- Maintenance
Tips for Winterizing Your Car
 (ARA) - Winter. Temperatures and wind
chills that can take your breath away. Snow and ice that make
stepping outside a dangerous proposition. You know all too well
how winter affects you. It is important to take a moment to think
about how it affects your car as well. After all, you don't want
to be stranded in those sub-zero temperatures.
If you live where it snows,
you know the damage that snow, ice, loose gravel and salt can
do to your car. Minor scratches and nicks turn to rust, your
heater gets a workout it may not be prepared for, and your windshield
must deal with the temperature stress of a warm interior and
a freezing exterior. Here are some maintenance tips for winterizing
your car:
Windshield Safety
Thermal shock is the term engineers
use to describe the stress caused by drastic differences in outdoor
and indoor temperatures. If you have a small ding in your windshield,
thermal shock can cause your minor ding to turn into a major
crack.
Repairing a small ding costs
as little as $50 to $60. Replacing a cracked windshield can cost
hundreds of dollars; on some cars, the cost may be even higher.
"Once a ding or star (star-shaped with points spreading
out) expands, windshield replacement is often the only option,"
said Leo Cyr, vice president for marketing at NOVUS Windshield
Repair.
"If the damage is reported
quickly, the odds are much improved that NOVUS can save the windshield",
says Cyr. "It is important to perform the repair before
dirt infiltrates into the break. If you can't get to NOVUS right
away, call your local NOVUS for a windshield saver patch. These
patches cover the break until it can be repaired and do not obscure
your vision."
NOVUS, with more than 20 million
repaired windshields under its belt, follows a "repair first
replace when necessary" philosophy. The company invented
windshield repair in 1972 and has pioneered numerous innovations
in the field.
To attain optimum consumer
safety, Cyr recommends repairing a windshield whenever possible,
instead of replacing it. Repair not only saves the windshield
it preserves the factory's seal of windshield to auto body. "Since
passenger side air bags deploy off the windshield, preserving
the factory installation is an important safety consideration,"
explains Cyr. "Keeping the factory's original adhesive set
also helps avoid air and water leaks."
Fluids
As any mechanic will tell you,
checking fluids is the least expensive and easiest preventive
maintenance you can do. Change your oil frequently (consult your
owner's manual for recommended frequency), and don't forget to
change your engine coolant (diluted with 50 percent water) and
transmission fluid, about every two years. Pure engine coolants
can freeze at zero degrees, but mixing with water prevents freezing
and provides great protection for the cold weather.
Though fluids like oil and
transmission are commonly checked, other fluids integral to your
vehicle's performance, may go unnoticed. Power steering, brake,
radiator and battery fluids also should be filled to recommended
levels.
Don't forget to top off windshield
washer fluid. If you've ever driven after salt trucks have come
through to melt snow and ice, you know the importance of windshield
washer fluid. Do not dilute washer fluid with water since it
can freeze during winter's harsh temperatures. While you're at
it, you might want to change the wiper blades to prevent poor
vision in already poor driving conditions.
Batteries and Corroded Cables
Winter mornings can wreak havoc
on an older battery. The average life of a battery is 3 1/2 years.
If your battery is older than that, it's probably time to replace.
Have a mechanic check the battery and cables to ensure your car
starts quickly and reliably.
Anything Made of Rubber
Worn, bald or badly aligned
or balanced tires can mean accidents on ice, rain or snow. Have
your tires checked for proper inflation and alignment, and rotate
them about every 6,000 miles. If you live in unusually snowy
areas, you may want to consider snow tires for added traction,
or keep chains in your trunk or garage to help you through heavy
snowfall.
Rubber parts under your hood
need maintenance, too. Radiator, heater and vacuum hoses, among
others, should be checked for cracks and bulges. Also, inspect
all belts for damages and splits.
Rust, Minor Scratches and
Nicks
Road salt can turn a slight
scratch or nick to an ugly rust spot that's impossible to avoid.
And it can spread. Avoid costly body work by restoring spots
before they turn into larger problems.
NOVUS' Paint Restoration System
corrects many problem spots, from key nicks to minor rust on
metal. And since NOVUS uses an advanced paint formula that matches
not only the paint and color texture, but also picks up the characteristics
of the paint around the repair, the new and old paint will shine
equally, or fade, at the same rate -- even on metallics, pearls
and tri-coats.
Boots
Front-wheel drive vehicles
equipped with CV (constant velocity) joints should have the boots
checked for rips and cracks. Boots protect CV joints, but when
the joints are exposed to salt, ice and snow, they can damage
the joint. Replacing a joint can costs hundreds of dollars, but
replacing a boot costs a small fraction of that.
Spark Plugs
Worn or misfiring spark plugs
can affect how efficiently a vehicle burns the fuel/air mixture,
ultimately affecting engine performance. Worn spark plugs waste
gas and increase exhaust emissions, so have them checked and
replaced often.
Brakes
Don't postpone needed brake
work. It's dangerous to drive with poorly performing brakes,
especially in snowy weather. Postponing brake service also can
cause the cost of overhauling your brake system to skyrocket.
Lights
Last, but not least, check
your lights. Accidents can occur if you can't see where you're
driving, or if other drivers can't see you, especially as we
approach winter's short days and long nights.
Maintain your vehicle regularly
to provide years of service with better performance and safety.
For more information or to
locate the nearest NOVUS technician, call (800) 77-NOVUS (800-776-6887).
Courtesy of ARA Content
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ARTICLE POSTED
JANUARY 11, 2003
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