When cold weather strikes, making sure your car is protected becomes a serious priority that can help extend its life. If you don’t have a garage or a covered carport, your car is susceptible to all kinds of damage, ranging from serious engine problems to more cosmetic-related issues. If you’ve been thinking of ways to protect your car during the winter, a cover can be a helpful and easy choice. However, car covers aren't for everyone. Depending on where you live and your unique weather conditions, the cover may freeze or get stuck to the car in wet, icy conditions. Extremely cold temperatures can cause your car cover to become rigid or even crack. Needless to say, this makes folding the cover extremely difficult. Even worse, melting ice can make its way into your doors, freezing your locks and making it even more difficult to thaw out your car. Whether or not you opt to use a car cover, there are things you should never leave in your car in winter. That includes beverages — bottled water, juice, soda — that can freeze and result in a mess; aerosol cans that can destabilize and explode; cellphones (lithium-ion batteries freeze and power diminishes); eggs that can freeze and crack; canned goods that can freeze and expand, breaking the seal and causing the food to spoil; and medication — low temperatures can affect some drugs.
