Disclaimers

How to Winterize Your Vehicle

How to Winterize Your Vehicle

When a storm blows in over Lake Michigan and Old Man Winter sets up shop around Palatine, Arlington Heights, or Rolling Meadows, Illinois, you don’t want to be stuck with a ride that’s not prepared for frigid conditions.

At the locally owned and operated Arlington Toyota, let us help learn how to winterize your vehicle so that you can keep commuting, socializing, and living a full life in a safe and well-equipped ride, even in winter. Stock up on the right information here then visit our parts center for the supplies you’ll need.

Understand All-Wheel Drive and Four-Wheel Drive

For optimal traction in snowy conditions, All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) offer superior performance. In some vehicles, these systems may be manual and require you to turn them off and on as needed.

Before you hit the roads in the blustery weather, check your owner’s manual to see what maintenance is suggested for your AWD or 4WD systems. Also, get an operational refresher from your manual so you know whether your system requires transitioning to Park or Neutral before activation. Knowing this can prevent vehicle damage.

Check Your Tires

If you’re a hardcore road warrior no matter the weather or preparing for that long-awaited ski trip, you may already be shopping around for all-weather tires. However, if you’ll be braving winter with the same set of tires, then you’ll need to inspect them.

Your tires are truly where the rubber meets the road and serve as the foundation for safety. If their treads are too low, you can easily risk accidents due to slipping and hydroplaning.

Stick a penny into each tire’s tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of his head your treads are dangerously low, and we can replace them for you in a flash.

Tire Service Center
Brake Repair

Have Your Brakes Inspected

Your brakes work hand in hand with your tires to safely help your vehicle slow down or to bring it to a stop. If you’ve been hearing a screeching sound, you feel a pulsating sensation in the brake pedal, or your car pulls to one side while driving, that could be indicative of brake problems.

Worn out brakes will require you to put more time and distance into slowing and stopping, which could be dangerous when split-second maneuvers are required. Contact us right away for new brake pads, rotors, and other brake components if you need it.

Maximize Visibility: Wiper Blades and Lights

Optimum visibility is of paramount importance when the nights are longer and white outs from snow are possible. Check your headlights and taillights to ensure that no bulbs have gone out. If you notice any signal indicator lights blinking fast to indicate a bulb is wearing out, have it replaced ASAP.

Also, you’ll want to replace your wiper blades, if needed. Fresh blades will make quick work of removing rain and soft snow without causing streaks that can limit your ability to see clearly.

Let us Show You How to Winterize Your Car at Our Service Center

There are several other ways to get your car ready for the cold weather. Contact us at Arlington Toyota to learn more about how to winterize your car. When you take a drive this winter in Palatine, Arlington Heights, or Rolling Meadows, IL, you’ll feel better knowing that your vehicle is safe.