Most of us have experienced driving in cold weather and our share of breakdowns. Usually a breakdown is due to the neglect of our vehicle; Iβm just as guilty as the next guy. Weβre busy people! Things we neglect that can cause us to have problems, especially in the winter months:
β’ Battery
β’ Antifreeze
β’ Engine oil
β’ Window washer fluid
β’ Wiper blades
β’ Tires
Here are 6 simple things we can do to help save us from a winter breakdown:
1. Load test the battery. Check and clean the battery connections.
2. Check the condition, strength, and level of the antifreeze. Replace if needed.
3. Check the engine oil condition and level. Replace the engine oil and filter if needed.
4. Refill the window washer bottle and check the spray operation.
5. Inspect and replace the wiper blades as needed.
6. Inspect the tires for tread wear and pressure; rotate if needed.
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Refer to Chiltonβs online repair manuals to help keep your vehicle in top shape. Check out ChiltonDIY for repair procedures, maintenance intervals, wiring diagrams, technical service bulletins, Recalls, and more.
Draining and refilling the coolant is one of the easier maintenance tasks you can do on most vehicles. In addition to saving money, doing your own maintenance is a way to monitor the health of your vehicle.
Coolant loses effectiveness over time, so itβs important to periodically drain and refill the cooling system. In addition, as coolant becomes dirty, and rust and particles can eventually degrade cooling system components, such as the engine and water pump.
If you drain the system and then pour coolant in, there is still air trapped within the hoses and components that hold coolant. That air must be removed. Youβll need to bleed out the air and then top off the coolant to the proper level.
Some car manufacturer refill procedures use a special tool that automatically fills the cooling system and bleeds any excess air. In most cases, if you donβt have the special tool, you can still fill the cooling system and bleed it manually. In rare cases, vehicles need to be serviced with specialized cooling system equipment, due to the complexity of the cooling system. Air will become trapped in the cooling system, and cause the engine to overheat! Check the service information before you attempt the procedure.
Caution
Do not work on the coolant system when the system is hot and under pressure: Coolant can cause serious burns. Do not remove the radiator cap, cylinder block drain plugs, or loosen the radiator draincock, when the engine is hot.
1. Tighten the radiator draincock.
2. Tighten the cylinder block drain plug(s).
3. Fill the cooling system with the manufacturer-specified antifreeze. You can find the correct specification in your Chilton DIY subscription or in your ownerβs manual. Because specifications change occasionally, such as with new technology, itβs a good idea to check the technical service bulletins in your ChiltonDIY subscription too.
4. Fill the radiator to the top and install the radiator cap. Add sufficient coolant to the overflow tank to raise the level to the FULL mark. Check your Chilton DIY specifications or the ownerβs manual for the coolant amount including the overflow tank.
Fill the radiator to the top and install the radiator cap. 2010 Chevrolet HHR shown. Image: General Motors.
5. Run the engine with both the radiator cap and reservoir/overflow tank cap in place. Turn on the heat with the blower on high. When the engine reaches normal operating temperature, shut the engine off and allow it to cool.
6. Top off the coolant level to the reserve/overflow tank as necessary to bring it to the FULL mark. Only add coolant when the engine is cold. The coolant level in a warm engine will be higher due to thermal expansion β that is, hot coolant expands and so the coolant level will appear to be higher.
7. Repeat the procedure and recheck the cooling system level.