Winterize Your Ride Before The Cold Winter Winds Blow In

DETROIT, Nov. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/-- Old Man Winter is preparing to knock, with the hectic holiday season right behind him. The editors of shopautoweek.com have compiled helpful tips to get your ride ready for the busy cold months, just in time to enjoy a last scenic tour through autumn's late-falling leaves.

"The good thing about winterizing your vehicle is that it involves mostly inexpensive, preventative maintenance," said shopautoweek.com associate editor Angie Fisher. "A simple fix like changing worn wiper blades now means you won't have to scramble if that first snowfall comes as a surprise—just ask our friends in Connecticut."

Editors at shopautoweek.com spoke with industry experts who recommend drivers also take a look at the following areas:

• Battery:  Mopar advises the extreme heat of the summer months can reduce battery life, resulting in batteries that then fail in high-demand winter months. AC Delco tells consumers to watch for corrosion on cables and posts and seek help from a professional if these contact points require cleaning.
• Tires: Changing temperatures can alter tire pressure. Make sure all tires are filled to their recommended tire pressure. Also check for tread wear. Tires play a huge role in how well your car handles in sloppy winter driving conditions.
• Oil and other fluids: Top off all fluids that have run low. Windshield-washer fluid is used frequently in winter driving, so keep a spare gallon in your trunk to ensure you will always have a clear view of the road. Check the oil, and change it if the time is right.
• Headlamps and tail lamps: So you've completed a pre-winter inspection of your car, but the guy behind you probably didn't. Check your lights to make sure you are as visible as possible to other drivers. Even better, Sylvania says swapping out dull bulbs is easy.

"Another good thing about winterizing your vehicle this time of year is that once you're done, you're free to enjoy the rest of fall," said shopautoweek.com associate online editor Sherrice Gilsbach. "There are still amazing colors to see through November, particularly in the South and West—like along North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway and Oregon's Historic Columbia River Highway."

For even more information on quick fall fixes and colorful autumn drives, visit www.shopautoweek.com.

About shopautoweek.com

The shopautoweek.com site delivers an Internet car-shopping experience unlike any other available site. Powered by unbiased insight, opinion and expertise of Autoweek editors, it guides shoppers with a trusted voice married with the latest available data to give consumers both objective and subjective points of view. Launched in September 2011, shopautoweek.com is an authoritative online resource for anyone researching a new vehicle. Consumers will easily find vehicle specifications, features, reviews and pricing information to help guide their vehicle-purchase decision. The shopautoweek.com site is part of the Autoweek Media Group, which includes Autoweek magazine, autoweek.com and Autoweek Productions. Autoweek Media Group is owned by Crain Communications Inc., publisher of leading industry trade publications Advertising Age and Automotive News, among others, and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

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SOURCE shopautoweek.com