5 Maintenance Tips to Prep Your Toyota for the Fall Season

Aug 4, 2016

Wiper-Blades As summer fun winds down, you may begin to think about getting your Toyota ready for winter. However, it’s just as important that you prepare your vehicle for fall. Before the leaves change colors, make sure you take care of these important maintenance tasks.

1. Change Your Wiper Blades

You should change your wiper blades at least once a year, and fall is the best time to do it. A long summer of sitting in the sun can degrade the rubber, and you usually use your wiper blades more in the fall and winter than any other time of year.

Changing wiper blades is very easy and you don’t need any special tools to do it. Just make sure you check the in-store sizing guide since some vehicles require the same size blade on the passenger and driver side, and some vehicles require a different size blade for each side. If you have a hatchback, SUV, minivan, or station wagon, don’t forget to change the rear wiper blade as well.

2. Check Your Battery

Cold morning starts can strain your battery, so make sure it’s ready. Check the date on your battery. If it’s older than four years, it might not work properly in cold weather and you should replace it. Also, be sure there’s no corrosion around the cable connectors that could cause ignition problems.

3. Check Your Tire Pressure

Dropping temperatures can condense the air in your tires and leave you with low tire pressure. Plus, tires naturally lose about 1psi (pounds per square inch) every month. Go through and check the pressure on all four tires before you drive or at least three hours after you’ve driven. If your tire pressure is low, refill until you have a psi that matches the number found on the sticker inside your driver’s door. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check the tire pressure on your spare tire as well, and refill it if necessary.

4. Restock Your Emergency Kit

As fall approaches, double check your emergency kit and make sure it has everything you need for cold weather driving. Ideally, your emergency kit will contain an ice scraper, boots, gloves, a blanket, candles, flares, snacks or protein bars, a flashlight, a small shovel, and sand or kitty litter, which can help your tires gain traction on slippery roads.

5. Top Off Your Fluids

As you head into fall, it’s a good idea to replace your regular windshield washer fluid with one that’s suited for cold weather use. Get one with a de-icer mixed in to help on those frosty mornings and to last you throughout the winter. This is also a good time to check your antifreeze and make sure it’s correct for the temperatures you’ll be driving in. Antifreeze is very important since it keeps your engine’s temperature regulated, but during the summer it can become diluted.

As we start heading into fall, make sure you take the time to follow these simple steps and prepare your Toyota for the changing season.

Image by romana klee, Licensed via CC BY-SA 2.0