fall-and-winter-maintenance-hints
Fall and winter maintenance hints
Fall and winter maintenance hints
Engine oil (level, colour) remember
winter engine idling is hard on the oil
Coolant (level, concentration of
antifreeze, condition) depends where you
live -45 celcius or -50 F is a good
level.
Transmission (fluid level, condition,
leaks?) Has it been serviced recently?
Is the colour of the fluid nice and red
and how does it smell (ie: burned
smell?)
Power steering fluid (level, condition)
Same as transmission: check smell and
colour.
Belts & hose (condition) check for
crackes and/or frayed belts. Hoses and
clamps, check for cracks and leaks
Battery and battery cables (charge
level, condition, corrosion) keep the
battery clamps clean
Spark plug wires (loose, damaged?) when
was the last tune-up? Vehicles are
harder to start in the winter
Air filter- make sure to check with a
light, if the light shines through the
filter it is OK, clean filter by tapping
against a wall
Windshield washer fluid- be sure to
install winter washer fluids. (you don't
want a solid block of ice in your
washer)
Under the Car
Exhaust system (leaks, damage)-------
exhaust fumes can kill !!!!!!
Steering (loose, worn or damaged parts)
How much free-play in your
steeringwheel?
Suspension (ball joints, shocks, struts,
springs) These parts can fall apart and
you'll have no steering
Ride height (ground clearance) look for
broken exhaust pipes, mufler hanging
down
Motor mounts (inspect bushings for rips,
cracks, breaks) These are harder to
check, watch for excesive engine
movement.
Outside the Car
Wiper blades (condition) winter blades
prefered, these blades wont plug-up with
snow and ice.(keeps the blade flat
All lights (proper operation, angle of
beam) include fog and driving lights
Tires (very important) your life rides
on these. All Wheel Drives (AWD) ALL
FOUR TIRES....Same size and same brand!
Studded snowtires Front Wheel Drive
(FWD) Studded tires all around, (this
should prevent the backend of you
vehicle trying to pass you on an icy
road)
Inside the Car
Brake pedal (tightness) if you have a
spongy pedal you may have air in the
system or worse brakepads and/or shoes
worn.
Brake and warning lights (bulb check)
when you first start the vehicle these
bulbs should light up for a few seconds
Heater (proper operation) Sometimes
heater cores plug-up and you wont have
enough flow to heat inside or proper
defrost
Front and rear defrosters (proper
operation) Rear window is electric, are
all grids working?
Article Source: Fall and winter
maintenance hints
Article Directory: Article Dashboard
Fall and winter readyness of you car suv or truck