North Jersey winters bring freezing mornings, snow, slush and plenty of road salt. A little prep in the fall can save you from a dead battery or a slide on Route 4. Here's a short checklist.
1. Test the battery
Cold weather makes it harder for a battery to deliver power, and it makes your engine harder to start. A battery that was just okay in September may not make it through a January cold snap. Many batteries last around three to five years. If yours is in that range, or the engine has been cranking slowly, have it tested before winter.
2. Check your tires
- Pressure: Tire pressure drops as the temperature drops, about 1 PSI for every 10°F. Check it monthly when the tires are cold, and fill to the number on the sticker inside the driver's door, not the number on the tire.
- Tread: Worn tires lose grip fast in snow and slush. Try the penny test: put a penny upside down in the tread. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, the tread is too low.
- Winter tires: If you drive a lot in snow, or drive early in the morning before plows come through, consider a set of winter tires.
3. Replace wipers and fill the washer fluid
Streaky wipers are dangerous when trucks are spraying salt and slush onto your windshield. Replace blades that skip or streak, and fill the reservoir with a winter washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures. Summer fluid can freeze.
4. Check the coolant (antifreeze)
Coolant keeps the engine from freezing and keeps your heater working. Check the level when the engine is cold. If it's low, or it hasn't been tested in a long time, have it checked to make sure it protects for the temperatures we get here.
5. Make sure heat and defrost work
You need a clear windshield to drive safely. If the defroster is slow or the heat blows cold, get it looked at before the first freezing morning.
6. Wash off the salt
Road salt speeds up rust on brake lines, exhaust parts and the underside of your car. Wash your car, including the underbody, every so often during the winter, especially after a storm.
7. Clear all the snow off your car
New Jersey law requires drivers to remove snow and ice from their vehicle, including the roof, before driving. Snow sliding off a roof can blind you or the driver behind you, and you can be fined. Keep a brush and scraper in the car.
8. Pack a small winter kit
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Phone charger
- Blanket, gloves and a hat
- Flashlight
- Jumper cables
- A small bag of sand or kitty litter for traction
If your car hasn't had a check-up in a while, fall is a good time for one, before the first storm and not during it.