---

AutoZone Offers Five Quick Ways to Get Your Car Ready For Winter

10 November 2000

AutoZone Offers Five Quick Ways to Get Your Car Ready For Winter

    MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 10 Freezing temperatures will soon be
in the forecast, and studies show three out of four vehicles on the road are
vulnerable to wintertime damage.
    Unfortunately, most vehicle owners don't realize how damaging last
summer's heat was to their vehicles.  After months left unchecked, antifreeze
loses its effectiveness, belts and hoses dry out and seasonal temperature
changes can make moisture collect in the fuel system.
    "Don't let this warm autumn fool you," says Lesley Hartney, AutoZone's
vice president of communications and training.  "The first big winter blast is
right around the corner, and motorists don't need to be caught off guard."
    Here are five easy steps drivers can take to prepare their cars for the
colder temperatures:

    1. Flush and refill your radiator with a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and
       water.
    2. Check your belts and hoses for signs of wear.  Squeeze radiator and
       heater hoses to make sure they're firm yet flexible, and replace any
       hose that feels mushy or brittle.  Also, check the underside of all
       belts and replace any that are cracked.
    3. Use a fuel system dryer to prevent moisture from freezing in your fuel
       line.
    4. Replace your radiator cap and thermostat every three years or 50,000
       miles.
    5. Check your windshield wiper blades for cracking.  Dry, hot summers
       break down the rubber strips in your wiper blades, but they can be
       easily replaced.