Fall Car Care Tips

Last night as I was  waiting for new tires to be put on my car, I couldn't help but overhear the numerous conversations the mechanics had in stressing the importance of tires and tire care before winter hits.

With October being "Fall Car Care" month, here are a few car care tips to follow in maintaining our cars.

According to Carcare.org, there are 5 important Fall Car Care Tips we should follow to prepare our cars for winter.

1. Battery – Keep the battery connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Cold weather is hard on batteries, so it’s wise to check the battery and charging system. Because batteries don’t always give warning signs before they fail, it is advisable to replace batteries that are more than three years old. 

2.  Heater, Defrosters and Wiper Blades – Check that the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system are working properly as heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons, such as defrosting. Fall is also a great time to check your air filters. Wiper blades that are torn, cracked or don’t properly clean your windshield should be replaced. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months. When changing the blades, be sure to also check the fluid level in the windshield washer reservoir.

3.Tires – Check the tires, including the tire pressure and tread depth. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly as tires lose pressure when temperatures drop.

4. Brakes – Have the brake system checked, including brake linings, rotors and drums. Brakes are critical to vehicle safety and particularly important when driving on icy or snow-covered roads.

5. Free personalized schedule and email reminder service – Signing up for the Car Care Council’s free personalized schedule and email reminder service is a simple way to help you take better care of your vehicle now and throughout the year. It is an easy-to-use resource designed to help you drive smart, save money and make informed decisions.

Looking at this list I've completed the tire & brake issue, as both have been newly installed. Now I need to move on to a new air filter, wiper blades, and getting my heating system checked as the check engine light popped on last week when using the heater and has yet to go off.

As much as I hate the money it takes to prepare my car for winter, I'm looking out for all of us and our wallets. Spend a little now to avoid spending A LOT more later.