Claremore Daily Progress

Top Stories

Related Photos

  • Jordan Gerber, a technician at Jack Kissee Ford Service Department checks battery cables.

    Joran Gerber
January 10, 2010

Put the brakes on the Winter Woes

Joy Hampton

Sunday, December 10, 2010 — Freezing temperatures leave some residents house bound when their vehicles won’t start. But stuck in the house is better than stranded alongside the road. Even if you vehicle starts, if the battery acts sluggish in the cold, have it tested immediately.

“Cold weather can zap a battery quicker than anything,” said Darlene Reynolds, Service Advisor at Jack Kissee Ford.

The best way to check a battery is to have it tested at your local service provider.

At Kissee Ford, technicians do a multi-point inspection with every oil change. A special machine is used to test batteries to see if they are low.

Antifreeze is also an important consideration in cold weather.

“It keeps the fluids in your vehicle from freezing and damaging your engine,” said Reynolds. “When we check the antifreeze, we check its condition and the PH levels to see what kind of temperatures it can stand.”

Older vehicles should have an oil change every 3,000 miles. Newer vehicles maDe in 2005 and later take synthetic blends of oil. They can go 5,000 miles between oil changes, said Reynolds.

A customer waiting on her vehicle said the cold weather reminded her it was time to get her car checked.

“I needed an oil change anyway and my concern about the proper amount of antifreeze led me to do it,” she said.

Regular routine maintenance allows mechanics and technicians to replace belts, filters and other points on your car that could fail in extremes of heat or cold. Preventative maintenance can keep safety and operating standards high and keep you from being stranded.

While bad windshield wipers may not leave you stranded, they can leave you with poor visibility, not only during rain, sleet and snow storms, but in the slushy aftermath. Refill washer fluid as well and never use plain water which will freeze in winter.

Mike Flippin, Jack Kissee Ford Service Advisor, said in this weather motorist should carry emergency supplies such as jumper cables (at least 8-feet long), an extra gallon of coolant (antifreeze), blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, snacks such as energy bars, and bottled water.

“Keep an eye on all your fluids,” said Flippin.

AAA Auto Club suggests putting emergency supplies together in a plastic or cardboard box for easy access so everything isn’t rolling around in the trunk or the back of your van. A basic first aid kit and your AAA or emergency roadside contact card (or a copy of it if you keep the original in a purse or billfold) are good items to include.

Tools to change a flat, motor oil, brake fluid and any other applicable fluids such as power steering fluid, a funnel and rag, and basic tools such as screwdrivers, pliers and an adjustable wrench are recommended by AAA. Gloves, spare fuses and a can of Fix-a-Flat are good items to include.

The auto club also suggests you carry reflectors and flares. An inexpensive plastic poncho can help break the wind or keep your dry if you have to change a tire in bad weather.

If you don’t have all of these items, you can purchase a roadside emergency kit at many hardware or automotive supply stores.

Additional recommendations include carrying a good map and making sure your cell phone is fully charged. A car charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter is a good thing to have, but if the car battery is run down, you probably won’t be able to get a charge on your cell either.

A small shovel and multi-purpose knife, emergency candles with a wide base and waterproof matches are also handy items to have.

Even though the Christmas blizzard is over, motorist should still be prepared for a couple more months of extreme weather. The Old Farmers Almanac predicts a colder than normal winter running through at least mid-February.

Text Only
Top Stories