AAA Reports Starting a Car on a Cold Morning Can Be Made Easier

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 15, 2003 -- During AAA Car Care Month in October, AAA reminds motorists that, although today's vehicles are more reliable than older models, some things never change -- frost still forms on windshields, door locks ice up and batteries run down.

"Coping with the minor difficulties of getting our vehicles going in cold weather can lead to unsafe driving practices," says Gary Klopp, Director of AAA Automotive Services. "Driving with windows not fully cleared of ice or snow, struggling to peer through still-foggy windshields, or hoping the battery won't die after it has been jump-started all are less-than-ideal conditions for a morning commute."

  To help motorists cope with cold cars, AAA recommends:

  -- If possible, park your vehicle in an enclosed garage.

  -- If you must park outside, check the vehicle first thing in the morning.
     Window frost and iced door locks may mean you'll need additional time
     getting your car ready to go.

  -- If the door locks are frozen, heat the lock with a hair dryer, heat the
     key with a lighter or spray a de-icer in the lock.

  -- If the car is covered with snow, brush off the entire vehicle,
     including the hood, roof and trunk areas, as well as the front and back
     lights.

  -- Start the car, making sure the transmission is in park and the brake is
     set.  If the vehicle is inside, back it up so it is outdoors (so carbon
     monoxide doesn't build up in the garage).  Switch the heater to the
     defrost setting.  Also turn on the rear window defroster, if you have
     one.

  -- Allow the vehicle to warm for a few minutes and scrape all ice, frost
     and snow off the windows.

One of the most common and frustrating problems encountered during cold weather is battery failure, Klopp says. "The only sure way to know your battery will work in the colder conditions is to have it tested by a reliable repair shop. This is especially true of any battery more than three-years- old."

AAA recommends motorists have their vehicle battery checked at one of the more than 7,500 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities in North America. The names and addresses of these shops are located at www.aaa.com or by calling your local AAA motor club. AAA regularly inspects the shops in its approved network to make sure they continuously meet its high standards for employing qualified technicians, using quality parts and service equipment, meeting and exceeding customer satisfaction requirements and following ethical business practices. All approved shops display their affiliation with AAA outside place of business.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, which has 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis serves nearly 170,000 members in Hennepin County.