Cold Weather’s Coming…Is Your Car Ready?

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Cold Weather’s Coming…Is Your Car Ready?

Pretty soon, the frost will be on the pumpkin and that should signal it is time to start considering about getting your vehicle prepared for the colder climate ahead.

Here are some fall auto care suggestions from the authorities at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), who warn motorists that winter is a harmful time for an automotive breakdown.

* Begin with the fundamentals. Overview your owner’s manual and adhere to the manufacturer’s service intervals.

* Replace worn wiper blades and keep plenty of washer fluid on hand. Verify that all lights and bulbs are operating.

* If you are not a dedicated do-it-yourselfer, locate a repair shop with a courteous staff, ASE-certified technicians and modern gear.

* Replace worn tires with all-season radials or snow tires, as situations warrant don’t overlook to verify the spare tire and jack. This is a great time to have alignment troubles corrected.

* Appropriate engine overall performance issues (rough idling, poor acceleration or difficult starts) before cold climate sets in.

* Have a certified auto

technician check the situation of your battery and cables, plus the radiator, and all hoses and belts.

* Make particular the heater and defroster are in very good working situation have the exhaust system examined for leaks, a potentially deadly condition in closed automobiles.

* Carry emergency gear: flares, boots, gloves, ice scraper, higher-power snacks, a blanket, shovel, flashlight, tire chains, a few tools and a cell telephone.

For a free brochure with winter maintenance suggestions, send a self-addressed, stamped enterprise-sized envelope to: ASE Winter Brochure, Dept. NUW-304, 101 Blue Seal Drive, Suite 101, Leesburg, VA 20175.

ASE was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit, independent organization devoted to enhancing the high quality of automotive service and repair by means of the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers usually display the blue and white ASE sign.