Richmond.comMonday, December 12, 2005With the River City already getting nipped once by Old Man River, Richmond.com decided to solicit winter driving and car care advice from the pros at AAA-Mid-Atlantic.
To help drivers make it through the toughest winter conditions, AAA Mid-Atlantic offers the following tips:
See and be seen: Danger must be seen to be avoided. Driving with a snow-covered windshield, windows, side-view mirrors or lights invites a crash. Clear windows, mirrors and lights with an ice scraper, brush or spray de-icer. Make certain windshield wipers and defrosters are in good working order and that washer reservoirs are filled with no-freeze windshield washer fluid.
Clean your car: Remember to clean off your entire car, not just to clear your vision. Snow and ice left on the hood and roof of your vehicle can become a dangerous hazard as you drive down the road, especially if it flies off and hits other vehicles.
Key solution: Frozen door locks can be overcome by carefully heating the end of a key with a match or lighter. A de-icer spray is another quick method. Remember not to leave the de-icer in your car as you won't have access to it if your locks freeze; keep it in your home, office, purse or briefcase. Do not pour hot water over a frozen lock or ice-covered vehicle, as it could damage your car.
Air it Out: Don't let frigid temperatures tempt you into starting your car in a closed garage or idling your engine for long periods with the windows closed. Carbon monoxide, present in exhaust fumes, is almost impossible to detect and can be fatal when breathed in a confined area.
Charge! Cold weather is tough on batteries. At zero degrees, a car's battery loses about 60 percent of its strength, yet the engines they must start need about two times more power to start. At a comparatively mild 32 degrees, a battery is 35 percent weaker than when operating in ideal conditions. Keeping battery terminals clean helps, but a load test performed by a qualified technician will help determine whether a car's battery is strong enough for cold weather starts.
Get a grip: Make sure your car is equipped with tires that are able to handle your region's winter weather. For most motorists, all-season tires are adequate. In more northern or mountainous regions, switching to snow tires may be needed.
Slippery when wet: In temperatures at or just above 32 degrees, a thin layer of water can cover the ice, causing extremely slippery conditions. The distance needed to stop on ice at 32 degrees is two times longer than at zero degrees.
Keep your engine cool: Make certain cooling system antifreeze is mixed with an equal portion of water for maximum protection.
Finish up: Road salt, slush and grime are especially hard on a car's finish. To help prevent rust and paint damage, keep cars washed and waxed. A full or self-serviced car wash makes the job easier when temperatures are low.
AAA reminds motorists not to drive when the roads are covered with ice or snow unless absolutely necessary. If you have to go out, make sure you are prepared with a basic winter car safety kit to include: blanket, ice scraper, flares, flash light (with extra batteries), jumper cables, bag of abrasive material such as cat litter, shovel, cloth or paper towels and cell phone.
AAA-Mid-Atlantic's Windy VanCuren compiled these tips. AAA Mid-Atlantic serves 786,000 members in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a total of 3.6 million members in Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia; Delaware; Pennsylvania; and New Jersey combined. It provides a wide range of automotive, personal insurance, travel and financial services through its 50-plus retail branches, regional operations centers and the Internet. For more information on AAA Mid-Atlantic, please visit our web site at www.aaamidatlantic.com.
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