With help from a local expert in the auto repair industry, here are a few tips on vehicle maintenance that you might want to look into before the weather turns.

According to Gerry Monette of Shawville Auto, one of the most important things to investigate before hitting the road this winter is the state of the battery and its charging system.

After a long, hot summer of driving, batteries tend to get a lot weaker, which can be detrimental to the vehicle’s starter and its alternator, Monette said.

“The battery is the heart of the whole system,” he said. “If the battery doesn’t produce enough [cold] cranking amps, it’s going to eventually ruin your starter. It also makes the alternator work that much harder.”

Monette noted that it’s important to change one’s battery before the winter because hot temperatures are hard on car batteries and that vehicles generally require more cranking amps to start in cold weather.

Another crucial aspect of vehicle maintenance is the state of your winter tires.

While installing them, it’s also a good time to look at the condition of your brakes, suspension and steering, Monette said.

When it comes to suspension, it is important that the vehicle’s shocks and struts are evenly strong and stable.

“It’s always important to have no loose parts to avoid any problems,” he said.

Driving while one side is weaker than the other, can cause for a bouncy ride, especially on sharp corners. If both sides are in rough shape it can have an even more negative impact on the vehicle’s stability, Monette said.

“Your tire is going to kind of lock when you hit a curve and kind of rock side to side,” he said.

Preventative maintenance on the brakes should also be addressed at this time of year, according to Monette.

Another often overlooked maintenance project that shouldn’t be ignored is undercoating.

As a longtime garage owner, Monette has noticed the longstanding benefits that come with undercoating vehicles on a yearly basis.

Very effective at preventing long term rust, an annual undercoat is also useful at preventing brake line corrosion and ultimately prolonging a vehicle’s life, Monette said.

“A lot of car’s frames rust and the car is done after say 10 years,” he said. “Whereas if you have it undercoated, it can go easily 15 years or more.”

Lastly, remember to empty out your windshield washer fluid and replace it with antifreeze for the winter.

“People tend to forget about that,” Monette said.

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