With the unpredictability of Minnesota fall, you don’t want to get caught off-guard by the winter weather unprepared. Here are some tips to ensure your vehicle is ready for the changing seasons: Check fluid levels. Be sure to check the levels of your windshield wiper fluids, power steering fluids, transmission fluids, coolants, and brake fluids. Over time, the quality of various fluids can deteriorate for a number of reasons—evaporation, extreme heat and cold, or just simply from use. Take a look at your fluids and schedule a routine check-up to ensure your vehicle will run smoothly this fall and winter. Check belts and hoses. Over time, belts and hoses can become worn out, frayed, or cracked. The harsh cold weather of winter can make things even worse for your vehicle. Schedule a routine maintenance appointment to ensure everything is in tip-top shape for the next season. Check tires. Tires are one of the most crucial components of your vehicle, and it can be very risky and even dangerous to enter into the winter season with sub-par tire quality. Be sure to routinely check the tire pressure of all tires – even your spare! Heintz Toyota of Mankato offers a number of tire service specials and makes it easy to order new tires. Order four tires before October 31st and get the fourth for only $1! Check brakes. Brake quality is a bit trickier than other aspects of vehicle maintenance – there’s no fixed time that brakes need to be replaced. This makes it extremely important to get them checked on a regular basis and changed as soon as issues arise. If you hear any squealing or grinding or feel any vibrations when you brake, it may be time to schedule service on your brakes. Check the battery. Cold weather is exceptionally hard on your vehicle’s battery. Before you get stranded in your driveway before work or at the mall after close, be sure to check your battery. Is your battery older than three years old? Is there corrosion around your battery’s posts or cables? Does your vehicle stutter when it starts or are any warning lights turned on? If you are observing any of these issues, it may be time to schedule service with us to ensure your battery is good to go. Invest in all-weather mats. Your vehicle is an investment and you should protect it – the harsh chemicals found in road salt can be damaging to the original carpet of your vehicle. All-weather mats will prevent damage to your vehicle. Check out our accessories page to find all-weather mats for your Toyota! Check wiper blades. The last thing you want to get caught in is a snowstorm with barely-functioning windshield wipers. Windshield wipers should be replaced every six months to a year, but can still vary. If your windshield wipers are streaking, dragging, or falling apart, you should replace them immediately. Heintz Toyota of Mankato offers specials on windshield wipers if it’s time for you to replace yours. Touch up any scratches. Like said before, road salt can be very harsh on your vehicle. Touch up any scratches or damage to your exterior to avoid rust or further damage to your vehicle. You can do this at home or contact our service department to see what options are available to you. Put together an emergency kit. You can put one together yourself or buy an emergency kit from our accessories. Some items emergency kits should include jumper cables, warm clothes and blankets, and a flashlight.