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Fall Car Care: Help transition your vehicle from summer’s warmth to winter’s chill
09/22/2019

Tire Tune-up
- Check tire pressure and inspect tires for bulges and bald spots: Tires will lose 1-2 pounds of pressure for every 10-degree temperature drop. Maintain tires within the recommended PSI to maintain traction, handling and durability.
- Check tire tread depth. Use the “penny test”: Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of President Abraham Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32” of tread depth remaining, which is the recommended depth per the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). If not, it might be time to replace them.
- Consider switching to “winter tires” if you live in a state that where temperatures drop below 45° F on a consistent basis. A tire’s compound rubber properties change when the weather hits below 45° F, causing a decrease in road traction.
Under the Hood
- Hoses/Belts: Check for cracks and signs of excessive wear.
- Battery: Connection should be clean, tight and corrosion-free.
- Brakes: Have a certified technician inspect all brake components if there’s a suspected issue.
- Exhaust system: If there’s an unusual noise, inspect for leaks or damaged/ broken components.
- HVAC system: Check for proper heating and cooling performance, including defrosting.
- Steering/Suspension system: Inspect shock absorbers, struts, tie rods and other components.
- Air filter: Replace if filter appears dirty.
- Fluids: Check transmission, brake power steering, oil and windshield washer fluids for discoloration and/or are at or above the minimum safe levels.
Safe & Sight
- Wipers blades: Replace if blades are worn, leave streaks or miss spots.
- Exterior lights: Check headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers and back-up lights to make sure they’re operating properly. Replace any burned out bulbs.