Check the functionality of the air conditioning system heater. To avoid unexpectedly finding yourself in an unheated car interior during the first frost, you should turn on the air conditioning system to heating mode before the onset of cold weather and make sure the heater is working properly.
Then, if a malfunction is detected, it will be possible to repair the air conditioning system before the first frost.
Check the rear window heating. If you have not had to turn on the heating during the season to prevent the rear window from fogging up, then this operation should be performed.
Minor damage to the heating element thread can be repaired using a special repair compound.
Check the coolant density or replace the coolant in accordance with the maintenance schedule (see "Maintenance plan").
The density can be used to determine the condition of the coolant and its compliance with climatic conditions (see "Checking the technical condition of the cooling system"). If the density is found to be low, the coolant must be replaced (see "Coolant - Replacement"). A decrease in density is possible if water was added to the cooling system, due to which the concentration of ethylene glycol became lower. In summer, this is not as significant as in winter. In frosty weather, with a low concentration of ethylene glycol, the coolant can turn into a mushy mixture or even freeze if a large amount of water was added to the cooling system.
Check the condition of the battery. As long as the temperature outside is above zero, the battery, even if it is 60-70% discharged, is able to provide stable engine starting. But in severe frost, it happens that a battery discharged by 50% does not cope.
To prevent the car from refusing to start at the most inopportune moment, it is necessary to check the charge level of the battery, the condition of its terminals and the terminals of the power wires (see "Battery - Maintenance"). The discharged battery must be removed and charged (see "Battery - Removal and Installation" and see. "Battery - charging"), connecting the charger to it, and before installation, clean the terminals and terminals.
Replace the windshield washer fluid with antifreeze. This must be done if the reservoir is filled with water or summer washer fluid. Do not try to delay replacing the summer washer fluid as long as possible. Frost can hit unexpectedly, with all the ensuing consequences. It is better to start adding antifreeze to the reservoir in advance so that the liquid in the washer does not freeze when frost sets in.
Fit winter tyres to your vehicle. Tyres designed for use in winter conditions have special symbols on the sidewall (see "General information").
It is better to change tires when the average daily temperature is no higher than 5-7°C, rather than waiting for snow to fall. It is advisable to have two sets of wheels, with summer and winter tires. Then you will not have to change tires every time. In addition, you can change the wheels yourself, rather than going to a tire shop every time. Wheels with summer tires, before storing, should be washed and treated with special tire products. It is advisable to paint over paint chips and scratches on the wheel rims.
Check the condition of the mudguards, shields and anti-corrosion coating of the body. The body receives the greatest damage from corrosion in winter. Sand on country roads, anti-icing reagents on city roads and moisture in combination with frost do their job. To protect the body, it is necessary to restore damaged areas of the anti-corrosion coating, replace broken mudguards, protective shields or mudguards.
Wash the body, check the condition of its paintwork, polish the body with a protective polish. During the summer season, pebbles flying from under the wheels of cars can damage the paint. While it is warm outside and the moisture evaporates quickly, paint chips and microcracks in the paintwork do not manifest themselves in any way. In winter, corrosion will develop in these places. Therefore, you should carefully inspect the body, having previously washed it with a shampoo-polish or shampoo-conditioner.
These compounds not only clean the body, but also create a protective film on it.
The detected corrosion spots must be treated with a rust converter, and the chips must be painted over. The execution of such work is shown in the section "Car care" (see below). In places where it is permissible (on thresholds, on the bottom and on other surfaces exposed to abrasive action), apply an anti-corrosion compound.
Additionally, it is advisable to apply polish to the body. This will not only improve the appearance of the car, but also reduce the likelihood of moisture penetrating the metal through microcracks in the paintwork. When preparing the car body for winter, it is recommended to use special protective polishes.
Lubricate the door hinges and stops, hood hinges, and trunk lids. You can generously coat the door and hood hinges with plastic grease to prevent moisture and anti-icing agents from penetrating them.
Treat the door locks with plastic grease. The grease will protect the parts from moisture and prevent the locks from freezing. It is advisable to use low-temperature grease so that it freezes less in the cold, making it difficult for the lock to operate.
Treat the door and trunk lid seals with a special silicone lubricant for rubber. After treatment, moisture will not linger on the seal, and in frost, the seal will not freeze to the body. The same composition can also be used to treat the seals of the lowering windows.
Blow out the radiator of the cooling system and the condenser of the air conditioning system with compressed air from a compressor or foot pump in order to remove fluff, insect remains and other debris from them. In winter, when all this is saturated with moisture and anti-icing reagents, the aluminum elements of the radiator of the cooling system and the condenser of the air conditioning system will actively deteriorate in these places. Practice shows that the condenser suffers the most. It can fail in 3-4 years of operation if preventive maintenance is not performed.
Change engine oil and oil filter according to the maintenance schedule (see "Maintenance plan"). If there are 300-500 km of mileage left before the next engine oil change, it is better not to wait for the due date, but to replace it and the oil filter during seasonal maintenance.
Replace spark plugs in accordance with the maintenance schedule (see "Maintenance plan"). If the replacement time is approaching, it is advisable not to postpone this work. New spark plugs will ensure stable engine starting in frost.
Recommendation. As a preventive measure, you can add a moisture remover (water that may have accumulated at the bottom of the fuel tank during operation, especially if you had to fill up the car at unverified gas stations) to the fuel on a high-mileage vehicle. Water will definitely freeze in cold weather. Depending on where it has accumulated, the fuel line or fuel filter may be blocked, or the fuel pump may be damaged.