New Beginnings - OpenRoad Driver

Ask the ExpertsOur Panel of Service AdvisorsAnswers Your Questions.The Panel [from left]: Jonathan Jaehrlich, Greg Dowswell,Cameron Ma, Sharon TimmonsOur Top 8 Service Tipsfor Safe Winter Drivingby Cameron MaWith the fall/winter season uponus, there are many things wecan do to help ensure a saferdrive. We would always recommendthat you be up to dateon your factory-recommendedmaintenance services, but tosupplement that, here are sometips that our service departmentswould like to share withour guests.1] Make sure your coolant (antifreeze)is in good condition andcheck the drive belts. Look for anycracking and listen for squealing, especiallyheard in the morning. All rubberhoses should be firm the entire length,but pay special attention to the ends. Ifthey feel soft or appear swollen, thiscould indicate a future failure.2] Inspect your battery. Most newerbatteries are “maintenance free” whichmeans you cannot add distilled water tothem, but if you have one where you can,do so if the level is below the indicatedline. Check all terminals for corrosion(fluffy deposits all over the terminal). Acost effective and easy way to remove thisbuildup is to simply get some hot (almostboiling) water and pour it directly overthe terminal. This will remove thebuildup and clean off the terminal inone step! Make sure the cables are notbroken and are tight and secure.3] Keep checking your tire pressures.All newer cars have a tire pressure monitoringsystem, but you should still checkyour tires regularly in the winter. Thecolder temperatures will reduce yourpsi by a bit, and it may be just enoughto trigger a false low pressure warning.Read your owner’s manual to learn howto reset the light if it comes on or if youadjusted the pressure. Check the tiresfor adequate tread depth. If you plan ondriving in heavy snow areas, make sureyou have four matching snow tires soyou won’t confuse the ABS and tractioncontrol systems on your vehicle.4] Test your heating system beforethe cold snap. You don’t want to waituntil it’s below zero to find out the heaterisn’t hot enough. Also, clear any leavesor debris from the base of the windshieldarea, called the “cowl.” The leaves anddebris can be sucked into your heater fanand hinder its efficiency, or worse, ruinthe fan motor itself.5] Pack an emergency kit, just in case.Your kit should include a flashlight,radio, first aid kit, blanket, booster cables,shovel, boots and gloves.6] Do not wash your car when thetemperature will fall below zero.This is the main cause of frozen doorlocks and doors. Make sure you have alock de-icer in your purse, briefcase orgarage. It’s no use to you if it’s in the car,and the car is frozen solid!7] Check your lights and wipers.Make sure all your lights are working properlyand the wipers are clearing as they should.Nothing worse than poor visibility when it’spitch dark and raining cats and dogs.8] Know the phone number of yourvehicle manufacturer’s roadside assistanceprogram. Most new vehicles havesome sort of complimentary program.Use it! It’s a great benefit and, unlike thelocal automobile association programs,some have no limits.These tips and the maintenance at your servicedepartment will help you motor throughthe season worry free. Safe driving! Cameron Ma is the service director atOpenRoad Lexus Port Moody.QUIZ OUR PANEL...direct your questions to: inquiries@openroaddriver.cominclude “Ask the Experts” in the subject line.OpenRoad driver |24