01/26/2019
Check/change your oil
Cold weather makes the oil in your car run thicker, and some manufacturers recommend using lower viscosity oil for the cold months. Getting a fresh oil change before winter, and changing to a thinner viscosity oil (if recommended), will help your car run more reliably in the cold.
Check your battery
The last thing you want on a cold winter day is to be stranded because your car won't start. Make sure the contacts on your car battery are clean and corrosion free, and take the battery to an auto repair shop to have it tested. If the battery is more than four years old, consider replacing it.
Check hoses and belts
The rubber on your hoses and belts can deteriorate in cold weather, so look for soft spots, cracks, bulges, stretching or loose connections, and replace hoses and belts as needed. You should also keep checking these through the season as part of your regular winter auto maintenance.
Check your transmission and drive train
Cold weather can create additional wear on the transmission, so have a transmission specialist make sure everything is in working order. If you have a 4-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle, you'll also want to check the drive train.
Check heating/cooling system
Make sure you have the right mixture of antifreeze in the radiator (typically a 50/50 mix is recommended). Also check your heater and defroster to make sure both are working properly.
Check/replace wiper blades and fluid
Rain, snow and ice can impair your visibility if your wiper blades are old and worn. If these haven't been replaced in awhile, go ahead and replace them. Make sure your wiper fluid is topped off, and carry a spare bottle with you in the car.
Check tire tread
Haverhill is pot hole heaven, checking the suspension along with tire tread is important. We may even need to replace them.
Be prepared
Even proper upkeep can't prevent all vehicle mishaps. An emergency kit with blankets, spare clothes, flashlight, bottled water and snacks will help sustain you if you get stranded on the road.