Car Winter Safety Kits

Winter is just around the corner and some parts of the United States have already experienced snow.  When the temperatures are freezing, it is no time to be stuck on the side of the road in a car unprepared.  Thus, now is the time to start thinking about a winter safety kit for your car.  What should be packed in a car winter safety kit?  What items are essential to include?

Useful Snow Removal Tools

Snow removal tools aren’t just useful at home, but can be equally as useful in your car winter safety kit.  A shovel is handy in winter safety kits to dig a path for immobile tires, uncover a car that has been snowed under, or to take snow off of the car trunk to reach tools included there.  An ice scraper and brush can be smart to include in a winter safety kit to chip ice off of windshields and side windows.  This increases your visibility, decreasing the possibility of having a winter-related accident and allowing you to get the car unstuck from a winter weather situation.  Jumper Cables are already stored in most cars, but it is a good idea to double check that your car jumper cables are still in the vehicle before the first snow storm hits.  Regular tools such as a hammer, chisel, and tire iron can be useful in winter weather, just as they are in fair weather.  So, don’t forget to include tools and a flashlight as car winter safety kit options.  

Common Sense Items for Car Winter Safety Kits

There are common sense items that should always be stored in cars, but which become even more important when included in car winter safety kits.  One of these items is a cell phone. During a winter storm is the wrong time to be caught without a cell phone to call for help.  If there is an accident or someone is hurt out in a winter storm, a first aid kit becomes an important addition to winter safety kits.  A first aid kit is a common sense item that should always be included in your car glove compartment or trunk, but becomes even more important in a winter dilemma.  Items that provide warmth are also necessities in winter safety kits.  Boots, gloves, a hat and a blanket can make being stranded in a winter storm much more bearable, livable, and survivable.  This is why all four items are listed as necessities on a car winter safety kit check list.  Non-perishable food is also a smart addition to winter safety kits.  Choose food items that can be stored in the car all winter season and not spoil or explode.  Food and drinks are necessary if you are stuck in a snowdrift or on the side of the road for any amount of time.  

More Creative Items for Car Winter Safety Kits

Some items for a winter safety kit might seem less obvious, but can be equally as important to winter safety.  Flares and reflective triangles are useful tools to make sure that stranded cars are visible and buried cars are recognizable.   Both flares and reflective triangles can drastically increase the safety of stranded drivers and are thus essential to winter safety kits.  If your car gets stuck in the snow, traction material such as cat litter or sand is a winter safety kit essential to help get the vehicle unstuck.  Maybe less well known and one of the most creative items in a possible winter safety kit is a coffee can furnace.  Components needed for a coffee can furnace include a metal coffee can.  Many coffee manufacturers have gone to a plastic container, so if a metal can cannot be found, a paint can may be substituted.  Into the can, insert a thick roll of toilet paper with the cardboard tube removed and pour a large amount of rubbing alcohol over the paper.  Finally, a lighter or matches will be needed to start the coffee can furnace.  As with all combustible items, please use caution and light only in a well-ventilated area. 

What the Check Engine Light Could Mean

The check engine light has been the bane of existence for many car owners. When this light comes on, there is no need to panic. In the winter months, you may feel a little stressed at the thought of experiencing car trouble while traveling. Once you learn the true purpose of it and the possible meanings of its illumination, you can dispel many fears and you will be able to respond with the appropriate course of action. 

What is the Light For, Anyway?

The check engine light is a part of the onboard diagnostics system in your car. Cars are built with computers that monitor and control the performance of your engine, the mixture of fuel used, and the speed of the engine. It also monitors ignition timing and the shifting of the automatic transmission. Every problem that can occur with the car has its own series of codes that are in the computer. When a problem occurs, the check engine light will come on and the computer generates a code for the problem. Your ASE master mechanic can connect your car to their computer and read the code message. They use that message to determine which car repair to make. The light will illuminate for things such as a loose gas cap, worn out spark plugs and spark plug wires, malfunctioning oxygen sensor, or a blown head gasket.

What to Do When the Light Comes On

If the check engine light comes on, you need to check your car to determine the cause. The light does not always mean that you have a serious problem. When the light comes on, check to see if the light is blinking or remaining steady. If the light is steady, then your problem is minor. It could mean something as simple as your gas cap is loose or missing. If this is the case, just tighten the cap until you hear an audible click. If it is missing, you will be able to find one at your local auto parts store. A loose or missing gas cap will cause you to lose fuel and expel gasoline vapors in the air. If the light is blinking, then it means that you have a serious problem and you should take care of it immediately. A blinking light could mean that you have low oil pressure, which could cause overheating. If that happens, you should pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and shut off your engine. If you have AAA, you can call a tow truck and pull out your winter safety kits. In the winter, it is very important to pay close attention to the lights on your dashboard.         

Time for General Car Maintenance

If you notice your check engine light coming on, you should take your car to your mechanic. He has the proper tools and training for engine repair, fluid checks, and other vehicle repair and maintenance work. Your mechanic will also have access to a computer that will diagnose the codes generated by your car’s computer and will be able to perform the car repairs needed. He will know if you need minor repairs such as a fuel injection cleaning or major repairs such as faulty electrical systems. Regular maintenance will prevent many problems and keep you from seeing the dreaded check engine light.                                                                

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper Inspection?

With the winter approaching, you may be thinking about having a bumper-to-bumper inspection done for your car. You search the directories for reliable, skilled, and knowledgeable ASE master technicians to perform the service for you, but you may be curious about all of the steps that are included in this comprehensive inspection. You should be aware of all of the systems that will be checked on your car so that you will able to understand and relate to the results you receive from your inspection. You will also be able to make better decisions about any car repair you may need. 

Why is it Called a Bumper-to Bumper Inspection?

An auto inspection is very important for the life of your car. Whether you are thinking about purchasing a particular car or you have owned your car for years, you should make it a point to have a complete inspection done to monitor the health of your car. A comprehensive inspection would include services such as oil changes, fluid checks, brake check, steering and suspension checks, and a tire inspection. It would include checks to the engine, steering, and transmission as well. Virtually every system that is responsible for the operation of your car between and including the headlights and tail lights are checked to make sure they are in proper working order. 

Why is it Important?

A complete inspection is important to the health of your car and your finances. When you have your car checked, you will be alerted to any potential problems that may arise in the near future. If you have the problem remedied in time, you could save a lot of money on expensive car repairs down the line. For instance, if your car has been overheating, it could mean that you have low oil pressure, which is very damaging to your car. An inspection prior would have revealed the low oil pressure problem, and the large repair bill would have been avoided. An inspection will also reveal if you have the proper tire pressure and fluid levels. Transmissions, the costly-to-repair component of the car, would greatly benefit from an inspection. Regular inspections would help you monitor the health of the transmission, battery, alternator, steering and suspension systems. You will be able to determine when it is time to replace the part and make any minor repairs. Regular car maintenance and some alterations to your driving habits, such as driving at reduced speeds, can increase the fuel efficiency.

Anything Else to Know?

It does not matter the age of the car; all cars need to undergo a bumper-to-bumper inspection to make sure they are in optimal operational condition. If your car is healthy, it will last longer and you will save money on fuel costs. Your mechanic can connect your car to a computer and run a diagnostic check. The computer will let the mechanic assess the computer system and all of the systems that it monitors. Warning codes will alert the mechanic to any problems that need attention and relay those to you. You will see the benefits of your inspections when you are able to operate your car during the cold winter months with no issues and save money at the same time. 

The Importance of a Tire Inspection

Tires get very little respect until they are flat. These round rubber circles enable us to propel forward or backward while we sit inside a metal box that sits on top of those circles. Many people will perform oil changes, windshield wiper replacement, and other general car maintenance tasks, but will neglect a tire inspection. A tire inspection is an important part of regular maintenance, and even more important during the winter months.

What is Done During an Inspection?

A tire inspection involves more than just a look at the tires to make sure that they are still inflated. When you check your tires, you should make sure that you have the correct air pressure. Auto parts stores, and stores with an auto supplies section, have a tire pressure gauge you can purchase. It will tell you how much air you have in your tire in pounds per square inch, or psi. The tire pressure depends upon the brand, type, and size of tire you have. Consult your car manual or product information sheet to determine how much air pressure should be in each tire. Then you can inflate or deflate each tire as needed.  You should also check the tread on your tires. During the winter, driving on ice and snow can be treacherous. You will need a good tread to maintain traction on the road. If you see that the tread is wearing down or has already worn down, replace the tires. If your tires show wear on one side of the tire but not the other, you should have your tires rotated. 

More Things You Can Do for Your Tires

While you are inspecting your tires, you can also use the time to check your brakes and brake pads. Brake pads are pads that attach to the calipers in order to provide smooth stops. When the pads wear down, your brakes will begin to grind against each other. The metal-on-metal contact will damage your brakes and cause them to crack. You will then need to replace the entire rotor, which can be expensive. Your brakes are part of a system, so you should also check the brake fluid when you are performing your fluid checks. It is very important that you check your braking system before the winter weather and include this task in your winter safety check routine. Many accidents in the winter occur because the braking system was not up to par for safe driving in the winter. 

Why is it important?

Having a tire inspection done before the winter will help you to keep your car in good shape. Your brakes are the physical mechanisms in an entire system that stops your car when you press the brake pedal. A regular inspection will reveal any potential small problems that may arise before they become big problems that will result in big repair bills. You can also increase your fuel efficiency by having properly inflated tires. A tire alignment will help your car to remain steady on the road and not pull to the side. Your car will be easier to handle in traffic and easier to control. For the winter, you should include tire inspections as part of your regular winter general car maintenance.