By Natalie Zarowny
nzarowny@cbs4qc.com
It's a no–brainer to clear your car off when it snows, but mechanics say you have to pay attention to those little
details, like cleaning your windshield wipers.
"There's a little rubber piece that cleans the
windshield so if they're frozen, it's gonna break," said Abel Zertuche,
owner of Zertuche One-Stop Auto Repair.
Wipers breaking and frozen door handles coming off are Zertuche's
two most common repairs in the winter.
"We had a lot of those this year," said Zertuche.
But he said those kinds of accidents can be avoided.
The key?
Do a little prep work before you hit the road after a storm.
"Early in the morning, when it's real cold, you want to
get up and get the car warmed up," said Zertuche.
10 to 15 minutes is ideal.
To keep those door handles from freezing, or removing
stubborn ice from your windshield, buy an inexpensive de–icer spray.
"Just make sure you don't put hot water on the glass
because that's going to break the glass," said Zertuche.
Snow and ice aren't your car's only winter hazards.
Road salt can also be a pain if you're not careful.
Your car's most vulnerable spot is that space right behind
the tires.
And if left unattended, the metal can rust and corrode.
"That's gonna stay there as long as you leave it there,"
said Zertuche.
