Mechanic reveals three must-have items for your car as colder weather sees spike in costly maintenance issues

A MECHANIC has urged motorists to keep three items in their car that could prove to be crucial during the colder weather.

In the winter, auto shops see an upsurge in visits as drivers suffer a variety of issues with their vehicles.

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Speaking to KFYRTV, repair shops Magic City Auto and Truck Repair, both based in Minot City, North Dakota, claimed worn-down batteries are a problem they often see during freezing temperatures.

Owner Ken Frederick said: “In winter, you’re concerned about no heat in the cab. Your engine isn’t running as warm as you’d like it to.”

Service manager Kelsey Desroches also urged car owners to check tire tread, which must be in top condition when snow falls.

Desroches said: “As you drive and the snow gets compacted, if you don’t have any tread left, you can slide all over.”

Desroches also mentioned brake pads, another important car component that must be working correctly during snowy and icy conditions.

Desroches added: “Your brake pad is going to be metal on the metal rotor, and then that will prevent you from stopping.”

They said that warming up the car at least ten minutes before taking it on the road is an easy way to keep it in good working shape during the cold.

Drivers are also urged to use an engine block heater and read their vehicle manual.

Frederick added: “I mean, they do it for a reason, your vehicles are made to need maintenance. It’s part of keeping it in tip-top shape.”

Naturally, keeping a survival kit inside the car during the winter is essential, and must include a blanket, phone charger, snacks and other supplies.

This comes as another mechanic warned car owners they risk cracking their windscreen with a popular de-icing hack.

What’s more, he suggests a simple hands-free solution that costs a mere $5.

Stephen Konyndyk, an expert who owns Endurance Auto Repair and Tire located in Lynchburg, Virginia, offered motorists a handful of top tips to keep their car in tip-top shape in the winter.

One of the best ways is by making sure a vehicle’s tire tread is plenty deep – which will give better grip on icy and wet surfaces.

Indeed, we previously revealed an easy method to check tread depth by using an item you might already have in your wallet.

Perhaps equally important is visibility, which is mainly achieved through the windshield – which must be kept clear and ice-free.

Elsewhere, drivers who choose to park in a popular downtown area are about to face much stricter punishments if they don’t leave on time.

Not only will cars be towed, but drivers will also be slapped with at least a $175 fine to retrieve them.

Starting in February, drivers in Dublin, Georgia, about 120 miles southeast of Atlanta, will pay the $175 penalty if they park any one of 20 spaces along a main road downtown for longer than two hours.

The harsh law comes a year after the Downtown Development Authority placed two-hour parking rule signs at the parking spaces it manages.

But since then, 11 new businesses have opened, bringing much more traffic to the area.

Now, the organization has voted to begin towing vehicles that overstay their two-hour welcome.