NORTH CAROLINA -- The cold weather causes most folks to bundle up, but it can cause your car to break down.

  • Freezing temperatures can cause tires to deflate, thicken engine fluids, or kill the battery.
  • Folks should let their engines run a few minutes before driving.
  • A typical battery in North Carolina lasts about two to three years.

Folks should let their engines run a few minutes before driving.

“To give your car some time to warm up. Get itself going,” manager at Woodie’s Auto Service & Repair Center Randy Jackson said. “Just like we do in the morning, we get out of bed, we got to give yourself some time to get going. Cars need the same thing.”

Jackson also said drivers should listen to their vehicle.

“If it’s time for an oil change, and it’s getting thick or it’s not doing its job, you’ll hear a little ticking when you start your car,” Jackson said. “It might be something you want to get in to a local shop and have it looked at.”

Drivers having trouble starting their vehicle in the cold may want to check their batteries. Jackson said, because of the weather, a typical battery in North Carolina lasts about two to three years.