When severe winter weather finally hits in the Plano, Frisco, The Colony, and Shops at Legacy area, it sometimes takes people by surprise. The good news is that it’s not too late to prepare for harsh weather.
Get your battery checked. Your car battery can’t function at full capacity in colder weather. In really extreme cold weather, a lead-acid battery is only at half its amp-hour capacity. When you get your car serviced at Toyota of Plano, ask for a battery check.
Get your tire pressure checked. In colder weather, your tire’s air pressure drops around 1psi for every 10 degrees. Low tire pressure is very problematic. A tire needs to grip the road properly and tire pressure is a huge factor in that process.
When it gets cold, it’s harder for your engine’s oil to its job effectively. In colder weather oil’s viscosity becomes thicker. Talk to one of Toyota of Plano’s technicians and see if your vehicle needs a thinner oil during winter months.
Our technicians will check your anti-freeze mixture. There is a correct mixture that must be achieved otherwise there is the risk of freezing inside the radiator.
If your vehicle has 4WD, that’s great. That will help give you better traction. Have a technician check gear and transmission fluid levels. If you’re interested in 4WD technology and the safety it can provide, Toyota is an industry leader and a salesperson at Toyota of Plano would be happy to discuss our many vehicles with this feature.
Your vehicle’s belts become less flexible in the winter months. You don’t want to be stranded somewhere while you wait for roadside assistance. Have your vehicle’s belts checked and if they’re worn, get them replaced.
Not necessarily a vehicle winterization, but we think it’s a good idea to have a first-aid kit year-round in your vehicle. Other emergency equipment to keep is a flashlight in good working order. Road flares compliment a good emergency kit.
One last thing! Make sure you have an ice scraper to scrape off ice off your windshield so you can see clearly before getting on the road.
