7 Tips To Prepare Your Vehicle for Fall In OKC

Continue reading to learn 7 valuable tips about what you can do to prepare for the Fall season!

1. Check and replace those tires! Carefully inspect all of your tires including your spare tire. You what to pay attention to inflation, tread depth, visible cracks or visible damage, and just the overall condition of your tires.  Your tires need to be inflated to the correct PSI. This can vary from tire to tire but the correct PSI is noted on the sidewall of the tire. 

Cold weather causes tires to lose air quickly. Under or over inflated tires can cause poor traction, poor performance, and can even cause blow outs. In order for your tires to wear evenly, it is important that you rotate your tires.  You should rotate your tires every six months or 6 to 8,000 miles.  Make sure you have the proper tires for your vehicle. Maybe your vehicle needs snow tires or all terrain tires. 

2. Check, Change and/or Replenish those fluids including oil. Check your fluids including, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and oil. Transmission fluid is important for cooling and shifting. Coolant is needed to regulate the temperature of your vehicle. Power steering fluid is important in your vehicle’s operation. 

Top off what you need, Change or replace what you need. Change your oil at the recommended interval. Consult your vehicle’s manual to determine the recommended oil change interval, as it may vary by manufacturer and driving habits. Most newer model vehicles have an oil-monitoring system, if so, use it as a guide. 

3. Check and Change those Windshield Wipers. Windshield wipers are those things that we forget about checking or changing until we actually need them. Of course, in the middle of a rain storm and we remember when are wipers aren’t working properly. 

A little bit too late. Most auto part stores that sell windshield wipers will sometimes even change them out for you free of charge. It’s not a hard process, but make sure you keep an eye on those so you don’t need them when it’s too late.

4. Check your belts and hoses! Look for leaks, cracks, and wear and tear in the belts and hoses. You want to make sure that there are no signs of splitting, fraying, or glazing. Overheating, is one major problem with faulty belts and hoses. Although this usually occurs in the warmer months and usually summer, it can occur anytime of the year, even during the colder months. If you notice any complications with these car mechanisms, then you should take your automobile to your local mechanic.

5. Check your heat. Inspect your heating system to make sure it is working properly. You definitely want it to work when cold weather hits. Make sure your vehicle is blowing warm/hot air, make sure your defroster is working properly. You don’t want a fogged up windshield that won’t defrost or defog. Driving like this is very unwise and not to mention very unsafe. If you find any problems with those components, schedule a service visit with your mechanic. 

6. Check your lights. Enter your vehicle and turn on the hazard or emergency lights. This just makes it a little easier when inspecting your turn signals, as they both will be flashing at the same time. Do a complete walk around of your vehicle making sure that all of your lights are working. Be sure to check all lights including: headlights, turn signals, fog lights, taillights, and brake lights.

If needed, replace the broken or blown out bulb, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual on the type of bulb and how to replace the bulb. Lights ensure that you are visible to other motorists, even in bad weather and times of low visibility. Remember, if it’s raining, then your lights should be on. Stay safe!

7. Check your brakes. You need your brakes. Have you ever lost your brakes while driving, talk about scary! There’s no specific time to change your brakes, so you definitely want to check them regularly. Here are some tips to check your brakes. Listen to your brakes. Your vehicle’s brakes were designed to make a noise as an early warning signal that they need to be changed.

This noise usually sounds like metal scraping the wheels while the vehicle is moving. Observe the brake pads. On many vehicles, the brake pads can be seen through each wheel. Take a peek at it to determine the pad’s thickness. If it seems very thin, approximately less than ¼ inch, it is likely in need of brake pad replacement. Some brake pads have a slot in the middle that serves as a wear indicator. Look at the slot; if it’s almost gone or gone, the pad likely needs to be replaced.

In fall you can also protect your vehicle by parking it in an enclosed space. Might wanna build a roof extension on your parking space or just a covering over your parking spot.