What might be a winter wonderland for horse-drawn sleighs is enemy territory for combustion engines.

Low temperatures, snow and salt on the roads work against the best interests of automobiles. Making certain your auto is in good condition before the windy winter rolls in is the best way to ensure you’re not left waiting for a tow truck in the cold.

“Look at the belts, look at the hoses and try the heater before it gets cold out,” said Larry Sharp, owner of City Auto Repair, 816 Lacas St.

“I’ll bet every shop in town offers a free 20 or 30 point inspection,” Sharp said, adding that coolant systems should be flushed and batteries checked.

A battery going on five years old should also be checked to see if it needs to be replaced.

“When it gets cold, the No. 1 thing I end up doing is changing batteries,” said Steve Heiser, owner of Merlin’s 200,000 Mile Shop, 1812 Sycamore Road.

Heiser recommended car owners check oil, antifreeze and wiper fluid levels, as well as have a blanket in the car and a even a small shovel and sand or kitty litter for extra traction in sticky situations.

“If you’re going to be taking any kinds of trips, you really should have supplies, emergency things,” Heiser said.

When best-laid plans fall short, towing insurance can be an inexpensive preparation for break-downs or snowdrift quagmires. Sharp said his costs only a few dollars a month. Towing insurance can be added to most auto insurance policies.

Warming up the engine before driving is unnecessary with modern cars, according to Sharp, and only helps to get the car temperature a little more habitable.

“I wouldn’t recommend you let it run for longer than five minutes,” Sharp said.