Just like us, you probably hate the worry that your vehicle is going to break down in the winter in the middle of nowhere, right at the time when your oils are running thick and your battery has less power. The good news? You don’t have to worry! Below, Verde Valley Auto Electric has outlined what you can do to spot the basic problems in your vehicle today:

CHECK YOUR BATTERY FOR THESE SIGNS

• Take a Look for Terminal Growth:
  If your terminals look like they’re growing something, go grab that old box of baking soda from the back of the fridge—you know, the one that needs to be replaced anyway. You’ll want to pour a little water and then some baking soda on the growth, repeating this until it disappears. Be careful not to get any on your skin, eyes, or clothes!
• Behold the Battery Leakage:
  Has your battery been leaking? If it has, this is a good sign that you need to find an auto electrician or purchase a new one!
• Make Note of the Manufacture Date:
  Your manufacture sticker will tell you how old the battery is. Poor quality batteries will last around 3 years, while good quality batteries will last around 5 years. If it’s close to those dates, it’s a good idea for an auto electrician to give it a load test!

We can’t stress this enough:

GET THESE SIMPLE AND HANDY GADGETS

• Jump for Jumper Cables
  Jumper cables are a cheap insurance. With a pair of your own, a good samaritan can help you out even if your battery dies!
• Wipe Away Those Cracked Wipers
  If your windshield wipers are cracked, torn, or destroyed by the Arizona sun or are more than a year old, it’s a good idea to change them. While you’re at it, consider using a quality treatment such as Rain X to help whisk off rain, sleet, and snow to improve your driving visibility!
• View your Visibility
  Speaking of visibility, are your headlights, fog lights, parking lights, signal lights, etc. working? You’ll want to get an auto electrician to help you pick out the best lights for the job so you can drive bright all night!
• Eye That Emergency Kit
  Is your emergency kit up to date with flares, at least a gallon of clean drinking water, an extra jacket and gloves, and a flashlight with batteries? Throw them all in the trunk! If your vehicle has chains, this would be a great time to throw them in there, too!

Pro Tip: tire chains can be used in more than just the snow. Slap them on in the mud and save yourself an expensive call to the tow truck!

LOOK FOR GENERAL WEAR AND TEAR

Make yourself a checklist for antifreeze, oil, belts, hoses, and other general wear and tear items. Discovering an issue with any of these between here and Flagstaff is not only disheartening, it’s way more expensive than taking care of it now!

If any of the above techniques seem too difficult or time-consuming, just remember that the auto electricians at Verde Valley Auto Electric can do it all for you. Come on in, visit our website, or give us a call at 928-821-9797 today!