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Car Safety: Get your Car Ready for Winter Weather

Car Safety: Get your Car Ready for Winter Weather

Car Safety: Get your Car Ready for Winter Weather

  • "Home and Auto Repairs"
  • Educational

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Besides mentally preparing yourself for the colder temperatures that winter brings, it is also important to prepare your vehicle for the coming winter weather. Not only is it important for car safety, but for the longevity of your car as well. Most of the things on our list you can do without breaking your budget, but you may need an installment loan along the way.

Get a Tune-Up
To get your car ready for the winter weather, you should invest in a tune-up. If you have existing problems with your vehicle that can affect the car’s safety, they will only get worse in winter weather conditions. Getting a tune-up will ensure your car can make it through the winter and can find issues such as hard starts, rough idling, stalling, and diminished power. You also want to make sure that your car’s heater and defroster are in working condition before the dropping temperatures cause you to use them. There is nothing worse than not being able to defrost your windshield!

Check the Battery
Cold winter weather can be hard on car batteries, especially in older vehicles that are over three years old. Make sure there is no corrosion on the posts and that the battery has enough water. Avoid having to jump-start your car during a snow storm by getting your battery checked as soon as possible.

Monitor Tire Pressure
Making sure your tires are ready for the winter weather is one of the most important things you can do for car safety. Your tire pressure will drop along with the temperatures. You can lose one pound per square inch whenever the temperature drops by ten degrees! Winter weather can bring snow, ice, and other unsafe driving conditions so you don’t want to add low tire pressure on top of that. If you are in doubt what your tire pressure should be in the winter, it can be found in your car’s owner’s manual. If you live in climates where snow is very common and expected, it may help to switch your vehicle to snow tires. They will improve traction and make your car safer in dangerous winter weather conditions. If they aren’t in your budget this winter, consider taking out an installment loan. 

Get an Oil Change
Oil tends to get thicker as the temperatures get lower. If it gets too thick, it won’t do its job of keeping your engine lubricated in the winter weather. Make sure to go to a mechanic you trust to get the right kind of oil change.

Have an Emergency Kit
There is nothing worse than getting stuck in your car in the middle of nowhere with no heat, food, or cell phone service. For car safety, always keep an emergency kit in your drunk with things like a flashlight, blanket, extra water and food, flares, an extra set of boots and clothes, and a small shovel. You should also always have a spare tire, jumper cables and an abrasive substance such as sand or kittie litter in case your tires get stuck in a snowy area.

Preparing for winter can bring a lot of extra expenses you didn’t make room in your budget for. If you need added funds to get your car ready for the winter weather, visit your local AmeriCash Loans. We make getting installment loans fast and easy. Apply today
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