As millions of drivers begin bracing themselves for winter weather and more hazardous conditions, it’s a great time to remind patrons about vehicle maintenance—a key preventative measure to help avoid breakdowns and accidents.
October is Car Care Month and the perfect opportunity to highlight library automotive resources, like ChiltonLibrary. ChiltonLibrary is an authoritative resource for those who like to do their own vehicle maintenance. And for those who prefer to have someone else do the work, this database also offers user-friendly tools to aid research into auto concerns, potential costs, and maintenance schedules.
Get ready
In October, many car owners tend to their cars to check and refresh components. For automaker procedures and specifications detailing how to inspect, replenish, repair, and replace vehicle components and systems, you can steer patrons to the ChiltonLibrary. Two features patrons commonly inspect are the battery and air filters.
Check the battery
High summer temperatures can sap battery strength. A weak battery can fail in frigid temperatures as it faces increased demands for power. Starting the engine in chilly temperatures, as well as energizing lights, wipers, defrosters, heaters, and other cabin comforts and entertainment can all take their toll on the battery.
The ChiltonLibrary excerpt below details the first steps of a procedure to remove and install the battery for a specific year, make, and model vehicle.
Check the air filters
Just as smoke can impair our breathing, it impacts vehicle performance too. Wildfires have become common in many areas of the country, specifically during the hot summer season. Even months later, wildfire smoke may linger in air filters, contaminating the air inside the car. That’s why it’s important to check engine and cabin air filters. Replacing dirty engine air filters allows the engine to breathe freely to meet demands. And, inside the vehicle, when the windows are rolled up, fresh air filters are the primary source of clean air for occupants. As an added benefit, clean filters aid visibility by reducing windshield fog.
The following excerpt from a 2025 Toyota Tacoma procedure lists the first steps of a cabin air filter replacement.
Is your library ready for Fall Car Care Month? Give your patrons an authoritative lifeline this winter through ChiltonLibrary, a user-friendly auto repair resource. Not a subscriber? Trial ChiltonLibrary or contact your representative.
