Winter Weather Means Special Care for Your Car

If you live in a place where winter includes snow, and rain, and temperatures cold enough to freeze either of those, then you need to prepare your vehicle for the season.

In places such as Wisconsin, winter never fails to come as a surprise for some drivers. One day, it seems as if you are observing the beauty of autumn, the leaves are falling gracefully to the ground in a kaleidoscope of color, and then the next day, you're stuck in a snowdrift three feet high, because you had no idea you would need the snow tires, or chains on your tires this early.

Important items no driver should be without in winter.

As soon as October has begun, winter is not far behind. This is a good time to start preparing your vehicle, and yourself for winter driving. There are some things that you should keep in your car as soon as the season starts to head toward winter.

• Gloves
• Ice scraper
• Windshield brush
• Blanket
• Lightweight shovel
• Small bag of sand, or cat litter
• Pocket hand warmers
• Road flares
• Jumper cables
• Flashlight
• A change of clothes, including thick socks, thermal insulated under garments (long johns)
• Snow boots

Keeping a cell phone charging in the vehicle is also a recommended precaution, make sure that the phone is reliable and has good range coverage. If you end up in trouble, on a lonely road, in the dark of night, in the deep cold of December, every one of those items will be useful, and helpful.

Winter weather car maintenance.

Once you have your winter weather safety measures taken care of for your person, it is time to take into consideration, any winter weather maintenance precautions that your vehicle may need.

-> Check your brakes, icy roads are dangerous enough without adding faulty brakes to the situation.
-> Make sure that your battery is strong and in good condition. Jumper cables will do you no good if no one comes along.

-> Have your heating/cooling systems checked, a car that won't start is taking you nowhere, and a car that overheats might leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere.