Is Your Car Actually Ready for Winter?
Louisville winters can be unpredictable.
One day it's 55 degrees.
A few days later you're scraping ice off the windshield wondering why your truck suddenly doesn't want to start.
Before colder weather settles in, a few preventative checks can help identify problems before you're dealing with them on a freezing morning.
Here's where we'd start.
1. Have Your Battery Tested
Cold weather and weak batteries aren't a great combination.
A battery that seemed completely fine during warm weather can begin showing its age as temperatures drop.
Before winter, consider having your battery and charging system inspected, particularly if the battery is older or you've noticed slower starts.
Watch for:
- Slow engine cranking
- Dim lights
- Electrical issues
- Battery warning lights
- Corrosion around terminals
Cold-weather preparation guides specifically recommend checking battery condition and connections before temperatures fall.
2. Check Your Tires
Your tires are literally where your vehicle meets the road.
Tread depth, tire condition and inflation become even more important when you're dealing with rain, slush, snow or ice.
And don't forget tire pressure.
Cold temperatures can cause tire pressure to decrease, which makes checking it throughout winter particularly important.
Look at:
- Tire pressure
- Tread depth
- Uneven wear
- Cracking
- Bulges or damage
Drivers who regularly encounter snow and ice may also want to consider winter tires or tires carrying the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) designation for tested snow traction.
3. Check Your Coolant
Your cooling system matters in the winter too.
Coolant helps protect the engine from freezing temperatures while also regulating operating temperature.
Before winter, check the coolant level and condition and make sure you're using the appropriate coolant for your specific Ford.
Your owner's manual or a Ford service technician can identify the correct specification.
4. Don't Forget Your Wipers and Washer Fluid
Good visibility can become a problem quickly during a Kentucky winter.
Rain.
Road spray.
Salt.
Snow.
Ice.
If your wipers are streaking now, imagine what they're going to do when the windshield is covered in salty winter grime.
Replace worn blades and make sure the washer fluid is appropriate for freezing temperatures. Cold-weather maintenance guidance specifically calls out both wiper condition and freeze-resistant washer fluid.
5. Inspect Your Brakes
Winter isn't the time to discover your brakes are overdue for attention.
Slippery conditions already increase the importance of controlled braking, so worn components can make a difficult situation worse.
If you're hearing grinding, squealing or noticing unusual pedal feel, don't wait for snow to find out what's going on.
6. Test Your Heat and Defroster
There's the comfort factor.
But there's also the visibility factor.
Your defroster needs to be able to clear the windshield effectively when temperatures drop.
Test your heat and front and rear defrost systems now rather than waiting for the first genuinely cold morning. [oemfordpar...direct.com]
7. Put a Winter Emergency Kit in Your Vehicle
Hopefully you'll never need it.
Keep one anyway.
Good items to have include:
- Blanket
- Gloves
- Flashlight
- Portable phone charger
- Jumper cables or jump pack
- Ice scraper
- Small shovel
- First-aid kit
- Bottled water
- Nonperishable snacks
If you travel longer distances during winter, consider adding additional warm clothing and basic traction aids.
8. Give Your Ford a Pre-Winter Checkup
The easiest winter repair is the one you catch before you're stranded.
A pre-winter inspection gives you an opportunity to check the basics before temperatures fall and holiday travel picks up.
At All-State Ford Truck Sales in Louisville, our service department can help prepare your Ford for winter, whether you're driving an F-150, Super Duty, Bronco, Explorer, Escape, Transit or another Ford vehicle.
Don't wait for the first freezing morning to find out something isn't ready.
Schedule your pre-winter service and head into Kentucky winter weather with one less thing to worry about.
Schedule here: https://www.allstateford.com/service-appointment.htm