Well Ottawa, winter is officially here (sigh). Luckily, we live in a beautiful city with loads of winter activities, but as we all know the winter weather can get messy at times. You want to ensure your vehicle is as safe as possible when driving in these conditions, so make these recommendations a necessity when preparing your Ford for the months ahead.
Winter Tires: Yes, this one is obvious, but unless you live in Vancouver where it doesn’t get below 10 degrees, the rest of us across the country need winter tires on their vehicle. And yes, if your vehicle is AWD you still need them. We should be putting winter tires on as soon as it hits 7 degrees so if you don't have a set yet contact our parts experts with your VIN and they’ll give you a good, better, best scenario.
Battery Inspection: Your battery is more susceptible to dying in cold weather. Get your vehicles battery inspected to see how much life is left. It also doesn’t hurt to pack jumper cables or a booster pack just incase it dies on you after being left untouched for a while!
Windshield Wiper and Fluid Check: If you’re noticing streaks on your windshield when using your wipers it’s time to replace them with some new ones. Luckily these are relatively low-cost and will go a long way to ensuring safe visibility. It doesn’t hurt to top up your windshield wiper fluid either for those extra messy days! It’s recommended you purchase a jug and keep it with you whenever your vehicle indicates it’s running low.
Headlight and Taillight Check: Seeing the vehicle in front of you on the road isn’t the easiest during a snowstorm, and the vehicle behind you feels the same way about yours. Ensure all your lights including turn signals are working, and if not have them replaced ASAP.
HVAC System Check: Defrosting your windshield quickly and getting warm air into the vehicle is self-explanatory, but it’s also important to make sure the antifreeze system is working, and the fluids are topped up.
Also, if you’re lacking winter driving experience its best to test your vehicle out and see how it handles in the snow in an empty parking lot before you get out on the road. Last but not least, it’s good to have spare toques, jackets, and gloves or mittens in your vehicle in case you end up getting stuck somewhere and are awaiting a tow.
If you think your vehicle needs any of the recommendations done to get ready for the months ahead, stop by our service or parts department today, or book an appointment at (613) 521 8463 and our experts will be happy to get what you need. As always, thanks for reading and safe winter driving.