SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As thousand prepare to hit the road before Thanksgiving, Northern California is also bracing for its first major rain of the season.
According to Triple AAA, over six million people are expected to drive to their destination during the holiday. Mike Spellman, the owner of Mike and Sons Automotive Inc. in Sacramento, says as a driver, you should check the following before hitting the road.
Windshield Wipers
Being that it is going to rain, the first thing you need to look at is the wiper blades. If they are old and dry, they will skip on the window and that won’t get all the water like it should, which decreases your visibility. Make sure they work properly. There is also a chemical you can put on your windshield called Rain-X, which helps the water distribute down the window more easily than just relying on your wiper blades. The wipers will last longer, and the windows will be clearer.
Battery
If you are heading up to the cold, have your battery tested. Make sure it is not corroded and it cranks up like it should. Usually, batteries last for about six years. Make sure it’s in good condition, so if you’re in freezing weather it will work properly.
Anti-Freeze
Check the gravity level of the anti-freeze, that will tell you if the anti-freeze is in good enough condition for freezing weather. Sometimes people will add a lot of water to their anti-freeze, which can dilute it and make it weak and able to freeze.
Tires
With the wet weather coming, you want to have a tire that has good thread depth. Also, check the air pressure to make sure it’s where it needs to be so the tire functions property when it’s driving along the highway. On most new cars, the computer systems tell you how much air is in the tire via sensors in the tires.
Parent to Parent Tip
Traffic is going to be bad, especially if you’re hitting the Sierra. If you have kids in the car, maybe bring some games or a tablet for them to watch something. Always have an emergency kit, just in case you get stuck in traffic. There is not too many stores going up to the Sierra, so make sure you have some water and blankets so the kids can stay warm.
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