Things to Check on Your Car Before Winter

The Victorville area is not known for harsh winters, particularly when compared to other parts of the country, such as Minneapolis or Chicago. But the average temperature will drop about 40 degrees from summer to winter, with occasional days below freezing. So, while it may not be enough to get yourself a set of winter tires, there are several things you should do to prepare your vehicle for winter. That goes double if you plan on any sizable trips for the holidays. Valley Hi Toyota has these tips to keep your car at its best during the winter.

Heater and Defroster

We start with the most obvious. Your heater and defroster must be in good working condition for passenger comfort and driver visibility. Check your heater operation before it gets cold to ensure it takes care of you when needed. Conversely, your air conditioner must also operate well to ensure proper defrost ability. In the summer, it keeps you comfortable, but when it gets cold, you need it to see properly. If your air conditioning has been waning in the fall, have it looked at before the winter.

Check Your Car Battery

It may also be obvious, but it is easy to overlook as long as it starts your car. As the temperature drops, the chemical reactions inside your battery to hold a charge occur more slowly, and this causes your car to require more out of your battery to start the engine. Your battery works harder, and if it is already not as strong as it could be, the chances are if it dies, it will be in the cold. Which, of course, is the worst time for it to happen. The Valley Hi Toyota Service Department can run a battery load test to see if your battery is healthy. Items you can look for on your own include cracked or corroded battery cables and terminals.

Replace Your Windshield Wipers & Fill Your Wiper Fluid

Our dry climate is already challenging on wiper blades, and lower temperatures just make them more rigid and less effective. You may also have used your wiper fluid plenty of times in the dry season. If we do get freezing weather, wiper fluid can be effective at removing frost from the windshield if you are using freeze-resistant wiper fluid. If traveling to more snow-heavy areas, ensure you have a good-quality ice scraper and snow brush in your car.

Check Your Tire Pressure

In the best conditions, cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop at approximately 1 PSI per 10 degrees. So from summer to winter, that is an average of 4 psi, and lower during extreme cold fronts. If this happened to a single tire, it would be enough to trigger a warning on the tire pressure monitoring system since most systems check for discrepancies between tires. But since this would happen to all four tires simultaneously, the TPMS will likely not notice. You should check your tire pressure once a month against the recommended pressure, not on your tires but for your model, which will be stated on a sticker located on the driver’s door jamb. 

Inspect Your Tires

As the temperature drops, your tires get harder, reducing traction, so we highly recommend you examine your tires for remaining tread life, uneven wear, and cupping. Also, check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks because these could get worse as the tire compound hardens. If you plan to travel to an area that experiences a lot of snowfall, consider installing winter tires, particularly if you travel to this area regularly in the winter. Winter tires are made of softer rubber that remains flexible in colder temperatures and have treads specially designed to keep their grip on snow and ice. This may be a good time to rotate your tires since it can be easy to overlook.

Change Your Oil

Cold weather will thicken oil and reduce its ability to circulate through the engine, so ensure you have fresh oil to keep your car running smoothly. Your owner’s manual should have a chart showing the recommended oil weight based on exterior temperature. 

Check Your Belts And Hoses

Again, colder temperature makes everything harder, so things that need to be flexible, such as belts and hoses, should be checked. If there are any cracks now, they will get worse in the cold, which could hamper your vehicle’s operation. 

Carry An Emergency Kit In Your Car

Having an emergency kit in your car at all times is good, but winter brings additional concerns. If you travel far, highways can be more treacherous, particularly with winter storms that can bring slicker road conditions and reduced visibility. To avoid getting caught out, equip your care with an emergency kit filled with supplies, including flares, work gloves, a first-aid kit, a flashlight (separate from your smartphone, which you will want to keep powered for other things), tools if you are handy, shovel, and kitty litter or sand for traction if you get stuck. For the winter, add blankets and some emergency food. Remember, even if you stay safe, something could happen a mile or two ahead of you that could keep you stuck for hours. So be prepared.

We Can Help

If you are comfortable with car maintenance, many of these activities can be done at home. Some require special equipment, like running a battery load test or rotating tires. And on some of the inspections, you may not be comfortable in knowing exactly what to look for. The Valley Hi Toyota Service Department can perform all of the maintenance by trained personnel who have done this plenty of times and know what to look for. So whether you want to do it yourself or have us do it for you, make sure your car is ready for the winter. 

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