Caring for your car is a year-round ordeal. However, your vehicle takes a particularly rough beating during the winter season. Here are the main ways winter weather affects your car and what to do about them.
Drained Battery
Just like your phone battery drains faster when you leave your phone in the cold, so does your car battery. If you have a dead battery, there is no energy to spark the ignition and start your car. You’ll need someone to come by with jumper cables to get your engine going. Check your battery performance at a local auto shop to see how well your battery is holding up. If the charge is at a suboptimal percentage, you may need a battery replacement.
Rusted Chassis
Life in cold, snowy places has its moments of beauty and fun. But snow can quickly turn to ice, and many people use deicing salts and brine for clearing roadways and driveways. This salt is a simple solution, but it’s one that can corrode your vehicle. The chemical reaction between the salt and your car’s metal chassis will cause severe rusting. If you don’t wash your vehicle frequently, you could have entire sections of your car eaten away, especially around your tires.
Underinflated Tires
Tire pressure is one of those things you rarely notice unless you have a flat tire. Underinflated tires are a danger to your winter driving. Temperature affects your tires, causing tire pressure to fluctuate. If you operate your vehicle with improperly inflated tires, they could pop more easily. No one wants to deal with a flat tire in the middle of winter.
Frozen Windshield Wipers
Your windshield wipers are your only way to manage visibility while driving in snow and rain. If you have frozen wipers, though, they may not work as well, causing smudging on your windshield. Frozen wiper blades can even tear when moved across the glass. You also need windshield wiper fluid to clear up salt and snow-melt stains, or else you won’t be able to see. Consider replacing your windshield wiper blades once they’re ineffective. Mix in a freeze-resistant wiper fluid to maximize visibility in dangerous weather.
Remember the ways winter weather affects your car the next time you service it. If you notice any of these problems now, address them quickly before they lead to a more severe problem.
