I'm just trying to get my 94 Geo Prizm ready for another Minnesota winter...I'm just wondering what i should check for. I recently replaced the battery, checked the fluids, and checked the belts. What else should I do to make sure she gets thru another winter?
2006-10-09 14:10:21 · 6 answers · asked by airlyss 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Make sure you put a lower weight oil in it. Make sure your radiator is clean so you'll have HEAT when you need it. How about those tires? Do you put snow tires on it every year?
2006-10-09 14:13:33 · answer #1 · answered by The Baron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure that anti freeze is good for about -30 degrees, -don't run streight antifreeze, - it will freeze, ( I found this out on a remote site in Alaska), when it got to -50 or more, it set like ice crean, it didn't break anything, but it won't circulate till it is warmed up! By the way brake fluid freezes and sets the brakes at about -70!
I would reccomend having a "block heater" as it makes the engine start real easy,-( you get heat almost immediately),- and you don't have to drive for ten miles looking through a little hole you keep scraped in the ice on windshield! It also makes the battery not have to turn the crank in "concrete" in the morning after a -30 night! And of course if you really want to go "all out" you could buy one of those battery heating pads to go on side of battery! - Since extreme cold reduces batterys ability to put out as many "cranking amps"!
I know "Minnesota winters", I lived in Wisconsin for 22 years!
2006-10-09 14:44:40 · answer #2 · answered by guess78624 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure your screenwash fluid is a winter grade one.... or as a cheaper alternative (according to a Haynes Manual), you can carry on using your regular summer one, but add to the mix some Methylated spirit (also known as "Meths" or "denatured alcohol).
Swap the regular tyres for some more suited to snow.
In addition to the battery, check over the rest of the ignition system to make sure everything is as it should (e.g. no dodgy wires, spark plugs in good condition, timing set correctly, etc).
Make a checklist of all the items recommended you carry with you in winter (e.g. shovel, snowchains, WD40, ice scraper etc).
Make sure you've got a couple of cans of WD40 & De-icer sprays handy + a scraper where you can easily find them on your way to the car in the morning.
2006-10-10 21:09:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah don't forget your tires and put some of that windshield fluid that breaks down ice where the wiper fluid goes.
2006-10-09 14:21:57 · answer #4 · answered by one up 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take it to a mechanic for maintenance
2006-10-09 14:20:15 · answer #5 · answered by jay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anti-Freeze and tires!!
2006-10-09 14:12:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋