The novelty of having passed my test and purchasing my first car hasn’t quite worn off yet- I stil get a kick when I see my little Aygo parked outside the house and I’ve become quite attached “Alphonsus” so it’s only natural I want to take the best care of him as I possibly can (notably also for the financial implication too).
With the colder weather coming I’ve been looking in to how best to make sure my car survives the season and I’ve popped together a post of some basic checks to keep myself, and hopefully anyone else reading this post safely on the road.
Check your coolant levels: If we get another “beast from the East” this year then you run the risk of a cracked or frozen engine which sounds horrendously expensive to repair. On the other hand, anti-freeze is pretty affordable and a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water will see you through the winter months.
Check your tyres: For winter driving it’s recommended you have a minimum of 3mm tread depth. It’s worth considering winter tyres which are designed specifically for snow and ice- given that we got pretty much snowed in last winter I’m thinking these might be handy!
Check your battery: Your car battery has to work harder in cold weather, get it checked/replaced at the first signs of a struggle to avoid getting stranded.
Stock up on de-icer: It sounds simple but you really don’t want to be caught out by a frosted wind screen. After spending a good 15 minutes scraping my car the other day I promptly popped to the pound shop and picked up a couple of cans!
Inspect your lights: Winter visibility is notoriously poor so it’s important you make sure all of your bulbs are functioning and that you keep your lights free of snow and ice before setting off.
Don’t neglect your AC! It sounds counter-intuitive but you still need to run your air-con in winter; it is made of parts that are designed to move. Leaving it off for several months could cause it to seize. Running it regularly also helps keep your car dry and damp free- and can reduce steamed up windows too. Pop in for advice and a service from Car air conditioning service in Essex from experts at Jet Wheel (or other local experts)
Have you ever been caught out by the cold weather?
