Car mishaps can happen at any time, but cold weather can increase those chances.
According to AAA, car batteries are more likely to die or malfunction when the temperature drops. Brake lines can also freeze, tire pressure can plummet and other issues can crop up due to frigid temperatures.
With winter weather expected to start as early as Jan. 23 in Middle Tennessee, it’s more important than ever to prepare your car.
While emergency winter car kits are available from Walmart and Amazon, its fairly simple, and sometimes cheaper, to assemble your own. Here’s what to keep in your car this winter to stay ahead of ill-timed car problems.
What to keep in the car
Here’s a list of winter car essentials, according to the National Weather Service.
While many items are self-explanatory, such as warm clothes and a snow brush, one of the more unique items is cat litter or sand.
According to AAA, cat litter, sand or other abrasive material can be sprinkled on the ground to give your tires more traction in case your car gets stuck in the snow, ice or mud.
GT Radial explained that tire chains are a great tool because they increase traction when driving on snow. The chains wrap around the tire as a temporary solution for driving in a slick situation. From Walmart to Autozone, several car or hardware stores in Nashville have them in their inventory.
Here are the other essentials:
- First aid kit
- Jumper cables
- Tire chains
- Flares
- Full tank of gas
- Sand/cat litter
- Shovel, Ice scraper and snow brush
- Tow rope
- Blanket
- Boots, mittens and warm clothes
- Flashlight
- Water
- Snacks
- Cell phone charger
Are car battery breakdowns more likely in the winter?
Car batteries in vehicles with a gas-powered internal combustion engine create a chemical reaction to start the vehicle, which can sometimes be impacted by low temperatures.
According to AAA.com, “cold weather can slow this reaction.” When this chemical reaction is slowed, the battery can’t generate enough electricity to power the startup process that gets the vehicle’s engine running.
Aside from a slower chemical reaction, colder temperatures also put more stress on batteries so they require even more power for the startup process. The age of your car battery is a key factor in its ability to withstand low temperatures.
How to properly winterize a car
Having an emergency kit will only help when a car breaks down. “Winterizing” a vehicle helps prevent problems in the first place.
Here are a few important steps to take this winter, according to AAA.
- Let a professional look at your brakes: Get ahead of sticky brake pads or other issues. If you can’t make it to a car shop, Nashville based NuBrakes is a mobile service that comes to you. They are able to not only check brakes but do repairs from the comfort of you home, job or whatever location you provide.
- Check your headlights: Consider a restoration kit if you have cloudy headlights.
- Check your tire pressure or change your tires: Tire pressure drops by around 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit colder it is outside.
- Add repellent to your windshield: Add a hydrophobic repellent to make scraping ice and frost easier.
- Examine antifreeze levels: Top off coolant in your car to ensure antifreeze capabilities
- Get your battery tested: Cold weather may impact battery function.
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Stay warm and stay safe!
