Many of us will be traveling by car over Thanksgiving and a few simple checks will make your trip safe and predictable. All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan.
These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all come into focus as you plan for your holiday trip. Take a couple minutes to see what you can do to help make your trip safe and predictable.
TIRES: The condition of tires can't be overemphasized. Excessively worn tires will not grip in snow and could lead to an accident. Here is an easy way to check your tires. Also be sure the air pressure is correct before you hit the road.
WIPERS are a small but highly important safety item. First be sure your washer reservoir is full and the sprayers are aimed correctly. If the wiper blades streak they need to be replaced.
If you at all suspect your wipers are frozen to the windshield, pull the wiper blade off the windshield before turning on your wiper motor. Never turn on the wipers if they're frozen to the windshield. Clear the windshield first.
Never turn on wipers when they are frozen to the windshield.
LOW COOLANT will cause the heater to blow cold. Look in the coolant (radiator fluid) tank to be sure the level is correct. The tank is clear so it is not necessary to open it. Never open a cooling system when the engine is at operating temperature.
Run the heater and listen to the sound of the fan. If it makes a grinding gravelly noise, it may be near the end of its life.
As always, if you have questions, you can always contact us. We've been serving the Denver area for more than 30 years.
