10 Tips to Prepare Your Car for Winter Weather (2024)

Winter weather is unpredictable and capable of wreaking havoc on driving conditions, including icy conditions, snow, sleet, freezing rain, black ice, and low visibility of the road. Utilize these 10 tips to winterize your vehicle and avoid hazardous situations you may encounter while driving in inclement weather and let our Glenwood Springs service technicians ensure your car is winterized.

1. Keep Your Lights Bright

Daylight hours are shorter during the winter, which means navigating dark, slippery roads. Before cold weather, inspect lights for burned-out bulbs or dimming and replace or have them repaired. Before entering your vehicle to drive, check that your lights are clear of snow or ice.

2. Battery Maintenance

Cold weather causes a battery to work harder to start the car. In the summer months, have the voltage checked, clean any corrosion, and make sure the connections are secure. If your battery is not fully operational, have it replaced to avoid a stalled car in the cold.

3. Top-off Fluids

Before winter begins, confirm the antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid levels are at the fill line. Antifreeze keeps your engine from freezing. Windshield wiper fluid is essential when you need to clean your windshield for visibility.

4. Fill Your Gas Tank

A full tank of gas serves the dual purpose of keeping water from collecting and freezing your fuel pump and keeping warm in the case of a breakdown.

5. Heater and Defroster Care

Before cold weather hits, check to verify that your heater and window defrosters are operational. If not, repair them, as they are fundamental to safe driving in the winter and staying warm in the case of an emergency.

6. Winter Windshield Wiper Blades

Replacing your wiper blades twice a year is excellent car care. Installing wiper blades designed for icy conditions is a wise investment for those who reside in areas with high winter precipitation levels.

7. Invest in Winter Tires

If your tires are showing tread wear, replace them with all-weather tires before temperatures drop. In areas that accumulate show and ice throughout the winter, purchasing dedicated winter tires is a worthwhile investment.

8. Weekly Tire Pressure Checks

A weekly tire pressure check will ensure consistent optimal tire pressure. Your tire's pressure drops with the outside temperature, leading to worn tires and potentially an accident.

9. Survival Kit

Keep a winter weather survival kit in your vehicle with items including a space blanket for heat, flashlights, ice scrapers, backup phone charging sources, bottles of water, and non-perishable snacks in the event of being stranded in a remote area.

10. Let Glenwood Springs Ford Winterize Your Car Today

Contact us to speak with our expert service team and make an appointment to winterize your car today!