Before you know it, summer will be winding down and you’ll be preparing for fall. As you’re getting your house and property ready for fall, don’t forget to prepare your car as well. When you follow these important maintenance tips, you can make sure your vehicle stays in good shape during the fall months. 
- Check the Headlights
Fall means less sunlight and shorter days. Since this also means you’ll probably be driving more when it’s dark, you should check your headlights to make certain they’re working properly. Turn on your headlights, turn signals, and brake lights to make sure you don’t have any burned out bulbs. Since headlights can become hazy or cloudy as your vehicle ages, you also want to give the plastic headlight covers a good cleaning to ensure your lights are as effective as possible.
- Inspect Your Tires
To make sure you can safely drive through all types of fall weather conditions, you’ll want to inspect your tires and tread. The easiest way to know whether or not it’s time to replace your tires is to use a penny. Simply place the penny in the tread with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If you can see Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires. You should also check your tire pressure at least once a week since every 10-degree drop in outside air temperature results in a decrease of about one pound per square inch (PSI) of tire pressure.
- Look at the Wipers
Your tires aren’t the only part of your vehicle you should check to ensure you’re ready for unpredictable fall weather. You also want to look at your windshield wiper blades. The hot, dry weather during summer can quickly degrade your wipers. If your wipers are streaking, smearing, chattering, or smearing on your windshield, it’s time to replace them. Plus, don’t forget to refill your windshield washer fluid when you’re inspecting your wipers.
- Check the Battery
Fall is a great time to check your car battery and make sure all the terminals and cables are tight. If you notice any cables that look loose, you can tighten them for proper contact. As you’re checking the tightness of the connections, you should also look for dirt and corrosion. If you notice a significant buildup, disconnect the cables and clean the connections with a wire brush or cleaning tool. Your service department can also test your car’s battery life to see how much longer it will continue to hold a charge.
- Give It a Good Wash
Giving your vehicle a good wash at the beginning of fall can help get rid of any tree sap, dead bugs, and bird droppings that might have accumulated over the summer. If you apply a coat of wax on your vehicle after you wash it, you’ll also be giving your vehicle an extra layer of protection for those upcoming harsh winter months.
You can make sure your vehicle stays in top condition this fall when you take some time to implement these crucial maintenance tips.
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