How to Prepare Your Vehicle For Winter

The temps are starting to drop. Is your vehicle ready to brave the frozen tundra?
Here are some ways to prepare your vehicle for the upcoming winter:

• Re-stock your emergency kit

Each Fall, it’s smart to check your trunk’s emergency kit to see if anything needs to be added or replaced. Does your flashlight still work? It might need fresh batteries. Did you remove anything last year that needs to be replaced?
Here are some ideas of what you might want to have on hand:

• Warm blankets
• Extra hats and gloves
• Water and non-perishable food
• Cell phone charger and/or power brick
• Extra medications
• Emergency flares
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• Hand crank or battery-powered radio
• Ice scraper for windshield and windows
• Shovel
• Jumper cables
• Neon flag or ribbon
• Roadmap
• Chain or sturdy rope for towing
• Tire chains
• Rock salt to melt ice, sand, and/or kitty litter for traction in snow
• Reflectors

• Check your tires

        Consider snow tires for extra traction in the winter months. If that is not an option, look at your tire’s            tread. Follow this guide to see if your tires need to be replaced, so that you can be sure your vehicle          can grip the road during the winter months. Now is a good time to purchase tires if needed as you              can receive up to a $200 rebate on tires until 11-30-20.

• Inspect your wipers
  In the middle of a snowstorm is not the time you want to realize you need new wiper blades. Does it seem like they are working properly? When is the last time you replaced them? Here’s how to know if your wipers need to be replaced.

• Try your heater
  Does it still work? If not, get a service appointment before the temperature drops!

• Check Your Lights
  Check that your lights on the front and back of your vehicle are working, as well as your turn signals.

• Gather Tools
  Put a snow scraper in your vehicle in an easy-to-reach location, along with an extra pair of gloves. That way if your gloves are soaked after wiping off your car, you can simply change into dry gloves! A snow brush is also helpful, as well as a small retractable shovel to dig out if needed.

• Visit a Professional
  A 27-point inspection is part of every routine service appointment at Runde Auto Group. We can check things like your brakes, lights, wipers, coolant, etc in order to prepare your vehicle for winter. Make your service appointment here.