Fall cleanup for your car

With the official end of summer, it’s now time to start thinking about getting your car ready for the colder months ahead. Here are a few simple maintenance checks to help keep your vehicle in top condition.

Wipers: If your wipers are leaving streaks of water on your windshield, then it’s time to replace them—or clean them. Wipers degrade quickly and typically need to be changed every 6-12 months. Should performance deteriorate in less time, try cleaning the blade with a paper towel and glass cleaner. Often, this can renew the blades for a few more weeks or months of streak-free operation. For Ratings and advice, see our windshield wiper report. 

Tires: Proper maintenance and responsible driving can maximize the mileage in a set of tires. Monthly tread inspections can inform when the tires warrant replacement. If you notice that your tires have less than 1/8-inch of tread left, then it’s time to go shopping. (The distance from a quarter's rim to George Washington's hairline is about 1/8 inch.) Check out our new tire ratings and buying advice for all-season, truck, and winter tires. 

Batteries: Fall is a good time to inspect your battery, making sure the cables and terminals are snug and retighten as necessary for good contact. If your connections are dirty or showing a lot of corrosion, disconnect and clean them with a wire brush or cleaning tool. Be aware that when you disconnect the battery, you may have to re-enter a security code in your radio or navigation system. If you have a sealed, maintenance-free battery with no removable caps, there's little else you need to do. If your battery has removable caps, check the water level periodically, and refill with distilled water as needed. Finally, if the vehicle is going to be parked or stored for an extended period of time, you may want to consider investing in a trickle charger to keep it charged. All batteries lose strength over time, so it’s prudent to be proactive in replacing your battery. Batteries come in a variety of sizes and it's important to choose the right size. Check your owner’s manual or in-store guide, then check our battery Ratings and buying advice to choose the right ones for your needs. 

Wash and wax: Fall is a good time to clean up your car, so winter’s mess doesn’t land on top of the summer’s dead bugs, bird droppings, and tree sap. If you want to go further than soap and water, you can try car wax to keep your car’s finish looking new. See our dos and don’ts of car washing for more tips. 

For more advice on tidying up your car, home, electronics, health, and more see our fall cleanup guide.

 —Liza Barth

Comments

[everett whitney]

Ms. Liza . . .

As an alternative to 'losing' those settings while servicing those battery terminals / cables - - - one might consider first connecting a mini-slave 12v Battery instead via any of the outlets inside the newer vehicles anymore.

Can be bought at most Auto Supply stores . . . or made quickly, of course, with (8) 'D' cells!

WILL also avoid the loss of memory in some of the electronically-controlled 5 & 6 speed auto transmissions!

everett

[Michelle]

OK. The statement below came from a car wax review article. It implies that there are ratings on car wax somewhere but I can't find them. Do they remove it after a certain amount of time??

"Dark-colored vehicles show scratches more easily than lighter-colored ones. If you own a black or dark-colored vehicle, be especially wary of products that scored low in our scratching and hazing tests."

Thanks,

~Michelle

[David hogard]

Keep the car serviced and in top mechanical condition. Learn how to listen to the car and diagnose any knocks or strange sounds.

Ensure that the car air filter is clean. Fuel economy is greatly enhanced with a clean air filter. When an air filter gets clogged it blocks air flow and reduces engine efficacy. So remove the filter and hold it up to check if you can see light through it. Use a filter that can be cleaned and is better for the environment.

Always ensure that tires are in good condition and that they are properly inflated. Use the parameters recommended by the car manufacturer and make it a point to check tire pressure whenever you fuel the car.