Ask Joe Mechanic - Winter Driving Tips

             Since we have had a few minor weather inconveniences due to snow and ice, I felt it necessary to review important things to consider when driving in winter conditions.  We already covered getting your car prepared for winter, but it is also important to prepare yourself for everything that winter can throw at you.

             The first thing is preparation. Now is the time to get all the things ready that you should have in your vehicle just in case you have a problem this winter. If you live in an area where winter can strike early and hard, such as around Hazleton as I have experienced, all of these items can prove of great importance, and in extreme cases, could mean the difference between life and death! A winter survival kit should include; a snow shovel (collapsible ones are handy and do not take up much space), a scraper/snow brush, tire chains if you travel in an area that gets a lot of snow, a flashlight with extra batteries, a bag of cat litter, sand or salt incase you get stuck, jumper cables, flares or an emergency triangle, and a bright colored cloth to signal for help.

You should also have a tight-sealing container in which you pack candles, matches or lighter, bottled water and snacks such as energy bars. Some of the most important things you should have in your car during the winter are; mittens or insulated gloves and a ski mask, a sleeping bag or blankets, first aid supplies, and any prescription medications for at least 2 days including diabetic supplies and a fully charged cell phone. I know this list sounds extensive and maybe a bit extreme, but it is much better to be over prepared than to be stranded and possibly not see help for a couple days.  This happened to man from Pine Grove a few years ago, he was on his way home from work on RT 501 just a few miles north a Myerstown and got stuck.  His car sat completely buried on the roadway in a drift for three days until he was rescued.

            When you experience bad weather, it’s also imperative to use common sense. As soon as roads become slick, slow down and increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If someone insists on following you too closely, pull over when safe and let them pass. One fallacy that many fall victim to is that ‘I have a 4WD so I do not have to worry.’ Yes, 4WD definitely gives you more traction and gets you moving better, but, most 4WDs are heavier vehicles and that extra weight will actually increase braking distances on slick roads. Also, on ice, 4WD actually can be more tricky while under power and stopping. Giving extra room not only allows you more chance to stop, but if the vehicle in front of you or an oncoming vehicle has problems, you have more time and space to take evasive action.

            If you find yourself in a skid, there are a number of things to remember and to consider depending on the situation. If the rear wheels are skidding, take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction that the car is sliding. If the front wheels skid, take your foot off the gas, shift into neutral and allow the car to slow itself and then start to apply light braking and steer in the direction you want to go. Even an expert can sometimes have trouble recovering from a skid. Snow tires can aid you in snow, but they will not make much difference on ice unless they are studded. 

            Should your car break down or you become stuck, there are a few things to remember. If you are able, try to get your car safely off the road surface. Put out flares or the warning triangle to increase your visibility with other drivers. If you are stuck, you should try to shovel your vehicle out, use some abrasive material for traction and see if you can rock yourself free. If you are unable to get free, make a call for help, but do not over use your phone as to retain its charge. You can run your engine for heat about ten minutes every hour, but leave a window open slightly for ventilation and always keep snow clear of your exhaust to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Use your blankets or sleeping bag to keep warn and ration yourself on your snacks and water so that you do not exhaust your supply. Also remember that you can eat snow for your thirst, but not too much at once as this can lower body temperature. And, make sure it’s not yellow!

            Remember, some prior preparation, and use of common sense may prevent a very dangerous situation from developing!

Ask Joe Mechanic - Getting Ready for Winter

The seasons are changing so it is time to start thinking about getting your vehicle ready for winter. There area number of things that sometimes get overlooked which are very important and can be very expensive to repair.  This is a good time of the year to have your car serviced. If you drive an average number of miles per year, about 12,000 or less, you need to have your car serviced at least twice a year.  Fall and Spring are excellent times to do this as it allows you to prep your car for winter’s cold and summer’s heat respectively. If you are not a “do-it-yourselfer,” and take your car to a reputable shop, they will most likely already be checking these things for you, but it never hurts to make sure.

            In addition to the normal oil and filter change, it is very important to check your tires. Check your tire pressure first of all. You should always inflate your tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations for your type of usage. Most vehicles have a label either on the driver’s door or doorjamb, if not, the information is in the owners’ manual. Do not just go by the maximum pressure marked on the tire sidewall, as this may not be suitable for your vehicle. A tire that is a few pounds low on air pressure can cost you 2 to 3 mpg.  At $3.50 per gallon, nobody wants to waste gasoline!

            When you are checking your air pressure, look for signs of abnormal tire wear. A tire that is worn on just the inside or outside edge is usually a sign of an alignment problem. If the tires are worn on both the inside and outside edges, this is usually a sign they have been run underinflated. If the center of the tire is worn down with good tread on the edges, this is a sign of either the tires being overinflated or having tires that are too wide for the wheels on the vehicle. This is seen most commonly on 4WDs.

            While your car is on the lift having its oil changed, your technician can give your tires a good professional lookover, and if necessary, do a tire rotation for you.  If he does a tire rotation, while each wheel is off, he can do a visual brake check to make sure your pads do not need replacement.

            When you get under the hood, there are quite a number of things that should be checked. Always check your antifreeze for fill level and condition. If your antifreeze is discolored, especially if it is rusty colored, you should have the system drained and flushed and refilled with new antifreeze. If you are not having the coolant changed, you should have it tested to make sure the level of protection is sufficient for your area. For our region, that should be at least -35 (F) degrees, because you never know when in your travels you could run into a cold pocket of air in a valley.

            Another item often overlooked until the first good freeze is your windshield washer solvent. Because people often add water over the summer, when the weather turns cold, I have seen many washer reservoirs frozen solid. It is important in the fall and winter to add full strength washer solvent to give maximum protection.  If the reservoir freezes and cracks, it can be expensive to replace because in most new vehicles it is not in a very easily accessible location and so may involve some significant labor to replace it.

Also, examine your belts and hoses. Check belts for proper tension and also for visible cracks. If your belts are older than 5 or 6 years old, it is a good idea to get them replaced.  It is not fun to get stuck on the side of the road with a broken belt on some cold morning.  As far as hoses, look for cracks or if they are bulging or have a spongy feeling near where they connect to the radiator or engine, if so, they should be replaced.

It’s also extremely important to know the status of your vehicle’s battery.  Make sure it doesn’t appear corrosive around the battery posts and cables.  If present, corrosion needs to be thoroughly cleaned off.  While cleaning, be careful not to get it on your skin, clothes or in your eyes. If your battery is not a sealed unit, the electrolyte level should be checked and add distilled water to bring it to the proper level if needed.

A few other items you may want to verify for proper operating condition are front and rear defrosters, your vehicle’s heater and if it has heated seats, making sure they’re in good working order.  If you check these items, your automobile should be pretty well prepared for winter.  However, do remember that problems can arise quickly, and without warning, so, if your vehicle suddenly starts acting differently, get it to the shop!  It may be nothing, but it is much better to be safe than sorry and sitting alongside the road in a disabled vehicle.

Ask Joe Mechanic - Cleaning up after Winter

We all know how much we have hated this winter and how we cannot wait for it to finally end.   Hopefully we have seen its last this past weekend!   Well, if our vehicles could talk, they would also tell us they are ready for spring.

            As this winter was much harsher than most, our vehicles have been exposed to many more chemicals than normal. Road salt and cinders (anti-skid) materials can collect in every nook and cranny.  Salt brine that is used to pre-treat roads can be very corrosive if not washed off. And, what you track inside your car on your shoes and boots can be just as damaging to your car’s interior. This is a general winter clean-up column, with more extensive information coming over the next two weeks.

            I personally am not a fan of drive thru car washes, but I realize that some people are not physically able to do the work themselves and others just find it hard to set aside the time required to do a good winter clean up. When I make my spring visit to the car wash, I like to pick a dreary day so that it is not so crowded, as to not aggravate people when taking a half hour or so to clean my car. 

            Things to take along with you are a bucket and sponge, a brush for cleaning the wheels, a large trash bag or two (explained later), a bottle of wheel cleaner, a couple of old rags, and any other personal preference items that you would want to use. When I arrive, the first thing I do is go to the vacuum, and remove all the floor mats and trunk mat (if equipped), move all the seats either forward or back and open the trunk. Then start the vacuum and thoroughly vacuum the trunk and all floor areas that are within reach, being careful to get down along the seats and console, also vacuum the seats. Sliding the seats the opposite way and finish vacuuming, I make sure to get under the seat areas. At this point, I recommend that you throw your mats in the trunk and pull in the wash bay.

           

Now is a good time to apply the wheel cleaner to your wheels, being careful to follow the instructions to remove wheel center caps if it says that it can damage plastic. While your wheels are soaking, take your floor mats out and use the pressure washer to thoroughly wash your mats. Set them aside, rinse your wheels according to instructions and then set to high-pressure wash. Kneel down on each side of the car and thoroughly spray the underside of your vehicle. This will dilute and remove the effects of the salt brine. After that, take the pressure wand and go thoroughly around the inside of each wheel opening to wash out any trapped salt and cinders. Turn the selector to rinse and wash all the areas that you just went over. You are now ready to do your normal wash of the exterior of your vehicle. Once you have done this, take those wet floor mats, put them into the trash bags and take them home to lie out on your porch to dry before reinstalling them.

Ask Joe Mechanic: Winter Driving Tips

As we soon approach the time (hopefully not too soon) that we will begin to experience winter weather, one needs to brush up on their winter driving. We already covered getting your car prepared for winter, but it is also important to prepare yourself for everything that winter can throw at you.

The first thing to do is preparation. Now is the time to get all the things ready that you should have in your vehicle just in case you have a problem this winter. If you live in an area where winter can strike early and hard, such as around Hazleton as I have experienced, all of these items can prove of great importance, and in extreme cases, could mean the difference between life and death! 

A winter survival kit should include; a snow shovel (collapsible ones are handy and do not take up much space), a scraper/ snow brush, tire chains if you travel in an area that gets a lot of snow, a flashlight with extra batteries, a bag of cat litter, sand or salt in case you get stuck, jumper cables, flares or an emergency triangle, and a bright colored cloth to signal for help. Your should also have a tight sealing container in which you pack candles, matches or lighter, bottled water and snacks such as energy bars. And, some of the most important things, mittens or insulated gloves and a ski mask, a sleeping bag or blankets, first aid supplies, and any prescription medications for at least 2 days including diabetic supplies and a fully charged cell phone. 

I know this list sounds extensive and maybe a bit extreme, but it is much better to be over prepared than to get stranded and possibly not see help for a couple days such a man from Pine Grove a few years ago who was on his way home from work on RT 501 just a few miles north a Myerstown who got stuck and his car sat completely buried on the roadway in a drift for three days until he was rescued.

When you experience bad weather, it now becomes important to use common sense. As soon as roads become slick, slow down and increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If someone insists on following you too closely, pull over when safe and let them pass. One important fallacy that many fall victim to is that I have a 4WD so I do not have to worry. Yes, 4WD definitely gives you more traction and gets you moving better, but, most 4wd’s are heavier vehicles and that extra weight will actually increase braking distances on slick roads. Also, on ice, 4WD actually can be more tricky while under power and stopping. Giving extra room not only allows you more chance to stop, but if the vehicle in front of you or an oncoming vehicle has problems, you have more time and space to take evasive action.

If you find yourself in a skid, there are a number of things to remember and to consider depending on the situation. If the rear wheels are skidding, take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction that the car is sliding. If the front wheels skid, take your foot off the gas, shift into neutral and allow the car to slow itself and then start to apply light braking and steer in the direction you want to go. Even an expert can sometimes have trouble recovering from a skid. Snow tires can aid you in snow, but they will not make much difference on ice
unless they are studded.

Should your car break down or you become stuck, there are some very important things to remember. If you are able, try to get your car safely off the road surface. Put out flares or the warning triangle to make yourself visible to other drivers. If you are stuck, you can then try to shovel yourself out, use some of your abrasive material for traction and see if you can rock yourself free. If you are unable to free yourself, make a call for help, but do not over use your phone to retain its charge. You can run your engine for heat about ten minutes every hour, but leave a window open slightly for ventilation and always keep snow clear of your exhaust to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Use your blankets or sleeping bag to keep warn and ration yourself on your snacks and water so that you do not exhaust your supply. Also, remember that you can eat snow for your thirst, but not too much at once as this can lower body temperature. And, make sure its not yellow!

Remember, some prior preparation, and use of common sense may prevent a very dangerous situation from developing.
 
What tips can you offer for winter driving preparedness that weren't already covered?

Ask Joe Mechanic: Vehicle Winter Readiness

The seasons are changing so it is time to start thinking about getting your vehicle ready for winter. There are a number of things that sometimes get overlooked which are very important and can be very expensive to repair.

This is a good time of the year to have your car serviced. If you drive an average of 12,000 miles per year, you need to have your car serviced at least twice a year.  Spring and fall are an excellent time to do this as it allows you to prep your car for winter’s cold and summer’s heat respectively. If you are not a do it yourselfer, and take your car to a reputable shop, they will most likely already be checking these things for you, but it never hurts to make sure. In addition to the normal oil and filter change, it is very important to check your tires. We covered a lot about tires last week, but, while your car is on the lift, your technician can give them a good professional check over, and if necessary, do a tire rotation for you.  If he does a tire rotation, while he has each wheel off, he can do a quick visual brake check to make sure your pads do not need replaced.

When you get under the hood, there are quite a number of things that should be checked. Always check your antifreeze for fill level and condition. If your antifreeze is discolored, especially if it is rusty colored, you should have the system drained and flushed and refilled with new antifreeze. If you are not having the coolant changed, you should have it tested to make sure the level of protection is sufficient for your area. For this area, that should be at least -35 degrees, because you never know while traveling, you could run into a cold pocket of air in some valley.

One Monday morning three years ago, when I left my house to head north, it was - 5. As I headed up I-81, I watched the temp display on my car start to drop and by the time I passed Hazleton, it was -15. It stayed about that temp all the way until I exited I-81 about 30 miles north of Scranton to head for a small town called Hop Bottom. As I descended into the valley, I watched the temperature display start to fall, first -18, then -20, a little later -22, and finally bottoming out at -25 degrees. So, you just never know when you may need that extra protection.

Another item often overlooked until the first good freeze is your windshield washer solvent. I have seen many washer reservoirs frozen completely solid because people often add water over the summer when the weather turns cold. It is important in the fall and winter to add full strength washer solvent to give maximum protection, because if the reservoir freezes and cracks, it can be expensive to replace because in most newer cars it is not in a very easily accessible location so it can involve some significant labor to replace it.

Also, check your belts and hoses. Check belts for proper tension and also for visible cracks. If your belts are older than 5 or 6 years old, it is a good idea to get them replaced. It is not fun to get stuck on the side of the road with a broken belt on some cold morning. As far as hoses, check for cracks or if they are bulging or have a spongy feeling near where they connect to the radiator or engine.

Checking the condition of your battery is very important. Do a visual check for corrosion around the battery posts and

cables. If present, corrosion needs to be thoroughly cleaned off, being careful not to get it on your skin, clothes or in your eyes. If your battery is not a sealed unit, the electrolyte level should be checked and add distilled water to bring it to the proper level if needed.

Other items you would want to check if your vehicle is equipped with them would be your heated seats. You also need to check and make sure your front and rear defrosters and your heater are working properly.  If you check these items, your car should be pretty well prepared for winter, but remember, problems can arise quickly, and without warning, so, if your car suddenly starts acting differently, get it checked, it may be nothing, but it is much better than sitting beside the road.

Recent recalls:

134,100 2008-2010 BMW 528,

535, 550 & M5 models

For a rear light grounding problem which could cause failure of one or more rear light functions.

If you think your vehicle may be affected by this recall, contact you dealer or manufacturer for further information.