Drive Safely Into Fall With These Car Maintenance Tips

You may not like it, but fall is on the horizon. The heat of summer dissipates, the leaves change, and the busyness of the season sets in. After all the wear-and-tear of warm-weather road trips, there’s a good chance your vehicle needs some care in order to get you and the family where you need to go in the fall. Here’s what you need to focus on.

Lights

The days get shorter and that means you’ll be using all your lights more often. Make sure headlights, taillights, flashers, blinkers, and brake lights are clean and working. Replace any that are dim or completely out.

Fluid levels

Have all the fluid levels checked and topped off. The transition from summer to fall is a good time to have your oil changed, but always go by the suggestions in your owner’s manual. Don’t forget about your windshield washer fluid. Rainy autumn days or nights can hinder your visibility – especially on a dirty windshield.

Windshield wipers

The heat of summer can cause your wiper blades to become warped or cracked. For safety’s sake, you should replace them at the end of summer and go into fall with a fresh set.

Windshield

If you have any cracks or chips in your windshield, now’s the time to get them taken care of. Once the weather gets colder, they can spread and be a much harder issue to deal with.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Of course you want to stay cool in the summer and warm in the cooler months, but your HVAC system is more important than just heating and cooling. You need to have a fully-functioning defroster to keep your windshield in tip-top clear.

Tires

There are some driving dangers that are specific to fall. For example, wet leaves on the roadway can lead to skidding or sliding in the right circumstances. Keeping up with your tires makes an accident like this much less likely. Look for tread-depth, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Your trusted mechanic can check your alignment, too.

Emergency kit

No matter the season, you need to be prepared for a breakdown or another emergency.

Your emergency kit should include:

• Blankets.
• Gloves.
• Tire chains (if you live in an area that gets a large amount of snow).
• Snacks.
• Water.
• Flashlight.

Travel confidently into fall

When you know you’re car has been well taken care of and each of your cars systems are working as they should, you won’t have to worry about getting stranded. Come to Conrad’s for all your fall car-care needs. We want to keep you safely on the road.

Visit a Conrad’s Tire Express & Total Car Care Location near you today!

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