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Cold weather car troubles
Cold weather car troubles
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- As a blast of cold air descended on southeastern Wisconsin early this week, sending temperatures into the single digits and wind chills near -25, some have experienced car troubles. Repair shops are busy -- some extending their hours with staff members working hard to keep up!
Grube's Towing in Mequon already had 80 service calls before 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 22nd.
"There's been more calls coming in than we can get done in an hour. At least we're staying on top of everything -- giving people calls and telling them when we're going to get there. Some of these people have to wait two, three, four hours," a Grube's official said.
By the end of the day, officials at Grube's said they expected to exceed 200 calls -- and the staff is drained.
"Some guys aren't feeling so well. We have a little bit of that flu bug running through town, so we have some guys who are a little under the weather," a Grube's official said.
Some two truck drivers came in early or worked double shifts on Tuesday to cover for their colleagues and get stranded vehicles into the shop.
It was also all hands on deck at Andrew Chevrolet in Milwaukee. Service Manager Brian Davis says when temperatures get near zero, car batteries lose about 80% of their efficiency. Tires are also affected.
"Probably a half a dozen or so people that found out this morning that their car didn't start and got them towed in today," Davis said.
Davis says preventative maintenance makes a difference.
"I really wouldn't wait until the weather gets like this to find out if it's good or bad. I'd have it checked and know for sure before it gets this condition," Davis said.
Officials also recommend making sure a car's gas tank is filled at least past halfway to prevent anything from freezing.