Start With the Fluids Nobody Thinks About Until a Light Comes On
Engine oil has an important and deeply uncelebrated job. It lubricates moving components, helps manage heat, and carries contaminants to the filter. Eventually, it needs to be replaced. Rather than relying on a universal mileage interval, follow the maintenance schedule for your specific Nissan. Driving habits and operating conditions can influence when service is required. If you're due for a Nissan oil change in Middletown, CT, fall is a convenient time to get it done. Our Nissan service department can also check other important fluids, including coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Coolant deserves particular attention before winter. You'd rather discover a cooling-system issue during an inspection than on the side of a Connecticut road while wearing the jacket you thought would be warm enough.Your Battery Remembers Summer Even If You Don't
People tend to associate battery trouble with winter, but summer heat can contribute to battery deterioration. Cold weather then arrives and exposes weakness. This is why a battery that started the vehicle perfectly well in August can suddenly become deeply opposed to the concept in November. A battery test can provide useful information about its condition before colder mornings arrive. Technicians can also inspect terminals and connections for corrosion or other problems. While you're scheduling fall Nissan maintenance, check the exterior lights as well. Autumn means fewer daylight hours, and headlights become considerably more important when your evening commute suddenly takes place in darkness.Tires Are Having a Seasonal Adjustment Too
Tire pressure changes with temperature, so the first stretch of genuinely cool weather is a good reminder to check all 4 tires. Use the recommended cold tire pressure listed for your vehicle, generally found on the driver's side door-jamb placard. Don't simply inflate them to the maximum pressure printed on the tire sidewall. Tread conditions deserve equal attention. Wet pavement, leaves, and eventually snow can expose tires that seemed perfectly acceptable on a dry August afternoon. Our Nissan tire service team can inspect tread wear, tire pressure, and rotation needs. If you're unsure about the remaining life of your tires, it's better to ask before the weather answers the question for you.Brakes Don't Care How Pretty the Leaves Are
A road covered in wet leaves can be surprisingly slick, which makes fall a particularly sensible time to pay attention to braking performance. Listen for squealing, grinding, or other unusual noises. Changes in pedal feel, vibration during braking, pulling to one side, or increased stopping distance also deserve professional attention. A Nissan brake inspection can assess pads, rotors, fluid, and other applicable components. If something is worn out, finding it during routine fall service is preferable to discovering it during an abrupt stop on a cold, wet morning.Replace the Wipers Before They Become Decorative
Wiper blades are remarkably easy to ignore right up until you're driving through heavy rain, and one begins smearing water across the windshield like an enthusiastic toddler with finger paint. Inspect the blades for cracking, splitting, skipping, or streaking. Make sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with the appropriate fluid and test the front and rear washers if your Nissan has both. While you're thinking about visibility, check out the defroster and climate-control system. You want to know those systems work before the first morning; you walk outside and find frost covering every piece of glass.