Winter Auto Maintenance Tips
Five Auto Maintenance Tips for Winter in Timmins, Ontario
With the winter season in full swing, it’s in your best interest to make sure that your vehicle is ready and prepared for the prolonged cold weather in the months ahead. Making sure that your vehicle is well-equipped for winter driving is crucial to ensuring your vehicle’s continued reliability and that it’s ready for the potential challenges that the winter season can bring. Continue reading below as our team at James Toyota has compiled a handful of winter auto maintenance tips that will help you get your vehicle ready for worry-free winter driving.

1. Install winter tires on your vehicle:
Investing in a set of winter wheels and tires is one of the most important impactful things you can do to ensure that your vehicle is ready for driving on snowy and icy road conditions. The vast majority of vehicles are sold with all-season tires, and because of its name it's no surprise that owners assume that these tires are suitable for winter driving. Due to their rubber composition and tread pattern, all-season tires are really meant for use in weather conditions above 7 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, winter tires are specially engineered to drive on slick and snow covered road surfaces in cold weather. If you need assistance with finding a suitable set of winter tires for your vehicle, bring your Toyota home to James Toyota and one of our knowledgeable parts specialists would be more than happy to assist you.

2. Regularly check fluid levels:
Regardless of the season, it’s always good practice to regularly check on your vehicle’s fluid levels. It’s especially important to keep an eye on them during the winter as the temperature fluctuations may result in these fluids dipping below the recommended level. Pay particular attention to the antifreeze, oil and windshield wiper fluid levels and ensure that they’re filled up to where they need to be.

3. Bring in your car battery to be tested:
The last thing you want to happen is be stranded on the road in the notoriously cold temperatures of Northern Ontario because of a dead car battery. Bring your Toyota home to James Toyota and have one of our experienced technicians test your vehicle’s battery level. If it shows any sign of weakness, we would be more than happy to have it replaced with a genuine Toyota battery to give you the confidence of knowing that you won’t be left out in the cold.

4. Ensure all the exterior lights are in good working condition:
During the winter, daylight hours are much shorter and the days tend to have less sunlight which means that you’ll be driving in the dark more often. Make sure that your vehicle can be seen by other motorists on the road by regularly checking all your exterior lights to ensure they are in working order.

5. Check your windshield wipers:
In the winter, it’s almost certain that you’ll be using your windshield wipers a lot more than during the summer months. An often overlooked part of your vehicle’s safety system, your windshield wipers play a vital role in ensuring that your field of view while driving remains clear and unobstructed. To make sure that your wipers are in good working order, regularly check your windshield wiper blades or bring your Toyota home to James Toyota and have one of our parts specialists take a look at them for you.
Interested in learning more about how you can get your vehicle winter ready? Contact us at James Toyota and schedule a winter auto maintenance appointment, today! Our friendly and knowledgeable parts and service professionals would be more than happy to help you get your Toyota ready for the winter.