Fall 2017
Everything Auto
5
FALL MAINTENANCE
GETTING YOUR CAR READY FOR
STORMYWEATHER
Getting your car ready for bad weather isn't difficult or expensive, but it does require some forethought. Here are some things to check
to make sure your car is ready to face a storm.
WIPER BLADES
Most drivers forget about their windshield wiper blades until they
need them the most: in the middle of a heavy rainstorm.
Don't wait until a storm hits to think about your wipers. While
it's dry and sunny, check the condition of your wiper blades. The
rubber should be soft and easily bendable. If it seems hard, dry,
cracked, torn or peeling, get new blades right away.
The Car Care Council recommends you replace the blades
every six months to make sure they're in good condition.
WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID
Have you ever had a big truck splash mud and grime onto your
windshield after a storm? If so, you know how nerve-wracking it
can be to see your frontal vision completely obscured on the
highway — even for just a few seconds.
It's important that you're able to clear your windshield very
quickly, which is why keeping your washer fluid topped off can
actually be a big safety advantage for drivers.
While you should use special de-icing washer fluid during the
winter months, there are more specialized washer fluids that can do
a better job during the summer driving season for removing bugs
or sticky mud from your windshield.
TIRE AND ALIGNMENT
Finally, nothing provides more confidence in wet conditions than a
set of good, all-weather tires.
You should always keep your tires in top condition, but it's
especially important in areas that see a lot of stormy, rainy weather.
The deeper your tire treads are, the more water they'll be able to
displace on wet roads, which gives you added traction and better
handling in the rain.
For even more confidence, you can opt for tires that are
specially designed for wet-weather driving. These tires will funnel
extra water away from the driving surface as they roll, which keeps
the vehicle firmly planted during storms.
It’s also a good idea to get your car’s alignment checked. Over
time, your suspension can get out of adjustment, which can result
in worse handling and sometimes unpredictable skids.
FALL MAINTENANCE
FALL MAINTENANCE
BRAKES
SIGNS THEY ARE GOING BAD
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR
SHOCKS
MAINTENANCE PLANS
SQUEAKS
Most cars are designed to emit a high-pitched
squealing noise when the brake pads are dangerously
thin. A small, metal clip will rub up against the brakes,
telling you it’s past time for a brake job.
VIBRATIONS
If you sense any unusual vibrations when stopping, this can also mean it's time to get your
brakes checked.
Brakes that are worn unevenly can also manifest themselves through the steering feel,
especially if the vibrations get worse when you step on the brake pedal.
SQUISHY PEDAL
If the brake pedal doesn't seem to exert much pressure, or even lets you push it all the way
to the floorboard, your brakes could be on the verge of total failure due to a loss of brake
fluid, air or water in the brake lines, or a leaky or broken power brake system.
SMELL
If you smell a metallic burning scent, especially after hard stops, there's a good chance it
could be coming from your brakes. You should get a brake inspection to check it out.
The best way to decide when to replace suspension components is by
following the maintenance plan in your owner’s manual.
The owner’s manual contains recommended intervals for replacing certain
parts, including the shocks and struts. While this can vary some based on how
you drive it – jackrabbit starts and lots of potholes may wear out your
suspension faster, for example – the owner’s manual will give a good idea of
when the parts ought to be replaced under normal use.
It’s good information, and it could also void your car’s warranty if you
don’t follow it.
If you don’t have an owner’s manual, consider buying one from an online
auction, looking up your car’s maintenance needs online, or checking with a
certified repair center that can tell you exactly what the factory recommends
for your car’s age and mileage.
DO AN INSPECTION
Even before the planned maintenance, it’s a good idea to check the
conditions of your shocks and struts regularly. You can peek under your car to
look for any obvious signs of leaks or damage, such as oil that has dripped out
of the shock or bent parts that could have been cause by debris in the roadway.
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