What are some ways to prepare my vehicle for winter weather? | Car Doctor
Q: What are some things I can do to prepare a vehicle for winter weather?
A: For summer heat or winter cold, it is really all about routine maintenance. Keep up with oil changes, check coolant level and condition, and change them as needed.
Check all the fluids and top off as necessary.
Check the operation of the heater and wiper blades.
Consider dedicated winter tires and all-weather wiper blades.
Getting a good coat of wax on the car and touching up any scratches now will help prevent rust.
Lubricate the doors and locks, and spray some silicone on the rubber gaskets to prevent freezing. Also, test the battery.
This may not guarantee that the car will be completely trouble-free over the winter, but it's a good start.
Q: I have a 2013 Honda FIT with an air conditioner problem. It delivers cold air for a while, but then — in hot weather — the air stream eventually gets warm.
I'm hesitant to bring it to a mechanic, because it takes quite a bit of time for this to occur.
My other problem: Just like finding a good doctor, I haven’t found a good mechanic yet. Any suggestions?
A: The air conditioning wasn’t great in the Honda FIT even when new, but now that it's over nine years old, there could be a slight refrigerant leak. If you hear the AC compressor cycling fairly quickly, the system probably has a leak. At this point, the best thing would be to bring it to a professional for evaluation.
If you are looking for a shop, you can find a list of AAA-approved repair shops at aaa.com/repair.
Q: We have a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. When I look up parts for both vehicles, there is a listing for a cabin air filter. I took the panel down to change the filters, and neither had a screw in the panel to hold the filter. Do you have to get a cover for the first replacement filter?
A: Chevrolet didn’t put cabin air filters in all of these models, although you can add one.
Adding a cabin air filter requires some cutting of the ductwork and installing a kit. Once the kit is installed, you can then use any listed cabin filter.
At the age of these vehicles, if it were me, I would not go through the work just to eliminate a little dust.
Q: I have a nine-year-old Mazda3, which is a great car. Based on what I have read, I usually use TopTier gas — typically Shell. I occasionally fill up with BJ's gas because of the discount, which I think is not TopTier. Do you think I should add a fuel injector additive every so often?
A: A fuel additive isn’t necessary. TopTier gas, because of the extra additives, will act like a fuel injector and combustion chamber cleaner.
AAA testing found that even one tank of TopTier gas used monthly can help minimize carbon build up in the engine.
Q: I really like the Acura MDX, but I have read stories about engine failure and excessive oil use. What do you think of the MDX? If you needed a mid-sized SUV, would you buy one?
A: I recently road-tested the 2022 Acura MDX after a few years of not evaluating one and still found it to be a top-notch vehicle. The controls are fairly well placed, the tech is maybe a little dated, but overall it's very functional.
The ride handling and interior comfort are very good. Although there have been some reports of engine problems, the 3.5-liter engine in the MDX has been around for two decades or more. With a little maintenance, it can go 300,000 miles or more.
Q: The ignition switch on my car sticks. Before I oil it, what should I use? I always use powdered graphite for house locks. What about my car?
A: I would use a light lubricant and avoid powdered graphite.
Powdered graphite can build up in the lock cylinder and clog the lock. It can keep the key from being able to be fully inserted.
John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Car Doctor: Preparing a vehicle for cold winter weather
