--- title: "The Winter Car Checklist: Six Things to Handle Before It Gets Cold" date: "2026-11-12" modified: "2026-11-12" authors: - name: "Andrew P. Collins" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/andrew-p-collins.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-winter-car-checklist-six-things-to-handle-before-it-gets-cold" categories: - "Accessories" - "Deals" - "Maintenance & Repair" - "News" - "The Garage" --- # The Winter Car Checklist: Six Things to Handle Before It Gets Cold ![Millenial indian guy setting camp with a tent in a snow filles Canadian park during a snowshoeing trip]() *\AYAimages - stock.adobe.com\* Winter doesn’t usually break a car on its own—it finds whatever was already on its way out and finishes the job. The battery that was a little slow to crank in October, the wipers that were already streaking, the check engine light you’ve been ignoring since Labor Day—cold weather has a way of turning all of these into problems at the worst possible moment. [Advance Auto Parts]() is discounting some preventative maintenance items to help you get ahead of that and keep yourself from getting stranded on a dark winter morning. Here’s the checklist I’d run through before the temperature drops, linked up with deals that [Advance Auto Parts]() is offering right now to make each step a little cheaper or a little easier. ![]() **Sergey Tolak** ## Test your battery before it tests you Batteries are the classic winter failure, and they rarely give much warning. A battery that’s been cooked by a summer of heat can seem fine right up until the first truly cold morning, when it just doesn’t have enough left to turn the engine over. Advance puts it bluntly: “1 in 4 batteries are about to fail. Heat damages and cold kills.” The easy move is to get it tested before you need it. Advance offers free battery testing and installation with purchase, with no appointment necessary, so you can find out where your battery stands before a cold snap does it for you. If it’s time for a new one, auto batteries start at $99.99, with [free testing and installation on DieHard batteries](). Don’t get stranded this winter. A quick test is a lot less annoying than a tow. ## Stop ignoring the check engine light I'm guilty of this myself: The CEL comes on, the car seems to drive fine, and life is busy. But winter is a bad time to find out what that light was trying to tell you, and a cold-weather breakdown is a lot more unpleasant than a warm one. Advance Auto Parts offers a [free check engine light scan]() at most store locations. A team member plugs ReliaScan, Advance’s OBD-II scanner, into your vehicle’s diagnostic port, then reads the stored trouble codes and explains what each code means. No appointment needed. It’s worth being clear about what that gets you. A ReliaScan car diagnostic scan reads your vehicle’s trouble codes to help you understand what triggered the light. It’s a starting diagnostic for car problems, not the final word, and an Advance Auto Parts team member will explain your results and help you figure out what to do next. Sometimes that’s a loose gas cap. Sometimes it’s something you’ll want handled before a long winter drive. Either way, it’s better to know. ## Change your oil If your oil change is coming due anytime this winter, do it now while you’re not lying on a frozen driveway. While you’re at it, check your owner’s manual for the right oil viscosity for your engine, especially if you live somewhere that gets properly cold. If you do your own oil changes, Advance is throwing in a free Carquest oil filter when you buy 5 quarts of motor oil, which takes care of the other half of the job. ![Car on road in winter trough a forest covered with snow]() **Calin-Andrei Stan** ## Replace your wiper blades Wipers are easy to forget until you’re behind a salt truck in a sleet storm and they’re smearing grime across your field of vision. Winter visibility is mostly about your wipers and your washer fluid, so if your blades are chattering, streaking, or leaving gaps, swap them now. Advance has a deal on these: [save $8 on 2 Rain-X Latitude Water Repellency front wipers]() (must buy 2), with free wiper blade installation. Top off your washer fluid while you’re there. ## Check your headlights Shorter days mean more driving in the dark, often in rain or snow. Walk around your car with the lights on and make sure everything works: low beams, high beams, fog lights, brake lights, and turn signals. A burned-out bulb is an easy fix in your driveway and a much bigger hassle on a dark highway. If you’re shopping for an upgrade, you can save $10 by mail on Sylvania LED bulbs, including the Sylvania H11 LED Ultra Powersports Headlight or Fog Bulb, 6000K Cool White, 2-Pack (item 50251317). ## Check your coolant Coolant (also known as antifreeze) is what keeps your engine from freezing in winter and overheating in summer, so it matters year-round. With the engine cold, check the level in the overflow reservoir, and look for any drips under the car. If you’re topping off or replacing coolant, use the type your vehicle’s manufacturer specifies. The owner’s manual will tell you. As Advance puts it: “At Advance Auto Parts, we ensure your vehicle’s cooling system operates at its best with our comprehensive selection of coolant and antifreeze. Our ARGOS antifreeze and coolant products are designed to protect your engine against both overheating in summer and freezing in winter, ensuring year-round performance. We also carry Prestone, a trusted name in engine protection, offering solutions that prevent corrosion and maintain optimal engine temperature.” Also worth knowing: [NEW OEM by Prestone Antifreeze]() is now available in select stores and online, in versions labeled for specific manufacturers. If you don't have one already, now's also a great time to assemble a little winter car kit with things like an ice scraper and snow brush, a hat, gloves, flashlight, jumper cables or a jump pack, and a phone charger. ![]() **maxbelchenko - stock.adobe.com** ## More Advance Auto Parts discounts Get your vehicle winter-ready at [Advance Auto Parts](). Auto batteries start at $99.99, with free battery testing and installation with purchase on DieHard batteries, and no appointment necessary. Get a free Carquest oil filter when you buy 5 quarts of motor oil, save $8 on 2 Rain-X Latitude Water Repellency front wipers (must buy 2) with free wiper blade installation, and save $10 by mail on select Sylvania LED bulbs. Plus, stop by most Advance Auto Parts locations for a free check engine light scan with ReliaScan. Offers valid 11/05–11/30; see store or site for details. You can shop online or stop by your local Advance Auto Parts. Product availability may vary by store. Black Friday deals from Advance are on the way, so stay tuned. [![]()]() **Advance Auto Parts** ## Author As Executive Editor, Andrew touches everything on the site from daily news coverage to feature stories, sponsored content, product reviews, road testing vehicles, ecommerce, and more. He's held pretty much every role there is to have at an automotive news site and has been with The Drive's publisher Recurrent since 2020. Andrew's a lifetime gearhead and longtime writer with a particularly strong penchant for road trips, off-road adventures, and archaic vehicles. His passions outside of the automotive world include skiing, obsolete video games, and his dog Bramble who occationally helps review cars. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() ## More - [Seven Ways to Help Your Car Survive Winter]() - [How To Winterize Your Car]() - [Get a Car Wash Bundle for Under $13 During the Advance Auto Parts Spring Sale]() - [How To Get Your Motorcycle Ready for Winter]() - [If You Live In a Cold Climate, You Need Winter Tires]() - [Get Ready for Fall and Winter Driving with Great Deals for Your Car, Truck, Motorcycle, and Garage]() - [How To Change Windshield Wipers]() - [These Are All the Issues Tesla Model 3 Owners Will Deal With This Winter]()