8 Tips To Prepare Your Car For Fall

Winter arrives in many Canadian provinces as early as October, making the fall season the last opportunity to prepare your vehicle for the harsh winter months. While it's crucial to maintain all vehicle components, some parts endure extra stress in winter conditions and require special attention to ensure a smooth and trouble-free winter driving experience. 

Here are some car maintenance tips for this fall to prepare your vehicle for upcoming winters.

Starting with the component that endures the most strain, the battery is prone to suffering as temperatures drop. Harsh weather conditions can be detrimental to a battery's performance, as cold temperatures force it to work harder to start your car. Our car battery maintenance guide aims to assist you in evaluating the condition of your battery, ensuring it doesn't fail during freezing temperatures on the road. 

Follow the tests outlined in the guide, and if you discover that your battery is significantly deteriorated, it's advisable to replace it promptly. Dealing with a failing battery during winter is the last thing you want to contend with. A crucial specification to consider for winter usage is the battery's CCA, or cold cranking amps. Opt for a battery with a higher CCA rating, as this guarantees better performance in cold weather conditions. 

Mechanics commonly recommend maintaining your vehicle's fluids and servicing them regularly. The various fluids in your car, from engine oil to radiator coolant, are essential components of its various systems. Prior to winter, it's crucial to inspect and address any fluid-related issues in your car. Low or insufficient fluid levels can lead to problems such as engine malfunctions and reduced brake performance, making it important to address them to avoid winter headaches. Refer to our vehicle fluids servicing article to maintain all the fluids and oils in your car. 

The significance and safety benefits of winter tires cannot be emphasized enough. Winter tires have the ability to outperform other types of tires on snow-covered and icy roads. In fact, modern winter tires can perform effectively on dry winter roads, particularly at temperatures below 7℃ (45℉), surpassing the performance of any other tire in winter conditions. With fall approaching, it's an ideal time to plan ahead, and installing winter tires should be a top priority. It's worth noting that winter tires are legally required in Quebec and some areas in BC, while they are recommended in all other Canadian provinces. Make sure to adhere to winter tire laws across Canada for the safest winter driving experience. Learn more about when to switch to winter tires in Canada. 

Furthermore, it's crucial to inspect and maintain your tires. Worn-out tires can significantly compromise your vehicle's safety, especially in severe winter conditions. Ensure that your tires meet the minimum tread depth requirements as specified by Canadian provincial laws. Additionally, perform tire rotations to extend tire lifespan and maintain proper tire pressure. As temperatures drop, tire pressure tends to decrease as well. A significant temperature drop can result in critically low tire pressure. Therefore, it's essential to regularly inspect and inflate your tires to the recommended levels.

The brake system components tend to be worked out more heavily in the summer months which leaves them weary and worn. Inspect all brake components for wear starting with the brake pads and brake discs or brake shoes if you have drum brakes. Driving on slush, snow and ice demands more from your brakes and they need to be functioning in optimal condition for maximum safety. Look out for the signs of brake failure and follow a few steps to prolong brake component life. 

The radiator in your house keeps your home warm but the radiator in your car does not perform the same task. It is up to the heating system in your car to ensure you have a warm cozy ride. The heater core runs the hot engine coolant to warm the cabin. So if your engine cooling system is lacking then the heater core will also fail. Inspect the coolant and ensure the antifreeze mixture is up to spec. Test your heater and defroster and make sure they work. If you face any issues then it is best to consult a professional for proper troubleshooting. It is also a good practice to assess the coolant condition and carry out a complete coolant flush to ensure the cooling system and engine perform optimally. 

Visibility is greatly compromised in bad weather conditions and we must rely on the vehicular lights in such situations. Diagnosing light failure is simple, just walk around your car with all the lights on. Replace all the non-functioning bulbs especially the rear brake lights, headlights and taillights as they are the most important. Here is an easy guide for diagnosing and repairing taillights. 

With heavy rain and snow on the horizon, having effective wiper blades in your car is crucial. If you observe streaks or smudges when using your wipers, it's a clear sign that wiper blades are deteriorating and need replacement. To ensure reliable performance during the upcoming months, it's a wise choice to opt for winter wiper blades. These specialized blades are designed to resist freezing or sticking to the windshield and are well-suited for use in freezing temperatures. Replacing your wiper blades now will help maintain clear visibility and safer driving in inclement weather.  

If you've been using water as your windshield washer fluid during the summer, it's essential to switch to an alcohol-based washer fluid or add alcohol to the existing mixture as winter approaches. This adjustment prevents the washer fluid from freezing in cold temperatures and aids in melting snow or ice accumulation on the windshield. Making this change will ensure your washer fluid remains effective and helps maintain clear visibility during winter driving conditions. 

October is recognized as Fall car care month, signifying the imminent arrival of winter and the ideal opportunity to ensure our vehicles are adequately maintained and prepared. It's crucial to conduct a comprehensive inspection of various components and address any identified or pending issues. In addition to the sections mentioned earlier, it's essential to service shock absorbers, exhaust system components (including exhaust pipes and catalytic converters), inspect various seals to prevent weather-related issues, and give your car a thorough wash to remove accumulated summer dirt. As a safety precaution, assemble a winter survival kit and store it in your trunk. These steps will help ensure your vehicle's readiness for the approaching winter season.