Montpelier Auto Repair

Tips to keep your pets safe and comfortable during the winter! Never leave your dog alone in a car during cold weather. In the winter, a car is just like a refrigerator, trapping the cold air inside and can cause him to freeze to death. When your dog comes inside after being outdoors, wipe off his paws, legs and abdomen thoroughly. You may notice his paw pads bleeding from a coating of snow or ice. Booties can help protect against this condition. Dogs who are left outside for too long can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite. Extremities, like ear tips, paws and the end of the tail are particularly susceptible to cold injuries. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under car hoods for warmth. Before starting your car, bang loudly on the hood and wait a few seconds to give the cat a chance to escape. If your cat goes outdoors during the colder months, make sure he or she is acclimated and doesn’t stay out too long, especially when the temperatures are below freezin ... read more

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr When the temperatures dip below zero, my auto repair shop starts receiving early morning SOS calls that sound something like this, “Auto Craftsmen? Help! My car is stranded in my driveway and it won’t start! I need to get to work, what do I do?” Most people immediately blame the battery. YES, it could be the battery…. BUT, it’s important to rule out the following before you spend time and money on a new one: Is there corrosion around the terminal connections that is preventing a good connection? Did you leave the light on and the battery was drained, and just needs to be re-charged? Is the electrical system operating efficiently? Is the real culprit the alternator? OR, is the problem with the starter? The Battery Council explains the following; At 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a fully-charged battery has only 65 percent of its available power. When the thermometer reads zero outside, available power drops to 40 pe ... read more

Vermonters are experts when it comes to winter. We know how to stay warm and dry with products made right in our home state from ‘Darn Tough Socks‘ to ‘Vermont Castings Wood Stoves‘. You’ll find sap buckets filled with rock salt waiting to be sprinkled on our pathways and shovels are lined up ready to do heavy lifting. Vermonters are not always so proactive when it comes to their cars. Please remember that cold weather tests the limits of your car’s mechanical abilities and the consequences can be dire. It’s beneficial to heed Ben Franklin’s advice when it comes to taking care of our car in the winter; “An ounce of pr evention is worth a pound of cure.” To keep your car going the extra mile during the harshest conditions ... read more