10 Fall Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Posted October 6, 2017

The days are getting shorter, the air is crisp, and the leaves are beginning to fall. It’s the first signs of winter approaching that can remind you to do your fall vehicle maintenance. Follow this check list to ensure that you’re ready once the winter weather hits.

1. Check Your Tires

Inspect both your all-season and winter tires to ensure that they have more than 5/32” tread left on them. This can be tested with a tread depth gauge or your local Integra Tire technician can test it for you. Also ensure that there are no cracks or bulges in your tires and that there is no debris stuck in your tires. If you notice anything abnormal with your tires, bring your vehicle in and we can check them for you.

2. Get Your Winter Tires

It’s a good idea to get your winter tires put on your vehicle before the snow falls. This will help keep you safer on the road and will save you time – Integra Tires across Canada get very busy once the snow falls so you’ll want to beat the rush and get your winter tires on sooner than later.

3. Check Your Tire Pressure

Check your tire pressure periodically to ensure that it is at the optimum level. You can find the PSI that your tires should be set to by looking at the owner’s manual or on the side sticker inside your car door. If your tires are constantly low, you may have a slow leak in them. Bring them into Integra Tire and we can check them for you.

4. Have Your Brakes Inspected

Bring your vehicle into your local Integra Tire and Auto Centre to have your brakes inspected and we will let you know if they require maintenance. Brake pads will wear out over time and you don’t want your brakes to fail when you’re trying to stop in snowy conditions.

5. Get Your Battery Tested

Car batteries generally last about 5 years so it’s a good idea to get yours tested for strength once a year. You don’t want your battery to quit working when it’s -20°C! You can bring your car into your local Integra Tire and we can test its strength for you and advise if it needs replacing.

6. Test Your Wiper Blades

Wiper blades need to be replaced once every few years so if you haven’t turned yours on in a while, make sure to test them before the snow flies and replace them if necessary.

7. Check Your Lights

Now that the days are shorter, you will be using your vehicle’s lights more often. Make sure to test your headlights, fog lights, brake lights, signal lights, tail lights, and interior lights. If any are burnt out, make sure to replace them.

8. Check Your Heater and Defroster

You probably haven’t used your vehicle’s heater since last spring so make sure to test that every vent is blowing hot air. Also check your front and rear defroster to ensure that they are working. If either one is not working, you can bring your vehicle into your local Integra Tire and Auto Centre and we can fix it for you.

9. Get Your Oil Changed

You should get an oil change once every 5,000 – 10,000km. If your car doesn’t have an oil change sensor, be sure to book your oil change whenever you book your tire changeover as an easy reminder.

10. Give Your Vehicle a Full Cleaning

Make sure to take your car to the car wash and give it a full cleaning inside and out. Make sure to vacuum too. You won’t want to be doing it when it is -20°C outside so do it now before it’s too late.

If you follow these steps, it should make your transition into the winter weather much easier.

Questions? Our Advisors are Happy to Help!

If you have questions about anything you've read in this resource page, contact your nearest dealer for more information. We are passionate in assisting our customers make the best choices to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape and keep their families safe.