Jason’s Journal: Winter Service Checklist

With winter weather arriving early this year, I would like to take a moment to write about a few tips to improve the safety of your winter weather travel. There are many factors to consider before venturing out into the harsh winter environment. Getting your vehicle checked by a professional prior to doing so is a great start to successful winter travel. Below is a checklist to follow to ensure your vehicle is fully winterized:

• Examine the condition of all four tires (I recommend switching to snow tires for winter travel. Read why here).
• Check and adjust tire pressure (For every 10 degrees the ambient temperature drops you lose about 1 PSI of tire pressure. Read more about tire pressure here).
• Check the condition of wiper blades, and replace if needed.
• Check your vehicle’s antifreeze condition to ensure the coolant is mixed correctly to protect against cold temperatures.
• Check your vehicle’s windshield washer function and switch to a winterwindshield washer fluid. Using a non-winter windshield washer fluid will cause the fluid to freeze and the washers will not function correctly.
• Check to ensure the front and rear defrosters are operating correctly.
• Check your vehicle’s battery condition, as well as all battery cables and connections.
• Inspect your vehicle’s charging system.
• Check all exterior lighting for proper function.
• Perform a general safety check.
• Perform a routine maintenance, if not up to date.

Making sure your vehicle is maintained and functioning properly is a big part of ensuring safe winter travel, however, there are other small tips you can do to help you and your family travel safely, including:

• Clear all snow and ice from the surfaces of your vehicle by using an appropriate snow removal device (do not rely on your wiper blades to clear snow as this may cause damage to the windshield wiper mechanism).
• Pack these winter essentials in your trunk: snow shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, flash light, blankets, sand or car litter, cell phone charger, flares, snacks, water and other necessities.
• Always check road and traffic conditions prior to driving.
• Pre-plan your route of travel.
• Make sure you have a full, or nearly full, tank of gas. If you become stuck in traffic for a long duration, this can be vital.

Taking the time to follow these precautions will help keep you and your family safe this winter! Speaking of family, a great way to help with the mess of winter travel is the purchase of a rubber mat set and cargo mat to help protect the interior of your Volvo. Not only do they provide protection, they can make clean up a breeze! Please see our parts or service department for details.

Happy Thanksgiving, from the Lehman family to yours. As always if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jason@lehmanvolvocarsyork.com.