People have been calling my office lately with questions related to the latest weather patterns. Here are some of the most common winter-related problems and how to avoid them.
Frozen gas lines: Ice forms inside the gas lines from condensation build up. To avoid this, keep your gas tank at least half full at all times. Also, use gas line antifreeze with isopropyl alcohol; it is compatible with today's computer controls and fuel injection systems. I suggest using gas line antifreeze at least twice a week during the extremely cold weather.
Frozen windshield wipers: Snow and ice settle at the base of the windshield, binding the wiper blades in a solid block of ice. It is a common misconception that the windshield can be cleared of snow and ice by turning on the windshield wipers. Nothing could be further from the truth! The wiper system was designed to clear the weather elements from the windshield while driving, not the glacier formed at the base of the windshield! Here are some consequences of overtaxing the wiper system:
- Burning up the wiper motor
- stripping out the wiper arms
- damaging the wiper transmission
- overheating the wiper motor wiring harness causing an electrical short or fire
Avoid trouble -- simply clear the wipers of all ice and snow before activating the system. Remember, windshield wipers are not windshield plows!
Frozen door locks and windows: The door window has a rubber gasket at its base to stop water from going down into the door. Unfortunately, as cars age this gasket is either rotted away or maladjusted, allowing water to get down into the door and freeze the lock linkage and window regulators. The only fix here is to either replace or adjust the gasket. If that is not possible, here's a tip -- leave the car unlocked during the cold weather. Hopefully it will allow entry into the car, so it can be warmed up to defrost the doors. Forcing frozen windows and locks will result in broken components and major repairs. Lock de-icer is designed to defrost the key hole, not the inside of the door.
Frozen door frames: Ever go to open the car door and the latch works, but the door just won't open? Chances are the door-frame gasket is frozen to the car. Once again, as with the window gasket, the gasket is either worn out or maladjusted. This gasket is designed to keep water from coming into the car. When it is not working, water enters, forming ice between the door gasket and the car's structure. Forcing the door open could tear the gasket and create a need for repair. Here's a solution. If the gasket is not torn, go to a shop and have the door adjusted to fit more tightly into the door frame, sealing out water. Once this is done, lubricate the gasket with a rubber lubricant such as silicone, which will keep the gasket soft and pliable and, most importantly, it will inhibit ice buildup. If the gasket is worn, then have it replaced.
Trying to rock the car out of deep snow: This technique has been passed down through generations. It goes something like this: stuck in deep snow, you start rocking the car back and forth, accelerating first in drive then in reverse, gaining momentum. Do you have any idea what's happening to the drivetrain of the car??!! The transmission is being stressed to the Nth degree, being revved up in one direction then suddenly in another. Internal parts break under this pressure. CV joints, universal joints, and splined parts such as axles are also under extreme stress and can break. Transmission and engine mounts are stretched to the breaking point. The wheels spin at a high rate of speed, then in a split second they come to a shocking halt as they catch a dry spot of pavement. This sends shock waves back throughout the drivetrain, breaking parts right and left.
Save yourself some money -- dig out or get towed.
