Checklist of winter car care necessities

Winter can be hard on your vehicle. A thorough inspection of your vehicle’s components before winter comes can help you catch potential problems before they stop you on the road.

Ed Breakwell, service advisor at Nelson Chrysler, offered these as his top five tips for winterizing your vehicle.

1. Test your cooling system: Make sure you have plenty of antifreeze to protect your car’s cooling system to -40°C. Also make sure the coolant hoses and belts are in good condition.

2. Get your winter tires on: Four good winter tires are recommended for this area. You’re going to have trouble getting up the hills in Nelson on all-season tires, not to mention the danger and illegality of using them to drive over the mountain passes if you plan to travel towards Grand Forks or Creston.

The best idea is to put your winter tires on cheap winter rims. This will cut down on the expense when you have to switch tires, as well as protect your summer rims from damage.

3. Check your block heater: This is what you need to get going faster in the morning. If your block heater is working well, you won’t have to spend as much time idling your vehicle, waiting for it to warm up in the mornings. This will save your money on gas and cut down on your carbon footprint.

4. Also check your battery and starter: Both of these are working harder in the winter and weakness of one can cause failure of the other. You don’t want to be stuck with a car that won’t start when you’re in a hurry.

5. Watch your wiper blades: Good visibility is crucial for winter driving. Before the winter, and throughout the snowy months, watch for torn rubber and streaking. The main way wipers get damaged is when they freeze to the glass. Always lift your wiper blades up before you start scraping your car, to ensure they aren’t frozen. If you try to use wipers while they’re frozen to the glass, you’ll likely wear down the medal and end up in need of a costly replacement part.

If you bring your vehicle to Nelson Chrysler, they can look over your vehicle for all of these things and more.

“You can have peace of mind driving knowing that you’re vehicle is in good condition. It reduces your risk of breakdown,” said Breakwell.

To book your winter inspect at Nelson Crysler, call the shop at 250-352-5384 or drop by 803 Baker Street.

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