As I have mentioned before, I grew up in Southwest Kansas. There is something magical about fall in Kansas. While we don’t get to appreciate the beautiful changing colors we get in Colorado, we do experience the age-old tradition of harvest and preparing the ground and home for winter.
I can honestly say, it’s such a difference experience living in the city. Fall in the city is pumpkin spice everything, driving to look at colors, boots, the excitement of cooler weather and white stuff on the slopes.
Fall in the country is harvest, hunting, getting ready for the long, cold winter. Farm living is still in my heart. I still think about what I need to do to get ready for the long, cold winter. I think about how stocking up on the essentials prepares me for being stuck inside for days at a time. I really think about what needs to happen to make sure I’m prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at me.
October is car care month. With that you might see articles on getting your car prepared for winter. I wanted to share with you some tips that I have found especially valuable from the farm to the city.
1. Great tires! This is especially important with our ever changing winter driving conditions. We expect our cars to do so much for us. Our cars are one of our most depended on resources. We need to be able to get to work, take children to school, go grocery shopping. If we don’t have great tires, this can be almost impossible, especially if it’s snowy or icy outside.
2. Clean headlamps! Because of our extreme sun, our headlamps start to oxidize leaving them mirky and cloudy. I never thought about how that would affect my ability to see clearly at night. That was until I saw the difference. I was blown away by how I could actually see the road and ditches. With the long nights of winter fast approaching, it’s imperative our lenses are clear.
3. Awesome brakes! Brakes are a huge part of our car, but often they are taken for granted. When our brakes aren’t in complete working condition, we chew through pads and rotors leading to more costly repairs. Think about how you really rely on your brake system especially during winter.
4. Reliable Shocks and Struts! Most cars on the road need new shocks or struts! This repair is one of the most overlooked repairs in the industry. Shocks and struts are expensive repairs and typically fall down the list of essential repairs. Shocks and struts are responsible for the stability of your car. If you need new ones, this can affect those great tires you just purchased, letting them wear out well before they should. Those awesome brakes are affected too. Needing new shocks and struts greatly affects your stopping ability. In just 50-60K miles, most shocks and struts are already worn out and need replaced! There is a simple test you can do at home to see if your car is in need of shocks or struts. Drive no more than 5mph, then simply stomp on your brakes. If your front end dips, you may need new shocks or struts.
So what can Autosmith do to help? We can check all of this for you! As part of our oil change service, we offer a complementary safety evaluation. This evaluation will let you know the status of your tires, headlamps, brakes and shocks and struts. Even better, we can repair it all for you. If you want to learn more about our services, or schedule an appointment to have us take a look at your vehicle, give us a call at 719-634-4800.
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