Common Cold Weather Car Problems

Winter is right around the corner! It’s a wonderful season for holidays, sports, and spending time with family, but the cold weather can also cause a lot of car problems! It’s important for you to find a reliable auto-repair shop to test your car’s preparedness for the winter, and to fix any car problems that come up.

Here are some common car problems you may face as the temperature starts to drop.

Battery Problems

This is one of the most dreaded cold weather car problems! Nobody wants to wake up to find that their car battery is dead. Batteries weaken in the cold because they are forced to run more components than they do in warmer weather. Keeping your car inside of your garage is one of the best ways to avoid this problem. You should also have your battery tested at your auto shop to ensure that you won’t need to frantically find a jump-start some morning before you can make it to work.

Fluid Problems

Cold weather make your oil, power-steering fluid, brake fluid and transmission fluid thicken. When these fluids thicken, it makes it more difficult for your car to get the fluids it needs to run properly. Keeping your car in a garage is one of the best ways to prevent these car problems from happening, but having your oil changed and fluids checked regularly is also extremely important as the weather gets colder.

Tire Pressure

Tires can lose as much as a pound or two of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops. This is one of the most common cold weather car problems. With lower tire pressure, your tires are more likely to bald, which makes driving on snow and ice more difficult and dangerous. Tires may appear to still be full of air, but looks can be deceiving. Be sure to check your tire pressure regularly, to avoid this dangerous problem.

Broken Wipers and Windshields

Visibility is extremely important in cold weather. When temperatures begin to really drop, your wipers may freeze and your windshield may crack. This is one of the most dangerous car problems to happen in the winter; failing to properly maintain your wipers and your windshield leaves you at the risk of an accident. As with other car problems listed here, keeping your car inside of a garage is a great preventative measure, but if any problems should arise, contact your repair shop as soon as possible.

Frozen Fuel Line

In the winter, fuel lines run the risk of freezing. Condensation can form inside of your gas tank when it is low on fuel. In the winter, the condensation can freeze and prevent fuel from reaching your engine. Keep your car fully fueled in the winter and if any car problems such as this arise, contact your trusted auto repair shop.

Preventing Winter Car Problems–It’s Up To You!

Now that you are aware of some common winter car problems, you can work to prevent them from happening to you. If you live in the Santa Rosa area and you are experiencing car problems, trust the professionals at All Around Auto Repair with all your repair needs.