Winterization Tips for Your Honda Car, Truck, SUV, or Van

Fayetteville, NY, drivers need to make sure that their vehicle is well maintained and prepared for any New York drive. While there are multiple routine maintenance and car repair services recommended, there are also many different winter car services you'll want to have performed. These cold weather-specific maintenance items are encouraged to help keep your car, truck, SUV, or van safely on the New York roadways. We suggest reading more to discover which Honda winterization tips you'll want to add to your to-do list.

Honda Winter Maintenance

Whether you're driving a Honda Accord through icy roadways, you're getting ready to start up your Honda CR-V in freezing temperatures, or you're looking to take your Honda Odyssey through snowy conditions, you'll want to make sure your car is ready for any winter drive. Here are a few winter maintenance services you'll want to schedule at our Friendly Honda of Fayetteville service center.

Winter Tire Changes

Your car's tires are what keep you firmly planted on the ground. Changing over to winter tires is highly recommended, especially when you frequently travel over snow-covered or icy roads. Winter tires are designed to handle freezing temperatures and have a deeper tread for more grip on snow or slush. If you decide not to change over to winter tires, you'll want to schedule a tire inspection and rotation to keep your tires well-maintained.

Battery Inspections and Replacements

Turning the key to start your vehicle and having nothing happen is a frustrating experience. To deter hard starts or no starts from occurring, it's recommended to test your battery's charge before the below-freezing temperatures arrive. If you've had to jump-start your vehicle before, you may want to consider replacing the battery anyways.

Heater and Rear-Window Defroster Inspections

Not having heat is sure to make your Fayetteville, NY, commute uncomfortable and may even cause your line of sight to be impaired. Make sure that your car's climate control system is working well.

Windshield Care and Wiper Changes

Having a good line of sight is important for any drive, but is especially imperative when the weather is bad. Make sure that your windshield is in good condition and that it has no cracks or dirt streaks that could make your vision impaired. Changing your windshield wipers to winter wipers is also recommended because their blades are made of stronger rubber to combat ice and snow. Don't forget to keep your windshield wiper fluid full as well, especially when the snow starts to melt.

Routine Maintenance Upkeep

Every driver should also maintain their vehicle on a regular schedule. If you haven't had your routine maintenance performed for a while, you'll want to have it scheduled before the snow appears. Here are a few regular maintenance items our service center suggests.

• Oil and Filter Changes
• Other Fluid Checks and Flushes
• Brake Inspections and Repairs
• Multi-Point Inspections
• Car Cleaning and Detailing
• And Any Other Required Service

If you've noticed something isn't right with your Honda vehicle, we suggest contacting our service center to determine what is wrong and how it can be fixed.

Winter Car Care Tips

Besides maintenance and repairs, there are a few other winter driving and care tips that our team would love to share with all New York area drivers. These include helpful winter driving expectations along with safety suggestions.

• Pack a Winter Emergency Car Kit - You never know when an accident can occur and how long you'll be stuck on the side of the road. While we hope you'll never have to use your winter emergency car kit, it's important to have one packed in your vehicle, just in case. What should your emergency car kit include? Such items as: a car tool kit (with jumper cables, flares, and a jack), a first aid kit, water, non-perishable food, extra warm clothes or blankets, a flashlight with extra batteries, a foldable shovel, a bag of sand (or kitty litter), and anything else your family may need (like formula, diapers, toys, dog food, etc.).
• Keep Your Gas Tank Half Full - Again, if you end up on the side of the road, you'll be happy that you have plenty of gas to keep the heat on. Having a fuller tank also helps keep the condensation in your gas tank from freezing.
• Keep a Good Distance - You never know when ice or slick snow will form on the road. It's a good idea to leave plenty of room between you and the driver in front of you, especially when the roads are covered in snow and ice. That way, if slowing down takes additional time, you'll have more to give.

Schedule Your Winter Maintenance at Friendly Honda of Fayetteville

If you'd like to get your Honda vehicle ready for winter, feel free to reach out to our Friendly Honda of Fayetteville team. Our service center would love to assist you with your vehicle maintenance and repairs. Use our online service scheduling tool or contact our team directly to schedule a service appointment today!