Winter Car Care Tips

Now that winter is upon us, we need to make sure that our automobiles are fit to drive on the icy roads. Severe weather also makes it harder for us to drive to the best of our abilities and an increase in auto accidents as a result. Even when the weather is clear and dry, you can be the victim of an out-of-control car or 18-wheeler, but the chances increase during the winter months. If this has happened to you, you need to consult with a Houston 18 wheeler accident attorney. As an accident victim, you may believe that you can negotiate with the 18-wheeler’s insurance company on your own. You may have already discovered that this is not possible because the other side may be working very hard to assign the blame to you. They also employ tactics to delay payment for your medical treatment. For these reasons, you need a truck accident attorney. A Texas truck accident lawyer knows exactly how insurance companies victimize people like you a second time and they will ensure that this does not continue. Before taking your car out on the roads this winter, follow these car care tips so that you will have the safest ride possible. You may want to consider a roadside assistance service for added security. Perform the Necessary Maintenance on Your Vehicle A vehicle’s spark plugs, water pumps, belts and hoses are of particular concern because if they go bad, they can leave you stranded on the side of the highway. This would be particularly unpleasant during a storm, so you must have these things fixed as needed. People often neglect to check their tires’ pressures. As the temperature drops, so does the pressure in your tires. This could mean that they are very low right now. It is dangerous to have low pressure because your vehicle will not perform as well, so make sure that your mechanic checks this element now if your vehicle was manufactured before 2008. Check the Battery and the Charging System Another way to be left stranded is to neglect your battery and charging system. If the battery is old, it can cease to be of any use to you, but a damaged charging system can prevent a good battery from being charged properly. In both scenarios, you can be left out in the cold in a car that will not start. If you need a new battery, purchase the most powerful one possible because winter weather naturally causes a battery to lose power. Keep Your Windshield Wiper Reservoir Full During the winter, it takes much more windshield wiper fluid to keep your windshield clear than it does in the summer. You may even use half a gallon of fluid on just one snow-filled day. Just in case, you may wish to carry extra windshield wiper fluid in your trunk. However, do not purchase cheap fluid because some of these bargain products freeze at zero degrees. Carry a Bag of Sand in the Trunk A rear-wheel vehicle may need help with traction in cooler temperatures, and one or two bags of sand placed behind the rear axle will help. Sand increases the vehicle’s weight so that you can maneuver it better in snow and the sand can be spread on the roadway if you are stuck on a patch of  ice. Check Your Rear Window’s Defroster You may live in a state where you are required to have clear windows before you are allowed to drive your vehicle on the public roads. The inefficient thing to do is stop every ten minutes and manually wipe off your windows. A better plan is to have a functional rear window defroster that will do the job for you. Have a Cellular Telephone For the safety of everyone, you must not talk on the phone or send text messages while driving, but a cellular telephone will come in handy if you are ever stranded. Follow these tips if your car breaks down on a busy highway.