The "s" word means it's time to winterize!

If you’ve watched the news lately, the weathermen already have begun uttering the “s” word. That’s that nasty four-letter word that Chicagoans have a love-hate relationship. The word “snow” conjures up more dread than the Bears losing to the Green Bay Packers or a month without a mouth-watering pizza from your favorite pizzeria. Okay, maybe it’s not that bad, but it comes awfully close.

With vivid memories of last year’s record-setting blizzard still entrenched in our minds, now is the time to winterize our vehicles. Don’t be fooled by these lingering, sunny fall days. Old Man Winter will soon be taking up residence and raging his weather war for the next several…er…few months.

Take steps now to maximize your car’s performance throughout the season that puts road warriors on the toughest obstacle course of the year: snow, sleet, ice and frigid temperatures.

Here are six must-checks before winter begins:

1. Is the battery in good shape? Check the terminals and cables for any signs of corrosion. Look at the label to determine the age of the battery. If the battery is more than 4-5 years old, give yourself an early Christmas present and replace it. Most batteries last an average of 3-5 years, and it’s not worth pushing it. There’s nothing worse than a dead battery on a bitter winter day.

2. Is the coolant clean? Check the coolant to ensure it has the right level of protection. If there’s too much antifreeze and too little water, the engine won’t get hot enough…and neither will the heat inside the car. If there’s too little antifreeze, cold temperatures could wreak havoc on your radiator, hoses, thermostat or water pump. See Fall cooling system flush keeps your engine cool for more details.

3. What about the tires? Check the tire treads to ensure there’s enough to get you safely through the season. Take the penny test. Place a penny head side first into several different grooves of the tire, if you only can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires. Who wants to slip and slide or change a flat tire in 2 feet of snow? Also, be sure to check that the tires are properly inflated every time you fill up with gas.

4. Is your car clean? The salt trucks can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior. Now is the perfect time to have your car detailed to protect the paint against road salt. Once the windows are clean, you can better check for any new chips in the windshield. Cold weather can make chips spread instantly to the point of needing a new windshield.

5. What’s wrong with those wiper blades? If the wiper blades are getting stuck, haven’t been changed in awhile or making squeaking sounds when they sweep across the windshield, now is the time to replace these. (Don’t wait for a rain or snow storm!)

6. What up with those belts? If you hear any shrill or screeching sound while starting up your vehicle or while driving, it could mean you need to replace a belt or two. Even if you don’t hear any of these warning signs, check the belts on the vehicle to ensure that there’s no cracks, tears or worn areas. See Hauntings under the hood: 7 scary sounds not to be ignored for more information.

Don’t have time to do the above or not sure where to get started? The next time you bring in your car for an oil change or service at Hong Kong Auto Service, ask us about the items above. Many of them are already covered in the multi-point inspection we do on every vehicle. We’ll make sure your vehicle is ready to tackle the “s” word all season long!