The cold weather can cause all kinds of problems with your automobile. Most are minor and can be remedied very simply, where others can be major car repair jobs. Many can be avoided by using some simple prevention techniques. Some of the automobile problems in cold weather can be predictable just by the region that you live in.
Tires
The cold weather causes the air to contract and this can leave your car tires low on air. Tires that are low affect how your car maneuvers and how it rides. Car tires without the correct amount of air in them can cause the car to use more gas. This is simple to fix by replacing the air in the tire to the manufacturer's specifications. Periodically checking the air with a gage is recommended during the cold weather.
Locks and Doors
A frozen car door or lock can be a result of icy cold weather. This is nothing major but it can be a problem making you late for work or an appointment. An aerosol deicer is sold at automotive and hardware stores that can melt the ice in these areas. Using a hair blower on a heat setting can also melt the frozen part. Do not pour hot water in the area because the water will freeze and can make the ice build up even worse. Washing your car in cold weather is one of the main reasons this occurs. Avoiding your car getting wet in cold weather is one way to prevent this from happening. Spraying silicone in your door jams will also give you a head start at preventing frozen doors.
Windshield Wiper
Frozen windshield wipers are also a prevalent occurrence in the icy cold weather. Do not turn them on in an attempt to get them loose. Run your car for a good ten minutes with your defroster on high to melt the ice around them. Throwing hot water on the wipers will only add more icing to the area, so do not use this technique. You can use the deicer that is sold in hardware and automotive stores to loosen the wipers.
Battery
An automobile not starting due to a dead battery is a frequent call that the AAA gets during the cold weather. Freezing temperatures can render the battery powerless. This is easily fixed by jumping the cars battery with jumper cables hooked up to a working battery or charger. This needs to be done carefully due to high incidence of batteries exploding under these conditions. Refer to your automobile manual for instructions regarding this procedure. If you live in a region prone to icy conditions you can buy a battery warmer at your local automotive store. This device plugs into your home's electric current and delivers low heat to the battery of your car preventing it from freezing. It is like a heating pad for your battery. The AAA also recommends checking your battery strength often in the bitter cold weather.
Radiator
A major repair job to your automobile can be frozen radiator. This will happen in cold weather if there is not enough anti-freeze in your radiator. This can be prevented by checking the anti freeze levels before the cold weather sets in. You can also check the levels once a month during the cold weather. This should be done more frequently, especially if you live in an area that dips into arctic cold temperatures.
Tags: cold weather, cold weather, during cold, during cold weather, your automobile, cold weather This, major repair