Keep Cars in Top Shape This Fall with these Tips

As the weather turns cooler and car owners begin making plans for trips to the mountain or to visit loved ones during the holidays, a little time spent checking vital bits on cars can stave off issues and delays. While electrical components, namely the battery and topped-off fluids, are vital to ensure are in good working order, a local expert says there’s one item always on the top of his fall car checklist.

Wiper blades

When it comes to wiper blades, Central Oregon has “super harsh” conditions that mean they have a very short lifespan.

“It’s either cold and dry or hot and dry, and the UV rays we get here are pretty horrible on everything, so wiper blades typically only last a year here,” said Gabriel Christian, owner of Important Performance Auto Repair in Bend. “They get kind of stuck to the windshield in the summer, and then we don’t use them as much, so they get bent over. You want them to be flexible and pliable.”

Check your battery before it needs a jump. Credit: Unsplash-Daniel@bestjumpstarterreview

Batteries

Second, but by no means less significant, is ensuring that electrical components are up to snuff. Christian, whose shop is celebrating its 24th year in Bend, said dead batteries are a common issue during the Central Oregon fall as temperatures dip at night.

“Basically, when it gets cold, batteries lose a lot of their efficiency,” he said. “That’s typically when they’ll show up bad.”

Most car batteries last from five to seven years and have a tag, typically on the battery’s side, that indicates its expiration date. While owners should inspect batteries for signs of corrosion, it’s also important they note when a battery is nearing the end of its life, he said.

“If they’re kind of getting older and it gets into winter, like that first cold snap, we do see a lot of cars towed in because the battery just died,” he said. “Electrical stuff, like sometimes starters, can act up as well, and alternators, but the most common thing is the battery kind of being forgotten about. Then, when it gets cold, it basically just dies, and that’s pretty inconvenient.

“Just like a double A battery at home, car batteries only last a certain amount of time, unfortunately,” he added. “If you have a 60-month battery, and you’re six years in on it, I would recommend replacing that before winter.”

Christian said that a car that’s slow to start, or sounds like it’s laboring to fire up, can indicate issues with the starter, which a professional should inspect. It also can point to a battery that’s on its last legs or even fluids that aren’t fresh or at optimal levels.

Make sure fluids are topped off this fall. Credit: Unsplash-Tim Mossholder

Checking the fluids

While it’s important to check coolant levels, Christian said it’s vital that car owners don’t add water, which can freeze inside the radiator, nor mix different types of coolant. Chemical reactions in the different types can cause sludge to build up.

“If you get a multi-use coolant from (the auto parts store), and put it in your car, chances are, it’s not going to mix well or perform well,” he said. “It’s better to have a shop take care of it. We have so many different kinds of coolants in the shop now, and you really should not mix them.”

He recommends getting all fluids flushed and refilled every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.

“In the winter, when it’s below freezing, and you’re asking some drive-train components to all of a sudden start up and start moving down the road, you want decent fluids in there, and not fluids that have 100,000 miles on them,” he said. “It can make a big difference in the summer, too. You want to have clean fluids.”

This article appears in High Desert Horsepower, Fall 2026.