How to Prevent Winter Car Damage

Check Car Battery

Cold temperatures can wreak havoc on your car battery. A fully charged battery can lose its power much faster in frigid weather, making it more difficult to start your car. To help preserve the battery life, try not to use as many electronic accessories such as interior lights and navigation systems and make sure it’s tightly fastened to your vehicle. Be sure to stay on top of battery maintenance and check it frequently for signs of corrosion and dirt.

Rust

While salt helps to melt ice and snow, it might damage your vehicle’s exterior. Road salt can be corrosive and can damage the metal of your vehicle, especially the undercarriage with rust build-up. To help prevent this, you can check your vehicle, with special attention to the undercarriage, routinely for rust, use a rust proofing spray and wash your vehicle once or twice a month.

Visibility

Driving in winter can be daunting, especially when you can’t see the road in front of you. Whiteout conditions, frosted windows and driving at night, can severely limit visibility. Turning on your vehicle’s full lighting system can help with visibility and clearing snow off your car and making sure your wiper blades are in good working condition. For extra precaution, carry extra windshield wiper fluid in your winter emergency kit.

Check Tire Pressure

The cold weather can be a culprit for flat tires. It can decrease your tire’s PSI, leading to driving with underinflated tires. This can be prevented by checking the tire pressure frequently during winter to help extend the life of your tires and help keep you and your passengers safe on the roads.

Fluid Levels

Cold temperatures can cause the fluids in your vehicle to thicken, which makes it more difficult to keep in optimal form. Check the engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and windshield wiper fluid levels and top them off if needed.