Fall/Winter

Winter is the season to be “Car Care Aware.”

The Car Care Council recommends performing the following tasks to get your vehicle ready for severe winter conditions. If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, visit a professional auto technician before the temperature dips.

Replacing worn windshield wipers can be a smart idea, but surprisingly few people remember to check them.

Out of all the vehicles passing through the National Car Care Month vehicle check events, close to one-fifth (17 percent) had front windshield wiper failures and 12 percent needed service on their rear wipers and or washer.

More than 70 percent of motorists admit that they did not have their cars winterized in preparation for inclement weather, according to a survey conducted by the Car Care Council. This can prove extremely dangerous if your car breaks down due to a lack of preventative maintenance. Why take the risk?

The good news is that it’s not too late to prepare your vehicle for harsh winter weather. The Car Care Council recommends the following tasks be performed by a do-it-yourselfer or professional automotive technician”:

When gas prices drop, motorists should take advantage of their savings at the pump and invest it back into their vehicles. By spending a little on preventative maintenance, drivers can save a lot in the long run, according to the Car Care Council.

Checking your vehicle’s antifreeze level during the cold winter months is a simple and inexpensive way to make sure your car won’t leave you stranded. Antifreeze is important because it is used to cool the car's engine, as well as protect it from freezing in cold weather. It also acts as the key agent in providing heat inside the car’s cabin.

Car commercials would have us believe that the mark of success is in the vehicle that we drive. Reality is quite different, according to The Millionaire Next Door. The New York Times Best Seller maintains that “you aren’t what you drive,” citing that most millionaires don’t live extravagant lifestyles, but spend wisely and live within their means regardless of their income.

A new Car Care Guide for motorists turns technical automotive jargon into easy-to-understand everyday language, taking the mystery out of vehicle maintenance and repair. The free guide, published by the Car Care Council, can be ordered on the council’s Web site at www.carcare.org.

According to a recent story in USA Today, more motorists are maintaining their current vehicles instead of purchasing new ones because of the uncertain economic environment. However, recent Car Care Council survey results show that 80 percent of the vehicles inspected during vehicle check-up events needed either service or parts.

Part of parenting is dispensing driving advice. For example, in icy weather young drivers may be told, "Take it slow. Don't drive any faster than the speed at which you're willing to hit a brick wall." Thanks Mom. Thanks Dad. Driving slowly and cautiously is good advice, but the Car Care Council reminds motorists of other cold weather tips.

The first and most important is to be proactive. That means making sure you're car is mechanically sound before the temperature dips and the streets get icy.

Today’s modern vehicle is a very complex machine and nearly every system on it is controlled and monitored by computers. In fact, advances in vehicle technology are demanding new tools, an increased amount of technical information and software in order for professional technicians to service, diagnose and repair these vehicles.  

With the increased use of computers and electronics, car companies are garnering a greater ability to control access to the information and tools necessary for the independent service industry to stay competitive with the franchised new car dealers.