Getting Your Car Ready for an Iowa Winter

Every Iowan knows the feeling. You walk out on the first truly cold morning, turn the key, and hold your breath. Most years the car starts. Some years it doesn't, and it is almost always a car that could have been checked a month earlier. Cold weather doesn't create new problems so much as expose the ones already waiting. Here's a practical way to find them before the weather does.

Start with the battery

Cold makes a battery work harder and deliver less at the same time. The chemistry slows down, while the engine oil thickens and takes more effort to turn over. A battery that was borderline in September can fail in the first hard freeze. Warning signs include slow cranking, dim headlights at idle, a clicking sound when you turn the key, or a battery that is several years old. A battery can be tested in a few minutes, and it is much better to find out in a heated garage than in a parking lot at 6 AM. While you're at it, look at the terminals for white or green corrosion and make sure the cables are tight.

Check the coolant

Coolant, also called antifreeze, does two jobs. In summer it keeps the engine from overheating. In winter it keeps the liquid in your engine from freezing. It's mixed with water, and the mix has to be right to protect against deep cold. Coolant also wears out over time, so a level that looks fine doesn't guarantee the fluid is still doing its job. Have the level and condition checked, and look at the hoses for cracks, bulges or soft spots. A hose that is stiff in summer can split on a cold start.

Test the heater and defrost before you need them

Don't wait for a frosted windshield to learn that your defroster has been weak since spring. Turn on the heat and the defrost, run them on different settings and temperatures, and see whether they warm up and blow strongly. Weak heat can come from low coolant, a stuck thermostat, a clogged heater core or a failed blend door. Poor defrost is more than an inconvenience. If you can't clear the glass, you can't see, and that's a safety issue. The heater and automatic climate control are part of the same system, so if one acts up, mention both.

Winter driving throws road spray, salt and slush onto your windshield, and worn wiper blades smear it into a hazy film. Replace blades that streak, chatter or leave bare patches. Fill the washer reservoir with a fluid rated for freezing temperatures, because plain water can freeze in the lines. Then walk around the car and check every exterior light. Short days mean more driving in the dark, and you want other drivers to see you as clearly as you see them.

Wipers, lights and tires

Tread depth, tire condition and air pressure all matter more when the road is slick. Cold air lowers tire pressure, so check it again when the temperature drops, and check it when the tires are cold. If your tread is low, now is the time to replace tires rather than after the first storm. Rotation and alignment help the set wear evenly. We covered tread in more detail in another article on this blog, but the short version is that good tires are the best winter safety equipment you can buy.

Build a small emergency kit

Even a well-maintained car can end up stuck, and a cold car is a bad place to wait. Keep a basic kit in the trunk or back seat all winter.

• A phone charger or power bank that works in the car.
• Jumper cables or a portable jump starter.
• A warm blanket, gloves, a hat and an extra coat.
• A flashlight with fresh batteries.
• A small shovel and a bag of sand or cat litter for traction.
• An ice scraper and a snow brush.
• Water and a few snacks that won't freeze solid or spoil.
• A first aid kit and a few reflective items or flares.

Also keep your fuel tank at least half full through the winter. It gives you a buffer if you're stuck in traffic, and it helps keep moisture from building up in the tank.

Let a shop do a once-over

You can check a lot of this yourself, but some of it needs a lift and the right tools: belts, hoses, brakes, suspension, fluids and anything that isn't obvious from the driver's seat. Ultimate Automotive Service Center handles factory-recommended maintenance, tune-ups, tires, brakes and heater and A/C repairs, and every service comes with a free vacation car check, which is handy before holiday travel.

We're at 5900 Oakwood Drive in Urbandale, open 7 AM six days a week and until 9 PM on weeknights, so an after-work visit is easy. Call (515) 270-2096 to book a time. The best winter prep is the kind you finish before the first snow.