It’s Time to Winterize Again
In the world of cars, winter is a term relative to the area you live in. A Santa Cruz, winter is mild compared to, say, North Dakota. The amount of service required to winterize your cars here is a little different then elsewhere. Here are the 5 top things that should be addressed regardless of where you are driving.
1. Varying road surface conditions and visibility tend to be the worst of Santa Cruz experiences. Thus said, we recommend having your wiper blades replaced and your windshield washers adjusted. Replacing wiper blades is usually an easy job for do-it-yourselfers. If the washer nozzles are not plugged, but just off aim, a sharp sturdy pin can be used to clean and aim them. Another great idea is to use Rain-X on your windshield. If your windshield has a lot of pits or is cracked, now would be a good time to replace it.
2. Have your tires inspected. Proper tire pressure has a major effect on how your rubber meets the road which affects stopping, driving and fuel economy. Most tires run between 32 and 36 PSI (Pounds per square inch). If there is not enough tread on the tires to properly displace the rain on the road, they will not be able to stick to the road. (Hydroplaning could occur.)Take a penny and stick it in the tread with the top of Lincoln’s head towards the tire. If the tread does not reach the top of Lincoln’s head you need new tires.
3. Make sure that other drivers can see you! A thorough inspection of exterior lights is in order. This is the season to have your fog lights working. Since the sun appears to be gone most of the time, having good reverse lights is also handy. Additionally there are newer, brighter head light bulbs available for most models of older cars. Remember, it is the law to have your headlights on while operating your windshield wipers. We can also re-brighten the headlight lenses on the newer vehicles.
4. This is the time of year that will take a toll on your car’s electrical system. Batteries are a common failure in the cold. Also starters that are weak to begin with tend to fail in lower temperatures. With the strain of having to create more electricity because of stress, alternators and voltage regulators will fail too. The tendency to accidentally leave our lights on happens this time of year as well. If you have any signs of hard starting, slow cranking, warning lights on the dash or think it has been 5 years since the battery has been replaced, have your shop test the electrical system. Cars are a lot more fun when they start properly.
5. The last thing to check in a Santa Cruz Winter is your heater system. With cooler temperatures and higher humidity it is best to have your defroster working properly. Often times a plugged cabin filter can lead to a poorly functioning defroster system.
There are other things that need to be done if you plan on skiing or taking a trip to where the temperature is lower than 35 or 40 degrees. We will cover these in another article. Call us if you need any help getting ready for this winter.
