Certain hidden issues can cause major damage to your
vehicle
Here’s how to head them off in time:
1. The Disaster: Cracked Engine Block
Engines need coolant (also called antifreeze) from the
radiator to help maintain a stable operating temperature. The generally
recommended 50/50 mix of coolant and water circulates through the engine, and
because the coolant contains a special additive, it won’t freeze in the cold or
boil in the heat. Coolant helps keep your engine working efficiently, helps
limit emissions and provides warm air when you crank up the heater or
defroster. Running low on the fluid can be catastrophic, because with too
little or the wrong ratio (e.g., too much water, as the coolant boils off over
time), the iron or aluminum engine block can crack, ruining your engine.
How to Avoid It: Check your vehicle’s coolant level
whenever you fill up the fuel tank (but make sure the engine and reservoir cap
are cool to the touch). Coolant is
usually brightly colored, so keep an eye out for pretty puddles under the car
and fix any leaks immediately. At Brighton Ford, we check your coolant level every time you bring your vehicle in
for The Works Oil Change.
2. The Disaster: Broken Windshield
Chips or cracks can turn your windshield into an
unfortunate physics experiment. In cold weather, windshields become more
concave, and that slight bending makes cracks spread horizontally. When
temperatures drop below freezing, cracks are even more likely to spread,
because moisture in a chip will freeze and expand. The combination of cold air
outside and a strong defroster inside can further stress a damaged windshield,
as can the opposite extremes in summer: heat outside, cold inside.
How to Avoid It: Watch out for flying road debris, a
common cause of chips. Snowplows can launch stones, salt, ice and asphalt your
way. So can other drivers, when they don’t clear snow from their roofs (be
courteous and clear yours). And before
the weather gets frigid, visit the Brighton Ford Service Center to repair any
cracks that may inhibit your visibility this winter. A crack should be treated
as early as possible, because the windshield provides some structural integrity
in the event of a rollover.
3. The Disaster: Dead Battery
Engine oil gets thicker in the winter and requires more
effort from the electric motor starter. Blowers, wipers and heaters suck extra
power. Not to mention headlights, which you’ll use more often during the
shorter, darker days. Just the cold weather itself can sap your battery: Below
freezing, your battery loses about a third of its power; below zero, 50%.
How to Avoid It: First, don’t drain your battery. Staying
cozy in the car with the stereo and headlights on and the engine off, for
example, uses a lot of juice. And have your battery checked at the Brighton
Ford Repair Shop. It doesn’t take much time and will identify the battery’s
condition even if it seems to be working well. If your battery tests poorly,
you can get it replaced in the service bay with a new Motorcraft® battery and
great warranty protection that includes free towing. If your battery dies, but it’s in good
condition with no cracks or leaks, you can try jump-starting it.
4. The Disaster: Reduced Handling and Stopping Ability
Tire pressure drops approximately one psi for every
10-degree Fahrenheit drop in temperature. The vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability are affected by under-inflated tires, which can also reduce fuel
efficiency and the life of tire tread.
How to Avoid It: As a safety feature, Ford’s Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)—on all 2008 model year vehicles and
forward—will trigger a warning light on your instrument panel if one of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. Pay attention to this light. It may come
on briefly on cold mornings, due to a slight drop in tire pressure; but once
the vehicle is driven a short distance and air inside the tires warms up, the
warning light should go off. If it doesn’t, check the pressure in your tires as
soon as possible and inflate them to the proper level.
You can check tire pressure yourself (a digital gauge
should be used to obtain a more accurate reading) and fill the tire to the
proper level as listed on the Vehicle Certification Label located on the
driver’s doorjamb.
5. The Disaster: Not Having Wipers When You Need them
Most
Using your wipers to remove a blanket of snow from your
windshield can overload your electrical system and shut down the wipers
altogether.
How to Avoid It: Remove ice and snow from the windshield
and wipers with a brush before you start driving, and inspect blades for rubber
deterioration—an indication that you may need new ones. Brighton Ford can
install new wipers if needed, just stop by our service center. Also be sure to turn off your wipers before
you turn off your engine. That way they won’t automatically snap into action
when you start the car again.
6. The Disaster: Undefrosted Windows and a Clogged Filter
This may be surprising, but your cabin filter (usually
found behind the glove compartment) can directly contribute to foggy windows.
The cabin filter prevents allergens and dust from entering through the vents.
So when the filter gets dirty and clogged with those particles, the car’s
heating and cooling system is less efficient—and that means the efficiency of
your defroster is reduced.
How to Avoid It: Replace the cabin air filter every
15,000 miles or once a year. You can do it yourself or have our award-winningservice technicians take care of it for you.
7. The Disaster: Corrosion
Road salt is a blessing to winter driving and a curse to
your vehicle. Salt lowers the melting point of water so that ice will melt,
even at freezing temperatures—and your tires can grip the road. But salt can
also corrode your car. A chemical process accelerates the formation of rust,
especially on the exposed under-body of your vehicle. The salty slush from the
road turns to saline when you park in a warm garage. That can lead to a slew of
problems, like leaks in the hydraulic brake system and damage to the sub-frame,
coil springs and the muffler and exhaust systems, to name a few. Salt can also
damage your vehicle’s clear finish, so repair paint chips to eliminate entry
points for harmful moisture.
How to Avoid It: Help battle corrosion by getting your
car washed regularly. Make sure it includes an under-spray. As a preventive
measure, you can have it waxed and sealed by a professional at our Body Shop.
If you have questions, or would like one of our experts
to help give us a call at 888-826-4760 or schedule a service appointment here.
Article from http://www.myfordmag.com/
