Vehicle Safety & Winter Maintenance Tips for Drivers in Auburn

Being one of the numerous Seattle area suburbs, the city of Auburn, Washington sees its share of precipitation during the winter months. Considering that over 50% of the annual precipitation falls in the four-month period starting in December and ending in March, you and your passenger’s safety relies on having proper winter maintenance performed on your vehicle.  This is especially true if you drive a foreign model vehicle such as a Mercedes or Volkswagen.

To best ensure proper vehicle safety, you should take your car to visit your trust Auburn auto repair shop. Your Auburn mechanic will be able to handle all of your foreign or domestic auto maintenance and auto repair services to help you drive safer in the winter months. These professionals are highly trained and skilled in many areas where vehicle safety and winterization is concerned. Although significant snowfall is a rarity in this geographical area, there is a great deal of wet weather to contend with during the winter.

They will also be able to make suggestions for the best winter maintenance tips for the proper function of your vehicle, such as the following:

• Change your oil and oil filter according to the recommendations of your owner’s manual to make sure that you are using the proper viscosity.
• Check all battery and electrical cables as well as terminals for corrosion and then clean them if necessary. You should also check to see whether or not the battery fluid level is where it should be (unless it is one of the maintenance-free types).
• Check all fluid levels including antifreeze, battery, brakes, power steering, transmission, and windshield washer solvent.
• Check all lighting including your back-up, brake, head, and tail lights as well as your turn signals and any other related components.
• Check your tire pressure and tread condition.
• Lubricate the required chassis areas and moving components.
• Make sure that your wiper blades are not cracked or torn and that they make proper contact across your windshield.
• Make sure your engine is properly tuned as fouled spark plugs and improperly operating fuel injectors can cause up to a 30% reduction in fuel efficiency and engine performance.  Check all the belts as well.

Following the above recommendations and safety tips is important when keeping up with your vehicle’s winter maintenance services. The above steps could make the difference between arriving safely at your destination or breaking down while you are en route – and that’s never a convenient scenario!

As always, if you ever have any questions about your auto maintenance or auto repair services in Auburn, do not hesitate to ask the friendly automotive service technicians at Auburn Foreign & Domestic! We are here to help!