Fall into the habit of winterizing your car.

                                  As manager of AAA's Auto Repair facility in Willow Grove, Pa., Rick Santiago sees plenty of dead batteries.
                                 And he says, even though the battery is starting your car now, when it is still relatively warm, he and other garage owners say it is imperative to get your vehicle in tiptop shape for cold weather.
                                 As part of October's Car Care Month, Santiago says he is encouraging customers to get a battery check.
                                 One of his technicians, Toan Luong, checked a battery on a Mitsubishi.  Although nearly a new car, a diagnositic showed the battery should be replaced.
                                 "It has some life left in it, but when it's cold out, the car is not going to start, leaving you strandard," Santiago said.
                                 Santiago also says motorists should replace their vehicle's wiper blades, get all fluids checked, make sure the tires have enough tread and get the oil changed.
                                 Additionally, he pointed to a spool of brake line that he said his technicians used plenty of replacing rusted brake lines, which run under the vehicle.
                                 He said some cars are particularly bad because of plastic clips that crack and water gets trapped between the clip and metal brake line.  Then it rusts.
                                 Other variables include PennDot spraying brine in anticipation of snow.  While it is quite effective, it also works at destroying the bottom of your vehicle.
                                 A survey of more than 2,800 AAA members, shows that 88 percent of motorists frequently skip brake fluid service, which causes brake lines to rust internally.
                                 When it comes to a battery check, 82 percent do not get it done.  Eighty-one percent do not get transmission fluid changed and 77 percent do not have their engine's cooling system serviced, which can lead to very costly repairs, Santiago said.
                                 "When you can get a brake system flush and new fluid added for about $75, it's well worth it," Santiago said.
                                 At Bristol and Taylor Garage, 2429 Bristol Road, Pete Fuhr agrees with Santiago that cooling systems are often overlooked by customers.
                                 "Not replacing anti-freeze is the big problem.  The manufactures lead you to believe it will last 100,000 miles.  When General Motors came out with the extended Dex-Cool in the mid-1990s, they said it would last a long time.  The problem was air got into the system and it would turn brown, leading to all kinds of expensive repairs," Fuhr said.
                                To save his customers money, Fuhr recommends replacing your engine's coolant every 30,000 to 40,000 miles.
                                 He stresses changing the oil earlier than some manufactures suggest too.
                                 Other maintenance items overlooked are the transmission and brake fluid flushes, he said.
                                 "It's far less expensive to maintain your car than to bring to me with a serious problem."
                                  Fuhr adds making sure your vehicle's tires have plenty of tread and that periodic tire pressure checks are crucial to long tire life.
                                 Other tips from AAA spokeswoman Jenny M. Robinson are to inspect all belts, hoses and lights on your vehicle.
                                 AAA also strongly suggests keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle.  In it should be plenty of water, non-perishable food, flashlights, jumper cables, snow shovel, blankets, extra batteries and your cell phone charger.
                                 Lastly, snow and ice can damage your vehicle's paint.  Wash your car and wax it to protect the finish.  A waxed vehicle also gets better fuel mileage, studies show, because air flows more easily over a smooth surface.