Winter car maintenance is a whole new ball game. With cold and icy conditions, it means getting a service, changing some parts and conducting regular checks.

The thing to keep in mind is the cold and how it affects all the different parts of your vehicle as well as your need for winter auto repair. For example, the cold is a big battery drainer. This is because batteries run off of constant electrochemical reactions but these slow in the cold, meaning the battery will weaken. So, you may walk down your drive to find starting your car the number one chore of the day.

Then, there’s the ice, the snow and the cold roads that can throw everything out of whack. For example, if you slip on black ice, you might need a wheel alignment in your winter car maintenance. Or, if you’re constantly driving in the snow, you might need new winter wipers installed with rubber to help stop the ice from gathering.

That’s why we suggest heading to your local auto shop for winter car maintenance or a winter service. They’ll get your car prepared for the stark conditions the season brings so you can roll from A to B with no fuss under the hood. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Battery Checks

Your battery is the key to starting up your car; if that’s out of juice due to the cold weather, you’ll need a new battery during your winter car maintenance and service. Your technicians will also conduct checks on the battery cables, terminals and posts!

1. Antifreeze Top-Up

Antifreeze is a liquid that gets mixed with water and pumped around your car while you're driving down the Texan highways. It keeps an even operating temperature of your vehicle’s components so they don’t freeze in the extreme winter cold.

1. Brakes & Brake Fluid

In icy conditions, you need to increase your stopping distance by ten-fold with at least 600 feet ahead of you. Which accounts for good brakes and topped-up brake fluid. So, it’s a vital check during a service to prevent winter auto repair after a collision.

1. Tire Inspections

We’ve mentioned this a lot here at Dealership Autoplex Collision Center because it’s one of the biggest reasons for winter auto repair. So, in the winter car maintenance checks, we’ll be adding winter tires and ensuring good tire pressure for traction.

1. Wiper blades

Your wiper blades might be great now but, when it comes to the snow and ice, they might fall short. Winter wiper blades have a protective rubber coating to prevent them from freezing in place. So, your winter car maintenance may involve installing them.

1. Engine oil

Your engine oil helps to keep all the important parts moving smoothly. However, your oil should change with the weather because it reacts to the temperature. So, your winter car maintenance techs may change you from a 10W oil to a thinner 5W oil.

1. Emergency Flashers and Light check

With sidelights, blinkers, headlights, high beams and fog lights, you need to check all bulbs are working and bright for the winter. It stays dark for longer and you need to both see and be seen when on the roads in these conditions. 

1. Advice

Your winter car maintenance check isn’t just to keep your car updated with the safest components for the cold weather. Your technicians will also be able to give you key information and tips. For example, check tire pressure weekly and keep jumper cables!

If you want to know where to take your vehicle for its winter car maintenance service and checks, our team is here. At Dealership Autoplex Collision Center, our ASE-certified technicians are on-call to make sure your vehicle is winter-ready this 2022 season. 

Give us a call at (972) 242-0092 or browse our website to learn more about our teams and our services. Alternatively, visit us directly at our shop in Carrollton, TX.