It’s that time of year again. The leaves have fallen, and the air is decidedly nippy. As winter quickly approaches, the weather can change rapidly from clear and cold to freezing rain or snow. On average, the Midwest and areas near the Great Lakes experience the snowiest or icy road deaths. Did you know that Michigan ranks in the top 5 list of the most

Winter Safety Tips: Increase Visibility

Driver visibility is crucial when driving in all weather conditions. However, winter weather can bring even more challenges. You can increase your safety and reduce auto crashes by performing regular inspections and routine maintenance on your vehicle. Here are a few helpful auto winter safety tips to help improve your visibility this season:

• Clean your windshield & wiper blades every time you fill your tank with gas.
• Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir full.
• Use a scraper and your car’s defroster to remove snow and ice from the windshield.
• Wipe away dust, filmy grime, and other debris from the inside of the windshield glass to help reduce glare.
• Repair any chips, cracks, or scratches in your windshield as soon as possible.
• Clean fogged or hazy headlights.
• Perform routine maintenance on the HVAC system to keep the defroster in good working order.

Winter Maintenance: Wiper Blades

In general, windshield wiper blades last about six months. If you use them often, you may need to replace them every three months. You should never wait more than 12 months to replace your windshield wipers, even if you rarely use them. Environmental factors can break down the rubber or silicone wiper blades and cause reduced driver visibility. If it has been a while since you inspected or cleaned your windshield wipers, now is the perfect time to perform a little winter maintenance.

Wiper Blades Inspection

Inspecting your wiper blades is a simple procedure you can perform yourself. Let’s take this winter safety tip step by step:

• Remove debris and clean the glass and wiper blades with a damp towel or rag. 
• Lift the wiper blade off the windshield glass and check that the rubber is soft and supple.
• Replace wiper blades that have cracks, missing chunks, or are obviously bent. 
• Does the wiper arm move easily? Try cleaning and lubricating the hinge if the arm is hard to move. If it is still difficult to move, replace it.
• If the wiper blades are still in good shape, give them a test run using windshield washer fluid on a clean windshield.  

Common Windshield Wiper Blade Problems

The wiper blades should improve driver visibility by quietly sweeping moisture from the windshield in a smooth arc. If they do not, here are some common reasons: 

• Streaking: caused by dry, cracked, or split blades
• Skipping: caused by bent or curved wiper blades or wiper arms from disuse or other damage
• Splitting: caused by UV damage, excessive heat, poor air quality, etc.
• Excessive wear: If you use your wiper blades frequently, the edges become rounded and ineffective. 

Remember this important winter safety tip: Never use your vehicle’s wipers on a snow-filled, frozen, or icy windshield. The ice can damage the blade edge. First, use a hand-held scraper or the vehicle’s defroster to melt the frost.

Wiper Blades Replacement

Your owner’s manual contains the factory-recommended wiper blade type. You can purchase replacement blades and wiper arms online or at your local brick-and-mortar auto parts store. It is a fairly simple procedure to replace them yourself. Or if you are short on time, take your car to your favorite auto shop, and the technician will replace them for you. Most auto service centers offer wiper blade service during a routine oil change or as an add-on with other maintenance services. 

Winter Windshield Washer Fluid

Different types of winter wiper fluid typically list the lowest temperature at which the product performs. For example, one product may resist freezing up to 0 degrees F, while another may work well in temperatures as low as -50F. Read the label carefully and select a product that matches your climate well to increase driver visibility.

Can I Mix Wiper Fluid Formulas?

Winter and summer wiper fluid formulas perform at different temperatures and environments. Mixing them might not affect the cleaning property negatively, but the freezing resistance will be less effective. Drain the summer wiper fluid and rinse the reservoir with clean water to be safe. Drain the water completely before refilling the tank with your chosen winter wiper fluid formula.

Wiper Blades Service in Ann Arbor, MI

Ron’s Garage regularly performs major and minor repairs on all vehicle makes and models, imported or domestic, up to one ton. Our ASE-certified technicians will address all your concerns with driver visibility, including replacing your vehicle’s wiper blades, windshield washer fluid, or other winter safety tips.

Schedule Your Appointment

Call us at (734) 961-4701 to speak with our friendly service agents. You can also visit our website to book your appointment.

The post The Best Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid Winter Safety Tips first appeared on Ron’s Garage | Auto Repair Ann Arbor MI | Brake Repair.

There is no denial in the fact that vehicles need care throughout the year, and drivers should take good care of their vehicles especially in the winters. This is suggested because cars are likely to get damaged more in the winter season as compared to that of the other seasons. Thus, car repair services in Brampton grows exponentially in this season. It is very confusing to decide from where to start to maintain the car, therefore here we have mentioned some of the easy steps so that you can prepare your car for the coming winter season.

Look for tire Pressure

Tires are most likely to get damaged when the temperature falls during the winter season. It is advised to look for the tire pressure to reduce the damage of the tires.You must ensure that your tires are inflated properly as the chilly weather can reduce the air pressure and hence and enhance more wear-and-tear of the tires.

Keep a check on the battery

The battery performance of the car can be affected if the temperatures are extremely cold. There is a significant decrease in battery capacity as the temperature decreases. It is a fact, that vehicles requires more current to start in the winter season as compared to that of the summer season. Thus, as the battery needs more power to start your car, it is advised to properly examine the battery on a regular basis.

Install winter tires

The normal tires which are installed in your vehicles don’t have that much flexibility and grip to run on the snow. Therefore, if you are prone to visit the roads filled with snow, you must ensure to install the winter tires as they have soft rubbers and has more grip.

Get the car serviced on time

Servicing the car on time is one of the best ways to protect it from any wear-and tear. No doubt, servicing the car is equally important for all the seasons. Winter season can cause many damages to the vehicles especially to the battery and the tires, thus it is advised to timely service the car in order to avoid certain damages to the components of the car.

Change the wiper blades

It is very important to change the wipers during the winters. If you live in an area that is prone to collect snow then it is obvious to keep a check on the wiper blades which as they are most likely to collect snow and get damaged. Therefore, it is important to change the damaged wipers in the winters.

Keep your tank full

Fuel is the most important part the vehicle has. We have discussed earlier that, the battery requires more power to get started in the winters. Thus, more battery power means more consumption of fuel. Thus, it is always suggested to keep the tank full in the winters especially if you are going on a long-route journey.

Check for headlights as well as brake lights

Winters mean that there would be fog and mist all around. This is the reason that most of the vehicles need to turn ‘ON’ the headlights almost all the time while driving especially in the wee hours. Therefore, it is advised to keep a check on the headlights and the brakes lights so that you won’t fall prey of any unwanted situation.

Repair the windshields, if damaged

Broken windshields are the most dangerous to drive within the winter season. Not only in the winters but, the view of the driver should be crystal clear in all the seasons. However, during the winters, it is difficult to drive in a situation when the windshields are filled with fog and mist, and having a damaged windshield can cause a more dangerous situation to drive the vehicle.

Fill your engine with antifreeze coolant

Antifreeze is a substance that helps the engine to prevent freezing in extremely cold temperatures. If there is no antifreeze coolant present in the engine, the engine will not able to combust and thus the vehicle will be impossible to move on the snow-covered roads.

Don’t forget to inspect your car

The inspection of the car is very important be it any weather. Properly inspecting the car, assures that the car is free from any severe damage that can lead to further damages to the car components. This is why car inspection in Brampton is mandatory for most of the vehicles.

Conclusion

‘Small things make huge differences.‘ The above-mentioned tips will help you keep your car free from any major damages that can be caused in the winter. One of the most important things that every driver should ensure is to install winter tires that prevent major damages to the vehicle as well as the driver. If you are looking forward to installing winter tires in your vehicle then we would suggest you rely on Harrad Auto services, who offer the top-class tire installation services in Brampton in pocket-friendly prices and rapid services.

This time of the year also marks the beginning of the holiday season, when family and friends travel, so they can celebrate and be together. While the winter holidays are cause for celebration, they can also be cause for concern when traveling. Increased travel during the winter means an increase in possible road side emergencies. Being prepared for just about anything is your best defense for survival.

At American Auto Body, we big believers in safety first. If winter weather is severe, it is always best to wait it out until road conditions improve. If travel is required, we suggest being as prepared as possible.

Below are a few suggestions to have in your car or trunk when traveling. If you drive long distances to work every day, it is recommended to keep these emergency car kit items with you each time you leave the house. Keeping these items together in a designated area of your car is also recommended for quickly locating in an emergency.

Winter Emergency Check List

• First aid kit
• Flashlight and/or headlamp
• Emergency flares, reflective markers, and reflective vest
• Jumper cables
• Shovel
• Vehicle fire extinguisher
• Battery operated radio
• Blanket and sleeping bag
• Extra clothing (snow pants, coats, hats, gloves, and boots)
• Matches, candles
• Towels
• Food and water (packaged items such as granola bars or energy bars)
• Toilet paper
• Phone charger with car adapter
• Salt, sand, or kitty litter

If your vehicle has been damaged in an accident or collision, give us a call at American Auto Body. Our team of professionals will take care of you and your vehicle, from start to finish. Call us today at 763-424-2522 or submit an online estimate with our online app.

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