5 Items to give your Car for Christmas

By Dave Trux

As you celebrate the holidays with good tidings while shopping for even better gifts, have you forgotten to add one important member of your family to the nice list: your car? Here are five outstanding stocking stuffers to keep old reliable trudging along our wet and wild roads.   

New Wiper Blades: I recommend that you replace your wiper blades once a year and not because it rains a whole bunch here in northern California. With over 300 days of sunshine each year, the sun takes its toll by drying out the hard rubber on our wiper blades. Then, when the first rains come, you may find that those new wipers are streaking along your windshield.

Wheel Alignment: With the overwhelming number of potholes in Sacramento, chances are good that you’ll hit one eventually, especially in a heavy rain when potholes are concealed by water. If this happens to you, you will likely need at least an alignment and possibly more. I recommend a wheel alignment once a year.

Tires: Be sure to regularly check the depth, wear patterns and proper inflation of your tires, as the quality of the rubber is the only thing that separates you and your family from the unforgiving asphalt you’re zipping along on at high speeds. Replacement recommendations depend on a number of variables, but no matter the age of your tires, it’s always wise to be vigilant.  

Cabin Air Filter: The cabin air filter cleans the air that flows from the great outdoors and into your car’s interior. As you rely on your heater to keep you warm on cold winter days, you’re drawing in dirty air, water and other toxic elements lying in the road, not the healthiest things for you to be inhaling with the windows rolled up tight. For these reasons, you should replace the cabin filter once a year.

Replace Antifreeze: The quality of your coolant is essential to ensuring that your car’s engine runs smoothly. It should be flushed every two years and what better time to do it than now? Whether you’re travelling to the mountains or staying local this winter when freezing temperatures occasionally occur, I strongly advise that you to replace it every two years.