Tips on Winterizing Your Car for the Cold Chicago Weather

Winter in the Chicago area can be a brutal experience. If you aren’t prepared for extreme temperatures, bone-chilling winds and levels of frozen precipitation that could drown a bass, then don’t try and reside in Illinois.

By the same token, the vehicles of those who live in this geographic torture zones are subject to some atrocious weather conditions. Vehicle owners must make a concentrated effort to prepare their cars, trucks, vans and SUVs for winter by getting a head start on Jack Frost.

Even if your automobile is garage-kept, the abuse that Mother Nature can dish out (with the help of the Department of Transportation) can seem overwhelming.

Here are a few tips to help winterize your ride:

Tip #1: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

One of the best methods ways to prepare for winter is with winter/snow tires and wheels. Instead of enduring the hassle of having a single set of tires mounted, dismounted and remounted every year, keep a set of plain steel wheels with a quality set of winter tires mounted and balanced. Run your lighter and more economical summer tires until cold weather hits, then switch to your more aggressive winter tires for the messy stuff. When spring peaks out, have your summer wheels re-balanced and re-installed on your vehicle. If you like stylish, alloy wheels, this will also protect them from winter’s salted roadways.

Tip #2: Remote Start

One of the best things to happen to winter driving in extremely cold climates is the remote start. Make winter a little more bearable by installing a quality remote start system on your vehicle. Imagine letting your car or truck warm up outside while you sip your hot coffee from the confines of your warm kitchen table – without having ventured outside.

Tip #3: Hong Kong Auto Service Pre-Winter Checkup

One of the wisest choices that you can make is a pre-winter checkup from a reputable, local, independent repair facility like Hong Kong Auto Service. You can trust the professionals at our shop to winterize your vehicle as though it were their own. Here is a detailed look at the areas that Hong Kong Auto Service digs into making sure that your vehicle is ready for winter.

Hong Kong Auto Service will visually inspect your vehicle from top to bottom. The Hong Kong Auto pre-winter inspection includes:

1. Tire and Wheel Inspection
   Hong Kong Auto begins with a tire inspection. Tire wear, tire condition, and tire inflation are tested at this time. If tire replacement or an alignment is recommended, you will be notified in the final report and you can choose a direction to proceed. All tires will be inflated to the proper degree and rotated if necessary.
2. Battery, Starter, and Alternator Check
   Load testing the battery, checking alternator output, and draw testing the starter for excessive amperage will yield problem areas before they let you down in the cold. If any parts need to be replaced, you will be given an estimate with the final pre-winter inspection report.
3. Exterior Lighting, Horns, and Wipers
   All exterior lighting must be in good working order because nobody wants to be making repairs in the snow. Horns and windshield wipers will also be checked at this time and any discrepancies will be noted for your approval before any parts are replaced.
4. Engine Coolant
   While all vital fluids will be checked at this time, special attention is paid to engine coolant because of the upcoming brutal winter. After coolant condition is checked, an engine coolant pressure tester will be used to check for leaks in the heater core, radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, cylinder heads, and coolant reservoir. Engine coolant hoses and hose clamps will also be checked at this time. If any coolant leaks are detected, the situation will be analyzed and an estimate for repairs will be delivered. This is a great time for an engine coolant flush, when old coolant is drained from the engine and radiator, and fresh, new coolant replaces it.
5. Other fluids (level and condition) that will be tested include:
   • Engine oil
   • Power steering fluid
   • Brake fluid
   • Clutch hydraulic fluid (if applicable)
   • Transmission fluid
   • Transfer case fluid (4WD)
   • Differential gear lube
6. Steering and Suspension
   The condition of steering linkage and suspension components will also be tested to ensure that nothing is broken or worn out. Ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks, and struts will be inspected and added to the estimate if they are subpar.
7. Engine Management
   A state-of-the-art scanner will retrieve any system codes that may be stored in your vehicle. This could warn you of potential problems that are pending but haven’t reared their ugly head yet. Systems included are the engine control system, transmission control system, the antilock braking system, and the body control system. Electric engine cooling fans should be tested using the scanner data stream to ensure the fans come on and turn off as commanded by the PCM. Shortcomings will be documented, and recommendations noted on the final estimate.
8. Brakes
   Brake shoes and pads will be checked, along with drums, rotors, and brake hydraulics. With snow and ice on the ground, you want maximum stopping power on every trip.
9. Belts, Seals, and Gaskets
   All visible engine drive belts will be checked for signs of cracking or other wear. Engine, transmission, transfer case, and differential seals and gaskets will be inspected for signs of leakage. Notable discrepancies will appear on the final pre-winter inspection report.

The whole Hong Kong Auto Service team is here to help winterize your car. To make sure your vehicle is ready for winter, call us at 847-220-6681 or schedule an appointment online today.