7 Ways To Prepare Your Car For Winter

Prep Your Car For Winter

Winter can be murder on your car. So if you don’t want to walk uphill (both ways!) in knee-deep snow to get to where you’re going, you’d better make sure your car is prepared for winter. Along with having your battery, fluids, belts, hoses, lights, and brakes checked by someone who knows that a serpentine belt isn’t what holds up Thulsa Doom’s pants, there are things you’ll need to do to your car throughout the winter to stay safe and avoid potential big-ticket repairs.

battery portable winter car charger#1. CHECK YOUR BATTERY
Even if the mechanic gives your battery a thumbs up in a pre-winter check, you may want to think about a replacement. “The average battery lasts three to five years,” says Wave Dreher of AAA Colorado. So if you got your battery back when purchasing a house was an excellent investment, it may be time to get a new one.

Pictured: NNOVA 3100 Diagnostic Scan Tool/Code Reader with ABS and Battery Backup for OBD2 Vehicles ($85 @ Amazon.com)

winterize your car brush tool

#2. BUY A BRUSH/SCRAPER COMBO
When it’s nut-shatteringly cold outside, it’s tempting to use a gloved hand to brush just enough snow and ice from the windshield to be able to see the road directly in front of you, and then get the hell in the car. A brush/scraper combo should run you less than $20 and can be used to clear off the entire car – including the headlights, brake lights, and roof. In case there’s damage or a crack on the headlights, an affordable replacement is just a click away.

Pictured: Long Winter Telescopic Car/Suv Snow Broom, Squeegee Scraper & Ice Brush ($17 @ Amazon.com)

Well, not only is that unsafe, but driving a snow-covered car is also illegal in some states. A brush/scraper combo should run you less than $20 and can be used to clear off the entire car  — including the headlights, brake lights, and roof.

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