Say goodbye to summer and hello to fall! The long, warm and sunny summer days will soon give way to shorter days, colder temperatures and even snow which means a totally different operating atmosphere for your vehicle. This is an ideal time to check over your vehicle and make sure it is ready for the coming months. The following tips will help you drive into fall in tip top shape.

Check Your Battery

Chilly mornings and evenings will eventually lead to cold days, which can really put a strain on an older battery. Check the date of your battery, test it and make sure the connections are clean and secure so that your vehicle fires up without hesitation.

Check Your Tires

Fall brings hazardous driving conditions as wet pine needles and fallen leaves on the roadway can create slick surfaces. Make sure you have proper tire tread and check your tire pressure. Changes in temperature can cause tire pressure to change, so check it regularly and add air as needed. It’s also a good time to start thinking about winter tires.

Check Your Brakes

As mentioned above, changing weather means changing road conditions. Wet leaves, black ice, snow – it’s all coming to a road near you.  Your brakes are a critical safety component, so proactively checking and maintaining them is essential. Take your vehicle to a certified mechanic to inspect your brakes so that when you need to stop, you can!

And More…

While these car care tips are some of the most important when preparing your vehicle for fall, there are certainly other aspects of your vehicle that you should check as well. Ensuring the proper functionality of your heating/cooling systems, checking all of your fluid levels, as well as making sure that safety features like your lights and windshield wipers are working properly should not be overlooked.

Get ahead on fall maintenance and then you can enjoy all of the pumpkin spice, apple cider and beautiful leaves knowing your vehicle is ready to get you there!