Winterize Your Car

Sad to say, the cold weather will be arriving soon. This means that we at the Better Business Bureau will begin receiving consumer complaints about car breakdowns, towing and repairs. Here are some good tips for preventing car trouble in the coming cold, winter months:

1. Engine Problems, like hard starts, rough idling, and stalling need to be fixed now.
2. Is your battery ready? Scrape off the corrosion and clean the surfaces.
3. If your battery is more than four years old, consider replacing it.
4. Have your cooling system flushed and 50/50 mixture of good quality antifreeze added.
5. How about the cooling systems and fan belts? They deteriorate with age and most garages can replace them quickly at a very reasonable price.
6. Once it gets cold, fuel deicer should be added to the gas at every fill-up. Try to keep a half tank of gas at all times to prevent problems in gas flow to the engine.
7. Old windshield wiper blades should be replaced, possibly with winter wipers, which can prevent ice buildup. Carry extra windshield wiper fluid, too.
8. Replace burned out light bulbs and keep the lenses clean.
9. Check the exhaust system for leaks, and have your mechanic check to see that the trunk and floorboards don't have air leaks.
10. Check and rotate tires and check tire pressure regularly to decrease the possibility of winter accidents.
11. Carry a blanket, gloves, flashlight and emergency gear in the car

If you do not have a regular repair facility, call the BBB to check our reports on local shops 24 hours a day at (716)881-5222. Or obtain a report online. You can also obtain a list of Accredited Businesses that provide auto related services online.

This report is general in nature and not intended as a reliability report on any company, service or product.