‘Tis the season for slippery roads, icy windshields and drivers showing complete lack of ability whatsoever to control their vehicles. Yes, winter weather driving is no fun whatsoever and us here at GM Authority loathe you all who don’t have to deal with the ‘s word.’ That word being ‘snow.’
Never fear, because OnStar wants to remind us how to be safe in these cold and slick conditions. Or even teach you a few things. Pesky noobs.
First of all, if still possible, get outside and treat your car to a quick coat of wax. It will do wonders for the exterior paint after the snow stops falling and salt stops spreading. OnStar suggests a set of winter only floor mats to avoid damaging OEM material with pesky salt stains. Grab a new set of wiper blades to avoid streaking in really bad weather conditions, and allow for optimal driving vision at night when the frozen precipitation starts falling.
Ensure you have plenty of radiator coolant, and there are no leaks. It will cause more trouble throughout the cold temperatures, as you could imagine. Common knowledge, but certainly important, make sure there is always plenty of petrol in the tank. Low quantities will freeze when the next round of Polar Vortex temperatures grasp hold of the midwest and east coast.
For dire situations, make sure to keep an emergency kit at hand in your vehicle with blankets, non-perishables and a flashlight with extra batteries. In the event of danger and being stranded in cold climate, run the heat every ten minutes an hour to prevent too much carbon monoxide from entering the cabin and crack a window to let the CO2 escape. Be sure you’re visible to rescuers, leaving the dome light on while the car is running, and turning on your hazards. Hopefully flares are part of the emergency kit kept with you as well.
Of course, if your vehicle is equipped with OnStar, there are plenty of 21st century solutions to get you out of a slushy situation. If you are stranded in a snow storm, an OnStar advisor can pinpoint your exact location GPS, and also get you in contact with authorities as well as friends or family. OnStar’s remote diagnostics are emailed to you each month and can let you know about a problem before something does occur, it could be a real life saver before you take that road trip through snow covered roads and salty freeways.
On a lighter note, maybe if you’re stuck you could also take advantage of OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi and stream some tunes while AAA makes their way out with a jump for a dead battery. Regardless, take it slow and we know we’re already looking ahead to warmer temperatures in our neck of the woods.
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