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Is your vehicle ready for winter? Here are tips to make sure it is

Cold weather is coming and now is the time for drivers to ensure that their vehicles are ready for winter.

Posted Updated

By
Claudia Rupcich
, WRAL reporter

Cold weather is coming and now is the time for drivers to ensure that their vehicles are ready for winter.

AAA Carolinas has unveiled a campaign they hope will raise awareness about what steps drivers should do to ensure that their vehicles can handle the coming weather conditions.

The group said drivers should check the following things:

  1. Battery: Cold weather makes your battery weaker. At a comparatively mild 32 degrees, a battery is 35 percent weaker than at warmer temperatures. At zero degrees, a car's battery loses approximately 60 percent of its strength. A battery load test performed by a qualified technician will determine a battery's strength for winter starts.
  2. Tires: They should always be inflated to their specified poundage and have enough tread to handle all road conditions. To check tire tread, look for "wear bars" that periodically run across the hollow of each tread. If the tread has been worn down to the same height as the wear bar, it's time for new tires
  3. Windshield wipers, fluid and defroster: Drivers need to be able to see and not have windshields blocked by ice or snow. Make sure wipers and the defroster are in good working order. Verify that windshield washer fluid reservoirs are filled with no-freeze washer fluid.
  4. Engine coolant system: Mix the antifreeze with an equal portion of water or purchase pre-mixed solutions. Have a repair facility check the level of protection with a hydrometer.
  5. Pack an emergency car kit- Motorists should be prepared in case they are stranded. A winter emergency car kit should contain a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, general first aid kit, tire chains, blanket, extra set of clothes, non-clumping kitty litter for traction, flares or reflective triangles, cell phone with extra batteries, gallon jug of water, non-perishable food items, window washer solvent, ice scraper, snow brush and shovel.

At Keenan's Auto Repair, Kenneth Dickerson said drivers can use a penny to check and see if their tires have the right amount of tread.

If Abraham Lincoln's head on the one cent coin is completely visible, new tires are a good idea. If it's partially visible, the vehicles tires are probably OK.

"You don't want to slide down the road, he said. "You don't want to be driving on the sleet or snow without enough tread."

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