Even though Southern California certainly does not experience winter like other parts of the country, it’s still a good idea to do some general winterizing for your vehicle during this time of year. It will help keep you safely driving down the I-5 and will also prepare you for those trips up to the mountains for some skiing or merely getting away this holiday season.
- Check your battery: colder temps can put a strain on your battery, and you sure don’t want to find out the hard way that this was the time you should have purchased a new one.
- Replace wiper blades and fill wiper fluids: it’s a good idea not just to use water in the colder months because that could easily freeze in your lines. And imagine driving in either a rain or snow storm with wiper blades that don’t wipe!! GAH! This is the time to change those blades!
- Inspect your tires and make sure you have chains if you are heading up to the mountains. There are places along the way to Tahoe or Big Bear that won’t allow you passage without them. You want good tires too because if they are less likely to do their job during the summer months, you don’t want to find out how badly they can do their job with extra rain, ice, or snow by slamming into anything.
- Update your vehicle’s emergency kit: update medications, change out the snacks, replace batteries in the flashlight, make sure your blanket is warm and cozy, have warm gloves as well as work ones in case you need to dig your way out of a stuck auto. Include jumper cables, first aid kit, folding shovel, fully charged cell phone, tow straps, and water bottles.
- Check all your belts and fluids: all of these can be adversely affected by the colder temperatures.
Larry’s Independent Service in Mission Viejo is always thinking about how to best keep you safe on our local roads and well beyond. We know many of you have the adventurous California spirit and it’s essential that you are well prepared for the local weather changes as well as anywhere you plan to travel to this holiday season. From our family to yours, we wish you all a wonderful, safe, joyous Christmas and New Year!