The higher the cold cranking amp rating, the better the battery will be in cold weather.
Antifreeze can go bad too. Brand new and undiluted, it should be able to handle a temperature of 40 below but, Smart says, "If your car's (antifreeze) is at five below, and we're going to be at ten below tonight, it's not going to work."
You should keep reservoirs of wiper fluid that won't freeze filled up, and your gas tank too, Smart says. It can help in an emergency, and help your fuel system.
"It does keep moisture and other things out of your fuel tank," said Smart.
Because air pressure drops with the cold, it's important to check that your tires are properly inflated but not over-filled.
"The more air you have in a tire, the worse it's going to be on this stuff, so you want to be sure it's a proper pressure," said Smart.
If an aluminum wheel is slightly corroded, cold weather can also cause a leak where the rubber and metal meet.
Smart says the best protection for your car is to put it inside if possible.
"It's not near as cold in your garage," he said.
You could also take it to visit your favorite garage for a tune-up.
"Because, if you're going to have a problem, I assure you, nine times out of ten, it's going to happen in extreme cold or extreme heat," said Smart.
If you can't put your car in a garage, he recommends turning off the radio, heater, and wipers before you turn it off, so it won't have to work as hard to start. Covering your windshield or making sure you get all the snow or ice away from the wipers can keep them from breaking when you turn them on, because they're frozen to the glass.
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Also, a viewer sent us an e-mail message about a co-worker and a friend of a co-worker who both had their back windows shatter as a result of warming up their cars. They went inside and, when they were ready to leave minutes later, the window broke when they shut the door. We don't know how often that happens.
