Winter Vehicle Prep in PA

Your safety while driving in winter weather depends on your tire’s tread. The deeper your tire tread is, the more traction you have on snow-covered roads. Snow tires are a sound investment for Pennsylvania drivers who commute no matter the weather. Snow tires are designed to remain flexible at temperatures lower than 45 degrees and have a more aggressive tread pattern to hold a firmer grip on snow. Whether you have snow tires or all-season tires, there are numerous ways to help maintain their tread depth giving you winter driving confidence. This includes wheel alignments, rotations, pressure checks, and balancing. If you’re interested in purchasing a set of snow tires or would like to have tire maintenance performed, the Hillview Motors service center is here to help!

Your battery’s health determines how well your car’s engine starts in the cold. Cold weather makes your battery work harder to provide the necessary power to turn the engine over, and this can be extra strenuous on older batteries. The battery’s ability to start in the cold hinges on how many Cold Cranking Amps, or CCA, it has. The size of your car’s engine determines how many CCA the battery has. However, older batteries tend to lose CCA. This results in slow turnover times or failure to start the engine at all. If you notice your vehicle starting slower than usual this winter, be sure to bring it to our service center to have the battery tested and replaced if it isn’t putting out the correct CCA.

If you’ve gone through a northeast winter, then you know few things are worse than getting behind the wheel of your car after it’s been running, only to find it’s still cold. Of course, it’s uncomfortable. However, it can also be a safety concern. This is because of the defrosters. By blowing hot air onto the glass to melt snow and ice off of the windshield, the defrosters are in place to improve visibility. When your car’s heating system is malfunctioning or damaged, your defrosters may not provide the visibility they’re supposed to. To ensure your safety and comfort this winter, you can do a simple at-home test. Let your car run until it’s warm and then turn the fans on full blast with the heat at its hottest setting. If hot air blows out, you’re good to go. If the air is cold or slightly warm. Don’t hesitate to bring your vehicle to our service center for diagnosis and repairs.

Winter weather is unpredictable, as are the winter road conditions. The best thing that drivers can do is be as prepared as possible. To do this, you should pack your vehicle with essential items you may need if you get stuck. This includes a small or folding shovel, a snow brush with an ice scraper, a first aid kit, extra warm clothes, and a flashlight with extra batteries. Many drivers with experience in the snow will recommend keeping a small bag of sand or kitty litter to help gain traction in deep snow. You should also keep a few tips in mind in the event that you get stuck. The first is to keep the engine off as much as possible to conserve battery power and only turn it on for short periods of time to warm up the cabin. You should also bring a bright-colored cloth to tie on the antenna or close in the window to attract the attention of rescuers. 

Love it or hate it, Old Man Winter has arrived in Pennsylvania. Make sure your car is ready by bringing it to the automotive service experts here at Hillview Motors. Our experienced technicians will inspect your vehicle and ensure that it is ready to tackle anything this winter throws at us. Schedule your next service appointment with us right here on our website to ensure the safety of you and your passengers, as well as the health of your car. We look forward to serving you!