| Winter can be tough on your car, but with
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| | possible. This will prevent freezing in
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| a little preventive maintenance on your
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| | your gas lines.
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| vehicle, you can avoid getting stranded
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| | 7) Check your windshield washer fluid.
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| at the most inconvenient of all times.
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| | Avoid using water only, as it will
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| Here are a few items to check to be sure
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| | freeze.
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| you're not stuck out in the cold this
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| | 8) A decent tune up wouldn't hurt
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| winter:
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| | anything either.
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| 1) Check your belts and hoses for wear,
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| | Prepare an emergency kit for your trunk
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| and replace any that are showing signs of
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| | which includes a working flashlight
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| aging.
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| | (extra batteries are a good idea too!,)
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| 2) Flush your cooling system, and replace
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| | blanket, tool kit, jumper cables, ice
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| with a 50/50 mixture of anti-freeze and
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| | scraper, gloves, reflective triangles or
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| water.
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| | flares, a bag of hard candy, and a first
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| 3) Clean your battery posts and
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| | aid kit. A bag of kitty litter comes in
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| terminals, and check the battery water
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| | handy for icy situations, and a small
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| level. If your car has battery clips
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| | snow shovel will help in heavy snow
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| (pretty standard on newer cars) instead
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| | conditions.
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| of good terminals, consider switching
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| | If you become stranded for a long period
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| those out. Also, if your battery is over
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| | of time...a) Do NOT leave your car unless
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| 4 - 4 1/2 years old, consider replacing
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| | you know exactly where you are, and
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| that now as well.
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| | exactly where you can go in order to
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| 4) Check your heater and defroster to be
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| | improve your situation.b) Use flares or
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| sure they are functioning properly. If
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| | reflective triangles to draw attention,
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| you notice your engine's temperature
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| | or a bright cloth hanging from your
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| guage dips too much when turning on your
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| | antenna will work.c) To keep warm, use
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| heater, have your thermostat checked.
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| | blankets, and depending on the amount of
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| 5) Make sure your tires are properly
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| | gas in your car, run the heater for 10
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| inflated. The cold weather will lower
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| | minutes or so every hour. Make sure your
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| your tire pressure. Also, check the tire
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| | exhaust pipe is not blocked!d) In heavy
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| pressure in your spare tire, and make
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| | snow and ice conditions, leave a window
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| sure you have the equipment needed to
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| | slightly cracked to avoid getting sealed
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| change a tire if needed.
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| | in.e) Use that bag of hard candy in your
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| 6) Keep your gas tank as full as
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| | emergency kit to keep your mouth moist.
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