Prep Your Car for Fall

Getting Ready for the Season

Sometimes we’ll forget about performing routine maintenance on our cars. A good way to remember about preventative care for your car is to do it when the seasons change. As fall has arrived and the leaves are changing colors, it’s time to make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape.

 

 

Things to Check Under the Hood

Be sure to make sure your battery is in optimal condition. Take it to your local auto-parts store to have it tested and ensure that the terminals are not corroded. If they are, try scrubbing them with a wire brush.

Also be sure to check your fluids—coolant, oil, brake, and power-steering fluids. If any of them are low, top them off with the manufacturer-recommended type (consult your car’s owner’s manual for specifics). You can also look in the owner’s manual to see if there are any maintenance mileage intervals coming up and what needs to be done.

Inspect your air filters, both the engine’s and the cabin’s, to see if they’re dirty. If so, replace them. Clean air filters maximize airflow and efficiency.

 

What to Check Around the Car

You should also perform a walkaround check of the car’s exterior. Turn on all of the lights. Are your headlights, turn signals, and hazard lights still in operating condition? Have someone assist you with checking your brake lights to make sure the third brake light (typically above the trunk or on the back of a truck’s cab) is still illuminating. If they’re not, replace the bulbs or related relays. Always replace headlight bulbs together, not just one.

If your car’s windshield wipers are cracking, replace them so that they don’t continue to disintegrate or streak across the windshield. Also make sure your tires are in good condition, with plenty of tread, no cracking or dry rotting, and the correct air pressure (you can see what it’s supposed to be in the owner’s manual or on the driver’s-side door sill).

 

Learn More About Fall Car Care

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