NEW ORLEANS — Freezing temperatures affect cars in many ways. They range from mild inconveniences to expensive problems, some of which could leave you stranded.
Here are a few things to keep in mind before you head out for a chilly commute:
Doors
If there has been any precipitation, you may find your door is frozen shut. Do not try and pry it open with force, said Emile Virgadamo of Emile’s Auto Repair, because “today, with these plastic handles, you can pull the handles off.”
Instead, use a rubber hammer to gently tap along the entire outer edge of the door. “You’ll hear it cracking,” Virgadamo said as he demonstrated the technique.
If you do not have a rubber hammer, you can use any object that is heavy enough. Just be sure to wrap it in fabric if there is a chance it could dent your car.
Windshield
On freezing days, you may need to leave a few minutes early to have time to clear ice from your windshield.
If there is a thick coat of ice and you do not have an ice scraper, use something soft and flexible like a credit card. Avoid anything with a hard metal edge, like a shovel.
Virgadamo also recommends pouring tap water spiked with a small amount of alcohol onto the windshield. Then, get inside and turn the defroster on.
Whatever you do, though, do not use hot water. The sudden temperature difference can cause the glass to crack or cause existing cracks to get bigger. That can also happen if you let your car run before turning on your defroster, which will allow the air to get hot before it hits the windshield. Rather, according to AAA, turn the car on so the defroster can warm up gradually.
Oil
Once you start your car, let it run for a few minutes before you take off. Motor oil gets thicker in the cold, and as Virgadamo explains, “inside the motor” of modern cars “the oil passages are very thin.” By letting the car run, you are giving the oil a chance to warm up.
Tires
Because cold air contracts, frigid weather can cause tire pressure to drop.
If you filled your tires up when it was warmer, it is worth checking them before you head out to make sure the pressure is not too low, something Virgadamo said you should be doing periodically regardless of weather.
Battery
Both extreme heat and extreme cold can age car batteries. “If the battery’s 3-4 years old and it gets cold, it’s gonna have problems, so change it or it’ll leave you stranded,” said Virgadamo.
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