Winter is here. Have you prepared your car? We’ve put together a few tips of things to do to winterize your vehicle:

A Clear Windshield.

• Being able to see is a pretty important part of driving- Make sure you have good wiper blades. Wiper blades last about a year.
• Make sure you fill up your windshield washer reservoir with non-freezing wash fluid.
• Make sure your defroster is working. If it isn’t and you don’t have money to fix it, look into getting a handheld heater.

A Healthy Engine.

• Get a full service check up to avoid a break down in the snow.
• If you have an oil-guzzling machine, keep in mind that oil thickens in the cold, so make sure you get the correct oil.
• Get your four-wheel drive checked before winter hits, so you know you can use it when you need it.

Good Tires.

• When you have bad tires, stopping can be difficult enough in warm weather, so make sure your tires aren’t bald when driving on icy streets.
• Consider getting snow tires for better traction if you live in a snow covered climate.
• Use a tire gauge to check your tire pressure. Tires may become low because air contracts in the cold.

Emergency Kit.

Put together a kit with the following accessories:

• A blanket for warmth.
• Extra boots and gloves- just in case.
• Food and water- sometimes you can be stranded for days.
• Ice scraper.
• Kitty litter or sand for traction when you get stuck in the snow.
• Flares if your car breaks down.
• Jumper cables if your battery dies.
• Flashlight to see at night.
• Tool kit.
• Tire chains.
• Spare tire.
• First aid kit.

Checklist When Stranded.

• Do not wander from car unless you can see help.
• Light flares at the front and back of your car to catch someone’s attention.
• Use blankets from the emergency kit to keep warm.
• If you can, run the heater every hour for 10 minutes.
• Crack one window to avoid the car sealing up.
• Suck on a piece of hard candy to prevent a dry mouth.