Winter is coming, and you need to make sure that your car is safe to drive. Whether you're single or taking care of your family, investing in services like brake repair can minimize serious dangers and improve your car's overall operational efficiency. However, it's easy to feel confused about what steps you should take to maintain the health of your vehicle. Here are seven steps that you should take before winter finally hits.

1. Tire Repairs

Your tires are critical for your vehicle's safety, and improperly caring for them can be a major mistake. Thankfully, it should be fairly easy to get your tires repaired or replaced. Just call up an auto shop and let them know that you want your tires checked before winter comes around. Some auto shops, like City Side Auto Body, will help sublet the tire work to another shop certified in tires if you bring your vehicle to them for other repairs. These experts will help you decide if you need new tires or if you just need to rotate them. Snow tires are also a smart choice for this time of year because they're designed a little differently. As a result, they can keep you and your family safe from slipping and sliding on the road.

2. Fluid Checks

Your vehicle needs high-quality fluids to operate smoothly and efficiently. For example, winter weather can take a huge toll on your engine, transmission, and wiper fluids. By regularly getting them checked and replaced, you can ensure that your car is safe.

Many mechanics have winter-safe versions of these fluids they can install in your vehicle. They can also replace any old or dirty versions of these fluids to ensure they're useful. Talk to your mechanic, and they can explain what fluid services are essential for your car. For instance, they might change old fluids, or they may find leaks that they can fix for you. In this way, your car can stay safe, and you can minimize potential problems with your vehicle's operation.

3. Battery Checks

Have you ever been driving in the winter only for your battery to stop working when you parked? That's a common problem but is very stressful. Cold weather often severely impacts how well a battery works, so you need to make sure it's as strong as possible. If you're experiencing issues with your battery or have been in a collision recently that could have affected the function of your car's battery, be sure to ask your local auto shop about battery services.

Here's a smart rule of thumb from our team: change your battery every 10 years. If you've never changed your battery and your car is over 10 years old, it might be time to invest in a new one.

4. Brake Fixes

Did you know that, according to Lending Tree, over 50% of drivers try to avoid repairs because they cost too much? While we understand that impulse, it's a real problem if you have issues with your brakes. Simply put, brake repair is too important to ignore. For example, what happens if your brakes seem fine, but a line gets loose and bleeds most of your fluid while you're driving? You and anyone else in your vehicle could be put in serious danger. Imagine that situation in winter, and you can see why it's critical to do this step right.

To keep yourself and your passengers safe, you should call an auto shop to set up a repair or maintenance plan for your brakes, even if you don't notice any issues. Without it, you could put your life at risk. There's no reason that you can't at least get them checked out, so make the call today.

5. Repairing Headlights and Taillights

When you're on the road at night, you need headlights and taillights to see properly. Just as importantly, they help you signal braking and turning effectively. In the winter, when darkness falls sooner and bad storms reduce visibility, this step is even more important. For example, imagine you're in a blizzard with reduced visibility. Your headlights are weak or broken, and nobody can see you coming in the snow. There's a real risk that they'll slam into you, which could be life-threatening or, at the very least, expensive.

Typically, your headlights should last a long time with proper maintenance, meaning that you can keep them strong and capable for many years. But when you see them dimming, call a professional right away. Be sure to also get them repaired as soon as possible following an auto accident. Doing so can ensure you can see and that others see you on the road.

6. General Body Repairs

While the repairs already mentioned are all essential, it's critical to make sure your car's body is strong. Too few people pay enough attention to this facet of automotive maintenance, which potentially threatens their safety. There are too many things that could go wrong with a car and threaten its structure. For instance, a lot of cities use salt to break apart ice on the roads, which can lead to slush and salt hitting your car. That salt is likely to increase your rust risk and cause other complications. Even worse, it could get into your engine and trigger other issues.

Other problems with your car's body can happen at any time of the year, such as dents and dings. It's essential to get this body repair done as soon as you can, whether it's regular wear and tear or due to an accident. Doing so can ensure that your car is safe whenever you take it on the road this winter.

7. Engine Repair

You may have guessed that your vehicle's engine health is essential to its functioning properly. It's one of the most important parts of a car, so keeping an eye and an ear out for engine problems is essential. When you're able to spot the problems early on, you can bring your car in for engine repair before the issue causes your vehicle to stop working on winter roads.

One key indication you need engine repair is hearing a knocking noise coming from underneath the hood of your car. This indicates an issue with the engine bearings. Watch out for fluid leaking from your vehicle and blue or black smoke coming from your vehicle's exhaust. Both of these are issues that shouldn't happen and need the attention of an auto professional immediately. If your car sputters when it's idle or suddenly dies when you're driving or parked, that can also indicate that you have engine issues on your hands. Lastly, the check engine light in your car's dashboard is a key sign that you should take your car to an auto shop for engine repair!

Taking care of tasks like brake repair and engine repair before winter arrives can minimize your risk of getting into car crashes. It can also ensure that you drive smoothly and effectively during winter storms. Please reach out to City Side Auto Body if you're interested in repairing your car before winter weather hits our region. Our team will sit down with you and ensure that you get the support that you need for your vehicle.