October the perfect time to get your car 'winter ready'

With winter weather fast approaching, now is the time to tackle the simple maintenance tasks that keep your car in top running condition.

Timely maintenance does more than keep your vehicle running smoothly. It can help increase your car's trade-in value, improve its mileage, and save you time and costly repairs down the road.

There is no better time than National Fall Car Care Month for a maintenance makeover. To prepare your vehicle for the cooler months ahead, make plans this October to give your car some attention before the first cold snap hits:

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• Belts. With the engine off, check your car's belts for cracks and missing pieces. To check for proper tightness, press down on the belt with your thumb. If the belt gives more than half an inch, it needs tightening.

• Hoses. When the car is cold, feel your car's hoses for bulges, cracks, soft spots or brittleness. With the engine running, look for (but don't touch) bulges or leaks. If you detect any, have the hose replaced.

• Coolant. Check the level of coolant in your radiator by looking at the coolant overflow tank. Maintaining a 50/50 mix of antifreeze will keep your engine cool in hot weather and prevent damage when temperatures fall as low as 40 below zero.

• Oil. Depending on the driving conditions your car is subjected to, change your oil and filter as recommended in your owner's manual. Also, use the recommended oil grade.

• Power Steering Fluid. To check, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and insert it again. Pull it out again and check the level. If it is below the HOT range, add the recommended steering fluid up to the upper level mark.

• Brake Fluid. Check the fluid level on the outside of the tank using the lines on the reservoir as a guide. If the level is below MIN, add brake fluid from a sealed container to bring it up to MAX. You'll notice a significant drop in fluid levels when there's a leak.

• Air Filter. Again, depending on the condition of the roads traveled, routinely check your air filter for accumulated debris.

• Battery. Check your battery terminals regularly, removing any corrosion with a toothbrush and a mix of baking soda and water.

• Tires. Check your tire pressure (with tires cold) once a month or more. Keep tires inflated to manufacturer's recommendations, which can be found on the driver's side door frame placard and in the owner's manual.

• Wipers, Washers, Horn & Lights. Finally, be sure to check the operation of your car's wipers, windshield washers, horn and lights.

The crisp days of fall offer an excellent opportunity to focus on preventive maintenance for your vehicle. Doing so will help it run better, last longer and retain its value, while providing safe and reliable transportation for you and your family. For more on National Car Care Month, click here.