The winter months and the surefire chill that comes with it, simply put, is a part or life in the greater Burlington, VT area; this means snowy, icy conditions and treacherous driving.  We are literally forced to traverse these potential hazards day in and day out no less as we make our way to work, the grocery store, or even a vacation.  The bottom line is that even though many of us would probably opt for it, staying home all day, every day throughout the winter is just not an option.

It's due to this inevitability - something I saw with a twinge of puzzlement due to the rainy December day I see outside my office window - it is imperative to make the time to not only maintain but prepare your vehicle for winter before it arrives (again, something those of us who just bought a new Toyota or pre-owned car or have been putting off have a chance to do thanks to the unseasonable temperatures).  With this in mind, our staff at Handy Toyota of St. Albans, Vermont has put together a few recommendations one should take when preparing their new or used Toyota vehicle for coming disaster that is Vermont's winter.  Not only will these tips make you feel more at ease due to you and yours' (and others') safety whilst driving this winter it will also ensure that your vehicle is kept in good condition, the latter which in turn will help to keep your service and repair costs down.

If at any time while reading the tips below you feel the need to get more information or would like one of our Toyota certified service professionals to take a second look, schedule an appointment online today, send the service team an email, or simply call us toll-free at 888-594-1392.

Tires, tires, TIRES!
Tires are the most important thing to check on your vehicle.  Remember, the only safety device that actually makes contact with the road is your tires!  Without proper tread or air pressure your tires are more likely to lose traction in cold and/or icy conditions.  The cold weather tends to reduce tire pressure as well, so be sure to check each tire's air pressure on a routine basis.  It may seem like overkill, but I check my tire pressure at each gasoline fill up, just like I do the oil levels (and I have a brand new 2011 Corolla!).

Where tire pressure is concerned, remember that if you go a month for example between fill ups because you only live a few blocks from work, checking between gassing up may not cut it.  Further, overinflating your tires can actually reduce traction, too, as the wheel becomes too round and will lose surface area contact with the road.

Finally, always look on your door sill and make sure your tires are at recommended pressure; just guessing or going by the average 34 pounds or 37 pounds (which is a case in point; I've heard two supposedly standard air pressure figures in my life) could leave you in trouble.

If you're in need of new tires or some snow tires, check out our tire menu today.

Keep yourself from getting stranded
There is a simple way to at least rule out one reason why people get stranded in the winter:  check your battery and alternator.  The cold weather reduces the cranking power your battery puts out making it difficult to start your vehicle, a phenomenon that's compounded if you aren't starting said car every day.   Most of our St. Albans, VT car repair technicians recommend our valued customers keep a set of jumper cables or better yet a rechargeable battery pack in your vehicle for emergency purposes.

If you can't see you're in danger/dangerous
One of the most important and low cost tips the Handy Toyota staff agreed upon as a priority for this article was in regards to windshield wipers.  It is very important that your windshield wipers are in good working condition.  As many of us know if your wiper blades are in poor condition it will be very difficult to see in cold, wet conditions; rather than clean your windshield, a set of worn out wiper blades will smear the water and snow, effectively acting as a negative.

A closely related cousin or perhaps sibling of the windshield wiper is the windshield washer fluid.  Make sure your Toyota car's reservoir is filled prior to winter's inception and keep it full during the winter (perhaps another good thing to check at each gasoline fill up/oil check/tire pressure check interval).  This is especially important in Vermont where the state workers put down so much salt and sand as the former will crystallize on your glass and the latter will just coat it.

Let your car's mechanical parts move freely
Proper lubrication is important during the cold weather, and most wear and tear happens when the oil is not to proper temperature.  Thin oil will not move freely and sometimes it can even freeze.  Contact the Handy Toyota service team to see if your vehicle requires or would benefit from a different motor oil grade during the winter.

On top of the type of oil you use (and I am by no means saying use anything other than prescribed by your Owner's Manual or a Toyota service technician!), motor oil flows throughout your Toyota vehicle and properly lubricates the components therein when your car is warmed up.  We recommend you allow your car a few minutes of idle time before driving to allow the motor oil to warm and also properly circulate.

A simple gasoline tip
This one is easy folks:  don't let your fuel tank get anywhere near empty!  Your gas tank should be at least a quarter full so that it does not freeze in sub-zero conditions.  There are also products available at the Handy Toyota parts store that will keep fuel from freezing if you're interested in a little added precaution (running in the $10 range I believe), however keeping it away from "E" is the best bet.

Sure it's cold, but your Toyota car, truck, or SUV still wants to be clean
We hear it all the time:  I don't have an indoor wash bay and it's cold!  So my car has to wait!  Though we completely understand it is very important to the investment that is your new or used car that you get the salt and side off it throughout the winter.  To prevent the exterior (paint, metals, and even plastics) and under carriage (the frame, struts, and other incredibly expensive parts) of your vehicle from rusting, be sure to rinse off the body and undercarriage as frequently as possible to remove salt.  A pre-winter wax is also a good idea, however since the temperature is nearing the freezing mark without an indoor, heated garage it may be too late.

Check out our blog called "Vehicle detailing:  preparing for winter" for tips on getting your car all prettied up for the snow storms ahead.  You can also check out the blog "Vehicle detailing:  an overview" for a full range of car wash tips, or check out our full vehicle reconditioning and car wash menu.

Additional tools you might consider
Aside from the maintenance and preparation we just discussed, you may want to equip your vehicle with any tools you may need.  A can or tube of lock de-icer, ice scrapers, a small shovel, a little bag of salt and/or some sand, tire chains, and so on may come in handy when you get stuck in a snow storm.

There are plenty more tips and tricks when it comes to winter driving safety and security, however these will really do wonders if you've never entered a winter in the greater Burlington, VT and Plattsburgh, NY areas with a fully prepped vehicle.  Follow these simple and effective rules and throw in a bit of defensive, safe driving, and you and your new Toyota car, trucks, SUV or used vehicle will surely survive the VT winter with minor wear and tear.

Jason Rodriguez
handycars.com
St. Albans, VT  05478

Source:  Car Tips, "Ten Winter Car Maintenance Tips for Your Safety and Care's Upkeep."  cartips.com, December 4, 2011.