Auto Authority

With the cold temperatures this weekend here are a couple of tips.

A weak or dead battery can freeze in these temperatures - DO NOT jump start a frozen battery as that can lead to it exploding. Put the battery and/or car in a warm spot like your garage to allow to thaw before charging.

Check your tire pressures. Tire pressures change by approximately 1- 3 psi per every 10 degrees of temperature change. Driving with your yellow TPMS warning light on the dash will lead to premature failure of your TPMS sensor batteries resulting in the need to replace the sensors.

Do not simply start your car and start driving in these temperatures as it can lead to lack of lubrication, reduced performance or fluid leaks. Do not turn your steering wheel until the vehicle has had some time to warm up.

Allow your vehicle to warm up before driving. Normally, you only need to let your vehicle warm up for 1-2 minutes in the winter but with these colder temperatures it will need additional time to warm up before driving. When you start driving, remember to accelerate "gently" until the car warms up fully.

The fluids in your vehicle have gelled and thickened in the cold and do not flow as they normally do. If allowing your car to warm up before driving be sure not to leave your vehicle unattended. Monitor the vehicle because if a hose blows or leak develops then you may have a major repair on your hands if it goes unnoticed. It does not take long to lose all of your oil, coolant, transmission fluid, or steering fluid if a leak occurs. Not only can it create a HUGE mess but can also lead to catastrophic failures.

Some quick tips before starting your car in the cold. If using a remote start then lock and unlock your car multiple times with the key fob before activating your remote start. This will warm the battery slightly and assist in greater cranking power. If starting car from in your vehicle then turn on your headlights for 15 - 30 seconds before starting to warm the battery slightly which will assist in greater cranking power.

Drive carefully - with temperatures this low the roads will be slick - salt is not as effective in these temperatures as in warmer temps.

Finally, dress warm and have blankets in the car in case the unexpected happens.

If you run into any problems this weekend then give us a call. We are happy to help. 815-356-0993

Seems more like the norm lately with Comcast. We are open but working at limited capacity due to another Comcast outage. We currently do not have normal access to phones nor internet. Thank you for your patience. We can be called at 815-356-0993 but our four lines are being forwarded to a single line without voicemail. We are monitoring missed calls and will get back to you as quickly as possible.