Let’s recap from part 1 folks:
1. Use a snow brush
2. Its cold out there, it might take some time to get some heat on your tootsies
3. Wipers freeze up about the same time the brass monkey’s gonads depart his torso
4. LCD displays are rather slow to wake up at minus 20
And now, let’s move on to a few more common things that are heard at the service counter…
One of my windshield wipers does not move
Look up, look way up. Get out your snow brush again. In the old days, manufacturers used wiper pivots that were splined. The only problem with that was when lazy driver’s didn’t break the wipers free of the ice before turning them on, it would strip the splines clean off of the pivot. This usually resulted in super ticked off consumers who had to pay to replace an entire wiper linkage. Now, most manufacturers use a tapered pivot that holds the blade in place thanks to pressure from the nut. If you don’t clear your ice, that nut is going to come loose periodically.
My new car doesn’t get anywhere near the advertised gas mileage
There are so many things to say on this one, where should I start. Well, government test ratings are not marketing tools for the most part. These numbers are generated through controlled testing at controlled temperatures, I believe they are done around 70 degrees F and not well below freezing. Due to the laws of physics, engines get horrible fuel economy when they are cold. Don’t forget that your new car hasn’t broken in yet. Yes, I know the salesman told you there was no break in period. he was wrong. Oh yeah, how long did you have the car warming up in the driveway before you drove off? Remember, when it is sitting at idle in the driveway, you are getting zero miles per gallon.
I think this topic deserves it’s own post. Coming soon.
My windows won’t open
Well Maam, I can see that your car is nice and clean.
Yes, I washed took it to the carwash yesterday
I know it was above freezing yesterday, but it dropped 15 degrees last night. Your windows have frozen shut.
What a stupid design. Don’t they build cars for Canada?
Real conversation. Usually several times a year.
I have this humming noise whenever I hit a bump after it snows. It only started happening after I installed my snow tires.
This is usually accompanied by wheel wells that are full of snow that has been deposited by the totally effective modern snow tires. Open your eyes folks, you don’t need to visit a garage to figure this one out.
My windshield washers don’t work
Always heard once or twice during the first cold snap. Inevitably the driver has left that pink, summer bug destroyer crap in their washer fluid reservoir. The really special ones have water in there and then think it is the manufacturer’s fault that their reservoir split open on the first cold night.
There are many, many more things that are mentioned almost every day. The unfortunate reality is that winter driving is different from summer driving. What many of us come to expect from our car during the summer is completely out the window in the cold months. Get used to it or think about moving somewhere where it is warm all year round.
Come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Block heaters are a reasonably priced retrofit for most vehicles. The last two cars I bought, I selected them as dealer-install options and will never do without.
I’ve always loved block heaters, but at minus 20, the Xterra still stays cold for a really long time.