Summer has once again come and gone, and you can feel the change in the air. Not just cooler temperatures, but the hustle and bustle of school kids running to the bus stop, or the relief of knowing this may be the last lawn mowing of the season! Caramel apples, boots and talk of Halloween are replacing ice cream, flip flops and beach stories.  Whether you like autumn or not, it’s here!

Fall is definitely a busy time of year. It’s also a very important time of year. Fall is setting us up for the harsher, colder winter months and now is the time to make sure your car is ready for the abuse Old Man Winter is going to throw at it!

Whether you are handy under the hood or you prefer to bring your car to the professionals, there are a few things you want to check off your Fall Maintenance List.

• Check your battery. Connections should be clean, tight and corrosion-free. Winter is hard on batteries, and they can give out on you without any warning signs—if your battery is over three years old you may want to think about replacing it.
• Check all fluid levels. Windshield washer, transmission, brake, and power steering fluids may need to be topped off. Better to do it now than in freezing rain!
• A quick glance while you are under the hood for leaks, cracks, and loose clamps in the cooling system and hoses with a sponge-y or brittle feel only takes a moment. Don’t forget to look at belts for cracking or fraying. A quick once over may help identify a small problem that could cause a big headache later.
• After a summer of road trips and long weekends it’s probably time to change the oil. It may seem like an inconvenience, but remember it’s important for your engine and helps with fuel efficiency! Take a look at your air filter as well. If you can’t see light through it when holding it up to the light it’s time to change that too.
• Make sure your heating, A/C and vents are all working properly. This is important not only so you can stay warm and toasty in the upcoming months, but to insure the defrost will work on those icy mornings.
• Windshield wipers take a beating in the winter. Make sure yours are up to the challenge this year. Replace any torn or cracked wipers.
• Walk around your vehicle. Look closely at each tire for uneven wear and baldness.  Tread depth and tire pressure should be monitored throughout the year, but especially in winter as tires lose pressure when the temperature drops. Look for signs of brake dust, and when you schedule your oil change ask to have the brake linings, rotors and drums checked.
• Make sure all lights are nice and bright! Headlights, taillights, parking and brake lights, emergency flashers and even turn signals should all be bright and clean.
• Click http://waldorfford.com/service-appointment.htm to schedule an appointment, and our certified techs can check everything off your list for you while you sit back and sip a pumpkin latte!

Before you take the family on a beautiful little road trip to admire the fall colors and pick out some pumpkins, make sure your vehicle is ready.  Fallen leaves, bounding deer and fog that can come out of nowhere are all hazards of fall driving…so while you enjoy the changing seasons, rest assured your vehicle is well equipped to handle it!