Each year, the Car Care Council designates one month in the spring (April) and one month in the fall (October) to call awareness to the importance of regular car care. Failure to perform regularly scheduled preventative maintenance can cause breakdowns and make your vehicle unsafe. According to the Car Care Council, this is an important time of year to stay ahead of the game and get your car serviced before the temperature drops. Based on our experience, we wholeheartedly agree!

Your vehicle’s manufacturer provides a specific maintenance schedule. If you consistently bring in your vehicle for service at the recommended intervals (typically 5,000 miles for most types of cars and trucks), there should not be any surprises come wintertime. Here are a few specific maintenance items that are especially important to address during the fall.

Antifreeze/Coolant

If you have not had your antifreeze/coolant flushed recently, right before the winter is a great time to have this done.

Windshield Wipers

Obscured windshield visibility is a major contributor to winter accidents. If your wiper blades are old and worn, be sure to have them replaced and adjusted. Also, make sure your windshield washer fluid is filled and keep an extra bottle in your trunk if you anticipate the need to drive in the snow.

Tires

Poor tire tread is especially dangerous when driving on snow and ice. Make sure to replace any tires that are at the end of their useful life and have your tires rotated and balanced as well.

Battery

Dead car batteries are common during the winter and are one of the easiest ways to get stranded, waiting hours for a tow truck. If you have an old battery, strongly consider replacing it.

Alignment

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.

We want your family to be safe this season as the holiday season draws closer and temperatures continue to drop. Don’t procrastinate getting your vehicle serviced—bring it on by this month to any of our three convenient Triangle locations.