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Winter Weather Preparedness Week: How to winterize your car

It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina. One way to make sure you're prepared for possible winter weather in North Carolina is to winterize your car.

Winter Weather Preparedness Week: How to winterize your car

It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina. One way to make sure you're prepared for possible winter weather in North Carolina is to winterize your car.

ALL RIGHT, LENNY THANK YOU. IT’S WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THAT’S WHEN WE’RE ALL ENCOURAGED TO GET READY FOR POSSIBLE WINTRY WEATHER IN THE COMING MONTHS. WELL, ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO WINTERIZE CAR. I WENT TO TWIN CITY AUTOMOTIVE TO MAKE SURE WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO STAY SAFE ON THE ROADS AS THE TEMPERATURES DROP AND THE WINTER WEATHER NEARS. SO WE’VE GOT WASHER FLUID RIGHT HERE. DEFINITELY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER LIKE. SNOW AND SLEET CAN STRIKE ANY TIME DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AND MAKING SURE YOU ARE PREPARED IS KEY FOR WINTER MONTHS. I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY YOU WANT TO PUT AN ON YOUR TIRES. YOU DEFINITELY DON’T WANT TO BE CAUGHT OUT IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER WITH BALL TIRES. IT’S ESPECIALLY BAD IN THE SNOW, BUT IT CAN EVEN BE BAD AND RAIN. AND AS THE TEMPERATURES DROP, YOU DO HAVE A DECREASING GRIP. IT’S GOOD TO HAVE AS MUCH TIME ON THE ROAD AS POSSIBLE. ASIDE FROM TIRES IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WIPERS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. SO WE’VE GOT THE COOLING SYSTEM OVER HERE. DEFINITELY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS TOPPED UP. HOLDING PRESSURE AS WELL AS YOUR CAR’S COOLING SYSTEM. I DON’T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT HEAT IN YOUR VEHICLE COMES FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. SO IF YOU DON’T HAVE ADEQUATE FILL LEVEL, IT CAN’T BUILD PRESSURE. YOU’RE JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE ADEQUATE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH YOU CAN BE AN ISSUE IF YOU GET STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BEING PROACTIVE, TAKING OF YOUR CAR AHEAD OF THE WINTER WEATHER CAN HELP PREVENT YOU FROM A POTENTIAL ONCE IT ACTUALLY HIT THE AREA. YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS UNTIL YOU GET CAUGHT WITHOUT IT. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DON’T WANT TO END UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. STUCK, UNABLE TO SEE SLIDING AROUND IN A GUARDRAIL, YOU KNOW, JUST ANY OF THOSE THINGS. ALSO, KEEP IN MIND THAT TIRE PRESSURE CHANGES. IT’S COLD DOWN. SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO MONITOR THAT AS WELL. AND IF YOUR CAR IS TAKING WHILE TO HEAT UP, THAT COULD B
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Winter Weather Preparedness Week: How to winterize your car

It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina. One way to make sure you're prepared for possible winter weather in North Carolina is to winterize your car.

It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina. One way to make sure you're prepared for possible winter weather in North Carolina is to winterize your car.WXII went to Twin City Automotive to find out the best ways to stay safe on the roads as the temperature drops and the winter weather nears.Inclement weather, like snow and sleet, can strike any time during the winter months, and making sure you're prepared is key. "For the winter months, I would definitely say to put an emphasis on your tires," Twin City Automotive service manager Josh Clinard said. "You definitely don't want to be caught out in any weather with bad tires. It's especially bad in snow, but it can be bad in rain as well — and as the temperatures drop, you have a decrease in grip and it's good to have as much tire on the road as possible."Aside from tires, it's also important to make sure wipers are in good condition, as well are your car's cooling system. "I don't think people realize heat in your vehicle comes from the cooling system," Clinard said. "So, if you don't have an adequate fill level, there won't be adequate heat in the vehicle, which can be an issue if you get stuck on the side of the road."Being proactive and taking care of your car ahead of the winter weather can help prevent you from a potential disaster once it actually does hit."You don't realize how important it is until you're caught without it," Clinard said. "So you don't want to end up on the side of the road stuck, unable to see, sliding around in a guardrail."Also, keep in mind that tire pressure changes when it's cold out, so it's important to monitor that as well.If your car is taking a while to heat up, that could be a sign to get your cooling system checked.

It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina.

One way to make sure you're prepared for possible winter weather in North Carolina is to winterize your car.

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WXII went to Twin City Automotive to find out the best ways to stay safe on the roads as the temperature drops and the winter weather nears.

Inclement weather, like snow and sleet, can strike any time during the winter months, and making sure you're prepared is key.

"For the winter months, I would definitely say to put an emphasis on your tires," Twin City Automotive service manager Josh Clinard said. "You definitely don't want to be caught out in any weather with bad tires. It's especially bad in snow, but it can be bad in rain as well — and as the temperatures drop, you have a decrease in grip and it's good to have as much tire on the road as possible."

Aside from tires, it's also important to make sure wipers are in good condition, as well are your car's cooling system.

"I don't think people realize heat in your vehicle comes from the cooling system," Clinard said. "So, if you don't have an adequate fill level, there won't be adequate heat in the vehicle, which can be an issue if you get stuck on the side of the road."

Being proactive and taking care of your car ahead of the winter weather can help prevent you from a potential disaster once it actually does hit.

"You don't realize how important it is until you're caught without it," Clinard said. "So you don't want to end up on the side of the road stuck, unable to see, sliding around in a guardrail."

Also, keep in mind that tire pressure changes when it's cold out, so it's important to monitor that as well.

If your car is taking a while to heat up, that could be a sign to get your cooling system checked.