How to Protect Your Vehicle in Cold Weather

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How to Protect Your Vehicle in Cold Weather
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As the temperature outside begins to get cooler,
its important to protect your car to help ensure
it runs smoothly in the months ahead. The
checklist below will get you started Cold
weather car care checklist Headlights As the
days get shorter and the sky stays darker for
longer periods of time, theres a good chance you
will need to use your cars headlights more
frequently. This sustained use can make your
lights wear out sooner. Proper lighting is
crucial for driving safely in the dark or in bad
weather, so be sure to check that your cars
headlights are still shining brightly, or if they
need to be replaced. Also be sure to check that
your brake lights and turn signals are
functioning properly. Tires The air pressure in
your cars tires decreases by about a pound for
every 10 degrees the temperature drops.
Consequently, as the weather gets colder, it is
even more important to check the pressure in your
tires regularly.
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• Locate the recommended tire pressure level for
  your car in your owner's manual or on a yellow
  sticker in the doorjamb on the driver side door.
  Use a tire pressure gauge to measure your tires
  pressure. Be sure to check the pressure when the
  tires are cold to give you an accurate reading.
  Unscrew the valve cap on your tire and press the
  tire gauge onto the valve stem long enough to get
  an accurate pressure amount.
• If your cars tires need air, you can fill them
  with an air compressor at home or at the local
  gas station. After refilling your tires, recheck
  the pressure with the gauge to ensure accuracy,
  replace your valve caps, and youre on your way!
• Brakes
• Cold weather and falling leaves brings wet,
  slippery roads, so being able to stop your car
  properly is critically important to your safety.
  When brake pads wear down or your brake fluid is
  low, you may find that your car wont stop as
  quickly. Have your cars brakes checked before
  the road conditions change to better prepare you
  for bad weather driving.
• Windshield Wipers
• Being able to see the road clearly is important
  for driving your car safely. In addition to
  having functional wiper blades, its a good idea
  to check wiper fluid, as drivers often use more
  in the rain or snow.

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You might even want to carry some with you as an
additional safety precaution. Also, be sure to
check to see if your blades are cracked, as this
is a sign that they should be replaced. Before
you go to your auto supply store, be sure you
know the exact make model and year of your car,
as well as any other specifications you may need.
Here's how to install your new windshield
wipers Remove the old blades by first pulling
the entire wiper up, away from your windshield,
to a vertical position. Turn the blade
perpendicular to the arm so that you can see the
hinge. Find the small tab on the hinge and pull
it (you should hear a snap), then separate the
wiper blade from the arm. Be very careful not to
let the unprotected metal arm fall back against
your windshield, as it may cause a
scratch. Attach the new blades by inserting the
wiper arm through the appropriate hole in the new
blade. Position the hinge to be perpendicular to
the wiper and align it so that the arm's hook
will cover the hinge.
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Once the arm is inside the hole on the blade,
align the hook above the hinge and click them
together. Lower the blade to the window and
youre done. Battery As temperatures drop, its
possible for the cold to drain your cars
battery. Consider replacing your car battery if
it is more than 3 years old, and check to be sure
there is no corrosion on the car battery itself,
or on the battery connections. Article Resource
- https//www.tocowarranty.com/knowledge-center/ca
r-maintenance-repair/cold-weather-maintenance-chec
klist