Five Tips for Fall Vehicle Care!

Suffolk County Cars Under 10k | Long Island Used Car Dealer

Fall is in the air, which means sweater weather, warm drinks, roaring fireplaces, and the beauty of leaves beginning to change. While we all love how wonderful the transition from summer to autumn is here in New York, many of us forget how important it is to take extra care of our vehicles as the temperatures start to drop. Here at Certified Headquarters in the St. James, we want to make sure you, and your car, stay safe and warm in the upcoming months, so we’ve put together a guide to help you!

One of the most important things to remember is keeping your battery connections clean, corrosion free, and tight (but not so tight that you experience any cracks or breaks). The colder weather means your heater will likely be blasting any time you’re in the car, and that adds a lot of wear and tear to batteries. It’s best practice to replace them every three years, and always act immediately if the battery light on your dash comes on.

Your tires might be one of the most important things to check as temperatures drop. Check your tread depth and check your tire pressure weekly during the colder months. Low temperatures mean you’ll lose pressure much more quickly which can result in flats and blowouts.

Next up are your wiper blades, defroster, and heater. These are all key elements to get through chilly temps and the frost and condensation that come along with them. It’s a good idea to replace your wipers every six months or so, but don’t hesitate to replace them sooner if you feel they aren’t working as well as they could be. Don’t forget to check your wiper fluid periodically as well; it can be a big help cutting through frost and ice. A pretty obvious thing to check is your HVAC, which stands for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning to ensure that everything is working properly and in good condition.

Last, but certainly not least, go get your brakes checked. They may feel fine, but you can never be too safe and wouldn’t want to skid across an icy patch on the road because they aren’t working optimally.

We hope this quick list has helped to give you a better idea of how to properly care for your vehicle in the upcoming months! We want everyone to be as safe as possible. If your looking to purchase a new preowned vehicle, stop by Certified Headquarters today!