Does anyone smell pumpkin spice? Are you noticing buses are back out filling the roads in the morning? And have you seen orange and black colors taking over your neighborhood’s outside décor? Well, this all means summer is ending, fall is among us, and many of us in South Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana are curious how long fall will last and when will winter begin.
You may be excited about the football season starting up, but you’re also likely starting to plan to begin driving in heavy rains, ice, snow, and overall low temperatures. Let the tire and automotive repair experts at Scott’s U-Save Tires & Auto Repair take care of you and your vehicle. Feel free to stop by and we’ll be glad to do a quick walk around of your vehicle or provide a complimentary inspection with an oil change.
If you’re more of a DIY’er, here’s a list of six items to check and inspect for the change of season.
We joke at Scott’s U-Save that brakes stop tires but tires stop vehicles. Tires are incredibly important when we change seasons and prepare for cold, icy, and snowy conditions. All of us in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana will see adverse weather and demand our tires to perform just as they do in the summer.
A great place to begin is by checking all your tires’ pressures. What do we mean by all? We’ll don’t forget about that annoying spare. You don’t want to be caught in a situation where you need to use the spare but it’s flat and unusable.
You’ve maybe heard of it, but it is an easy way to measure tread depth. Take a penny and stick the penny (Lincoln’s head facing down) into your tire treads. Check how much of Lincoln’s head you can see. If you can see Lincoln’s hair you need tires!
Within Chicago and Northwest Indiana, the fall and winter bring unpredictable roads, black ice, and slippery situations. We talked about tires keeping you safe and our second system to slow the vehicle are the brakes. Check your brake rotor wear and coloring, pad thickness, and ease of brake caliper extending and contracting. You should also inspect your brake hoses and lines for visible leaks and cracking.
Visually inspect battery terminals for corrosion along with any acid leaking out of the battery casing. Please note, any time you’re dealing with electrical systems you should always exercise caution when physically touching any components on the vehicle. With that in mind, physically check the connection between your battery and terminal cables for corrosion and wear that may be disrupting the connection. Coming out to a vehicle in the cold of Chicagoland and then not having the car start is a horrible way to start a morning. It could be as simple as a loose terminal. Take a few minutes and save yourself from a frustrating, cold morning.
Everything we’ve talked about so far makes sure you’re safe to stop, but now you need to ensure you can see. Wipers use a rubber component to clear the water. This means they dry out, crack and become useless with exposure to sun and extreme temperatures. Don’t forget about that rear wiper too!
Now’s a good time to add some winter-specific washer fluid too. Washer fluid does have some water content, so it’s always a good idea to add some winter fluid to help lower the freezing point and prevent it from forming a layer of ice over your windshield.
As best as we can prepare, we can never fully avoid accidents or mechanical failures. It’s a great idea to be as prepared as you can be. Put a kit in your car that includes a warm hat, blanket, snacks, and gloves. Let’s say you get in an accident on a low-traffic road and you have to wait a long time for first responders. Or, your car breaks down and you now have no heat in the vehicle. You’ll be able to stay comfortable and safe by keeping warm and hydrated.
Overall, the best tip is to be prepared and keep up on maintenance. This allows you to stay safe and avoid accidents. That is the key in the inclement weather we see in Steger, New Lenox, Schererville, and Crown Point. Illinois and Indiana drivers know full well how bad our local roads can be. Now if we add some ice, snow, or frozen debris you have a terrible surface to maintain traction. Stay safe out there Chicago and know Scott’s U-Save is always here to help South Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Give us a call or schedule online with us today!
Whether you're shopping for tires, looking to lift your truck, or need auto repair, Scott's U-Save is here to serve you! Schedule an appointment online or call today!
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