It won’t be long now before the weather changes for the worst. Before you know it, your morning commute will be in the dark with frosty windshields and slick roads. Driving safely during the fall and winter requires more than just cautious behavior, your vehicle also needs plenty of attention.
As temperatures change, your car’s maintenance needs change as well. Fall weather brings frost, low pressure, cool air and a whole cluster of climate factors that will affect your car’s performance. And that small crack on your windshield, that will spread for sure.
So in addition to having Clear Vision Auto Glass in New Jersey repair your windshield, you need to properly care for your car. Here are a few tips.
Take Care of Your Windshield
Windshields are vulnerable to cold weather and in many places, driving with a broken windshield is illegal. Driving with a cracked windshield is just plain dangerous and puts you and others at risk, so do the right thing.
Change Your Wipers
Speaking of windshields, fall is the perfect time to swap out your wipers. Car owners often overlook these simple tasks and then wind up in a sudden storm only to discover they can’t see because they have bad wipers.
Check the Tires
In addition to checking the conditions of your tires, you need to check the air pressure. Fall means that winter is not far away. Tires with poor tread will hamper even the shortest drive in snowy conditions. The cooler fall temperatures can lead to lower air pressure, which negatively impacts your gas mileage and will prematurely wear down your tires.
Check Your Battery
Your battery might function quite well in the heat of summer, but could easily fail when the temperature drops in the fall and winter. Make sure your battery can take the upcoming cold snap.
Check Heater/Defroster
You probably haven’t run your heat or defroster in months. Don’t wait until the temperature drops and the cold rains begin to discover your defroster is not properly functioning.
Check Lights
As the days get shorter and shorter, you will find you need to rely on your lights a lot more. If you are having a difficult time seeing at night, it might be because you have a headlight that needs to be replaced.
And for obvious safety reasons, you should have all the other lights on your vehicle check out, including blinker lights and backing lights.
Check Hoses and Belts
The summer heat can take a toll on the belts and hoses under your hood. It is a good idea to pop the hood and have a good look at the hoses and belts. If belts are frayed or cracked, have them replaced right away. If hoses are brittle, bulging and showing signs of excessive wear, have them replaced as well.
Check Fluid Levels
While you are under the hood, check the levels of your fluids including brake fluid and power steering fluid.
If you have a cracked windshield, contact Clear Vision Auto Glass and get it repaired.