What you will need to perform a winter inspection

You will need the following parts and tools to perform this repair;

• Antifreeze Hydrometer
• Air compressor
• Tire gauge
• Inflation fitting
• Tread depth gauge
• Battery cleaner
• Battery protector

Here are links to the 3 main topics in this article.

Antifreeze

Anti-freeze is maintained by checking the strength and level. Understand knowledge of different types of anti-freeze and know how to check and top up the coolant level. Refer to the Antifreeze section to learn about coolant maintenance.

Tires

Planning ahead for a trip or winter driving? Here’s a section that will show you how to maintain proper inflation of you’re tires for better gas mileage and how to check for the best wear on the tread of your tires for winter driving. Refer to the tires section to learn more.

Battery

Helpful advice for maintaining a good battery along with what to expect with an old battery. Knowing the life expectancy and how to test a battery to determine replacement. Refer to the car batteries section to learn more.

More checks to prepare for winter

If your into a groove and want to learn more about your car, link to the getting started page for more maintenance items to check.

You will need the following new parts and tools to perform this repair;

Safety with Handling Battery’s

When working with and around batteries you need to be cautious about battery acid. Make sure that you always wear safety glasses and protective gloves when working around a battery that may have acid on the case, terminals, or battery tray. Here’s how to properly clean up and handle your car battery.
If you suspect that your battery may have a problem or just want to maintain optimum performance from your battery start by locating where the battery is.

Locate your battery

Some manufactures put batteries under the rear seat of the car, some in the back corner of the trunk, but most are under the hood next to the engine.

The most important thing is to have a clean battery. Most batteries that are dirty have dirt clung to acid which has leaked out though the battery vent or cell caps.

A dirty battery is a sign of problems about to happen, if the charging system is over charging the battery or if the battery has a crack in the case to allow battery acid to leak out.

A dirty battery or corroded terminal ends can cause an endless amount of electrical issues to your vehicle.

Cleaning a Battery

The best way to clean a battery is to buy battery cleaner and protector in an aerosol spray can from your local parts store.

A second alternative for cleaning the battery is baking soda.

Mix ½ a glass of water with 2-3 table spoons of baking soda and pour on battery and let sit for a minute then rinse with clean water.

Neutralizing the acid with baking soda is no different than you chewing up a couple of tums for heartburn.

When the battery is dry apply the protector to the connections at the battery.

Note: Keeping the battery clean will extend the life of your battery as well as eliminate the possibility of having any electrical issues while driving your vehicle.

Recommendations:

Keep an eye on the age of your battery, most batteries last between 3-5 years, so being aware of the life span of your battery can eliminate an unexpected breakdown or costly repairs.