Battery Test — The Number One Winter No-Start
Cold weather reduces battery capacity by up to 50 percent. A battery that starts your car fine in October can be completely dead at 10 degrees in January. If your battery is over 3 years old, get it load tested before winter. We test batteries free of charge — it takes 5 minutes and tells you exactly how much life is left. A proactive battery replacement costs $120 to $250. An emergency jump start and tow in a snowstorm costs a lot more than that, plus the stress of being stranded.
Winter Tires or All-Season Inspection
If you have winter tires, October or November is swap time — before the first snow. Winter tires make a dramatic difference in stopping distance and control on ice and packed snow. If you run all-season tires year-round, inspect them now. Minimum tread depth for winter driving should be 5/32 of an inch, not the legal minimum of 2/32. Thin tread on icy Cleveland roads is genuinely dangerous. We stock a wide selection of new and quality used tires for every budget.
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Free written estimate. 12-month warranty. $10-down financing. Walk-ins welcome 7 days.
Antifreeze and Cooling System
Antifreeze does two things — it prevents freezing and prevents overheating. If your coolant has not been serviced in the last 3 years or 50,000 miles, fall is the time. Old coolant loses its freeze protection and its anti-corrosion properties. We test coolant freeze point and condition during every fall inspection. A coolant flush costs far less than a cracked engine block from frozen coolant — that is a repair that totals most vehicles.
Wipers, Heater, and Defroster
Replace wiper blades every fall. Cleveland winter chews through blades fast, and visibility is critical in snow and freezing rain. Check that your heater and defroster work properly — a failed heater core or blend door actuator in January is miserable. Also verify that all defrost vents are clear and the rear defroster works. These are the things you do not think about until you need them desperately.
Emergency Kit for Your Trunk
Every Cleveland driver should carry a winter emergency kit: jumper cables or a portable jump starter, flashlight with fresh batteries, blanket, ice scraper and snow brush, small bag of kitty litter or sand for traction, phone charger, and basic first aid kit. If you commute on I-90 along the lake, add extra warm clothing. Lake effect snow can turn a 30-minute commute into a 3-hour ordeal. Prep your car and your trunk. Come to Nick's Tire and Auto for your complete fall winter prep. Call (216) 862-0005 — 17625 Euclid Ave, Euclid.
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Free written estimate before any work. 12-month warranty on parts and labor. Free Uber within 5 miles if you drop off. Walk-ins welcome 7 days a week.
- 12-mo / 12,000-mi warranty
- $10-down financing available
- Most repairs same/next day
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