Getting Your Hyundai Ready for Winter

The Bellingham area is not known for harsh winters, particularly when compared to areas this far north, such as Spokane or Duluth. But the average temperature will drop about 30 degrees on average from summer to winter, there will be days below freezing, and we do get some snow. That is enough of a change that you should be aware of a few things you should do to prepare your vehicle for winter. That goes double if you plan on any sizable trips for the holidays. Rairdon’s Hyundai of Bellingham has gathered the following tips to keep your car at its best during the winter.

Heater and Defroster

When it gets cold, you want your heater to work. Check your heater operation before it gets cold to ensure it takes care of you when needed. Conversely, your air conditioner also needs to be operating well to ensure proper defogging ability. If your air conditioning has been waning since the summer, have it looked at before the winter.

Check Your Car Battery

This may also be obvious, but the battery can be easily overlooked as long as it keeps starting your car. As the temperature drops, the chemical reactions inside your battery to create DC current occur more slowly, and this causes your car to require more from your battery to start the engine. If your battery is already not as strong as it could be, the chances are the cold will do it in. Which, of course, is the worst time for it to happen. Hyundai of Bellingham’s Service Center can run a battery load test to see if your battery is healthy. They will also look for cracked or corroded battery cables and terminals.

Replace Your Windshield Wipers & Fill Your Wiper Fluid

Colder temperatures make any pliable material harder, making your wipers less effective. You may also have used your wiper fluid plenty of times in the dry season. You will also want to ensure you are using freeze-resistant wiper fluid, which can effectively remove light frost. To be prepared when it snows, ensure you have a good-quality ice scraper and snow brush in your car.

Check Your Tire Pressure

In the best conditions, cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop at approximately 1 PSI per 10 degrees. So from summer to winter, that can be 3 psi, or more during extreme cold fronts. If this happened to a single tire, a 4 PSI drop would be enough to trigger a warning on the tire pressure monitoring system since the systems check for discrepancies between tires. But as this would happen to all four tires simultaneously, the TPMS may not notice. You should check your tire pressure once a month against the recommended pressure, not on your tires but for your model, which, on Hyundais and most other models, will be stated on a sticker on the driver’s door jamb. 

Inspect Your Tires

The drop in temperature will also harden the rubber on your tires, which results in a reduction in traction. This is the primary reason for winter tires, which are designed to stay pliable in cold temperatures. If you want to be truly prepared for the winter, opt for a set of winter tires for November through February, particularly if you plan on traveling to more snowy areas. This is important even on AWD vehicles.

In any case, examining your tires for remaining tread life, uneven wear, and cupping is highly recommended. Also, check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks because these could get worse as the tire compound hardens. This may be a good time to rotate your tires as well.

Change Your Oil

Cold weather will thicken oil and reduce its ability to circulate through the engine, so ensure you have fresh oil to keep your car running smoothly. Your owner’s manual should have a chart showing the recommended oil weight based on exterior temperature. 

Check Your Belts And Hoses

Again, colder temperatures make everything more rigid, so things that need to be flexible, such as belts and hoses, should be checked. If there are any cracks, they will get worse in the cold, which could hamper your vehicle’s operation. 

Carry An Emergency Kit In Your Car

An emergency kit is a good thing to have in your car throughout the year, with items such as flares, work gloves, a first-aid kit, a flashlight (separate from your smartphone, which you will want to keep powered for other things), and tools if you are handy. Consider adding a shovel and kitty litter or sand for traction in winter if you get stuck.  Also, add blankets, water, and emergency food if you are stuck in the cold.  If you travel far, highways can be more treacherous, particularly with winter storms that can bring slicker road conditions and reduced visibility. And even if you stay safe, something could happen a mile or two ahead of you that could keep you stuck for hours. So be prepared.

Let Us Help

Many of these activities can be done at home if you are comfortable with car maintenance. Some require special equipment, like running a battery load test or rotating tires. And on some of the inspections, you may not be comfortable in knowing exactly what to look for. Hyundai of Bellingham’s Service Department can perform all of the maintenance by trained personnel who have done this plenty of times and know what to look for. So whether you want to do it yourself or have us do it for you, make sure your car is ready for the winter.