During the last few days, Liberty County residents have endured pretty chilly weather and the cold spell is predicted to continue. Temperatures aren’t expected to rise above 55 degrees this week and nightly temperatures may dip as low as 20 degrees.
In harsh conditions, experts say cars must be kept in tip-top shape to perform well. Hinesville’s Auto Zone sales parts manager Maggie Sanchez, 31, recently shared her recommendations for winter vehicle maintenance:
1. “Make sure your wiper blades are good. Rain and snow don’t mix well with bad blades. It’s important to be able to see where you’re going,” Sanchez said.
2. “Check you anti-freeze levels. If you don’t have the right amount of anti-freeze, your engine could lock up, start running hot and ultimately damage other parts of your car. You have to make sure your levels are where they need to be,” she said.
 3. “Look at your tires,” the parts manager said. “Make sure they have good grip and the proper air pressure. This is very important for icy roads and slick weather conditions.”
4. “Check the belts on your car. You break a belt and it could definitely mess up your engine. Always make sure they are on tight and properly lubricated.”
5. “Definitely the battery. That’s probably the most important. You always want to check for corrosion and make sure nothing is spilling out,” Sanchez said. “You don’t want to be stuck somewhere in freezing weather with a bad battery.”