Michigan winters are hard on cars. Parts that were getting by in September quit on the first cold morning in December. An hour spent checking the car over in the fall is a lot cheaper than a breakdown in January. Here's what we look at.
Start with the battery. Cold weather reduces what a battery can deliver at exactly the moment the engine needs the most to turn over. If yours is more than a few years old or the engine has been cranking slowly, have it tested, and clean any corrosion off the terminals.
Check the tires. Tread depth matters most on snow and slush, and tire pressure drops as the temperature falls — it's normal to need air after the first cold snap. Look at the spare as well; a flat spare is no help at all.
Look at the coolant. Antifreeze protects the engine from freezing as well as from overheating. The level should be between the marks on the reservoir, and the mixture should be right for cold weather. If it hasn't been changed in years, it's due.
Replace worn wiper blades and fill the washer reservoir with winter-rated fluid. Road salt spray dries into a white film on the windshield, and summer fluid can freeze in the lines.
Have the brakes checked. Stopping distances are longer on wet and icy roads, so worn pads or a soft pedal matter more in winter than at any other time of year.
Walk around the car with the lights on. With short days and gray weather, you depend on your headlights, brake lights and turn signals far more — and a burned-out bulb is a quick fix.
Check the belts and hoses. Rubber gets brittle in the cold, and a cracked belt or a soft, swollen hose that survived the summer may not survive a deep freeze.
Finally, put a few things in the trunk: jumper cables, an ice scraper, a flashlight, gloves and a blanket. If you do get stuck, you'll be glad they're there.
Want a hand getting ready — or need a jump-start when the cold wins? Call Moran Way at (313) 740-2839. Quotes are free, and new customers take 25% off.