Parenting Pointers: Prepping Your Car for Winter

Millions of Americans will hit the road to visit family this holiday season even though their cars aren't cold-weather-ready. (Last year, AAA anticipated rescuing 1.1 million drivers from December 23rd to January 4th alone.) So what can you do to avoid getting stranded on a dark, lonely highway, while ensuring you're not getting overcharged for preventative work?

The car repair experts at RepairPal — a nationwide network of certified, pre-screened repair shops on a mission to help you find a fair price for quality work — have five critical tips:

>>  1.  DO AN ENGINE CHECK-UP
Cold weather makes engine problems worse, so issues that might seem minor now — like stalling, hard starting, or rough idling—could become costly headaches. Have all engine issues diagnosed and repaired before heading out in the cold (and be sure to find a shop with certified technicians to avoid shoddy work or overcharging).

>>  2.  BEWARE OF WEAK BATTERIES
Without a professional inspection, it's impossible to know your battery's strength, but you can do preventative work by cleaning the surfaces of the battery and scraping away any corrosion from the cable connections and posts. (Wear gloves and protective eyewear to avoid contact with battery acid and corrosive deposits.)

>> 3.  DO AWAY WITH DULL WIPERS
Bad wipers aren’t just annoying — they’re dangerous. Replace old blades and make sure your washer fluid reservoir is filled at all times. If your climate is particularly harsh, rubber-clad (winter) blades can fight against ice build-up.

>> 4.  GET RID OF 'TIRED' TIRES
Tire pressure tends to drop in cold weather, so check it several times throughout the winter months. And if the treads on your tires are worn down, have them replaced. Make sure your spare tire and jack are in good condition, too.

>> 5.  BE PREPARED
Better safe than sorry, right? Create an emergency car kit with the following items: a blanket, boots and gloves, an ice scraper, windshield washer fluid, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, flares, a small snow shovel, a flashlight, kitty litter (for traction when stuck in the snow), and bottled water.

For help with these steps that could save you time, money, and  maybe even your life-the free resource RepairPal independently certifies auto repair shops nationwide. They provide data on the average cost of each repair, and offer trusted customer reviews — eliminating the need to shop around.