Making sure that your car is properly maintained is important year round, but as temperatures become frigid during the winter months, it is even more critical. Cold temperatures and hazardous driving conditions can wear some parts of your car at a rapid rate. This means that you need to make sure that you know how to adequately maintain your car during the winter to ensure that it runs effectively and safely even when temperatures fall.

Battery

The battery of your vehicle is what takes the most beating during the winter months. Starting a frozen engine is not an easy task, and you need to make sure that your battery is strong enough for this job. You don't necessarily need to buy a new battery before winter, but you do need to make sure that you prepare your battery for the cold. You can maintain your battery by cleaning it by removing it from the cables that it is connected to. You should typically remove it from the negative cables first and then use a wire brush to remove the corrosion that exists on the battery. If there is a lot of corrosion present, you can use a solution of baking soda and water to scrub the battery clean. Make sure that all of the battery terminals are cleaned thoroughly, so that you will get a strong connection when you reattach the cables.

Wipers

Another component of your car that is critical during the winter weather are your wipers. It is best to have new wipers installed on your vehicle before winter sets in. You need new wipers to ensure that you can see clearly when ice and snow are on your windshield. Replacing windshield wipers is a straightforward maintenance job that involves pulling the old wiper from the windshield and pressing a button on the bottom of the wiper that allows you to slide it off. You can attach a new wiper to the arm by making sure that it is aligned and pulling it tight onto the arm until you feel it lock into place. You can repeat the process for both wipers. Locking them into place is key because if they do not lock, they will not function properly. You should always test out your wipers before you take off on roadways.

Filter

Replacing the air filter in your vehicle is also something that needs to be done when you will be using your heater throughout this season. The air filter can be easily removed from under the hood after you remove the screws that keep it in place. Just be sure that you reattach the screws when you install the new air filter.

If you want a more thorough inspection of your car before winter, take it in to your local mechanic.