Here at Christian Brothers Automotive, our ASE certified technicians and friendly service staff want to be sure that all components of your vehicle are ready for dropping temperatures. We want to do all we can to keep our guests safe on the road. Our cold-weather vehicle inspection is free of charge and is designed to assess each of your vehicle’s major systems. Here are some of the different systems we will inspect to winterize your vehicle:

1. Prepare your cooling system.

Your cooling system is different than your A/C system, and it must be in tip top shape in the cold! The engine cooling system consists of many parts, including the water pump, the radiator, coolant, radiator hoses, heater hoses, the heater core, and the thermostat.

Coolant

Coolant, often called anti-freeze, is stored in the radiator and regulates the engine’s temperature. The proper mixture of coolant and water in the radiator prevents your engine from freezing during the winter. When the mixture isn’t correct, your engine may freeze over from the cold!

Radiator and Heater Hoses

Cold weather is often responsible for weakening the integrity of hoses, leading to snaps or breakage. This would be very dangerous if this happened on the road! It’s important to take the extra precaution before the temperatures drop too low. Performing preventive maintenance on your cooling system can save you tons of money in the long run!

2. Check your battery.

Your vehicle’s engine will be working harder in cooler weather. This puts extra pressure on the battery, making it more likely for it to die prematurely. Our technicians will gladly check your battery to make sure it can still hold its charge.

3. Check your tire pressure.

Remember, air compresses in cold climates so you must put more air in your tires for them to stay properly inflated in colder months. When you don’t take care of your tires, the vehicle won’t have the proper traction for traveling over wet, snowy, or icy road conditions.

4. Check your breaks.

During freezing weather conditions, your brakes are under more strain than they normally would be. It is important to get them checked so you don’t find yourself with lousy breaks in windy, cold temperatures or ice.

Come By And See Us

Because we can never be sure what to expect in Hutto for the next few winter months, it’s important to not just wrap ourselves up in a cozy blanket around the fire but to prepare our vehicles for icy conditions too. Remember, as our technicians perform a cold-weather inspection on your vehicle, they will never recommend work that is unnecessary. We invite you to stop by our full-service auto repair shop on Highway 79 in Hutto. Just look for the big orange hippo!