Pre Winter Brake Inspection Check List

During the winter, drivers tend to use their brakes more than any other time of the year. And this is for good reason, too. With black ice and snow prevalent through out this entire season, there are far more reasons why you may need to stop suddenly. Not all of them depend on you, either; other drivers can be just as much as a hazard in the winter as the weather itself. So in order to make sure that your vehicle is going to be able to handle what the season has to dish out at you, you will want to bring your car in to get the brakes checked at the very least. And when you do, this is the list of things you want to ensure that your auto repair person checks.

The Brake Pads

Whether you have disc brakes (common) or drum brakes (not very common), your brake pads are still the part that do the majority of the work when you brake to slow down or stop. Over time, the pads can and do wear down. The less pad your brakes have, the harder it will be to brake and the more pressure you will have to exert to bring your vehicle to a stop. Less pad can also bring more chance of brake slippage. It should be checked that your pads are thick enough (less than 4mm and it’s time to change them) and that they are resting well, the calipers tight enough to hold them in place.

The Brake Line

When you press the brake, the brake line excretes brake fluid through a hose to your brakes, allowing the pads to clamp on to the disc or the drum and slow then stop your car. If you have to put your pedal to the floor to stop, or it is far too easy to do so, then you likely have a leakage in your brake line, or not enough brake fluid. It should be checked that your brake line is not leaking, and that your brake fluid is topped off. 

The Brake Lights

When people think about their brakes, the last part to come to their mind is the brake light. But just as the brakes themselves, the brake lights are an important part of safety. They tell other drivers you are slowing or stopping so that you do not wind up getting rear ended. It should be checked that your brakes lights are in working order and respond instantaneously (or very close to) when you press on the brake pedal, no matter the force applied. 

Parking Brake

Your parking brake is just as much a part of the braking experience as your brake pads. When you park, the parking brake ensures that your car will not roll away—something no car owner would ever want to experience. It should be checked that the parking brake is working properly, and not sticking. 

Repairs

All repairs should be done by an auto repair professional. Even if you understand hot to diagnose, the work is much different. Bring your car in to a shop for any brake work it needs done. 

What to Expect from a Fall Maintenance Check

The fall season is unexpectedly rough on vehicles. With the amount of rain the months of this season experience, even familiar roads can become tricky, slippery places where accidents are not uncommon. To avoid facing any problems with your vehicle this coming fall, you will want to bring your car in for an annual fall maintenance check. But what should you expect from this experience? After all, if you are going to pay money, you should have the right to know, shouldn’t you? Read on to find out what these once a year inspections are all about.

How a Fall Maintenance Check Works

So this fall, you will drop your vehicle off at a AAA or a mechanic, or even an auto repair shop. They will run some tests, then give you some things you need to either have fixed or improved. No big deal, right? Well, it is not that simple; there are many stages to a fall maintenance check, and each is designed to ensure that you do not wind up driving in danger this coming season. During a fall maintenance check, various aspects of your vehicle will be looked at to ensure that it is up to par with the weather we all know fall has in abundance; rain, sleet and soggy, slick leaves. The maintenance check will take about a few hours, although it could take more or less, depending on the thoroughness of the shop. So now you know that, what exactly happens to your car during this time?

What a Fall Maintenance Check Involves

During a fall maintenance check, your car will be put through a series of tests to gauge its reliability. But these are not tests to push it to its limits; these are tests to rate its safety. First, a tire check will be performed. During this, the breaks, the tread and tire pressure will be checked. This will be followed by a tire alignment check. Then a fluid check. The fluid lines will be checked during the fluid check as well to ensure there are no leakages.  After this, your suspension will be tested. And after your suspension is tested, your engine will be checked. This may sound like a lot—and it is—but the reason for it all is because your entire vehicle works as one unit, and each component and part is as important as the last. A fluid check and a tire pressure check may seem basic, but they are just as important to your vehicle’s performance as proper tire alignment.

What All These Checks Will Mean

All of these tests are performed to ensure that your car is going to perform well this fall. However, they also mean you may have to pay to have your car worked on. If your brake pads were found to be worn down, then you may very well need to consider brake work. The same goes for if your fluid lines were leaking. Depending upon your make and model, costs can vary greatly, so it is best you speak to your mechanic about their rates, and if they work on your class of vehicle. 

Wind Shield Wiper Blades for the Winter

With the snow comes a whole different challenge for drivers. No longer are you simply worrying about rain and the occasional leaf getting pasted to your wind shield. During the winter, snow becomes a real issue for visibility. Just because your current wind shield wiper blades make do with the water, does not mean they will make do for the snow. And if your wind shield wiper clades do not currently work even for the water, they will certainly not work for the snow. So we are going to talk all about wind shield wiper replacements for the winter, so you will be safe all through the darkest and most dangerous driving season of the year.

Types of Wind Shield Wiper Blades

There are a few types of wind shield wiper blades, and they are made of a variety of materials. However not are all equal when it comes to the winter. In fact some just are not very good. The best types of wind shield wiper replacements for the winter are known as contoured blades. These are blades that hug the wind shield of your car. This is important, as regular wind shield wiper blades do not do this, and can potentially leave a lot of snow on your vehicle while you are driving—snow that may seem small at first but will accumulate quickly. A good winter wind shield wiper replacement will have a rubber boot. The boot will “drag” along the wind shield, really doing the work to get the most snow off your wind shield possible. They will also have a steel structure, which makes them more stable against the heavier weight of the snow. This is important because plastic wind shield wiper blades can and possibly will break from the extra weight of the snow.

Keeping Wind Shield Wiper Fluid Full

You may not use your wind shield wiper fluid much during the winter, but you will most likely use it in occurrences where your car has been snowed in, as the wind shield will become inherently dirty from the snow. This is an even bigger problem in the city, where dirty gets mixed with snow frequently due to (1) the plow services and (2) other drivers. Thus you will want to make sure that when you change your wind shield wiper blades, the wind shield wiper fluid is filled and works. 

Safe Usage in the Winter

It is important to have good wind shield wiper blades in the winter, and it is also important to use them properly and safely. First, avoid driving in heavy weather. This means weather where snow is literally storming down. This can reduce visibility greatly even if you have great wind shield wiper blades, as the snow falling will be much heavier and in far greater quantities than the blades and the motors in the vehicle that run them are designed to handle. Always scrape any ice off the wind shield before turning on your blades to clear the remnants to avoid damage to your blades. And be sure to clear any ice from the blades themselves before driving. 

The Fall Vehicle Maintenance Check List

This fall season, you do not want to put your safety at risk. When it comes to your vehicle, there is no reason why you should not want to put in the little extra effort in order to properly maintain the integrity of your vehicle, and keep you and your family safe on the road. So we’re going to go over a fall vehicle maintenance check list that will help you to stay on top of things this fall. It will include some basics that you may already be prepared for, and some things that you may not have even thought of. Read on to see just what you will need to do to your vehicle, or have done to it, this fall.

Change the engine oil

This is something that many tend to over look during the fall season, as it is considered a colder season and thus many figure their oil will not burn. There is just the same chance of bad oil in the fall as their will be in the summer.

Replace your antifreeze

This is another issue that many vehicle owners over look in the fall for the same reason; the weather gets cooler, and they figure that the engine will simply regulate itself. It will not. You should check and change your antifreeze on the same basis as usual. 

Check all fluids

Your oil and your antifreeze are not the only important fluids in your vehicle. Every fluid has a purpose, even wind shield wiper fluid, and thus it is important you check them all and make sure they are up to par.

Inspect all belts and hoses

This is a job that some will have the ability to perform, but for others, it will take a trip to a professional mechanic. This is not problem; belts and hoses can fray or strip or tear and cause a number of issues. Always best to check them each season, including in the fall.

Lights

The fall is a darker season. Thus you will want to be assured that your head lights and your tail lights are working perfectly to avoid any collisions caused by another driver on the road (a) not being able to see you or (b) not seeing your signal due to a defunct light. 

Check the tread on your tires

The fall season brings a lot of leaves and rain. Together, these two things serve to make roads far more slippery than any other time of the year, with an exception for winter. If your tires feel bald, bring in your car to get a new set put on. 

Check your wiper blades

Fall is a season of rain. If your wiper blades are broken, or damaged, a simple replacement can do wonders for your visibility this coming fall season. It will also keep you safe.

Bring your vehicle in for general car maintenance

Have a mechanic look it over to ensure that every thing is working, and working well at that. This is the perfect time to get those belts and hoses inspected as well.