Michigan winters can take their toll on your vehicle. Winter season is upon us and with that it’s time to make sure that you do some preventative maintenance. Take the time now to have these things looked over on your vehicle:
- Have all fluids checked and filled including engine coolant (anti-freeze), brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid.
- Ensure that coolants are topped off.
- Rotate tires and have air pressure checked. Changes in cold weather impact the pressure in your tires. Under inflated tires are hazardous in icy conditions because they are likely to lose traction. Typical tire pressure varies by car. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s optimal tire pressure.
- Check the belts and hoses and ensure that exposure to cold temperatures hasn’t caused cracks.
- Have the battery checked. Your car requires more power from the battery to start in colder temperatures.
- Get an oil change. This isn’t just something to do seasonally, but on a very regular basis.
- Check that wiper blades are in good working order and will properly clear ice and snow from your windshield.
- It’s always a good idea to have a hoist and overall visual check.
In addition to preparing your car for winter, you’ll want to consider keeping some important safety equipment in your car. In the event that you, or someone else has car trouble, these things can come in handy:
- Jumper cables
- Reflective safety triangle – this is especially helpful when stranded at night
- Shovel – they make great compact ones that take up no space at all
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Blanket
- Wheel locks – always leave them in your car
Winterizing your car is important preventative maintenance and helps keep you safe while driving on snowy and icy roads. Rest assured, Cruise Transmission is taking steps to ensure the safety of our clients, staff and community during the Covid-19 Pandemic. We offer convenient 24/7 contactless drop off, we wear masks and gloves when entering your vehicle, and we sanitize the vehicle when maintenance and repairs are complete. Click here to read more about our response to the pandemic.
Stay safe this winter!