Quick Fall Auto Fix-up Tips

Avoid winter woes with quick fall auto fix-up tips and keep your car in great condition for the winter months to come.  As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, it's time to prepare your vehicle for the unfavorable road conditions to come.  Addressing a few key issues before winter arrives can save you significant hassle and cost.   

Follow these simple tips to shield your vehicle from the elements and avoid winter-related damages.

Protect Your Paint

The majorities of drivers are aware of at least one scratch or chip in their vehicles' paint. Unfortunately, many will not repair these small damages before they rust and become serious issues. A scratch can rust in just 30 days, and snow, ice and freezing temperatures can accelerate and intensify the damage.   

Contact Osceola Garage as to what finish would be the best for your vehicle to repair these small damages.

Vision

Winter weather can reduce visibility, so a clear windshield is extremely important to prevent accident damage.  To make certain you have an unobstructed view of the road at all times, examine the defroster system and windshield wipers.  Replace any old or cracked blades, and don't forget your rear wiper.

Stock up on winter windshield fluid and keep a bottle of de-icing spray in your car to reduce the need to scrape. Check all vehicle lights to make sure your night vision is equally clear, and replace any dim or dead bulbs.  

Contact Osceola Garage to inspect your vehicle free of charge.

Tires 

One of the most essential aspects of vehicle winterization is making sure you have a safe grip on the road. Quality tires help keep your vehicle secure, especially in slippery rain or snow conditions, and inadequate tires will not be effective. Inspect your tire tread and pressure and replace worn tires for optimal traction in snow and ice.   

Ensure to rotate your tires and have your brakes checked. If you live in a snow-prone or rural area, you might consider purchasing snow tires and/or chains to get through the tough conditions.  

Contact Osceola Garage and we will inspect your tires Free of charge.

Emergency Kit 

In the case that something does go wrong this winter and you are stranded, make sure to keep an emergency roadside kit in your vehicle at all times.

Include:  Flashlight and batteries, road flares, a blanket, jumper cables, bottled water, nutrition bars and charged cell phone

You may also benefit from roadside service, particularly if you are traveling alone or long distances.   Contact Osceola Garage and find out more about their Auto Club.  




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Seniors Can You Be Considered an Impaired Driver because you’re taking prescription medications

As we get older, more and more of us tend to take medications for one reason or another. These drugs may have stronger effects on our bodies than when we were younger.  

High doses of some drugs can impair your skills and reflexes while behind the wheel of your car. It can also make you drowsy, affect your vision and have other negative side effects that can affect your safety and the safety of others while on the road.   

When taking any medication read the labels It is common to see the warnings on prescription drug labels noting something along the lines of, “Do not operate heavy machinery or equipment.” It is important to remember that the heavy machinery mentioned includes automobiles. 

Many times the driver’s doctor-prescribed medication which can have an effect on the ability to drive equal to, or worse than, being intoxicated. Driving while impaired under the influence of medication is just as illegal as drinking and driving and has the same penalties.  

If any drug makes you drowsy or dizzy or any other adverse reactions, do not drive while taking these drugs and speak with your doctor right away.  

Are Your Car Tires Out of Date

Worn Tires, especially bald ones can be deadly on wet roads.

Mileage is the not the only concern when speaking of the integrity of your car’s tires. The age of the tires is an important factor too. Many seniors do not put a lot of miles on their cars and may be under the assumption that because of the low miles on the car, the tires are ok. This may not be the case.

Tire rubber degrades and dries out over time, no matter what the miles are. This can cause cracking and stress on the tire's structural composition, possibly resulting in failure, including blowouts and tread shredding at higher speeds. Older tires often have problems maintaining proper inflation. This can cause gas consumption to rise, wasting valuable fuel. 

All tires have a date code stamped on the sidewall. If your tires are more than 5 years old you should have your auto service professional inspect the tires and check the date code Remember, the age of a tire is as important as the mileage. 

Worn tires—especially bald ones—can be deadly on wet roads, where the grooves aren't deep enough to channel water out from beneath the tread. The result is hydroplaning, where the tread skims the water's surface and the vehicle no longer responds to the steering wheel. Wet-weather braking and snow traction also decrease as tires wear.

Tires are considered bald when one or more of their grooves reaches 2/32 of an inch deep, compared with about 10/32 of an inch for new tires (tread wear is usually measured in 1/32-inch increments). Manufacturers have made bald tires easier to spot by placing a series of molded horizontal bars at the base of the grooves. The bars become flush with surrounding tread when wear reduces a groove's depth to 2/32 of an inch. That's also the point where tires will flunk a state safety inspection—and where tread must be worn for you to collect on a tire's tread-wear warranty.
Unfortunately, 2/32 of an inch may be too late if you drive in rain or snow. Based on our tests of new and half-tread-depth tires, you may want to consider shopping for new ones on your car or truck closer to the 4/32-inch groove depth.

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