The approaching fall season means that winter is not far behind. Even though winters are usually mild in Kentucky, your car still needs to be ready for cooler temperatures. The best way to prepare your car for the winter is to maintain your vehicle during the fall.
Discover four fall maintenance tips for your car.
1. Make Sure the Heater Works
Kentucky might not get that cold, but you should still have some heat in your vehicle when the temperatures drop. To check your car’s heater, simply turn it on and make sure warm air blows out of the vents.
If the heater doesn’t work, this might be due to the following:
- The thermostat isn’t working properly.
- The antifreeze fluid levels are too low.
- The heater fan or blower motor resistor is faulty.
- The heater core is clogged.
- The radiator has a leak.
One more reason your heater may not work is the controls, dials, or touchpad that you use to turn on or adjust the heat are broken. If any of these issues have caused your heater to not work, you may be in for a chilly ride come winter.
2. Check the Headlights
During the fall and winter, it gets darker outside much earlier than in the summer. Since you may spend more time driving in the dark, you’ll want to check your headlights to ensure they both work correctly. The best way to do this is to turn on your vehicle and get out to ensure they are both on.
If you find that one of your headlights does not work, you may simply need to replace the bulb. If both headlights don’t work, either both headlight bulbs need replacing, you have a blown fuse, or you have a problem with the headlight switch.
When you check your headlights, you will also want to make sure both the low beams and high beams work as they should. Properly working headlights should also be bright enough for you to see what’s on the road in front of you. If your headlights are too dim, you may need to clean them, or you might have wiring or relay issues.
3. Fix the Brakes
Colder temperatures mean you may hit icy patches on the road. Faulty brakes are the last thing you want in your car when you hit ice on the road. In order to safely navigate icy roads and other types of inclement weather, your brakes need to operate to the best of their ability.
To help you prepare for winter driving, you’ll need to fix your brakes in the fall. Signs of brake problems include:
- The brake light on the dashboard is on
- The brakes make grinding noises when applied
- The brakes wobble or vibrate when applied
- The brake pedal is soft or spongy when pressing it
- The car pulls to the side while braking
One more sign of brake trouble is that you notice a burning smell while driving.
4. Change Fluids If Necessary
Fall is a great time to check all of the fluids in your vehicle. These fluids include the:
- Engine oil
- Transmission fluid
- Coolant or antifreeze
- Brake fluid
- Windshield washer
In order for certain car parts to work correctly, these fluids need to be maintained at a certain level.
In some cases, you can simply top off these fluids if the levels are low. However, in some instances, the fluids may need changing. Check your owner’s manual to see if you should change these fluids. When your vehicle has the right amounts of fluids, it decreases the chances of car failure and being stranded, which is not an ideal situation, especially during colder weather.
If your car needs maintenance this fall, or you just want to be sure your vehicle is in good working order for the coming winter, contact Powers Transmissions. Our experienced auto technicians provide a variety of auto repair services for car owners in Lexington, KY.