Are you hitting the road for the holidays this year? Our experts at My Mechanic will be happy to service your vehicle, give it a winter inspection, and do any repairs that might be required. Below are some important vehicle checklists for conquering winter weather trips.
Windshield Wipers
Wiper blades are crucial to safe driving. They are inexpensive and are worth their weight in gold in the winter. In the coldest winter months, old wiper blades can become hard, and brittle, and they crack or they just don’t work as they should.
Have your wipers inspected at least twice a year if you have any doubts as to their condition, change them!
The Battery
More batteries die in the winter than at any other time. Some batteries will give you a little warning ahead of time, such as slow cranking or electrical items, such as the GPS, acting a bit wonky. Other times, you will get zero warning that the battery won’t start the next time you try the motor.
While you can spot-check the terminals for corrosion, leave it to our team to check the strength of the battery. We will be happy to inspect the battery and the charging system. While no one can guarantee how long a battery will last, we can tell you if one of the cells inside the battery is weak or if there is a problem with the charging system.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze, also called coolant, only works if it was properly maintained and if it gets changed according to the manufacturer’s directions. The antifreeze needs to be flushed and replaced every few years depending on mileage and usage. If you need to top off in between flushes, properly mixing the correct color of antifreeze with water will keep it from freezing up in the winter.
If you’ve followed your car maintenance recommendations, chances are that the antifreeze is just fine, but it never hurts to check and see if the antifreeze is going to be able to take on a Chicago area winter.
Brake Pads and Brake Rotors
Depending on the type of rim your vehicle has, chances are that you can see them when your car is parked. If you see what looks like a large metal plate, platter or disc, that part is the brake rotor. The brake pads on your car are pressed against the brake rotor, sometimes called the brake disc, to stop the car. Depending on your year and model, you might have rear disc brakes as well.
While brake pads will wear out faster than a brake rotor, over time, the brake rotor will wear down far enough that it will need to be replaced.
Shocks, Struts, Steering, and Suspension
Make sure you are getting the best handling and control when you’re on the road. If your car is pulling to the left or right, there is a good chance you may need an alignment. Poor alignment is a much bigger issue when the roads are slippery because making more steering adjustments increases the risk of skidding.
Shock absorbers, commonly just called shocks, do what their name implies: They absorb the bounce and “shock” of the road. You feel far less of the dips, bumps, potholes, and speed bumps, which enables you to maintain control of the vehicle.
Struts are a crucial part of your steering and suspension system. While they do act like shock absorbers, they are vital when it comes to the car’s wheel alignment and they help keep the tires firmly planted on the road. In many cases, you will have struts on the front and shocks on the rear of your car or SUV. Some cars and light trucks have struts on all four wheels or even shocks all the way around, but chances are that you have two of each.
Inspect the steering and suspension system annually including shock absorbers, struts, and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends, and other related components.
All Season Tires and Winter Tires
There are two major differences when talking about all-season tires and winter tires. The first is that winter tires have a different tread. The tread pattern on winter tires has multiple narrow cuts across the tread and these small cuts give a winter tire small, sharp edges that grip or bite into snow.
The second is that winter tires contain a softer rubber compound than all-season tires. Softer rubber means better grip. The harder rubber in all-season tires tends to become harder below freezing and slide around more easily.
The problem with all-season tires is that below 45 degrees, these tires tend to become less flexible which means that they don’t grip the road as well, and they can suffer a blowout simply from hitting a good-sized pothole (we know there are several in Chicagoland!!!).
Winter tires are much better suited to Chicago weather. They are designed to move snow and water using a compound that allows the tire to bite into snow and ice, giving you better traction.
Of course, we understand that not everyone has room to store winter tires or the money to buy these. However, if at all possible, consider putting a set of winter tires on your ride so you can really feel safe about driving this year.
We Want To Be Your Local Mechanic
Rest easy when you take your holiday road trip this year, knowing that you and your family are riding in a safe and well-maintained vehicle. If you need help winterizing your vehicle or if it’s simply time for your car, truck, or SUV to be serviced, you can trust the ASE-Certified professionals at My Mechanic to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape for the upcoming winter weather.
For even more convenience, My Mechanic has two locations to serve you, Elmhurst, and Clarendon Hills. Last, but not least, having a local mechanic that you trust means convenience you can count on. Remember to have your vehicle serviced and inspected at least two weeks before you plan to leave.
Call us today for an appointment and happy holiday driving!
