Is Your Car Ready For Winter?

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Weather takes a toll on all of us. And the harsher the weather, the more we want to avoid it. However, our cars aren't able to get away from it all nearly as well as we can. While we're safe inside, the cars are sitting in a chill garage or even out in the elements. While we crank up the heat as we get in the car, the car itself needs to strain in order to provide it. As such, one should always look at fall as a time to get one's car ready for winter. By keeping a few simple tips in mind, one can be assured that one's vehicle will hold up under the harshest conditions. Remember to check with a mechanic People get regular checkups, and should always do so before any really strenuous period in their lives. The same should be true of cars and a visit to the mechanic. While you might be able to check much of it out by yourself, it's worth the extra time to get an authoritative opinion on the health of one's vehicle. In particular, there's a few areas which deserve special attention. One of the most important is the battery. Cold weather is often the straw that breaks the camel's back when it comes to a car battery. However, the heater, defrosting system, level of the car's antifreeze, and the condition of the brakes should all be checked out by a mechanic. Each, in their own way, is going to be especially strained during the winter. Change the wiper blades Normal wiper blades are designed for rain, and they do a great job with it. Ice and snow are quite a different story though. Before winter, you should replace the wiper blades with special winter wiper blades. These are specially designed for the harsher conditions of winter. It's also important that you don't treat the wiper blades like Christmas lights. They shouldn't be packed away for reuse every year. Instead, one should always buy new wiper blades every year. The seasons can actually serve as a good reminder to do so. When winter approaches, buy new wipers. And then do the same for the approach of warmer weather. Consider snow tires Snow tires can be a bit of an investment. However, that investment will have a very high chance of paying off for people within specific areas. The biggest issue comes down to traction. You should carefully consider whether you really need the extra traction in snow that the tires will provide. In general, the people who benefit most are those who live in mountainous or hilly areas. These are are both difficult to navigate in the winter, and dangerous as well. At least dangerous if one hasn't come in fully prepared for the severe weather conditions. Whether you buy snow tires or not, it's important to at least consider it. Put together an emergency kit Of course the best laid plans can fail. Nature's erratic, and even the best made cars can fall victim to an unforeseen event. There's ways to still stay safe in the face of unforeseen car trouble during the winter. In particular, you should always have an emergency kit in your car. The exact details of an emergency kit will vary on a person by person basis. But, basically, an emergency kit should contain things to help one get by in a variety of difficult situations. Contrary to the title though, there's no need for it to all fit in a compact box together. Instead, it's a general collection of items to have on hand in your trunk. First and foremost is one of the more surprising items. You should have some non-non clumping kitty litter in your car. The reason comes down to traction. You'll be able to place it under a tire to get your car unstuck. Other necessities include a spare tire and the tools to get it on. Make sure as well that the tire has air in it. Jumper cables should always be kept in one's car as well. Even if you're not the most handy person in the world, it's a good idea to have a general toolkit. You'd be surprised at what you can accomplish when the need arises! A flashlight is a good idea as well in case it's dark out. If your phone uses removable batteries, consider keeping a charged cellphone battery in the car as well. Lastly, it's a good idea to prepare for hours or more spent alone in a cold car. This means a warm blanket, a change of clothing, and basic food and water. If all these tips are kept in mind than one can approach the winter with a much lighter spirit. The winter brings a lot of fun with it. But only if you've first ensured that your car can get you there and back again safely.