Winter driving can be really hard on your vehicle, especially if it is already in need of some attention. Getting all your regular maintenance items handled before the snow hits can be the key to a comfortable winter commute, even when the weather is terrible. If you have never done your own tune-up checklist before, here are the items to at least inspect, if not replace:
• Tires
• Brakes
• Shocks and struts
• Headlights
• Wipers
• Inspect fluid levels and quality for all fluids except oil
• Oil and oil filter change
• Spark plugs and wires
Your vehicle owner’s guide should give you the manufacturer’s recommendations for each of these procedures. In the case of major repairs like brakes or shocks, you probably only need them every few years. For others, like your wipers, it’s annually or even at every tune-up.
The key is to inspect each item to be sure that the ones that are not due are also not going to surprise you. Uneven wear, accidents, and harsh weather can shorten your maintenance windows. Keep that in mind as you shop for a new 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe headlight bulb.
Plug in Your VIN Number To Verify Your Needs
It’s one thing to know what you need to do to tune up your vehicle; it’s another thing to get the right supplies. Items like oil filters are different from one car to the next, and buying the right size is easy when you have a VIN lookup tool that gives you all the information you need to know to understand when your maintenance items are due and what supplies you need to take care of them.
A good VIN lookup can make sure you have the right 2009 Hyundai Elantra headlight bulb while reminding you when your plugs and plug wires will be due. That makes it easier to track which procedures to include in your seasonal tune-up before winter.
Upgrading Your Headlights
Headlight upgrades and windshield wipers are the most common seasonal replacements, and they are also widely known as the easiest to do if you’re a newcomer to DIY auto maintenance. Order your new 2002 Chevrolet Silverado-1500 headlight bulb from your go-to supplier after using the VIN lookup to make sure you have the right bulb.
If it’s time to get new wipers, you should order those too, but if you replaced them in the spring, you probably don’t need new ones yet. Wiper blades last about a year.
Once you have the new bulb in hand, replacement is as simple as removing the old one and fitting the new one, and most vehicles do not require more than a simple wrench to do the job if that. Most headlights have a twist-to-fit system to lock them in place once they are connected to the vehicle’s power system.
The best part? You can upgrade to a performance-tier bulb just as easily as you can replace an OEM one. That makes it really easy to give yourself better visibility during winter storms. Even if you do not need a replacement bulb on either side, an upgrade might be a good idea just to increase your visibility at night.
