School is back in session, the leaves are beginning to change colors, and the temperatures are starting to drop. It’s time to start preparing for fall weather, which includes preparing your vehicle, too. Here are 6 tips for getting your car ready for fall driving.
6 Fall Car Care Tips
#1. Inspect Your Tires
Since summer road trips are officially a distant memory, it’s time to check your tires after all the weekend travels this summer. Uneven wear on tires can lead to a few potential safety issues such as underinflation or misalignment. These can result in poor fuel economy and unsatisfactory handling. Pay attention to common warning signs suggesting you may need new tires and see a professional if needed.
#2. Check Your Battery
It seems as though the moment the weather turns cold is the moment that many car batteries die. Instead of waiting for this inconvenience to happen, check your battery this fall so you can get it replaced before you end up stranded this winter, as cold, damp conditions tend to wreak havoc on batteries in low temperatures.
#3. Observe Your Wipers
When it comes to driving, there's nothing more infuriating than windshield wipers that don't work properly. Having your vision obscured by ineffective wipers that just spread the rain all over your windshield isn't only annoying, it's also dangerous. Even if they look okay, wipers that leave streaks or seem to jump across the window rather than smoothly gliding across need to be replaced.
#4. Get Your Car Detailed
Not only will your vehicle look great, but it’ll be protected, too. A good detailing removes the sand, dirt, and dust that has compiled throughout the summer months. Detailing also includes waxing, which gives a protective layer between your car’s paint and the sand, salt, and snow that’ll cover the roads during the winter months.
#5. Replace Your Filters
Fall is a great time to check your cabin and air filters, as they’ve been working hard all spring and summer. Cabin air filters clean the incoming air and remove allergens, while the oil filter helps remove contaminants from your car engine’s oil that can accumulate over time as the oil keeps your engine clean.
#6. Check Your Heater & Defroster
As Minnesotans, we know that it’s going to get downright cold in the coming months. This is why it’s essential to check your heater and defroster now to see if they’re both working. No one wants to drive around in a cold, fogged-up car that you can’t see out of.
By being proactive and keeping these fall car care tips in mind, your car will be running smoothly into the winter months. If you need assistance with any of these tips or general auto service, call (763) 522-2000 to schedule a service appointment or test drive.
