Ward off trouble on the road

Most people prepare for the seasonal change from autumn crispness to winter chill by purchasing winter clothing and checking out the condition of their home heating system.

But what about your car?

Winter snow, sleet, ice, rain and low temperatures put a lot of pressure on an automobile. The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips to help prepare a car for the arrival of winter:

- Check the car’s battery, especially if purchased and installed within one year of your warranty. Cables should be clear of corrosion and the connections tight. A car needs more power to turn over during the winter, especially when parked outdoors.

- Make sure the coolant system is working efficiently. Cars can overheat in the winter as well as in the summer. A 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water will protect the car’s cooling system down to 40 degrees below freezing.

- Examine the car’s tires. Thin or uneven tread wear may not provide adequate traction in winter driving situations.

- Change your oil and oil filter. In most cases, a 10w30 oil will work for normal temperatures as well as for short periods of winter temperatures.

- Have a professional inspect the condition of certain replaceable parts, such as the air filter, rubber hoses and drive belts. Old, damaged or loose hoses and belts can cause an automobile to be inoperable in severe weather conditions.

- Inspect all lights to assure they are working properly.

- Make sure your wipers are in good working order and your washers are filled with windshield washer fluid appropriate for cold weather.

- Test that the car’s heater and defroster are working properly for passenger comfort and visibility.

- Assemble safety supplies — including an ice scraper, spare bottle of washer fluid, boots, gloves, flares, blankets, flashlight with spare batteries, a small shovel and some sand — and place them in the trunk for use in an emergency situation.

SOURCE: Better Business Bureau