1. Watch your temperature
If the thermostatic valve of the engine cooling system freezes in the open position or does not close properly, even an attentive and experienced driver may not notice anything in the summer. Especially if the car does not have a temperature gauge.
In cold weather, the engine will not warm up – it will be worse to heat the “stove”, fuel consumption will increase. You can precisely control the temperature in the cooling system by connecting a simple ELM 327 scanner to the OBD-II connector and downloading the appropriate application for your car to your smartphone. This diagnostic tool can also check the operation of other systems.
Temperature gauges on some vehicles give inaccurate information. The actual temperature can deviate even 20 degrees.
2. Check the battery
I do not recommend that you grab a hydrometer and measure the density of the electrolyte. But it is necessary to check the condition of the terminals and the voltage on the terminals with a stationary and running motor using a simple tester. By the way, the ELM 327 scanner will also cope with this task.
3. Inspect the chassis
First of all, check the condition of the protective anthers on the ball joints, steering points or CV joints. Dirt and water entering through cracks and tears in the rubber will accelerate the wear of the hinge.
The tip and ball will need to be replaced and the CV joint can sometimes be saved. The whole thing should be washed well, filled with grease and a new boot should be installed.
The conclusion is simple – be sure to inspect all elements of the chassis. Remember: water will find a hole.
4. Protect the body!
After frequent trips in the summer on highways, the front of the car (bonnet, fenders, eaves) is covered with chips. It is better to close them in the fall – in winter, salt and reagents from the roads activate corrosion on unprotected metal.
It is also worth treating chips on the windshield. They should be repaired (or glass replaced) before frost sets in, as they can crack in winter due to intense heating from the stove.
It is important to clean the cavities under the windshield and behind the front wheel arch trim of the vehicle. Deposits of rotten leaves and seeds, road dirt will retain moisture, which will lead to intense corrosion of body parts.
5. Improve Visibility
The nights are darkest in the fall. And it is often foggy. So pay close attention to the lighting technology. Fog lamps should shine low and form a bright spot of light 20-25 m from the car. Also check that the headlights are correctly adjusted and that the manual and automatic devices for correcting the direction of the light rays are working properly.
The windshield wipers need to be replaced. In the heat, the elastic deforms, and the brushes begin to clean the glass worse, so it should be sprayed more often with windshield washer fluid. By the way, in order not to be left with a frozen nozzle reservoir at the first min, at least add diluted antifreeze to it.
Windshield is dirtyknown not only from the outside, but also from within. Over time, a plaque forms on it, which interferes with the assessment. Especially if people smoke in the car.
Wash the glass from the inside with a car or household glass cleaner. Liquids with ammonia additives are very effective: they are crystal clear after use.
- “Behind the wheel” can also be read on VKontakte.
Photo: Depositphotos and “Behind the wheel”
The Za Rulem expert shared how to painlessly survive the fall and prepare for the most difficult time of the year for drivers and cars – winter.
