Cold weather does not create car problems so much as it exposes the ones already there. A battery that was merely tired in October will not turn over in January. A tire with 3/32 of tread will float on a wet, cold road. The good news is that almost everything on this list is either free or costs less than a tank of gas.
If you live on the Gulf Coast, do not skip this. Houston gets a hard freeze most winters, and the years we get ice are exactly the years nobody is ready for it.
1. Test your battery before you need it
A car battery loses roughly a third of its cranking power at freezing and about half at zero degrees. Most auto parts stores will test yours for free in about five minutes. If your battery is more than three years old, or the engine cranks slowly on cold mornings, replace it now rather than at 6 a.m. in a work parking lot.
While you are under the hood, look at the terminals. White or blue-green crust means corrosion. Disconnect the negative cable first, scrub the posts with a wire brush and a paste of baking soda and water, then reconnect positive first.
2. Check tire tread and pressure
Tire pressure drops about 1 PSI for every 10-degree drop in temperature. Underinflated tires wear out faster, use more fuel, and handle badly on wet roads. Find the correct pressure on the sticker inside your driver's door jamb, not on the tire sidewall, and check it when the tires are cold.
For tread, use the penny test. Put a penny into the tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, you are at or below 2/32 of an inch and the tire needs replacing.
3. Top off the right fluids
- Coolant or antifreeze: should be a 50/50 mix. A shop can test the freeze point in seconds.
- Windshield washer fluid: switch to a winter formula rated below freezing. Plain water will freeze in the lines and can crack the reservoir.
- Oil: cold thickens oil. If you are near your service interval, do it before winter and ask for the viscosity your owner's manual lists for cold weather.
4. Replace your wiper blades
Wiper blades are a consumable. If yours streak, chatter, or leave a haze, they are done. They are usually under twenty dollars a pair and most parts stores will install them for free. Never run wipers to break ice off the windshield, that is what a scraper and the defroster are for.
5. Check your lights
Winter means driving in the dark on both ends of the day. Walk around the car with someone inside and check headlights, high beams, brake lights, turn signals, and reverse lights. A burned-out bulb is a cheap fix and a common reason for getting pulled over.
6. Test the heater and defroster
Run the heat and both defrosters on a mild day, before you need them. Weak heat or a defroster that will not clear the glass often points to low coolant or a failing blower motor, both cheaper to fix on your own schedule than in an emergency.
7. Look at the brakes
If you hear squealing, feel a pulse in the pedal, or the car pulls to one side when you stop, get the brakes inspected before the roads get slick. Stopping distance on a cold wet road is far longer than you expect.
8. Keep the tank above half
A fuller tank reduces condensation in the fuel system and gives you a buffer if you get stuck in traffic during a storm. In a real emergency, an idling engine with heat is a shelter.
9. Build a winter emergency kit
- Jumper cables or a portable jump pack
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Blanket, gloves, hat, and an extra jacket
- Flashlight with fresh batteries
- Phone charger and a backup power bank
- Bottled water and non-perishable snacks
- Small first aid kit
- Cat litter or sand for traction
- Reflective triangle or road flares
10. Know what to do if you get stranded
Stay with the vehicle. It is easier to find than a person on foot, and it is shelter. Make yourself visible with hazard lights or a bright cloth on the antenna. Run the engine for about ten minutes an hour for heat, and before you do, make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow so carbon monoxide cannot back up into the cabin.
One more thing
If money is tight, do these three first: battery test, tire pressure, and wiper blades. Together they cost almost nothing and they prevent most cold-weather breakdowns we see.
Hope Drives puts working families back on the road
We give donated vehicles to people in Greater Houston who have the job and the housing, and are held back only by transportation. Applying is free.
