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Tips
for Winterizing Your Car |
by:
ARA |
(ARA)
- It's that time of year again. Temperatures
and wind chills that can take your breath
away. Snow and ice that make stepping outside
a dangerous proposition. You know all too
well how winter affects you. It is important
to take a moment to think about how it affects
your car as well. After all, you don't want
to be stranded in those sub-zero temperatures.
If you live where it snows, you know the
damage that snow, ice, loose gravel and
salt can do to your car. Minor scratches
and nicks turn to rust, your heater gets
a workout it may not be prepared for, and
your windshield must deal with the temperature
stress of a warm interior and a freezing
exterior. Here are some maintenance tips
for winterizing your car:
Windshield Safety
Thermal shock is the term engineers use
to describe the stress caused by drastic
differences in outdoor and indoor temperatures.
If you have a small ding in your windshield,
thermal shock can cause your minor ding
to turn into a major crack.
Repairing a small ding costs as little as
$50 to $60. Replacing a cracked windshield
can cost hundreds of dollars; on some cars,
the cost may be even higher. "Once a ding
or star (star-shaped with points spreading
out) expands, windshield replacement is
often the only option," said Jay Bickford,
director of factory training at NOVUS Windshield
Repair.
"If the damage is reported quickly, the
odds are much improved that NOVUS can save
the windshield", says Bickford. "It is important
to perform the repair before dirt infiltrates
into the break. If you can't get to NOVUS
right away, call your local NOVUS for a
windshield saver patch. These patches cover
the break until it can be repaired and do
not obscure your vision."
NOVUS, with more than 20 million repaired
windshields under its belt, follows a "repair
first replace when necessary" philosophy.
The company invented windshield repair in
1972 and has pioneered numerous innovations
in the field.
To attain optimum consumer safety, Bickford
recommends repairing a windshield whenever
possible, instead of replacing it. Repair
not only saves the windshield it preserves
the factory's seal of windshield to auto
body. "Since passenger side air bags deploy
off the windshield, preserving the factory
installation is an important safety consideration,"
explains Bickford. "Keeping the factory's
original adhesive set also helps avoid air
and water leaks."
Fluids
As any mechanic will tell you, checking
fluids is the least expensive and easiest
preventive maintenance you can do. Change
your oil frequently (consult your owner's
manual for recommended frequency), and don't
forget to change your engine coolant (diluted
with 50 percent water) and transmission
fluid, about every two years. Pure engine
coolants can freeze at zero degrees, but
mixing with water prevents freezing and
provides great protection for the cold weather.
Though fluids like oil and transmission
are commonly checked, other fluids integral
to your vehicle's performance, may go unnoticed.
Power steering, brake, radiator and battery
fluids also should be filled to recommended
levels.
Don't forget to top off windshield washer
fluid. If you've ever driven after salt
trucks have come through to melt snow and
ice, you know the importance of windshield
washer fluid. Do not dilute washer fluid
with water since it can freeze during winter's
harsh temperatures. While you're at it,
you might want to change the wiper blades
to prevent poor vision in already poor driving
conditions.
Batteries and Corroded Cables
Winter mornings can wreak havoc on an older
battery. The average life of a battery is
3 1/2 years. If your battery is older than
that, it's probably time to replace. Have
a mechanic check the battery and cables
to ensure your car starts quickly and reliably.
Anything Made of Rubber
Worn, bald or badly aligned or balanced
tires can mean accidents on ice, rain or
snow. Have your tires checked for proper
inflation and alignment, and rotate them
about every 6,000 miles. If you live in
unusually snowy areas, you may want to consider
snow tires for added traction, or keep chains
in your trunk or garage to help you through
heavy snowfall.
Rubber parts under your hood need maintenance,
too. Radiator, heater and vacuum hoses,
among others, should be checked for cracks
and bulges. Also, inspect all belts for
damages and splits.
Rust, Minor Scratches and Nicks
Road salt can turn a slight scratch or nick
to an ugly rust spot that's impossible to
avoid. And it can spread. Avoid costly body
work by restoring spots before they turn
into larger problems.
NOVUS' Paint Restoration System corrects
many problem spots, from key nicks to minor
rust on metal. And since NOVUS uses an advanced
paint formula that matches not only the
paint and color texture, but also picks
up the characteristics of the paint around
the repair, the new and old paint will shine
equally, or fade, at the same rate -- even
on metallics, pearls and tri-coats.
Boots
Front-wheel drive vehicles equipped with
CV (constant velocity) joints should have
the boots checked for rips and cracks. Boots
protect CV joints, but when the joints are
exposed to salt, ice and snow, they can
damage the joint. Replacing a joint can
costs hundreds of dollars, but replacing
a boot costs a small fraction of that.
Spark Plugs
Worn or misfiring spark plugs can affect
how efficiently a vehicle burns the fuel/air
mixture, ultimately affecting engine performance.
Worn spark plugs waste gas and increase
exhaust emissions, so have them checked
and replaced often.
Brakes
Don't postpone needed brake work. It's dangerous
to drive with poorly performing brakes,
especially in snowy weather. Postponing
brake service also can cause the cost of
overhauling your brake system to skyrocket.
Lights
Last, but not least, check your lights.
Accidents can occur if you can't see where
you're driving, or if other drivers can't
see you, especially as we approach winter's
short days and long nights.
Maintain your vehicle regularly to provide
years of service with better performance
and safety.
For more information or to locate the nearest
NOVUS technician, call (800) 77-NOVUS (800-776-6887).
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
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