AAA Offers These Tips for Getting Vehicles Cold Weather-Ready
| LEXINGTON, Ky. — October is Car Care Month, and with overnight temperatures dipping into the 30s and frost in parts of the Blue Grass, now is an ideal time for a seasonal checkup of key vehicle systems to ensure worry-free driving once winter driving conditions arrive.
Vehicle maintenance is key when preparing for the cold months ahead. Last winter, the AAA Roadside Rescue Team answered nearly 4,500 calls in the Bluegrass area for tire problems and nearly 8,000 for battery service, two of the most common problems over the winter months. “AAA recommends motorists use a simple checklist to determine their vehicle’s fall and winter maintenance needs,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins, public and government affairs manager, AAA Blue Grass. “Many of the items on the list can be inspected by a car owner in less than an hour, but others should be performed by a certified technician.” |
Vehicle owners should read the maintenance requirements set by the car’s manufacturer in the owner’s manual. There is no longer a “standard” maintenance schedule for vehicle services – including brake fluid. Each automaker has different requirements, making the owner’s manual the most accurate resource. In-vehicle maintenance reminders provide good guidance because they account for real-time problems and how you actually drive. However, many reminder systems do not specifically cover maintenance operations that need to be performed on a time or mileage basis, such as brake fluid and coolant flushes or timing-belt replacement.
Harsh winter conditions make your vehicle work harder, particularly the charging and starting system, headlights, tires and windshield wipers. AAA recommends that motorists check the following vehicle systems:
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family and emergency services, and car charger
