Page 22 - AAA Northway – AAA Now! – January/February 2017

automotive services
Wintertime can be a beautiful time of the year, where after a snowfall, everything is covered in a blanket of glistening white. But for your vehicle, snow, ice, and cold are anything but good.
All of your vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems are subjected to very harsh conditions in the winter that can cause them to fail and create the need to use a AAA tow truck. To avoid this scenario from happening, there are some simple things that can be done to help protect your vehicle.
Now that winter has set in, schedule your vehicle to be serviced and checked over by a reliable automotive repair facility. Your local AAA Approved Auto Repair (AAR) facility fits the bill nicely for this service. AAA inspects them yearly and certifies that they meet the training, technology, and technician standards that are required by AAA to be in the program. For information about these standards,
go to AAA.com/aar. All AAR facilities now offer a 2-year or 24,000-mile parts and labor warranty for repairs performed with new parts; some restrictions may apply. Also, as a AAA member you are entitled to at least a 10% labor discount on repair work up to a maximum discount of $50 (exclusions may apply).
Make sure the oil and filter are freshly changed going into winter, to make sure of proper oil flow when it gets very cold. The air filter for the engine and the cabin filter for the interior should be checked and replaced, if needed, to reduce the chance of something causing a reduced air flow either to the engine or to the heating and defrosting systems.
Looking at your vehicle’s needs, start off by making sure that the parts of the car that touch the road are all in good shape. Make sure all your tires have
plenty of tread and are correctly inflated. Tires in cold weather can lose as much as 1-2 lbs. of air for every drop of 10 degrees or more. Check the tire pressure regularly in the winter. Also while having your service done, see if a tire alignment or tire rotation should be done
to make sure your car is tracking properly and helping your tires to wear evenly.
Other important items that should be checked are the battery, charging and starting systems. Have your AAR
facility verify everything is in good condition and the battery is strong for wintertime starting. If you can’t make it to the garage, call AAA mobile battery service to come to your home or business to check everything and, if needed, to replace your battery. Check with AAA, because AAA battery service is not available in all areas.
Have the AAR facility check all your vehicle’s lights and their operation because with winter being
a darker season, all lights working is a necessity. Verify your ignition components, brake system, belts and hoses, exhaust system, and heater and defroster are operating as designed and that there are no fluid leaks. Make sure the engine cooling system is working properly, has no leaks, and has a freezing temperature good to at least -25 degrees. One other area that is often overlooked in winter maintenance is wiper and washer operation. We recommend special winter wipers during this
time of year because their design keeps snow
from freezing in the blades. Also, use special low- temperature windshield washer fluid in the washer bottle so that it doesn’t freeze.
For additional information about the AAA Approved Auto Repair program, visit your local AAA Travel Center or go to AAA.com/aar.
Have a car insurance review done by your local AAA insurance agent at a nearby AAA Travel Center or visit AAA.com/insurance for assistance. That way, if you do have an accident because of the snow or ice, you will know you have proper coverage to get you back on the road quickly.
Your Vehicle Needs extra Care to Combat the Winter’s Cold and Snow
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january/february 2017