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    • How to Winterize Your Car for Trips to the Arizona High Country
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    How to Winterize Your Car for Trips to the Arizona High Country

    Pabio Posted on

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    As temperatures drop, this is the time of year when your car’s tire pressure lights come on or heat-affected batteries fail to start during the coldest nights or holidays. icy winter.

    Although Phoenix doesn’t experience harsh winters like other parts of the country, drivers should still prepare for seasonal weather changes and winter road trips.

    Shahe Koulloukian owns Mazvo, an auto service center in Phoenix, and says it’s important for desert drivers to be proactive before embarking on a trip north.

    “The owner has to defend himself,” Koulloukian said. “Ask yourself, ‘How old is my vehicle?’ » If it is three to five years old or more, it is crucial to examine several elements.

    Here’s everything you need to know about winterizing your vehicle as the weather cools across the state:

    Battery: Check its age and charge

    Anyone who has lived and driven in Phoenix long enough knows that car batteries have a half-life in America’s hottest big city. This is one of the first things residents should check in the winter.

    “Number one, especially in Arizona, is the thermal shock that the battery experiences,” Koulloukian said. “Most people forget how old it is until the day they have to jump, rather than always being proactive in checking.”

    Most car batteries have a round sticker on the side with two numbers: month and year. If a car’s battery is two years old or older, Koulloukian suggests taking the vehicle to an auto shop to test the battery.

    “If it comes back 40% or 50% weaker, that’s where you’re going to defend yourself and say, well, if I don’t replace this battery, I’m going to be stuck,” he said.

    New car batteries can cost between $100 and $250, depending on the warranty. Since car batteries last an average of two years in Phoenix, Koulloukian suggests a three-year warranty to ensure a replacement is covered within that time frame.

    Tires: age and swelling

    The next thing Koulloukian suggests checking before embarking on a trip through the mountains is the vehicle’s tires.

    “Again, a lot of people won’t know how old their tire is,” he said. “The general rule of federal mandate states that any tire five years or older must be replaced if dry rot occurs.”

    Drivers can check the sidewall of their tire for numbers indicating the week number (the week of January 1 would be 1, for example) and the year to see how old it is. If a tire reads 1219, it was manufactured during the week of March 18, 2019 and will need to be replaced.

    “Most people can’t see (dry rot), unless you go in there with a flashlight you’ll see these tiny cracks,” Koulloukian said. “That’s what every motorist sees on the highway, that big banana peel on the side of the road, that’s when the cap separates.”

    On long trips, especially in colder months, tire rubber expands and contracts. Koulloukian said that after driving a few hours on the highway, the rubber expands and the tires can inflate 2 to 3 PSI.

    Once travelers arrive at their destination, Flagstaff says, and the car is parked in the cold overnight, the rubber shrinks and the PSI drops.

    Either of these changes can trigger tire pressure warnings on newer vehicles, but Koulloukian advises not to panic.

    “It’s that balance of back and forth,” he said. “Know not to panic, you don’t have a leak, you don’t have a nail, you’re just in colder temperatures. If you continue driving and the light goes off, it’s simply because of the colder weather.

    It’s always important to check your tires whenever tire pressure warnings occur, but in these situations it’s probably normal due to weather changes.

    Koulloukian suggests purchasing a small pressure gauge to monitor the tires. Drivers can adjust their vehicle’s tire pressure seasonally, but it urges caution to avoid overfilling.

    The recommended tire pressure on most vehicles is listed inside the driver’s door, near the vehicle identification number (VIN).

    “The general rule is to never exceed 3 PSI,” he said. “If it says 32 PSI, go for 35 if you want to overfill it, but never overfill.”

    Coolant: it needs antifreeze

    Although residents don’t have to worry about deep freezes in Phoenix, if they travel to Flagstaff or Show Low, their vehicle’s coolant could freeze if it is diluted.

    Antifreeze coolant is usually a mixture of water and glycol, a chemical that prevents the engine from freezing and overheating. If there is too much water diluting the coolant, it could freeze and damage the engine.

    Koulloukian advises drivers to take their vehicle to an automotive shop to ensure the water-glycol ratio is correct for the make and model of the car.

    Windshield wipers: replace them if they are old and dry

    Windshield wipers may not be of much use in Phoenix, but drivers should get them before traveling to wetter areas.

    “It’s also very important to monitor the wiper blades,” Koulloukian said. “We never get rain here, and when it does, everyone has to replace them.”

    When windshield wipers are on standby and resting on hot windshields during the summer, they can dry out. Sometimes their only exposure to water is at the car wash.

    Windshield wipers can dry rot and the rubber becomes hard and brittle. They can leave marks on the glass, malfunction, collapse or damage the windshield.

    “That’s the only thing that causes wiper blades to go bad is dry rot. If they stay moist and soft, you’ll never have to replace them,” Koulloukian said.

    Koulloukian has a tip for ensuring windshield wipers survive Phoenix’s dry weather. He suggests running a baby wipe with rubbing alcohol along the wiper, then applying a small amount of petroleum jelly to lubricate the rubber.

    If the wipers need to be replaced, Koulloukian advises avoiding name brand wipers which are more expensive. He says cheaper standard blades are just as effective, costing between $5 and $15.

    Windshield wiper fluid can also freeze in cold weather, but drivers can purchase specific fluid that works in all seasons.

    Be proactive

    Even after checking a vehicle’s tires, battery, coolant and other parts that may malfunction during the winter, Koulloukian advises being cautious when traveling north due to weather conditions and potentially dangerous roads.

    “It’s very important to have an emergency kit when driving north,” Koulloukian said. “Take a box and throw in some flares, blankets, batteries, a good flashlight, and jumper cables.”

    He also suggests writing down important phone numbers and emergency contacts on a piece of paper and placing it in the glove box in case the driver’s phone goes off during a breakdown.

    Checking the weather and printing out a map of the route with gas stations and rest areas highlighted will avoid surprises on a road trip.

    Koulloukian also recommends that drivers visit an auto shop before their winter vacation to ensure their vehicle can make the trip.

    “It doesn’t hurt to just stop by and have your repair shop check your fluids, brakes, tires and make sure everything is OK before your road trip, especially if you haven’t been there for a while,” he said.

    Hayleigh Evans writes about severe weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Send him story tips to [email protected].

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