Will Your Car Be Ready For Winter?

Editor's note: With fall in full swing and winter inevitably on the way, Baber Auto Repair Service in Roseville is offering the following tips for getting your cars and trucks ready for the onslaught of cold weather.

"Properly maintaining and preparing your vehicle will reduce the chance of costly repairs, accidents, and even the chance of leaving you and your family stranded in the elements.

Baber Auto Repair of Roseville, MN and Doran-King Garage of St. Paul, MN have been serving two of the nations coldest communities for nearly 50 years.  Their ASE certified technicians are experts in how to “Winterize” your vehicle.

Here are their top 10 tips on how to keep you are your vehicle safe this winter:

1. Make sure your wiper blades are in good condition. Visibility can be tough with salt and sludge from the road as well as snowy conditions.
2. Check your washer fluid. Make sure your windshield washer fluid is full and that it is operating.
3. Make sure your tires are in good shape.  Poor treads and tire condition make it difficult to stop on icy roads and increases your chances of a tire blowout or a flat tire.
4. Check your coolant.  Coolant keeps your vehicle from overheating, and also keeps your engine from freezing up in the winter. Coolant strength should be at least at -30 to keep your radiator from freezing in the winter.
5. Test your heater operation.  Stay warm and your windows defogged.  Your fan should be operating on all speeds and you should be getting strong airflow.
6. Test your battery life.  Cold weather means a car has to work harder to start and an old or worn out battery could leave you stranded.
7. Have the condition of your belts and hoses inspected. A bad hose can leak coolant, thus causing a possible overheat condition ruining your engine, a bad belt could break, thus causing the vehicle to stall.
8. Test your charging system.  The charging system replenishes the battery and needs to be fully functioning to keep your car starting.
9. Have your brakes inspected.  Make sure your anti-lock brake system or other brake system is working so you can stop in slippery road conditions.

10. Spark plugs fire up your engine; old spark plugs could keep your engine from starting.

And it is important to have a trusted mechanic inspect your vehicle.  An auto repair technician can spot trouble areas early on to save you money, keep your family safe, and save you from the hassle of bigger repairs in the spring so you can head to the cabin when the ground thaws!"