Are you and your car ready for winter? 7 winter car maintenance tips

We have been graced with warm fall temperatures this year in Missouri, but no matter how much we may hope against it, winter is coming. Now that Halloween is behind us and Thanksgiving is approaching it had me thinking about winter car maintenance. Below are seven things to think about before the weather does change that will prepare you and your car for the winter.



Battery and Charging System – Have the battery and charging system tested by a trained technician. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather.


Tire Type and Tread – In areas with heavy winter weather, installing snow tires on all four wheels will provide the best winter traction. All-season tires work well in light to moderate snow conditions, provided they have adequate tread depth. Replace any tire that has less than 3/32-inches of tread. Uneven tire wear can indicate alignment, wheel balance or suspension problems that must be addressed to prevent further tire damage.


Tire Pressure – Check tire inflation pressure more frequently in fall and winter. As the average temperature drops, so will tire pressures – typically by 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The proper tire pressure levels can be in the owner’s manual or on a sticker typically located on the driver’s side door jamb. Also, check the spare.


Air Filter – Check the engine air filter by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it.


Coolant Levels – Check the coolant level in the overflow tank when the engine is cold. If the level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability. Test the antifreeze protection level with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store.


Wiper Blades – The blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots. In areas with snow, consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade frame in a rubber boot to reduce ice and snow buildup that can prevent good contact between the blade and the glass.


Washer Fluid – Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter cleaning solution that has antifreeze components to prevent it from freezing.



I would also suggest an emergency road kit especially if you are going to be taking any extended drives out of town. Here is a suggeted list:

Emergency Road Kit – Carry an emergency kit equipped for winter weather. The kit should include:

• Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter) or traction mats
• Snow shovel
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Window washer solvent
• Ice scraper with brush
• Cloth or roll of paper towels
• Jumper cables
• Extra warm clothing (gloves, hats, scarves)
• Blankets
• Warning devices (flares or triangles)
• Drinking water
• Non-perishable snacks for both human and pet passengers
• First-aid kit
• Basic toolkit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench)



Ford F-150 Raptor


• Mobile phone and car charger pre-programmed with rescue apps and important phone numbers including family and emergency services

Trick or treaters will be ringing your door bell in just a matter of days now and I wanted to remind you that Halloween safety isn't only about what happens at your door step. There was a time when my evening commute from work would always bring me home in the middle of the early evening festivities and I was always concerned of an over excited ghost or goblin running across the street for their next hand full of goodies. Eventually, fueled by my love of the Holiday and concern for being on the road, I just started taking the day off.

Below is some information shared by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and written in an article posted in the Creve Coeur Patch.

Motorists are reminded to pay attention for trick-or-treaters of all ages. Young children excited by Halloween could dart in front of a vehicle. Slow down, and drive with extra caution. If you are headed to a costume party, make sure the costume doesn’t hamper your vision while you’re driving to the event. Motorists picking up and dropping off trick-or-treaters may increase the number of vehicles on the road, therefore affecting traffic patterns.

Consider spending Halloween at home answering the front door. If you do attend a Halloween party that includes alcohol, make sure you have a sober, designated driver for the trip home. Alcohol, even in small amounts, slows reaction time and dulls the senses. Drinking alcohol could have a sad and possibly deadly result.

My kids have outgrown Halloween, but I doubt I ever will. Have a safe and fun October 31st.

The link for the complete article from the Creve Coeur Patch is below.

http://crevecoeur.patch.com/articles/missouri-state-highway-patrol-provides-halloween-safety-tips

Teen Drivers?

Do you have a teen driver in your home?

If you do, you understand the feelings of pride and fear as your son or daughter pulls out of the driveway for the first time on their own. Regardless of if they are driving to school, work, a date or to the store to pick up some needed groceries; parents all are on nervous edge while their children are out on the road. If you are the parent of a Missouri teen driver there are certain things you need to be aware of. This link from the Missouri DMV outlines several things to be aware of and links to other important things to be aware of for teen drivers. http://search.dmv.org/dmv/missouri/teen-driving-restrictions.

Here are just a few of the tidbits from the site...

Avoid These Teen Driving Mistakes

1) Speeding

Did you know that speeding accounts for almost 40% of teen fatalities?
As an inexperienced driver, it's tougher for you to judge your speed and how long it will take to stop. Sure, your reflexes may be sharp, but your interpretation of situations isn't the best. And, it takes time and practice to improve this. So, slow down and obey the posted traffic speeds. Period.
Don't feel embarrassed about driving under the posted speed when you're not feeling comfortable behind the wheel―even when other drivers whiz by you. Those drivers likely have much more road experience than you do, and it could be they're engaging in risky behavior.

2) Getting Distracted

Talking on a cell phone. Texting. Eating. Fiddling with the radio or a CD.
All of these activities are fine to do―when you're not driving. Doing them while driving is inviting trouble. Distractions hinder your ability to scan the road effectively, locate potential trouble early, and take the necessary action.

3) Taking Unnecessary Risks

It's risky enough to drive a car. But, when you compound this with foolish actions such as squeezing through an intersection on a yellow light, not checking your blind spots before switching lanes, and not using your turn signal, you ramp up your chances of causing car wrecks.

4) Failing to Keep a Proper Distance

Teens often overestimate their ability to stop their cars in time. Always maintain an adequate safety margin from the car ahead of you. The higher the speed, the more braking space you need.

5) Not Wearing a Seat Belt

Yes, they can be restrictive and uncomfortable. But, they also play a critical role in eliminating injuries or reducing the severity of injuries you might sustain in a car wreck. Sometimes a seat belt even decides who survives a crash. So, buckle up.

6) Over-correcting and Other Emergency Errors

At times, you must swerve your car or quickly correct the direction of your wheels. Many times teen drivers over-compensate in these situations, and make a dangerous situation worse by losing control of their car.
It's difficult to master emergency handling skills, but you can easily learn to anticipate dangerous situations, which will limit the need to apply these emergency skills. Keeping a safe speed helps, too.

7) Driving While Tired

School. Homework. Jobs. Extracurricular activities. Volunteer work. Baby-sitting. Parties.
As a teen, you need a lot of sleep―more than most adults. Yet, your schedule may not let you get the rest your body and mind require. This leads to driving while drowsy, which delays reaction time, decreases awareness, and results in auto accidents. You may feel you're fine to drive when you're not; better to let someone else drive when you're struggling to stay awake.

8) Having Teen Passengers

It's natural to want to drive with the company of your friends, but doing so can be dangerous: A single teen passenger in your car can double the risk of causing a car accident. That's because passengers can distract you, or cause you to drive more aggressively than you should.

9) Driving the Wrong Car

When it comes to the car you drive, you may not have a choice. But, if you do, opt for one with the latest safety features, and a solid crash safety record. Don't choose a powerful, high-performance car, as it's too easy to lose control of these vehicles as an inexperienced driver.
And, avoid large cars, as they can be a challenge to handle, especially in tight situations.

We’d like to let you in on a little secret …

If you’ve ever had young children, you probably longed for the day you could finally ditch that diaper bag! (We hear you!) But wait … not so fast! You don’t want to toss everything! Baby wipes are a diaper bag staple worth hanging on to! Keep a container in your car because they really do come in quite handy!

• Do you ever find yourself waiting (and waiting and waiting) in a drive-through or carpool line? Grab a baby wipe and clean your dashboard. Your car will look better in seconds, and as an added perk, the wipes leave behind an anti-static layer!
• Have you looked in your cup holders lately? No? Well, it’s probably time to grab a baby wipe and scrub out all that gunk and goo. (Ewww.)
• Oh no! Someone’s been eating in the car again, and they’ve left a trail! (Go ahead, blame it on the kids!) Never fear! Baby wipes are a great way to spot treat car upholstery and carpet stains. Give it a try!
• Finally, you’ve been out and about and you discover that everyone has plain old dirty hands. Problem solved! Baby wipes are great for cleaning up in a pinch!

Product Product Product and more Product

I just logged onto Yahoo and right there in the middle of the screen where they list the latest stories was an article from Forbes Magazine listing the most anticipated cars of 2012. Well my first thought was that we already have several 2012 models already in stock at Pundmann Ford including the Mustangs, Escapes, Explorers, Fusions, Edges, Focus', Super Duty's, Fiestas, Flexes, and Taurus'. I then realized they were talking about new releases in the 2012 calender year. The other thing I notices was the picture associated with the article of the new Ford Fusion based off the concept of the Evos. The top five cars on the list of most anticipated cars for 2012 according to the Forbes article is dominated by Ford with three cars on the list; the C-Max, Escape and Fusion. Ford recently refered to the new Fusion as the "Camry Killer".

Product is king in the industry these days and Ford is right on top of it. Put that along with their strong financial decisions of tbhe last few years, their superb offerrings of fuel effecient cars and you can tell Ford is positioned to continue to be a leader.