11 Simple Tips for Winter Car Care: Cold Car…No Boundaries?

“Just keep it fun and help people discover the best things to do in Northwest Indiana.” This is the only thing my sponsor, Griegers Motors, ever requested from this blog. So when Griegers-Valpo asked me to cover family safety and car maintenance tips for winter, I gladly made the shift. In today’s Cool Cars…No Boundaries, you’ll learn 11 simple tips for winter car care.

Family Matters!

Throughout the holiday season, Cool Cars…No Boundaries looks at family safety. You’ll discover the secrets to safe holiday travel that includes which tires are best for Northwest Indiana, vehicle maintenance tips for winter, and winter-driving tips. You’ll even see a blog that covers how to choose and install an infant car seat.

Cold Car…No Boundaries: Holiday Series

• 11 Simple Tips for Winter Car Care
• Car maintenance tips for winters in Valpo & Northwest Indiana
• Winter-driving tips: How to keep your family safe in Northwest Indiana
• Secrets to choosing & installing a car seat; from infant car seats to boosters.

I think you’ll agree Northwest Indiana winters are brutal, unpredictable, and even dangerous. The best way to be safe is to be proactive. With a little help from our sponsor, Griegers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, you’ll discover smart snow tips for cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Even the Best Safety Technology in Today’s Cars and Trucks are Secondary to This!

Today’s cars, SUVs, and trucks have technology and safety features that can save lives. But even the best technology is secondary to the ability to avoid accidents or breaking down all together. Not even the Chrysler Pacifica, Griegers top rated 2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick, is exempt from some simple cold weather preparedness.

Whether you’re just traveling around Valpo, or over the river and through the woods to Grandmas house in Crown Point, Hobart, or Chesterton, you’ll want to make sure you’re ready for winter.  In the next few publications of Cool Cars…No Boundaries,  you’ll discover how to look after your car or truck in winter conditions while keeping your family safe.

Valparaiso’s Winter Wonderland: Salted Streets, Icy roads, Freezing Temperatures and Heavy Snow.

How can you make sure your car, SUV, or truck is prepared for winter? To answer this, I turned to a panel of experts at Griegers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram.

Brad Hallal is a huge family guy that has done it all at Griegers…. service writer,  sales manager, marketing, and now GM.

We also turned to Griegers’ long time service manager, Joe Luciano.  If you haven’t met Joe, you’re missing out. Joe is the real deal. Joe started his career at Griegers 20 years ago and worked his way through the ranks. He is a big reason why Griegers Motors has won 3 consecutive J.D Powers-Customer First Awards.

With the help of our cracker jack experts… here are 11 simple car care tips that can go a long way toward making sure your car stays in great shape all winter long.

11 Simple Tips for Winter Car Care: Cold Car…No Boundaries

Lighting
One issue with winter driving is it gets dark early, especially when you live in Valpo, where we set the clocks back. You’ll want to make sure all of your vehicle’s lights are in excellent shape, providing the brightest possible illumination.  If a bulb is out, fix it before winter starts. If you’re not sure–or like me and not sure how–stop by and ask Joe Luciano at Griegers.

Battery
The cold is tough on a battery and it is harder for a battery to operate in cold weather than it is in warm weather. A battery that’s weak during the summer can die in the winter. This always seems to happen when your car has been parked outside for a while and you are far from home. Ughhh!

Brad Hallal recommends you have a volt test performed on your battery before winter starts. If it is bad, replace it before it’s too late. Getting stranded with your family in the middle of nowhere is not a good situation.

Coolant
Coolant–or as I call it,  antifreeze–is critical to your car’s health. It keeps the engine from freezing in cold temperatures. Before it gets cold, make sure your car isn’t low on coolant. Joe Luciano also recommends having your vehicle’s engine checked to be certain you don’t have issues that can that cause antifreeze to leak.

He recommends a 50/50 mix of coolant and water in the radiators he maintains, which usually results in a lower engine freezing point compared to radiators with coolant-only. Although Griegers in Valparaiso is best known for servicing Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, Griegers Motors maintains most brands. I’ve had Griegers Motors maintain my prized 1990 VW convertible. I’ve even bought my tires from Griegers. Joe is good!

Gasoline and Washer Fluid
These two liquids should be full during the winter. You should try to keep your gas tank full. A full tank will prevent water from freezing inside your fuel pump.

UGGGHHH!   Have you ever run out of windshield fluid on the highway. Maybe you’ve pulled over and thrown snow on the windshield. Not good!

A full windshield-washer reservoir is smart. Nothing can be as unsafe as driving at highway speeds during a snowstorm.

I love when Griegers tops me off during service visits. A nice touch. Thanks Joe!

Tires
According to Brad Hallal, a dedicated Jeeper, “All-wheel drive is cool, fun, and nothing beats it during accelaration, but when you’re braking and turning, you need good tires.”

Brad recommends considering winter tires, or snow tires, in areas like Valparaiso, Chesterton and Crown Point, where the temperature routinely drops below 45 degrees.

Joe’s experience in working with so many makes and models has given him plenty of expertise in helping his customers select the right tires.  Griegers has become a large volume tire outlet and is one of Valparaiso’s best choices for buying new tires.

I think price is important to everyone; it’s because people trust Joe.

Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is critical to you families safety–especially as the temperatures get colder. Tire pressure can drop as fast as the temperature. It is not uncommon for one pound per square inch to drop every 10°F.

Driving around with low tire pressure can wear your tires out fast…or worse. It can make your car drive poorly.

Defroster and Climate Control
Another winter car safety tip is to check your car’s window defroster and its climate control system to make sure both items are still working properly.

The climate control system will keep your family warm and toasty while keeping your windows from fogging up.

Your vehicles defroster will keep your windows from icing up. This is an important safety mechanism that needs to be working properly.

Both items are crucial to maintaining comfort and safety throughout the winter.

Survival Kit
Another car maintenance tips for winter is actually a winter preparedness tip; put together a car survival kit.  If you travel outside Northwest Indiana, this is a smart way to be ready for an emergency.  Your kids count on you to protect them, and this shows them you are ready for anything.

Brad Hallal recommends a first-aid kit, flashlight, jumper cables, blanket, and a cellphone charger that works in your vehicle’s cigarette lighter.

 

Replace Your Windshield Wipers at the First Sign of Snow.
Seeing is believing. If you’ve ever had a windshield wiper go bad on a winter trip, you’ll know how stressful it is. Your family’s inside and you can’t see the road. Don’t wait until this happens to you. Replace them when you suspect they are getting old, or stop by and let Joe Luciano have a look.  He can have them replaced in no time at all.

Take Your Car in for Winter Maintenance.
Get a flush and fill, have your antifreeze checked, and make sure your brakes are in good condition before you head out for holiday travel. Make certain you have the battery checked.

My tip? Stop by the Griegers Express Lane for a fast oil change and more. The keyword is “more”. Ask Joe Luciano to look the car over while its there. With his team of certified technicians, Saturday service hours, and full selection of Good Year tires, confidence can come with an oil change!

Keep It Cool!

Protect your car’s cool looks with a layer of wax. Just a little wax creates a barrier against road salt, grime, snow, sleet, and lackluster appearance. Consider a high-pressure car wash after winter storms. Make sure you hit the hard-to-reach areas.

So there you have it… 11 Simple Tips for Winter Car Care: Cold Car…No Boundaries. Maybe it’s not my typical blog that explores the coolest, funnest things to do in Northwest Indiana. I often say, with a cool car…..getting there is half the fun. But when you live in Northwest Indiana and a blizzard hits, just getting there is fun!

Written & Produced by Jim Jano Janesheski

JANO, LLC

More Reading:

 Cool Car….No Boundaries. Your Blog for Fun things to do in Northwest Indiana.

• Secrets to choosing & installing a car seat. From infant car seats to boosters.
• Winter-driving tips: How to keep your family safe in Northwest Indiana
• Car maintenance tips for winters in Northwest Indiana: Cold Cars…No Boundaries
• 11 Simple Tips for Winter Car Care: Cold Car…No Boundaries?
• 5 ways to have fun with a Jeep… even if you don’t have one.
• What is the Jeep Wave and why it’s so big in Valparaiso?
• Jon Costas Says Goodbye: A Drive Down Memory Lane in a Jeep.
• 15 best day trips from Northwest Indiana: Cool “daycations” by Car.
• Best things to do in Valpo… secrets to a Summer to Remember in the downtown!
• Valpo’s Top Music Venues
• Valpo’s best bands, musicians and sound: Cool Car…No Boundaries
• The Valpo live music scene: Cool Car… No Boundaries
• Top 21 things to do in Northwest Indiana in 2019: Cool Car…No Boundaries
• Top 11 tips for a remarkable Holly Days: Cool Car…No Boundaries
• Valpo Museum Ambitious Exhibit Revealed: Cool Ram Truck…No Boundaries
• 5 Tips to live entertainment in Valpo: Cool Jeep…No Boundaries
• 11 Fun tips for your most remarkable Popcorn Festival: Cool Car…No Boundaries
• 3 Fun Things to do in Northwest Indiana: Cool Car… No Boundaries

 

Tags: Chrysler, family, Griegers, Jeep, maintenance, safety, service, winter
Posted in Community | No Comments »