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Get ready for the Holidays!

CCNS - In domino fashion, failing to plan for maintenance can turn small problems into larger ones, putting a serious dent in your automotive budget. The penalties of procrastinating on vehicle maintenance range from a heater that runs cold to a battery that won’t start the car.

Take care of your car’s seasonal services immediately and make plans to get ahead of the game next year. An early visit to your repair facility provides the opportunity to budget for unanticipated repairs. The Car Care Council offers the following checklist:

Engine performance 
A poorly maintained engine is hard to start in cold weather, if it starts at all. It may run rough and lose power. Have fuel, ignition and emission control systems checked, necessary components replaced and adjustments made.

Battery and electrical system 
How old is your battery? If it’s three or more years old, it should be tested and replaced if necessary. Even a strong battery that can deliver full power at 80 degrees F. will have dropped to 65 percent of its output at freezing temperature and only 40 percent at zero degrees.

Clean and tighten battery terminals, as loose or corroded connections can cause symptoms of a weak or dead battery.

Oil and filter 
Change both as recommended in the owner’s manual, generally at 3,000-mile intervals for severe conditions and cold weather operation, especially when most driving is stop-and-go traffic. Check the owner’s manual for more information on severe service or refer to Car Care Council’s Service Interval Schedule.

Visibility
Replace old wiper blades and be sure your washers are working. Carry spare washer solvent in your vehicle.

Cooling system
A vehicle’s antifreeze should be changed annually, or as recommended in the owner’s manual. Flush the cooling system every 24 months. The recommended mixture is 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water. Have the system pressure tested for leaks and check hoses and drive belt(s) for tension and condition.

Tires
Inspect, balance, check inflation and rotate tires. Check inflation on the spare and make sure the jack is in place.

Lights
Check all lights and replace burned out bulbs

Exhaust System
Have the vehicle put on a lift for an inspection of the exhaust system. Leaking exhaust fumes can be deadly.

November Keep-It-Together Checklist

November  Keep-It-Together Checklist

If you only do one thing this month…Turn off the outdoor water supply. Otherwise trapped water can freeze, causing pipes to burst. Remember to empty the garden hose to prevent it from splitting. Unscrew it and coil it, leaving one end on the ground; in the process, gravity will force water out. More ways to get ready for colder temperatures:

Save on shoes and boots. Before buying a new pair for the winter, examine where the sole meets the upper; you shouldn’t see glue or loose stitching. You also don’t want to see bumps, loose threads, or awkward construction where two pieces of leather or fabric meet. Next, look for discoloration or unevenness in the material, whether leather or man-made, as it will only get worse with time. Finally, make sure the heels don’t wobble.

Related: Fall Fashion Classic: Riding Boots

Go shopping online on Thanksgiving weekend. Many “Black Friday” online sales begin on Thanksgiving Day, so while everyone else is falling asleep in front of the football game, steal away for a few minutes and score some great deals. Too busy to hit the Web on Turkey Day? Then check sites like target.com and bestbuy.com early on Black Friday morning; they often make changes to their websites before dawn.

Related: Black Friday 101

Clean your stovetop in just five minutes. Keep the area spotless pre- and post-turkey with this quick routine. Step 1) Make sure the stovetop is cool. Remove the grates and the knobs (with an electric range, also take off the drip pans). Drop them into a few inches of hot, soapy water in the sink. See the rest of the speed clean plan

Related: Speed-Clean Your Stovetop Checklist

Add Brussels sprouts to tonight’s dinner. Add an earthy taste and a hearty texture with these mini members of the cabbage family. Bonus: You’ll get a good helping of vitamins C and A, dietary fiber, and potassium.

Related: Brussels Sprouts With Brown Butter and Sage

Sign up for traffic alerts. Plug in your route at traffic.com and indicate when you want real-time traffic alerts via text (for example, every day at 7 A.M. or right before you will be heading to the airport to catch a flight). You can also specify that you want the alert only if there’s major congestion on the road, or opt for a phone call if you’re not text-savvy.

Pack something different for lunch. Your lunch doesn’t need to be as boring as the brown bag it came in. Get inspired by new recipes for sandwiches, soups, and salads.

Related: Skip the Takeout: Make Yourself Lunch

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