Winterize Your Car for Safe Winter Driving

We all know what the winter can bring: sleet, snow, ice, and low visibility conditions that can not only make driving treacherous; they can make driving downright frightening. In order to be able to handle these winter driving conditions with the best possible advantage, it’s important that you winterize your car.

When you winterize your car, you’ll prepare the engine, brakes, wires, and more for cold winter conditions, decreasing the risk that you’ll have a mid-winter break down that could turn dangerous. Here are our tips for winterizing your car for safe winter driving:

Know What Winter Driving Is

Winter driving is when you have to drive in temperatures that are less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It is common for Canadian drivers to drive daily in winter driving conditions. However, just because you are accustomed to driving in tough winter conditions doesn’t mean that you can overlook the safety precautions recommended for winter driving. After all, it only takes one mistake to turn a common winter driving condition into an extremely unsafe situation.

Check On Your Car

Have a qualified mechanic (such as our mechanics) check out your car as you prepare for winter driving conditions. We’ll check the following components for safety and winterization:

• Battery
• Tires (we’re looking to see if they have the proper amount of air and tread, and that they have only minimal wear, if any at all)
• Antifreeze
• Antifreeze connectors
• Distributor
• Fuel and emission filters
• PCV valve
• Spark plugs
• Brakes
• Wires
• Hoses and fan belts

Essential Winter Driving Equipment

Even if you don’t plan to be stranded or get into trouble when you drive this winter, it’s always a good idea to prepare for the “what ifs.” Here are some of the things that we think you should definitely have in your car as you head into the winter (note: these aren’t an option):

• Spare tire, wheel wrench, and tire jack. Make sure the tire is inflated and in good condition.
• Shovel
• Jumper cables (take a refresher course on how to use them if you don’t already know)
• Tire chains
• Tow chains (especially if your vehicle can tow another vehicle)
• Bag of cat litter to help provide traction when there’s ice
• Tools, including a wrench, emergency radio, and extra batteries
• Warm clothes and blankets

Remember, winterizing your car will help you to stay safe as you take on winter driving this year. Contact Scott Kia today at www.scottkia.ca to schedule an appointment to have your car serviced for the winter. We also offer new and used cars in Red Deer, parts and financing. Come see the difference at Scott Kia today! And don’t forget about our specials on both new and used cars in Red Deer.

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Many people enjoy working on their cars on their own. After all, working on a car can give people great satisfaction when their work turns out to be effective. Plus, working on your used car in Red Deer can often save a good deal of money from service fees. However, even if you think you will be able to save money up front by working on your own used car, faulty repair jobs may lead to long term financial consequences…and physical consequences in some cases.

Here are some things that you should know before services your used car on your own:

Look Into a Dealership’s Policy and Rates

If you are servicing your used car on your own in order to save money, you should know that some dealerships offer special servicing rates for used cars in Red Deer that are purchased at their facilities. These dealerships may offer bumper-to-bumper or other types of warranties that could not only cover the cost of labor, but they may also cover the cost of parts. Therefore, contact your dealer to find out what they may offer for your used car.

Insurance Companies May Not Agree

Some insurance companies may not cover you if an accident or problem was caused as a result of something you did to your car. A certified mechanic can always ensure an insurance company that they did the work properly with the right parts. However, without this assurance from a mechanic, an insurance company may determine that an accident was the fault of a poor repair or maintenance job. Therefore, even if you know exactly how to install brake pads or work on any other part of the car, it may be wise to review your insurance policy to find out what will and won’t be covered if you work on your car yourself.

Know What You’re Doing

When it comes to servicing a used car in Red Deer, people need to really know what they are doing in order to avoid injury and death. Even simple service jobs such as changing the oil can be deadly for someone that improperly mounts a car. Therefore, it is essential that you always have training and practice in engine repair and maintenance as well as body repair and maintenance before you take on the task of servicing your own car.

If you are considering servicing your used car, we recommend that you speak with a Service Advisor at your Red Deer Kia Dealer, Scott Kia for tips, warnings, and recommendations. We’re always happy to provide the highest level of convenience and information that will help you get the most out of your car - and your budget.

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