TULSA, Oklahoma — As people wake up on Friday morning and hit the road, the cold can affect cars.
Russ Knight, owner of Christian Brother Automotive, told the two news cars that it's sunny at 72 as most people do, so in these extreme cold conditions, the battery, tire lights, etc. said that the lights would come on.
First, you might head out to see the frost on your windshield before you get in your car. If you don't want to stand in the cold and say you're in a hurry, your best bet is to use rubbing alcohol, says Knight. All you need to do is put it in a spray bottle or attach a spray bottle head to a rubbing alcohol bottle and spray it on your windshield.
“It melts the light glaze because the freezing point changes and it can be laced,” he said. "It's also good for frozen locks. If for some reason the key doesn't fit in the door and you can't unlock the door, dissolve it with a little rubbing alcohol."
Now that you have defrosted your windshield, your low tire pressure lights may come on when you turn on your car. Knight says that changes in temperature as they have in the past can cause air to leak out of the tire, causing lights to come on if the pressure isn't set to the exact number the car likes.
Cold weather can also affect the battery and cause that light to come on.
If the lights are bothering you, he says the best thing to do is check the car out.
When you're out and about, it's important to be prepared for an accident or car breakdown. Knights said people should keep blankets and water in their cars and make sure their phones are charged.
This is because the tow agency is backed up by phone, so you may wait several hours for roadside assistance.
AAA also reported receiving 429 calls for roadside assistance in northeastern Oklahoma. Some of the most common reasons include punctures, battery failures, vehicle breakdowns, and sliding off the road.
We've also seen plenty of clashes across the state throughout the first day of this winter weather snap. As of 12:00 p.m. Thursday, OHP had responded to his 247 injuries, 54 injuries, 2 hit-and-run accidents, and 2 fatalities.
Given the icy and dangerous road conditions, vehicle repair shops like Christian Brothers Automotive are expected to be busy.
“The most common thing that happens is people drive too fast. They skid around corners and hit curbs. And we have to deal with alignment," he said.
Knight said the staff is nearly full and ready to handle the influx of customers.
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