Winter Car Maintenance Checklist: How to Prepare Your Nissan for Cold Weather With colder weather and shorter days ahead, now is the time to get your vehicle ready for winter. Our service department at Bowser Nissan in Pleasant Hills put together this winter car maintenance checklist to help keep your Nissan reliable on cold mornings and slippery roads. Cold Weather Battery Check and Testing A fully charged battery is important for starting an engine, especially in the cold temperatures. It’s important to have your battery tested by a Nissan-certified technician which can be scheduled with our service department. They can also check your terminals and cable ends to help ensure they are free from corrosion and the connections are tight. Heater and Defroster Inspection Colder temperatures mean more strain on your car’s heating system to stay comfortable and can also be the reason why your defroster isn’t working smoothly. If you’re noticing any reduced airflow, odd smells, or a long heat-up time, bring it in for our service team to look at. Belt and Hose Inspection Drive belts can be subject to cracks or fraying which can be accentuated by drops in temperature. Modern “serpentine” belts are made of materials that do not show obvious signs of wear so having these inspected regularly is smart even outside the winter months. Check hoses for cracks, leaks, or loose clamps, and squeeze them to feel for brittleness or excessive sponginess. Winter Tires and Tire Pressure Type, tread, and pressure level are the three biggest factors in winter traction. Dedicated winter tires offer the best grip in light-to-moderate snow and ice as long as they have adequate tread depth. Many experts suggest replacing tires when the tread wears down to 5/32” for winter. Cold air can cause a drop in tire pressure so check it at least monthly. Accurate tire pressure levels can be found in your Nissan’s manual or on the driver’s side door jamb. Not sure about your tires? Stop by our store and we’ll take a look. Air Filter and Fluid Checks You can check your air filter by holding up a bright light to it. If the light passes through most of it, it’s still effective. If most of the light is blocked, it’s time to replace it. Make sure to check fluid levels like coolant, transmission, brake, and power steering. Check if the coolant level is low when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is low, add the type of coolant specified in your owner’s manual to the reservoir. Check to see if the coolant is pre-diluted or concentrated. If concentrated, be sure to create a proper 50/50 mix of antifreeze to distilled water. Lights and Wiper Blades Snow and early sunsets reduce visibility, so make sure every light works at full strength. This includes headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, and back-up lights. So be sure to check that all lights are functioning and operating at a good strength. Then check your wipers and replace blades that streak or skip and fill your car with winter-rated fluid. Brake Inspection for Slick Roads Besides being dangerous year-round, worn brakes can be particularly bad during winter when roads are slick or icy. Squealing sounds, vibrations, clicking, or your car pulling to one side when braking can indicate it’s time to get them replaced. Make an appointment with our Nissan service department to get them back to their best. Winter Emergency Car Kit Checklist It’s important to be extra prepared in case of an emergency by having a kit ready for whatever problems occur. AAA (or the American Automobile Association) recommends you should have: A mobile phone pre-programmed with rescue apps and important phone numbers as well as a car charger Drinking water First-aid kit Non-perishable snacks for human (and pet, if applicable) passengers Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter) Snow shovel and an ice scraper with a brush Blankets and extra warm clothing Flashlight (with extra batteries) Window washer solvent Cloth or paper towels Jumper cables Warning devices (flares or triangles) Basic toolkit Winter is easier on you and your Nissan when you’re prepared. The service team at Bowser Nissan in Pleasant Hills can handle everything on this checklist in one visit. Schedule Your Winter Service online or call our service department at 412-703-8482 to get an appointment.
