Summer has officially ended which means the time has come for Fall maintenance for your car.
Of course, every car comes a different set of issues that need to be handled, but here are our top five parts to look at when preparing your car for the cold months.
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Windshield Wipers
For states like Illinois, they experience an average of five severe winter storms during November-April.
Heavy snow showers make driving extremely difficult and oftentimes scary. The last thing any driver wants is their wiper blades breaking or unable to clean off tons of snow.
Prioritizing Fall maintenance for your car can help prevent this from happening when it is too late.
Windshield wipers should typically be replaced every six months to a year or when you notice a change in driving visibility.
How do I know if I need new wiper blades?
- There are visible cracks and/or tears
- Metal corrosion at the joints and claws
- A broken frame with a detachment of frame arms at joints
- Rounded edges on the wiping edge (reduces wipe quality)
Continuing to use worn-out wipers can result in streaking, skipping, or splitting which creates additional damage to your car.
The good thing is switching out windshield wipers is a lot easier than you think. There are also a lot of locations that have professionals available to change them for you.
Steps to replace your wiper blades:
- Determine the blade size. Some stores have a database full of make/model information to help assist in finding the correct size for your car.
- Remove the old wiper. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield and look for the small tab on the underside of the wiper where it meets the wiper arm. Slide the wiper blade off the arm by pulling downward,
- Attach the new wiper blade. Pull the wiper blade tight onto the arm. You’ll know the new piece if attached with the sound of a click. Once attached, lower the arm slowly on to the windshield and repeat this process on the other wiper arm.
- Test. Run the wipers to see if they are working the proper way.
Once that’s done, you’re one step closer to preparing your car!
Oil Changes
This step can be looked over pretty easily—especially since there are no immediate consequences when going a little over your next due date.
The weather is still nice enough to conduct Fall maintenance on your car and changing your oil should definitely be one of them!
Oil is responsible for keeping the different components of your engine moving cohesively with minimal chance of damage.
The frequency in which you should replace your oil can be found in your owner’s manual.
We’ve all heard of the 3,000 or three-month rule but the number depends on each car model plus the age of your car.
There are several types of oils to choose from when it comes to oil changes. There are conventional for most cars, premium, and synthetic.
Additional choices are offered that provide more benefits to your vehicle, but sometimes spending the extra dollar isn’t necessary. We also recommend looking at the owner’s manual when choosing the right oil.
The decision is ultimately based on the engine your car has so choose whichever works best!
Tire Rotation + Air Pressure
When your tires are worn out, you are at a higher risk of damage due to slippery roads and high levels of snowfall. Fall maintenance for your car is the time to think ahead—what can you prevent from happening now?
We also recommend rotating your tires every time you get an oil change to ensure you’re keeping up with your car’s maintenance. Unlike windshield wipers, this step can only be handled by professionals so find a location that you trust.
If you’re an Endurance customer—you’re in luck! Endurance Elite members can up to 2 tires replaced/reimbursed per year. If the time has arrived to change your tires, we’re here to assist you with the process.
Our priority has always been to empower confidence for the road ahead.
The Endurance Elite membership includes many more benefits like car key fob replacement, a $250 shopping voucher, and 24/7 Roadside Assistance. Learn more about the ways in which we can help you prepare for the fall and winter by calling us now.
Empower confidence for the road ahead with Endurance!
Get a free quote now.
Brake Pads
Brake pads sit between the part that clamps down to slow down the rotation of your tires and your brake drum. They naturally wear down every time your vehicle’s brakes are engaged so this is the time to investigate whether or not you need new brake pads.
Signs you might need new ones:
- Squealing or screeching noises. We’re all for jamming out to your favorite playlist in the car, but sometimes blasting loud music can disguise the sound of worn-out brake pads. If the sound disappears after a few times, then you’re okay. If the noise continues then the time has arrived to replace your brake pads.
- Indicator light. Check your owner’s manual to see if your vehicle comes equipped with a low-pad warning system. With the advancements in the automotive industry, your car might be giving you a sign already.
- Less than ¼ inch thick. If you’ve had your vehicle for a while, then you might be able to see if you need a new set of brake pads right away. If its less than ¼ thick then you should consider getting a new pair for the upcoming winter.
Spark Plug
Your vehicle is more vulnerable to not starting due to extremely cold weather and/or older age. Having a pair of fresh spark plugs can get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Most professionals recommend having a new pair of spark plugs installed about every 30,000 miles but it really depends on the condition/type of spark plug you have. Copper plugs tend to have the shortest life, while more advanced options provide up to four times more life. As mentioned before, this all depends on your car and what works best for you.
Cover Fall maintenance for your car with Endurance!
We’ve been through enough winters to know how brutal they can be in the moment. Being proactive now towards your car maintenance will make this upcoming season easier to handle and safer for you.
Endurance can shield you from the high costs of repairs with a vehicle protection plan that will pay the mechanic directly for the parts and labor.
Endurance not only provides the best vehicle protection plans on the market but includes additional perks with the Endurance Elite Membership! Customers are provided with total protection (and some shopping perks!) to drive confidently on the road at all times.
We provide multiple plans that suit any budget and lifestyle, and then some. When the time comes to submit a claim, we’re there to plan every step of the way.
