What extreme cold can do to your car

“Wipers should be replaced every six to 12 months. If they're smearing gunk all over the windshield, they're worn out,” Preston says. Make sure to check both front and rear blades.

WIPERS GET STICKY. Precipitation combined with cold weather can cause your wipers to stick to the windshield, so Preston recommends lifting the arms off the windshield if you know foul

weather is coming. “I always do that if it's going to snow and I know about it, because they will freeze to the windshield if there's moisture on there. And scraping them off

isn't good for their rubber. That could wear out your wipers more quickly.” FROZEN WIPERS AND NOZZLES. To help prevent your wipers and washer nozzles from freezing, and to keep your

windshield clear of ice in the cold, Preston also recommends keeping your windshield washer reservoir full. For the season, he suggests a winter-grade washer fluid, which has a lower

freezing point. It’s typically a different color — yellow, orange, purple — but don’t be afraid to combine it with your usual fluid. “You can totally mix it with the blue stuff,” he says.

BATTERIES WITH NO CHARGE EV BATTERIES WITHOUT AS MUCH POWER. EV batteries are like humans: They operate optimally at temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the cold, their

capabilities diminish, as was seen recently during an arctic spell in Chicago.  “The chemical process slows down, so their capacity can reduce,” Preston says. “In testing, we found that—in

cold weather, driving at 70 mph — EVs lose about 25% of their charge capacity.” It’s not just slower chemical processes that have an impact. “It's actually all the things that

you're running to keep warm inside the car while you're driving, all the heaters and seat warmers,” Preston says. “They take a lot of voltage.” EV drivers should attend closely to

the range indicator in cold weather and adjust their charging stops as needed. Charging can take more time in winter as well, so keep that in mind. STARTERS THAT WON’T START. All cars, gas

and electrified, have a separate battery used to start the car. Winter weather has an outsize impact on this cell because it diminishes capacity, and because fluids in a vehicle’s systems

become thick and viscous, requiring more energy to crank through.  “It's a good idea to get the battery load tested if you think it's pretty old or might not have much life left,”

Preston says. “You can have it done at a shop, or an auto parts store.” Bennett, and AAA, recommend replacing your battery every three to five years.