Get your car ready for winter
Sunday December 3, 2006
Old man winter is well on his way, and it's time to start getting your car ready. The good news is that today's cars really are all-weather machines; winterizing your car and fighting rust are much simpler than they used to be. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to help your car through the cold weather.
- How to winterize your car
- Fight rust: A season-by-season guide to preventing metal corrosion
- How to assemble a winter car emergency kit
-- Aaron Gold
Photo © www.bigfoto.com
I have a question. I have a car without heated windshield washer nozzles. When it gets bold enough outside, the washer jets don’t work. Is there anything I can do to rectify this situation?
Tim — Do you have water in the washer tank, or is it pure washer fluid? Washer fluid has a de-icing component to it and shouldn’t freeze up in the lines. Water, on the other hand, will freeze up. If there’s water in there, run the system dry and re-fill with pure washer fluid.
I have never actually added washer fluid to the vehicle – have always had that done at the dealer during service visits. The car is an ‘04 Honda Element. I will check the washer fluid/water distribution soon.
Thanks so much for responding.
Incidentally, I just noticed I wrote “bold” when I meant “cold” but I think you got the picture.