior lights are broken if you turn them on only while you’re in the driver’s seat. Get a family member or friend to get behind the wheel and start activating the lights, such as by stepping on the brake pedal. You can then walk around your vehicle to ensure that everything is functioning.
If you discover that one of the bulbs is burned out, you can usually change it easily and inexpensively by buying a replacement at your auto center. The instructions will either be in your owner’s manual or the package for the light. While you’re at it, clean the lenses and all your external lights to maintain maximum visibility.
Create an emergency kit.
An emergency kit will help you cope with a breakdown on the road or if you get stuck on the highway in the middle of a snowstorm. You can create one yourself by putting the following items in a backpack that you can easily take with you if you have to leave the car.
• A snow brush and ice scraper to clear the view.
• Jumper cables to charge up a dead battery.
• A bag of kitty litter or sand to increase traction.
• Snow chains that you can put around your tires.
• A folding shovel to dig you out of trouble.
• A flashlight to light up the dark spaces.
• A charged-up battery pack that can power up your smartphone.
• Snacks and water to chase away hunger and thirst.
• Extra clothing that can keep you warm, including mittens, scarves, winter boots, hats, and a thermal blanket.
• A multi-tool to take care of minor repairs.
• A first aid kit to tend to small injuries.
Flush and fill the antifreeze.
As the name indicates, antifreeze, which is also known as coolant, prevents your engine from freezing in the winter. Make sure that you have enough by looking at the reservoir. (Your owner’s manual will tell you where to find this.) Put a 50/50-mix of coolant and water if you’re low on the liquid. If you see any puddles of antifreeze on the pavement under your car, you probably have a leak, which should be repaired.
Bring it in.
The most convenient way of dealing with winter maintenance is to take your vehicle to the Service Department at Lawrence Chevrolet. Except for creating your emergency kit, our factory-certified mechanics can perform all these tasks for you and more to ensure that your vehicle gets through the cold season. In addition, we only use brand-vetted parts, so that your vehicle operates at its best.
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