Importance of Pre-Winter Vehicle Maintenance in Rockland, ME

In Maine, winter is the toughest season on our cars. Unfortunately, it’s all too common for drivers to wait until winter has already begun to start thinking about maintenance for the snow and cold. But for the best results, we advise going over a pre-winter checklist ahead of time here at Quirk Chevrolet GMC of Rockland.

Get the battery checked

You don’t want to wait until your car won’t start on a frosty morning in Maine before that important meeting at work. That’s the worst time to realize your car’s battery won’t make it through the winter! At Quick Chevrolet GMC of Rockland, our technicians have the tools to assess your battery’s health and let you know how close it is to needing replaced.

Check the tires

All-wheel drive tends to give many drivers a false sense of confidence — because it’s the tires that really matter. Ideally, you should swap to winter weather tires when the temperature begins to drop, as they’ll do the best job of helping your car move, stop, and turn.

If you’re sticking to all-weather tires, though, you’ll want to make sure they’re up for the job by checking the tread depth and air pressure regularly. The tire pressure will drop along with the outside temperature, which can happen more rapidly than you think. And if there’s not enough tread on the tires, they won’t have the bite to cut through snow and slush.

Prep your windshield wipers

Don’t think your car’s wiper blades matter in winter? Here in Rockland, where the temperatures can get down to well below freezing, wiper blades make all the difference. Equip new winter wiper blades and fill up on de-icing washer fluid. If you’re in the market for a new car, consider getting one like a GMC Acadia, which is offered with heated wipers.

Check the coolant

Coolant may sound like its job is to cool things down — and in the summer, that’s true. But it’s also known as “antifreeze” for a reason. When temperatures drop, coolant prevents the water that runs through the radiator from freezing, and the ideal ratio can change depending on how cold it is. Bring your car to our Rockland service center to let your trained technicians take care of it.

For more automotive maintenance advice and the best in car care, schedule a service appointment at Quirk Chevrolet GMC of Rockland, Maine! Our service team will be more than happy to help you get your car ready for a frosty Maine winter.