BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Car experts want drivers to take advantage of the expertise of trained professionals when preparing vehicles for the winter months.
“This time of year, we always encourage people to winterize their cars, and what we mean by that is take it into a certified technician to let them check a number of things for you,” said Clay Ingram with AAA Alabama.
It is common knowledge that the cold air can make vehicle’s tire pressure drop, but AAA says underinflated tires increase your chance of having a blowout.
There are also parts under the hood that need attention.
Ingram recommends people should get their fluid levels checked and potentially replaced. This includes anti-freeze or coolant, washer fluid, oil and transmission fluid.
Also, he suggests getting a technician to look at people’s belts and hoses. AAA Alabama says these tend to deteriorate from the inside out and could be wearing down, potentially leaving folks stranded.
Ingram says the biggest ticket item in the car is the battery. He said it hates the cold air, but technology is available to prevent any problems.
“You can go in ahead of time and they have these great battery testers now that can tell you the general health of your battery whether it’s in good shape, or kind of middle of the road, or maybe it’s kind of towards the end of its life and might need to be replaced.”
Ingram says most car batteries only last about three years, so regardless of the weather it may just be time for a checkup.
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