A little car advice as winter approaches – some parts of your car are especially important when weather gets bad. Check yourself or take your car to a mechanic for seasonal servicing to make sure your car is ready.
You want to make sure you can be seen on the road, even when snow is falling. In bad driving conditions, your headlights are the only way oncoming drivers will be able to see you. Not to mention you want to see as much of the road ahead as possible.
That means you should make sure your wiper blades are in good condition too. If you have streaks and smudges, that will only further limit visibility while you’re driving in bad weather. Make sure your wipers will easily clear off anything that lands on your windshield.
Brake lights are just as important. If your brake lights aren’t working in a snowstorm, you run the extra risk of a car behind you not seeing that you have slowed or stopped, which can get you rear ended. It’s tough to see other cars in heavy snow and lights are the best way to make sure other drivers can see your car.
Even if you don’t get winter tires, you want to make sure there’s enough tread to get you through a snowstorm safely. If your tires are too worn, they will struggle to get enough traction in snow and you’re at a higher risk for sliding out.
You also want to be sure your brakes will not give out when you need them most. If you know your brake pads are getting extra worn or you notice any problems when braking in good weather, be sure to correct any problems before weather turns for the worse. This is a simple car repair that can end up saving you and your car down the line if it’s taken care of in time.
Be prepared to run into problems during winter. Of course, you want to have your ice scraper and brush accessible to clear off your car. You also would be smart to bring along a small snow shovel and some gravel or cat litter. That may sound strange to you, but a little litter can go a long way to help your car gain traction when stuck in the snow.
Put together your car’s emergency kit and essential supplies now to make sure you’re prepared when the weather gets nasty.
There’s only so much you can do to prevent your car from getting stuck in the snow. Some cars are more likely to have trouble than others, but every car has its limits. So what’s the best way to get yourself unstuck?
If you have access to a shovel, you can dig out your tires from the snow to allow them a better chance of gaining traction. You want to give your tires space to move and hopefully find more solid ground to get the car moving again. Dig away as much as possible to minimize the strain put on your car’s engine and transmission while working your way out.
Once you’ve dug out your tires a bit, spreading some cat litter, sand or gravel can help add traction to piles of snow. The key to getting out of snow and ice is traction. Spread some of any of these options in front of your tires, particularly the tires with power in your car, and try slowly accelerating or reversing out of wherever you are stuck.
Your best chance is to use the weight of your car as momentum instead of revving your engine and spinning your tires. Spinning your tires will make it even more difficult for them to find traction in the snow, you’ll just dig yourself in deeper, and it’s also going to be hard on your transmission. Plus, you can easily overheat your engine trying to speed out of a snowdrift.
Instead, you want to use slow, gradual movements. Slowly move forward, then backward, and hopefully your tires will find their grip and pull you out.
If all else fails, look for anyone walking or driving by who may be able to help push your car out of where it’s stuck. Slowly accelerate your car while they push in the same direction and the combined force can be just enough to get free.
Not sure if your car is ready for winter weather? Don’t stress. There’s still time to pay a visit to your local AAMCO Utah mechanics to get all the essentials checked. Whether you want a full seasonal car care service or have a more specific car repair you know your car needs, expert mechanics are just a phone call away.
Make sure you and your car are prepared for all winter has in store – call or schedule online with one of our 10 AAMCO Utah locations today.
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The post How To Get Your Car Unstuck in Winter Weather first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.
