RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — This year’s first taste of winter weather came in with a fury, and your vehicle may be feeling the effects.
While the storm mostly spared Central Virginia, experts say now is the time to prepare for when it’s our turn to see a wintry mix.
At One Stop Auto on Midlothian Turnpike, service manager Dave Stanard told 8News they’ve been busy.
“There’s a lot of batteries, alternators, cooling system problems, that’s when they usually find out their heaters don’t work as well,” Stanard explained.
Doing a quick check with your mechanic is a good place to start — it can be simple and give you peace of mind as the temperatures continue to drop.
“Tread depth on your tires would be a good point so you don’t hydroplane that easy,” Stanard said. “Having your fluid levels checked and making sure that your car gets winterized properly, and your washer fluid should be the winter blend.”
One Stop Auto says now is the time to be getting these checks done — not when you find yourself stuck on the side of the road.
“That way you can schedule it in at your convenience, and you can get a little bit better deals sometimes, you know?” Stanard added. “Just be ready, we’ll be ready for you.”
Another simple way to winterize your car? AAA says this time of year, it’s best to keep your gas stank at least half full at all times.
CLICK HERE for more driving tips from AAA.
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