Fall Weather is Officially Here is Your Car Ready?
- October 10, 2017
- bellingham
Fall is here why not take a little time to be car care aware and make sure your vehicle is ready for the more harsh weather ahead? Taking a few simple steps now can save you the headaches and cost of an emergency breakdown later.
Whether you do it yourself or you would like Bellingham Automotive to handle the job, we recommend these proactive steps to make sure your car is ready for fall and winter driving:
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. Remember, October is FREE battery check month at Bellingham Automotive. Stop in during normal business hours and we will test your battery for free.
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 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 as well.
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. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly as tires lose pressure when temperatures drop.
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.
Remember to call Bellingham Automotive with all your care care and vehicle maintenance help at 360-676-5200!