Fall is upon us and now — before the rainy season really sets in — is a great time to make sure you and your vehicle are prepared for the wet weather ahead.\n\nAlways an excellent resource for driving safety, our friends at AAA have produced Get a Grip: A Guide to Wet Weather Driving Techniques. We encourage you to download this valuable brochure, which is packed with useful information, including:\n
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- How to regain control in a skid (tip: steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go);
- How to brake safely on a slippery surface (how you should react depends on the type of brake system your vehicle has); and
- How to get “un-stuck” from the mud or a soft shoulder (tip: be sure to apply power slowly).
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\nA little preparation is one of the best ways to avoid trouble. To ensure you’re ready for rainy season, AAA recommends a thorough vehicle check-up that includes your:\n
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- Battery. Get your battery checked and replace it, if needed.
- Lights. Make sure your headlights, brake lights and turn signals work and are clean. Wipe them off for good measure.
- Windshield Wipers and Washer Fluid. If your blades streak or “chatter”, they should be replaced. Check your washer reservoir frequently and make sure it’s full before a big trip.
- Tires. Check the tread and make sure your tires are inflated to the pressure listed in your vehicle’s owner’s manual or on your driver’s side door frame.
- Heating and Cooling System. Check your radiator and hoses for leaks and cracks.
- Brake System. Check to make sure your brakes aren’t pulling. If you hear squealing or grinding, get the brakes checked right away.
- Emergency Kit. Carry in your vehicle a kit that includes a flashlight, mats that can be placed under tires to improve traction, flares or a warning triangle, booster cables, and a blanket. See the Get a Grip brochure for a complete list of recommended emergency kit items.
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\nLet Oil Can Henry’s Help\nOil Can Henry’s offers a wide variety of quick and convenient preventive maintenance services to help your vehicle run better and last longer.\n\nOur Famous 20-Point Full-Service Oil Change includes a complimentary safety inspection of your vehicle. We check a wide variety of items, including your lights and turn signals, tires, wipers, brake fluid, and serpentine belt.\n\nMany of our centers now provide a free battery test as part of our service. You’ll receive an informative printed report on your battery, including how much charge remains. Need to replace your battery? We sell quality Interstate Batteries.\n\nAre your headlights faded, yellowed or hazy? Consider Headlight Restoration. This quick and convenient service greatly increases headlight output and visibility, and improves vehicle appearance. Best of all, our service takes less than 20 minutes and costs a lot less than replacing the complete headlight housing, which runs $150 – $600 per headlight.\n\nWe also sell and install wiper blades.\n\nSo, before rainy season really sets in, drop by your neighborhood Oil Can Henry’s and make sure you and your vehicle are ready for the rain.
