EMANI FLEMING, WISN 12 NEWS 12 NEWS ZOIE HENRY PICKS UP OUR LIVE TEAM COVERAGE FROM 27TH AND CLEVELAND AND MILWAUKEE ZOIE. CAR SAFETY IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND. IN THE EXTREME COLD. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT, CAR SAFETY SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST, ESPECIALLY IF YOU OWN A CAR. SO WE’RE OUTSIDE OF ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR, AND THEY’RE GEARING UP FOR AN INFLUX OF CALLS BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS EXPECT SPECIFIC LEVEL LIKE SPECIFIC CARS WHEN THEY HIT COLD TEMPERATURES. SO VINCE FERRERO HAS WORKED FOR THIS SHOP FOR 41 YEARS. AND HE SAYS ONE OF THE MAIN CULPRITS THAT CAUSED PROBLEMS IN DEEP FREEZES IS LACK OF MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO HE SAYS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SAVE MONEY ON MAINTENANCE AND OTHER REPAIRS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, YOU SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD THE EXTRA MILE TO KEEP UP YOUR CAR ALL YEAR ROUND. WHEN YOU SEE THE FORECAST LIKE THAT, WHAT’S THE PHONE CALL YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET FIRST? MY CAR WON’T START. AND WHY IS THAT? MOSTLY DUE TO NEGLECT. SO NOT CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL IS THE FIRST THING WE SEE. NOT CHANGING TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOT CHANGING THE FLUID FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL OR THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH IS FOR THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS WEATHER. SO THAT’S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE SEE IS GOT TO GET THAT MAINTENANCE DONE. ZOIE HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW LONG YOU SHOULD LET YOUR CAR IDLE RIGHT? GERRON. SO HE SAYS YOU ACTUALLY ONLY NEED 30S. SO YOU GET IN THE CAR, TURN THE CAR ON, WAIT 30S AND YOU’RE SAFE TO GO WHEREVER YOU NEED TO GO IN YOUR CAR. HE SAYS. ANY OTHER TIMES THAT ARE LONGER THAN THAT ARE AGE OLD TALES FROM OLDER CARS. BACK IN OLD DAYS, BEFORE EVERYTHING WAS COMPUTERIZED. ALL RIGHT. 12 ZOIE HEN
Milwaukee mechanic advises on car maintenance during extreme cold
Vince Ferrera, a Milwaukee car expert, shares tips on maintaining vehicles as temperatures drop below zero
As Milwaukee braces for below-zero temperatures, car expert Vince Ferrera highlights the importance of vehicle maintenance to prevent issues in extreme cold. “So really important if you’re driving the car and you hear clunking, if you hear suspension noises or unusual noises, those are really going to be magnified when it’s this cold outside,” Ferrera said.Ferrera, who has 41 years of experience working on cars at Engine and Transmission Exchange on Milwaukee’s south side, explained that the most common issue during cold spells is cars not starting. “Mostly due to neglect? So not changing the engine oil is the first thing we see. Not changing transmission fluid. Not changing the fluid for the differential or the transfer case, which is for the four-wheel drive, especially in this weather. So that’s the number one thing that we see is got to get that maintenance done,” he said.Regarding idling, Ferrera advised that cars do not need to idle as long as many might think. “Thirty seconds. I mean, you don’t need to let it run real long, but if your car’s making some unusual noises when you first start it, let that settle down. When it’s this crazy cold and then drive it. If you did your oil change and everything normal, you don’t have to worry about it,” he said.Ferrera added that handling maintenance sooner rather than later will help ensure that cold temperatures are manageable.Top HeadlinesPewaukee contractor wanted for unfinished roofing jobsMother feared daughter, police tried to get help, hours before murderCudahy approves $25 wheel tax to prevent budget cutsWaukesha couple’s Colombia adoption plans disrupted by visa pauseWATCH Man leads Brookfield police on 117 mph chase
As Milwaukee braces for below-zero temperatures, car expert Vince Ferrera highlights the importance of vehicle maintenance to prevent issues in extreme cold.
“So really important if you’re driving the car and you hear clunking, if you hear suspension noises or unusual noises, those are really going to be magnified when it’s this cold outside,” Ferrera said.
Ferrera, who has 41 years of experience working on cars at Engine and Transmission Exchange on Milwaukee’s south side, explained that the most common issue during cold spells is cars not starting.
“Mostly due to neglect? So not changing the engine oil is the first thing we see. Not changing transmission fluid. Not changing the fluid for the differential or the transfer case, which is for the four-wheel drive, especially in this weather. So that’s the number one thing that we see is got to get that maintenance done,” he said.
Regarding idling, Ferrera advised that cars do not need to idle as long as many might think.
“Thirty seconds. I mean, you don’t need to let it run real long, but if your car’s making some unusual noises when you first start it, let that settle down. When it’s this crazy cold and then drive it. If you did your oil change and everything normal, you don’t have to worry about it,” he said.
Ferrera added that handling maintenance sooner rather than later will help ensure that cold temperatures are manageable.
Top Headlines
WATCH Man leads Brookfield police on 117 mph chase
About the Author
