Preseason prep for vehicles

[Laelkhunter]

Don't forget belts

^^^^^ THIS ! ^^^^^^^^^^
If you lose a serpentine belt, lots of things will stop working soon. If it is older than 3 years, change it and if it is in good shape, keep it as a spare.

 

[fngTony]

Not a big for rear mounted spares like on a wrangler but still take your spare off and clean, grease etc to make sure the mechanism works. Carry a spare lug nut, make sure you have the wheel lock key. Check the psi in the spare. Check wiper blades and carry a spare. Clean the inside of your windows.

 

[Rigo]

A rubber duck, for the rest of your kind.

- Toyota guy

 

[Poser]

^^^^^ THIS ! ^^^^^^^^^^
If you lose a serpentine belt, lots of things will stop working soon. If it is older than 3 years, change it and if it is in good shape, keep it as a spare.

Make sure you actually know how it routes/installs -take a pic on your phone if you don’t have a pic of the belt in your manual. It’s easy to think you’ll figure it out until you actually try to route a belt in a stressful situation without working from a visual guide.

And, if you have a “big” truck, make sure you have something elevated to stand on like a milk crate or similar.

If you don’t know how the belt routes and you can’t adequately see/reach in there to figure it out, you’re in a world of discomfort and supreme frustration.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Make sure you actually know how it routes/installs -take a pic on your phone if you don’t have a pic of the belt in your manual. It’s easy to think you’ll figure it out until you actually try to route a belt in a stressful situation without working from a visual guide.

And, if you have a “big” truck, make sure you have something elevated to stand on like a milk crate or similar.

If you don’t know how the belt routes and you can’t adequately see/reach in there to figure it out, you’re in a world of discomfort and supreme frustration.

Usually there is a diagram under the hood, either on the underside of the hood or on top of or near the radiator. Even if you can't do it yourself, you will have the correct belt so someone else can install it.

 

[wapitibob]

Make sure you have a 1/2" breaker bar to move the tensioner as well.

 

[realunlucky]

Make sure you have a 1/2" breaker bar to move the tensioner as well.

I've ditched the lug wrench and replaced with a socket and breaker bar. A quality breaker bar comes in handy for all kinds of tasks.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[Laelkhunter]

I also fill my windshield washer fluid reservoir with Rain X -30 degree washer fluid. I run the washer for several seconds to make sure it is through the windshield lines and rear window lines. If it gets cold enough, it could freeze and burst the lines, and it would probably be in a place where locating the leak wouldn't be easy.