This photo was submitted to us by a friend whose car didn’t start in the cold weather Sunday afternoon. Interestingly enough, the battery is only a few months old so it’s best to still have your battery checked before more cold weather hits.
We know it’s technically still fall but the light winter weather we had this weekend and the blustery cold blast from all last week (and this week!) reminds us that Old Man Winter doesn’t necessarily follow the calendar.
Are you ready for winter? Well, at least is your car ready? Our courier team at On Time Logistics and our fleet manager Chris know how important it is to have well-functioning cars in all sorts of weather. It’s how we make sure we can make your deliveries in Northwest Arkansas, Tulsa and Little Rock even in wintry weather.
We know you have important places to go as well so we wanted to share some ideas on making sure your vehicle is winter-weather ready.
Make sure you have a car emergency kit prepared
Your emergency kit should actually be in two parts: one for in the trunk and one for inside the vehicle.
Your emergency kit inside the car should include:
- Flashlight (with extra batteries)
- At least one blanket
- Phone charger
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable snacks like a granola bar
- First aid kit
Your emergency kit in the trunk should include:
- A road-ready spare tire
- Spare gas can
- Jumper cables
- Emergency roadside flares.
Make sure your car is in good working order
If you haven’t already, make sure you check:
- Antifreeze levels to avoid freezing
- Battery and alternator life (can be checked for free at places like O’Reilly’s)
- Brakes-check for wear and tear and fluid
- Exhaust system-make sure there are no leaks and other problems
- Heater and vents-are they working properly?
- Lights-with it getting darker sooner, you’re using your headlights more than in the summer. Make sure they are in good working order
- Windshield protection-is your wiper fluid rated for extreme cold and are your wipers in good shape?
- Tires-make sure your tires have good tread and are properly inflated. Also make sure you have all-season or winter tires.
One final note: It’s best to keep your fuel tank at least a quarter full if not half full in case you have car trouble or are stalled on the road. If you do have to pull over or are stranded, pull off the road as much as you can and turn the car on every hour for warmth (after making sure your exhaust pipe is clear to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning).
What else do you do to prepare for winter weather? Don’t want to get out in the cold? Give us a call and we can make those deliveries for you.