"Cars are cars all over the world, Cars are cars all over the world, Similarly made. Similarly sold.
In a motorcade. Abandoned when they're old. Cars are cars all over the world."
Paul Simon, "Cars Are Cars", 1983

Amagansett - It's been a record-setting winter season on the East End, and historically, the most wintry of months are still ahead of us. Black ice, low visibility, they come with the territory. If you lose control of your car and are stranded, are you prepared? As important, is your car prepared?

Charles Schwendler of T&B Auto and Truck Repair in Amagansett has seen it an innumerable amount of times. The truth is that several of the repairs that cost you hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars can be avoided.

Regularly check the air pressure on tires during the winter months.

"You can save yourself a lot of hassle if you're a little bit aware of some of the problems you could have," Schwendler said.

Here are eight aspects of your car you should investigate so it's happy and healthy and you and your family are safe during the winter.

1. Check your tire pressure. This should be done routinely anyway, but when the temperature drops, the molecules of oxygen pumped into the tire contract and the tire pressure drops "five or six pounds." This goes for the oft-forgotten spare tire as well. While you're inflating your tires, inspect them for cuts and bruises, and through the spoked wheels on much of today's cars, you can also check the brakes.

2. Watch your wiper blades. There's no more important time to have fresh wiper blades than the winter. On top of that, make sure wiper blades are free of blockage in the morning by brushing off excess snow and breaking down ice. "Too much strain on the wiper components will cause trouble," Schwendler said. "Even if you have to let it run, go inside and have a coffee, it will loosen everything up." Also, keep your wash fluid compartment full or at least amply supplied with the kind of fluid that works at temperatures as low as minus-32 degrees. Your anti-freeze levels should be sufficient but it doesn't hurt to double-check.

Check wiper blades after clearing away snow and leaves.

3. Investigate under the hood. It's OK. Nothing there will bite. Although intimidating, even a novice can save some cake or at least a headache by looking around for leaks and wear on the rubber belts. Give it a proper glance using a flashlight. "I'm not saying you have to fix it, but you can take it into the shop and point out a leak you saw," Schwendler said.

4. Be wary of the windows. If it rains at night and your windows freeze over, be careful not to force them open. "That's how you make mechanics a lot of money," Schwendler said. The mechanism can break and once it thaws it can drop down into the door. If you can park the car in a warm garage for a couple hours, that will free the window, or you can use a paint-stripping heat gun.

5. Prepare for the worst. Schwendler has a background in aviation and said "You can't pull into a gas station while flying at 10,000 feet. You have to change the stuff before it breaks." If you're in a rural area, you may not be able to either, so it's important that your car is stocked with safety items. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends having the following items in your car during the winter:

 • Shovel
 • Windshield scraper and small broom
 • Flashlight
 • Bbattery powered radio
 • Extra batteries
 • Water
 • Snack food
 • Matches
 • Extra hats, socks and mittens
 • First aid kit with pocket knife
 • Necessary medications
 • Blanket(s)
 • Tow chain or rope
 • Road salt and sand
 • Booster cables
 • Emergency flares
 • Fluorescent distress flag

Don't be afraid to lift the hood of your vehicle - something obviously wrong may be visible and save you money in the future.

6. Buck up for a battery. Batteries are under great strain and are less efficient in colder weather. If your car is already struggling to start in the cold, consider replacing it before you pay the consequences. Also, make sure your battery terminals are clean and dry.

7. Stay the course with oil. The typical car uses 5W-30 motor oil, and according to Schwendler, there's no great need to change your oil type for the winter season. To be safe in determining what oil you should be using, check your owner's manual. Also, every three to five thousand miles, an oil change will help your car stay on the road longer no matter what the season.

8. Look for leaves. Leaves have a funny way of finding their way into curious spots, and they can disrupt your heating system. Open up the hood and look to see if any are looking to cause problems. "If your air intake starts to fill, the water starts to overflow in the heating system and then you have it all over your rugs and floors," Schwendler said. "It can even destroy the fan motor."