Indiana winter does not arrive in one tidy form. A cold morning can be followed by rain, freezing temperatures, slush and a pothole-producing thaw. For a vehicle, the repeated changes can be as demanding as a long stretch of snow.
The best time to prepare is while the car is still starting normally and the heater is an option rather than a necessity. A preseason check cannot prevent every problem, but it can uncover ordinary wear before cold weather turns it into a roadside problem.
Here are the areas worth reviewing before winter settles into Bloomington and the rest of Southern Indiana.
Start with the battery
A battery can appear healthy in warm weather and struggle when the temperature drops. Starting the engine requires substantial current, and cold conditions make that job harder.
Pay attention if the engine cranks more slowly than usual, the lights dim noticeably during startup or the vehicle has needed a jump. The battery’s age is useful information, but condition matters more than the date alone. A battery test and visual inspection of its connections can provide a clearer picture.
Battery-related problems can also produce confusing electronic warnings on modern vehicles. Stable electrical power is important to the computers and communication systems throughout the car.
Curry Auto Center’s mechanical team includes five technicians with ASE certification in Electrical and Electronic Systems, along with GM factory-certified electrical specialists. That training helps when the concern goes beyond replacing a weak battery.
Look closely at all four tires
Tread depth is only part of a tire inspection. Check for uneven wear, cracking, embedded objects, sidewall damage and repeated pressure loss. Uneven wear may point to an alignment or suspension concern that should be addressed rather than hidden by installing another set of tires.
Tire pressure falls as the air temperature drops, so a warning light often appears with the season’s first cold mornings. Inflate tires to the pressure listed by the vehicle manufacturer, normally found on the driver’s door-jamb label—not the maximum pressure molded into the tire sidewall.
Do not forget the spare, if the vehicle has one. A flat spare is usually discovered at the least convenient possible time.
Drivers considering winter tires should base the decision on where, when and how often they drive. Someone who must travel before roads are cleared has different needs from someone able to wait until conditions improve.
Do not judge brakes by noise alone
Some brake problems announce themselves with squealing or grinding. Others show up as vibration, a change in pedal feel, pulling during a stop or longer stopping distance. A quiet brake system is not automatically a healthy one.
An inspection can evaluate the condition of the friction material and other visible components. If the brake warning or ABS light is illuminated, the vehicle may also require electronic diagnosis.
Curry’s technicians hold seven ASE Brake certifications—the largest number in any one ASE category at our dealership—as well as four Gold and two Silver GM Brake certifications.
Verify coolant protection and heater operation
The cooling system protects the engine in summer and winter. Coolant must circulate properly, control engine temperature and provide adequate freeze protection. Low coolant can also affect heater performance in some vehicles.
Do not open a pressurized cooling system while the engine is hot. If the coolant level is low, the temperature gauge is behaving differently or you notice a sweet smell or visible leak, have the system inspected rather than repeatedly topping it off. Fluid loss has a cause.
Run the heater and defroster before the first morning you truly need them. The defroster is a visibility and safety item, not merely a comfort feature.
Replace wipers that leave the windshield worse
Wiper blades age gradually, which makes poor performance easy to tolerate until heavy rain or wet snow arrives. Replace blades that chatter, skip, split or leave broad streaks.
Fill the washer reservoir with an appropriate winter windshield-washer fluid. Plain water can freeze and is not a suitable cold-weather substitute. Check the spray pattern while temperatures are still comfortable enough to correct a clogged or misdirected nozzle.
Clean the inside of the windshield as well. Film that is barely noticeable in daylight can create substantial glare from headlights on a dark, wet evening.
Check the lights—and ask someone to help
Walk around the vehicle with the headlights, high beams, turn signals and hazard lights operating. Ask another person to verify the brake lights and reverse lights.
Winter brings more driving in darkness and poor visibility. A burned-out lamp can be easy for the driver to miss because it does not always produce an obvious change from behind the wheel.
If several lights or warnings behave strangely at the same time, the issue may be electrical rather than a collection of failed bulbs.
Follow the vehicle’s maintenance schedule
Winter preparation is a good prompt to review routine maintenance, but it should not produce a collection of services chosen without reference to the vehicle.
Check the owner’s manual and the vehicle’s maintenance monitor, if equipped. Oil specifications and service intervals vary by engine and model. Transmission, transfer-case, differential and other fluid recommendations also differ. Use the schedule and specifications written for the actual vehicle.
Short trips, towing, heavy loading, extensive idling and other severe operating conditions may change the applicable schedule. A service advisor can help interpret the manufacturer’s recommendations when the vehicle’s use does not fit ordinary driving.
Put a few practical items in the vehicle
Even a well-maintained vehicle can be delayed by weather or another driver’s crash. A modest winter kit can make that wait safer and less miserable.
Useful items include:
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Warm gloves and an extra layer
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Ice scraper and snow brush
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Flashlight with working batteries
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Phone-charging cable or charged power bank
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Small first-aid kit
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Jumper cables or a properly maintained jump pack
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Reflective warning device
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Drinking water and a shelf-stable snack for longer trips
Clear snow from the entire vehicle before driving, including the roof, lamps and exterior cameras. A small clear patch on the windshield is not enough for safe visibility.
A winter check should be specific to your car
There is no single package that every vehicle needs. A three-year-old commuter car and a fifteen-year-old pickup used for towing should not receive identical recommendations.
At Curry Auto Center, our technicians’ 43 ASE certifications cover batteries and electrical systems, brakes, steering and suspension, heating and air conditioning, engines, transmissions and other major systems. The team also holds 43 General Motors factory certifications, supported by manufacturer service information and diagnostic resources for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.
That combination allows the inspection to move beyond a generic checklist when something does not look or operate as it should.
Drivers can learn more about Curry’s ASE-certified service technicians, review our battery service information or schedule a service appointment in Bloomington before cold weather arrives.