5 Ways to Avoid a Car Breakdown in the Winter

Focus on fall car maintenance this month, and you may have less to worry about this winter — at least when it comes to car trouble.

Autumn is the perfect season to address all potential problems before the cold weather hits. It may help you avoid a breakdown, or at the very least, a car repair bill.

Here are five tasks to add to your fall car maintenance to-do list:

1. Check All Fluid Levels

How’s your antifreeze? What about your power steering and brake fluids? Is your oil leaking?

You could depend on your mechanic to tell you that your car’s lacking fluids, you could wait until a leak causes you serious trouble or you could take charge and find out for yourself. If you notice that a reservoir seems low, ask your mechanic what to do.

2. Battery Checkup Time

Cold weather takes a toll on car batteries. You can’t check your battery fluid level, but you can visit a mechanic to have your battery tested.

Most batteries last for about five years. Your mechanic can give you an idea of how much useful life is left in your battery, and you can decide whether you want to replace it or wait a little longer. Either way, make sure you carry jumper cables along with you.

3. Test the Heating System

A heated car may not help prevent a breakdown, but it will make it a bit more comfortable when the frigid winter sets in. And one component of the heating system — the windshield defroster — will help clear your view.

Visibility is vital to safe winter driving, and the time to deal with a broken defroster is when doing fall car maintenance — before it’s needed for safety.

4. Take a Look at Tire Tread

Are your tires past their prime? Take a penny and insert it into the tire tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If the tread covers at least part of his head, you still have more than 2/32 inches of tread remaining, which is within the safe, legal limit. Once the tread doesn’t touch Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.

5. Check Your Brakes

Fall car maintenance has to include an in-depth examination of the braking system, one of the most important systems with regard to your safety. Have your mechanic check brake pad wear and make sure your fluid lines don’t leak and your rotors aren’t warped.

Stauffer’s Towing knows firsthand that fall car maintenance won’t protect you from every accident and breakdown, and that’s why we have skilled, helpful tow operators ready to deploy at a moment’s notice, every hour of the day.