Monday, January 19, 2015

Preparing for Road Emergencies

Winter is intertwined with the holiday season. Whether you decided to stay inside your house to celebrate the festive holiday with your family or drive away and celebrate at a different place, winter will have a part to play in your holiday vacation. If you decided to take the whole family on a trip either to go skiing or down south for the sun, you can never know what will happen while you are on the road. Traveling this winter brings a few extra obstacles and requires drivers to exert more effort in driving. Preparation to face these emergencies is always a must before leaving your home.


Windshield Washer Fluid

Bringing an extra bottle or two of windshield washer fluid won’t hurt. Visibility is an essential part of driving in snowy weather so getting any obstructive frost off your field of vision is a must. Also, make sure that your washer fluid can stand sub-zero temperatures.


Stock Up on Your Winter Weapons

Facing winter can give you and your car some trouble, whether it’s a brand new car or a used car. Do not forget to put your winter must-haves like ice scrapers, wiper fluid and jumper cables in your bag.

Pack up Your Emergency Kit

Because winter is an unpredictable season, even a car that is in tip-top shape may suffer from unexpected emergencies such as snow storms. Bring a shovel for snow digging and a first aid kit for injuries.

Friday, January 2, 2015

Preparing for Your Holiday Road Trip

It’s that time of the year again. The holiday season brings froth the spirit of giving and the urge to enjoy the company of your loved ones. Holiday vacation does not only mean that you have to stay inside your home and wait for spring to come. Traveling and going on a vacation with the family is always a good option. You can enjoy the wintery season by going on ski trips or follow the sunshine by driving all the way down south of the country. But a key to a great road trip is being prepared. With the winter season, you will face plenty of extra problems on the road. Brand new or used cars both need to be prepared to face the cold season. Here are some tips on how to prepare your car:


Tune-Up

It’s advisable for car owners to make sure that your car is in tip top shape before the arrival of the winter season. The road will get icy and slippery. A good mechanic will give your car a check-up and see that your car is leak-free and your belts and hoses are in good shape before you hit the road. Asking for an oil change does not hurt as well.

Battery Check

Get your battery load-tested, especially if you have a used car. Holding a charge will be difficult for your battery in cold weather, and a weak battery in low temperatures is a big problem.


Tire Change

It’s the time of year for snow tires. If you are headed to an area that requires extra traction, such as mountains, you can bring some tire chains in case you need some extra grip in navigating the heavy snow. However, not all tire chains are permitted in all provinces, so check your reference first.

Take a Look at the Coolant

In order to avoid damageto your engine and to keep the heat from conking out, always make sure that you have enough coolant in your car.