United Tire and Service News

As the weather cools, we are presented with a whole new set of car problems to look out for, on top of the usual things on your maintenance checklist. Everything from your windshield wipers to your battery can be negatively impacted by dropping temperatures. Luckily, most of these cold weather issues can be prevented with timely and regular maintenance:

 

Belts – Important belts under your hood, such as the alternator belt, can crack or break in cold temperatures. If this happens, your engine may fail to start. As the weather begins to cool, ask your mechanic to check the belts on your car for excessive wear while receiving regular maintenance.

 

Coolant – If you are not using a coolant suitable for colder weather, your coolant may thicken to the point of being unable to properly circulate throughout your engine. Although the air may be cold outside, your engine could overheat quickly without the ability to circulate coolant through the cooling system.

 

Windshield Wipers – In snowy or icy weather, your windshield wipers may crack or become frozen to the windshield. Be sure to check your windshield wipers for ice before taking off in snowy weather, as it is dangerous to drive in snow without functioning wipers.

 

Tire Pressure – It is common for your tire pressure to drop along with the cooler temperatures. If you wake up one morning with a low tire pressure alert on your dash, don’t wait too long before have the tire filled. Driving with low pressure can cause accelerated wear on your tires and prevent you from driving safely on icy roads.

 

Battery – In winter weather, your car’s battery is working overtime powering extra components of your vehicle - the headlights and heater especially. This extra work could cause an already aging battery to give out quickly. If it’s been a few years since you replaced your battery, ask your mechanic to test yours at your next maintenance appointment.

 

If you are experiencing any winter-related car troubles, call United Tire & Service today or schedule an appointment online – we would be happy to help get you back on the road. Our locations in Pennsylvania are ready to provide the best in quality tires and auto repair services!