Acura Winter Car Care Checklist for Orland Park & Chicagoland Drivers

Whether you’re in Orland Park, Palos Heights, Worth, or anywhere in Chicagoland, you know that winter is a brutal and treacherous time of year. Your Acura is no exception to this, as the cold season can not only impact the way it drives, but also how effectively its components function. That’s why it’s vital to take a little bit of extra care to ensure that your vehicle is ready for the challenge ahead, so that it’s reliably there for you when you need it. Read on for a quick overview of what needs to be addressed to help you get started.

Of course, the best way to make sure everything is covered is to schedule a service appointment with Joe Rizza Acura. With our state-of-the-art service center and factory-trained experts, nobody is better equipped to make sure that your Acura is fully prepared for a Chicago winter. Contact us or stop by today to get started!

Make Sure Your Battery is Ready

When the weather gets cold in Chicago, the chemical reactions inside of batteries slow down and can often cause failure, particularly if it is already near the end of its life. The best way to protect against this unforgiving reality is to replace the battery in your Acura every three years, guaranteeing that it always has enough juice for the winter. Naturally, if you’re unsure, Joe Rizza Acura can test your battery to make sure it still gives off sufficient power.

Check Your Tires

Your tires, arguably, are the most important part of your car during the winter, and naturally, there’s a lot to address with them. For one thing, you should consider getting winter tires on your Acura, as they’re specially formulated to maintain flexibility in cold temperatures and designed for improved traction. Whether you make that switch or stick with all-season tires, it’s vital that they have enough tread depth to transport you safely (the classic Penny Test is a good way to check at home). And, of course, you’ll need to make sure your tires have enough air in them, as chillier temperatures drain tire pressure and can often activate your vehicle’s TPMS warning light.

Replace Your Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid

You’re going to use the windshield wipers on your Acura during a Chicago winter. A lot. Whether they’re helping your defrosters clear the overnight ice accumulation, pushing away that ubiquitous road sludge, or simply keeping your vision clean during a snowfall, it adds up to a ton of wear and tear. With that in mind, a new set of wiper blades ahead of the season can prove a lifesaver. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure your washer fluid is topped off with a winter-optimized formula (and maybe keep an extra jug in your Acura as well).

Change Your Oil and Other Fluids

Whether your Acura Maintenance Minder says it’s time or not, it’s not a terrible idea to get your oil and filter changed. Not only is it something of a fresh start ahead of the winter season, but it’s an opportunity to switch your oil to a formulation better equipped to lubricate your engine through cold and freezing temperatures.

While you’re at it, it’s not an awful idea to make sure your other fluids are topped off and ready to go, particularly your coolant.

Clear Maintenance Minder Codes

Once you’ve addressed all of your winter maintenance, you should clear any outstanding codes showing on your Acura Maintenance Minder, so that it stays on schedule. Doing this is extremely straightforward — simply turn the vehicle on (by pressing the Start/Stop button twice without pushing the brake pedal), use the steering wheel selector to navigate to the Maintenance screen on the driver information display, and hold down the selector button for ten seconds. When the reset mode appears, highlight All Due Items, then press the selector button once more.

Prepare a Winter Emergency Kit

As reliable as your Acura is, and even if you’ve taken superb care of its maintenance, there’s always a chance you’ll end up stranded in a severe Chicago winter. For that reason, it’s a good idea to keep a few essentials in your Acura. As a starting point, you’ll want to have a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, blankets and extra clothing, non-perishable food (don’t forget a can opener), water, flares, a spare phone charger, and sand or cat litter (to help with traction). Hopefully, you’ll never need any of those things, but it’s always best to be prepared.

It’s important to remember, however, that SH-AWD and AcuraWatch do not change the fundamental nature of winter driving conditions. For example, neither can overcome the laws of physics, and no amount of torque vectoring will help the vehicle stop when none of its tires are able to find a grip on the ice.