Make Auto Maintenance a Priority This Fall!
Don’t waste your fall grieving the sunshine and warmth of summer. Pull-on your favorite sweater, grab a pumpkin spice treat, and begin your preparations for the cold winter ahead. From raking leaves to decorating for Halloween, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Make car care a priority on your fall maintenance list this year. Wisco Automotive in Burlington, Wisconsin makes getting your vehicle serviced easy. We’ll schedule an appointment around your convenience and provide honest quotes for repairs and part replacements.
Call us today at 262-767-9393 to schedule an appointment for your vehicle(s).
2020 Fall Note
Car maintenance is especially important this year. If you’ve been working from home and your vehicle has been sitting unused, you have parts that need to be inspected for safety and performance. Avoid the frightening experience of your brakes failing or engine belts snapping by having your car properly serviced before winter.
Midwest Fall Auto Maintenance Checklist
Oil changes, tire rotations, and fluid flushes should be performed as recommended by your owner’s manual. If your vehicle is due for service, have your mechanic include the additional fall maintenance tasks below. You can perform some of the tasks below yourself too.
Car Battery
The cold of winter can affect the life of your battery. If the charge on your battery is low, it will almost definitely fail when freezing temperatures hit. If your vehicle is going to be stored over winter, you need a solution to keep your battery charged. Have your battery inspected and, if needed, replaced before winter.
Headlight Inspection
As the days grow shorter and colder, you’ll be driving more and more in the dark. Make sure your headlights and signals are properly working and lit bright enough to improve visibility at night and in bad weather. If you notice dim headlines or a signal that is flashing quicker than normal, get your vehicle serviced.
Windshield Wipers
The heat of summer can leave your windshield wipers cracked and deteriorating. Fall is the perfect time to replace your wipers. Not only do we experience frequent rain in the fall, you want windshield wipers that perform at their best for the snow we’ll receive this winter. Check your windshield washer fluid and top it off if necessary too.
Tires
You want good traction when the roads are icy, wet, and covered in snow. Check the depth of your tire treads and if they appear low or you notice uneven wear, you should consider tire replacement. Cold temperatures can also affect your tires differently than the heat. Freezing temperatures will cause a lower tire PSI too. In fact, the PSI of your tires will likely fluctuate throughout the day as temperatures rise and fall and your tires warm up on the road. Having your tires properly inflated in the fall will add peace of mind when PSIs start fluctuating in the winter.
Brake Inspection
Bad brake lines can worsen or fail altogether in freezing weather. If you haven’t had a brake inspection this year or have noticed signs of poor brakes (like squealing), you should have your brakes checked and repaired before the roads are slippery and wet. Checking your brake fluid levels before winter is also important.
Heater Check
It’s always a good idea to make sure your car heater is working properly before it’s freezing cold and you need it. That also means checking your coolant levels and topping them off if necessary. If your coolant is frequently running low, you should have your system inspected for faulty parts.