How you can avoid costly car repairs this winter.

Winter conditions are hard on your car.  If you do not take steps to counteract these conditions, then you may be forced to take your car in for expensive repairs.  With winter quickly approaching, it's time to employ special maintenance precautions.  Here's what you can do to protect your car from serious damage this winter.

• Take Care of Your Tires

As the temperature drops, so does your tire pressure.  When your tires are low on air, they get too much traction on the road, making them less responsive and more prone to wear and tear.  To avoid this issue, check your tire pressure regularly to ensure that it is within the recommended range. You also need to check the condition of your tires.  If they are worn down and raggedy, then your tires will not get enough traction.  This can increase your chances of skidding, especially if you encounter wet or icy spots on the road.  To protect yourself from this risk, upgrade your tires in preparation for winter driving conditions.

• Check and Maintain Your Battery

Exposure to cold temperatures can cause car batteries to die.  As car batteries are expensive to replace, it's important that you maintain yours carefully.  You should routinely inspect your battery for signs of corrosion.  Corrosion shows up as white, chalky marks on the battery.  If you notice signs of corrosion, then cover the battery terminal with dielectric grease to prevent the damage from getting worse. To preserve your battery, you should also charge it, inspect your cables and fasteners for damage, and clean the battery with a wire brush.  Additionally, you should take your car into the shop and have a service professional check your car's battery to see if it has the capacity to survive the cold temperatures. These are some of the important steps that you should take to protect your car this winter.  Want another way to care for your vehicle?  Then make sure you have the right auto insurance protections in place.  For assistance with all your car coverage needs, contact the experts at Weeks & Associates Insurance Services in Thousand Oaks, California, today.