Have You Looked Under Your Hood Lately?

AAA Offers Free 40-Point Vehicle Inspections for Winter this Saturday

Anchorage, Alaska 9/14/2010 – AAA is hosting a free Car Care Event this Saturday, September 18, to help motorists prepare their vehicles for the onset of colder weather. The event will be held from 10am – 2pm at the UAA Campus Auto/Diesel Technology Building on 2460 W. Campus Dr.

Technicians from AAA’s Approved Auto Repair Facilities and UAA students will be onsite conducting free 40-point pre-winter vehicle inspections, windshield checks and battery diagnostic checkups. In addition to reviewing your cars overall health, there will be an event-day drawing and refreshments.

“Vehicle breakdowns are inconvenient, but they can be dangerous as well,’” says Joe Beatty, AAA Automotive Services Manager. “By having a professional take a quick look at fluid levels, belts, hoses, battery, lights, and tires, minor problems can be identified before they become major problems. A car that is in top working condition is much safer for you and your passengers.”

In the last 12 months, AAA has received over 21,100 emergency road service calls in Alaska. One of the most common and frustrating problems encountered is battery failure.  Indicators of a weak battery that may need replacement include a starter motor which cranks the engine slowly when the ignition key is turned or headlights that dim noticeably when the engine speed drops to an idle.

The following tips tackle four other areas you can’t afford to ignore:

1. Tire Pressure

Check the tire pressures (including the spare) at least once a month when the tires are cold. Always follow the inflation pressure recommendations in your owner’s manual, or those on the tire information label that is located in the glove box, on a door jamb, or on the underside of the trunk lid. Do not use the inflation pressure molded into the tire sidewall; this is the pressure needed to achieve the tire’s rated load capacity, and it may or may not be the correct pressure for your particular car.

2. Engine Air Filter

Check the air filter every six months or 7,500 miles. Typically, your repair shop will inspect the filter at each oil change. You can check it by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If you can see light through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if the light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it.

3. Windshield Washer Fluid and Wiper Blades

Check your washer fluid reservoir monthly and during winter be sure to use a washer solution with antifreeze protection. Also, test the washer spray nozzles for proper operation and aim.

4. Engine Oil

Change your engine’s oil and oil filter at the specified intervals and follow the more frequent “severe service” recommendations if your driving habits meet any of the conditions described in your owner’s manual. Always use the weight of oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer for the existing temperature conditions.

AAA MountainWest is dedicated to providing its over 170,000 members in Alaska, Montana and Wyoming with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services. A fully tax-paying, not-for-profit corporation, AAA MountainWest, Inc. works for the improvement of motoring and traveling conditions and is a leader for travel, civic and safety issues. In 2008, AAA was voted the #1 socially responsible business brand in America by Landor’s BrandAsset® Valuator. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com. To have up-to-date news and safety information from AAA delivered right to your desktop, sign-up for the new RSS Feed at http://mtw.aaashare.com/index.php#rss.

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