Prepare Your Car for Winter in Cambridge, Ontario
5 Simple Steps to Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter
We all know that Canadian winters can be tough on our vehicles, and can cause car issues at the least opportune times. While the severity of our winters in Ontario can never be truly predicted, we can take steps to ensure our vehicle’s are prepared to handle whatever cold weather awaits. From ensuring our fluids are topped up, to a healthy battery and your vehicle’s vital defrosting systems, having a prepared vehicle can help us avoid cold-weather headaches in the months to come. Read on for 5 simple steps you can take to prepare your car for winter, and book a winter-maintenance appointment and our Cambridge vehicle service department.
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Prepare Your Tires
The most important part of preparing your vehicle for winter is ensuring that you have the proper treads equipped to handle the slippery conditions. Even when you have winter tires ready and available, it’s important to routinely monitor tire pressure and tread health to ensure you get the best performance possible. Low tire pressure is common in cold weather conditions as fluctuating temperatures can cause the air in your tires to expand and contract, leading to more wear-and-tear.
Protect Your Paint Job
Your paint is an important part of your vehicle’s protection from the elements, so protecting your paint is key. Consider where you park your vehicle in the winter. If possible, park in a garage to protect it from the constant cold exposure and moisture. If you don’t have a garage, then consider investing in a high-quality car cover to protect from the elements. To deal with the rock salt and sand on the roads, we recommend routine car washes or even protective waxing to keep your paint from peeling and corroding.
Check Under the Hood
There’s two key components to check for under the hood of your car in preparation for winter: the battery, and the fluids.
Battery
Cold weather can be devastating for car batteries, even more so for older and unhealthy batteries. There’s no greater annoyance than realizing your battery is dead, so be sure to check your battery with a load test to measure capacity and charge. We provide battery inspection services at our Cambridge Centre Honda Service Department.
Fluids
Checking your oil, coolant, brake fluid, and window washer fluid should all be on your winter to-do list. Windshield fluid can easily be replaced by refilling the intake under the hood, while oil and brake fluid can be checked and topped up / changed by booking an appointment at our service department.
Replace Your Wiper Blades
Visibility is important when you’re driving on the roads, and old windshield wipers don’t get the job done. If you notice streaks left on your windshield, it’s time to replace your current wiper blades with new ones. Once the snow falls, you can also extend the life of your wipers by scraping off ice and snow with an ice scraper or de-icer, rather than relying on just your wiper blades.
Prepare a Winter Emergency Kit
At the minimum, your car should have a few key items stored away in the trunk in the event of emergencies, which is even more important when the cold weather falls. Here’s a few key items that are considered the minimum you should have at all times in your vehicle:
- Jumper Cables
- Tow Rope
- Handheld Shovel
- Blankets
- Hats & Gloves
- Ice Scraper / Snowbrush
Other items that can be considered vital include a first aid kit, phone charging cable, and dried foods, so that you can be fully prepared for all situations.
Prepare your vehicle with our winter maintenance service at Cambridge Centre Honda’s vehicle service department. No matter your make or model, we have the experts to help you prepare your vehicle for winter with fluid checks, battery inspection, winter tires, and more. Book your appointment, today.
