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Weatherize car to avoid winter emergency




Chuck Sorrell checks the pressure in a tire Nov. 2 at the Air Assault Auto Repair Center, 5300 Airborne St. at Fort Campbell. Sorrell is a lead training instructor at the center and said the time for drivers to prepare their vehicles for winter weather is now. Some common mistakes drivers make during the winter is having too little pressure in their tires, insufficient tread and gas levels that are too low in the tank.Sirena Clark / Main Street Nashville/mainstreet-nashville

Chuck Sorrell checks the pressure in a tire Nov. 2 at the Air Assault Auto Repair Center, 5300 Airborne St. at Fort Campbell. Sorrell is a lead training instructor at the center and said the time for drivers to prepare their vehicles for winter weather is now. Some common mistakes drivers make during the winter is having too little pressure in their tires, insufficient tread and gas levels that are too low in the tank.Sirena Clark / Main Street Nashville/mainstreet-nashville

Temperatures have chilled recently and while the roads are still clear, Chuck Sorrell, lead training instructor at Air Assault Auto Repair Center at Fort Campbell said the time for drivers to prepare their vehicles for winter weather is now.

System check

Some of the most basic functions of a vehicle are important to check before the weather consistently stays at colder temperatures, Sorrell said. This includes checking to make sure the heat is working properly, windshield wipers as well as all lights in the front and rear are functional.

“You’ll want to make sure there aren’t any nicks or tears in your windshield wipers,” Sorrell said. “And you’ll want to check to make sure they’re still flexible as well.”

As simple as it sounds, effective windshield wipers are important during inclement weather to maintain proper and safe visibility, and the heat goes without saying. In the event of an emergency, drivers want to know they’ll be able to stay warm and can defrost their windows.

Sorrell also recommends drivers get their batteries checked now rather than later because when the temperature drops into the 30s or lower, a battery that is already compromised or needs to be replaced will die quickly.

“Batteries need to be replaced every four to five years,” he said. “And the longer a car sits out in the cold, the more quickly it will drain the battery.”

If you are in doubt about the effectiveness of your car battery, Sorrell recommends having it tested at an automotive center.

Check tires

While it’s not necessary to buy snow chains for tires in this region, Sorrell said people need to check the tread on their tires to see if they should be replaced and to monitor the pressure.

“You need good traction in the snow,” he said. “If you look at them, there’s a wear bar across the tire and if you’re getting down to that wear bar then it’s time to change the tire.”

Tire wear bars are small, raised bars found within the grooves of tires between the tread markings that indicate how evenly tread is being worn down. A good way to measure whether it’s time to change a tire is to use a penny, Sorrell said.

“If you can take the head of a penny and stick it in the tire and you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to change your tire,” he advised.

Tire pressure is impacted by the cold weather as well, Sorrell said and drivers should make sure their tires aren’t low on air.

“As soon as cold weather hits the tire pressure can drop anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds,” he said. “People should check that regularly. I check mine every month.”

To find the required pressure level, look for the sticker inside the doorjamb on the driver side. The information also can be found in the owner’s manual. Depending on the vehicle, different pressure levels may be required for the front and rear tires. Check the pressure when the tires are cold as they heat up when you drive.

Monitor gasoline levels

Cold weather affects cars differently than the heat, and for that reason during the coldest months Sorrell suggests to never let a car sit with less than one-quarter tank of gas to avoid running into car problems.

“Keep at least a half a tank or better in it,” he said.

If the tank goes below 1/4, you may burn out or damage the fuel pump as most have electronic components that use the fuel to stay cool, Sorrell warns.

Having low levels of fuel in the tank during cold weather can expose the fuel pump, which when too hot can cause a car to break down.

Preventative measures

Other helpful measures Sorrell said include covering your vehicle with a tarp if inclement weather is imminent to avoid the frustration of scraping ice off windows and on days residents aren’t driving start the vehicle anyway and let the engine run.

“The best thing is to go out, start it and let it run for 30 minutes, that way you know everything is staying warmed up and loose,” he said. “If you let it sit for any length of time it will actually kill the battery.”

It is always advisable to secure your vehicle at all times. All cars should have emergency kits in them in case of an accident or if a car breaks down, Sorrell said. These kits should include flashlights, batteries and a cellphone charger. Blankets should also be kept in the car.

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