Most drivers treat their car like it's indestructible. Then winter hits, your battery dies at 2 AM, and you're Googling "how to jump a car with a potato" while frostbite sets in.
The fix isn't complicated. It's 10 checks. 10 minutes. Done once, and your car won't leave you stranded when winter decides to get medieval on your ass.
Here's what I learned the expensive way. Do these checks before winter hits, and you'll never be that guy calling AAA from a frozen parking lot.
Grab your phone timer. Let's move.
1. Battery Terminals (30 seconds)
Pop the hood. Look at the battery posts. Green crusty shit = corrosion = weak connection = dead car. Fix: Baking soda + water in a cup, old toothbrush, scrub, rinse, dry. Done.
2. Tire Pressure (2 minutes)
Cold air shrinks tires 1 PSI for every 10°F drop. Underinflated tires = death wobble on ice. Check: Use the $8 gauge from your glovebox. The door jamb sticker tells you the magic number. Pump at any gas station.
3. Tread Depth (1 minute)
Penny test: Lincoln's head upside down in the groove. If you see the top of his head, buy new tires before you become a highway statistic.
4. Antifreeze Strength (1 minute)
$5 tester from any auto parts store. Suck up coolant. Floating balls tell you if it will freeze at -30°F or turn to slush at 15°F. Not a guessing game.
5. Wiper Blades (1 minute)
Lift the arm. If the rubber is cracked, split, or leaves streaks wider than a toddler's finger, replace it. $15 each, 2 minutes to install. Your future self thanks you when sleet hits at 70 mph.
6. Washer Fluid (30 seconds)
Regular blue stuff freezes. Winter blend (orange jug) is rated to -20°F. Pour it in. If your reservoir is empty, you're the guy with the frozen windshield and zero visibility.
7. Lights (2 minutes)
Walk around the car. Headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals. One burnt bulb = ticket + accident risk. Keep spares in the glovebox like an adult.
8. Emergency Kit (1 minute)
Open trunk. Do you have:
- Jumper cables
- Blanket
- Protein bars
- Ice scraper
- First aid kit
If not, Amazon it today. $50 total. Beats freezing to death.
9. Defrost/Heater (30 seconds)
Start the car. Max heat + defrost. If it blows cold for 10+ minutes, your heater core is dying. Fix it now, not when you're crying in a snowbank.
10. Gas Tank (30 seconds)
Keep it above half in winter. Condensation in an empty tank = water in fuel lines = frozen fuel pump. Fill up when you hit ½, not when the light screams at you.
Timer stopped? Congratulations. You just made your car 900% less likely to ruin your winter.
Checklists like this have a flaw: you use them once, feel good, then forget when you last checked anything. Six months later, you're back to playing winter roulette.
I built Carvetka specifically for this. Take a photo of your maintenance, such as winter prep. Set a reminder for next November, and the app will take care of everything else. No more relying on memory. No more "I think I did that last year?" guessing games.
Your move: Screenshot this checklist and set a November reminder on your phone. Or better yet, log it in Carvetka once and let it remind you automatically every year.
Try Carvetka for free! Track maintenance, set smart reminders, and avoid overpaying for duplicate services.
(Pro tip: When your buddy's car won't start in January, send them this article with "I told you so.")