There’s no doubt that the winter season is the time when you have to deal with the harshest of all weather conditions. As a result, you have to ensure that your vehicle’s reliability & performance don’t drop to alarming levels and thereby affect your overall driving experience. You must learn that safety is always paramount when driving on winter roads and older vehicles are more at risk of breaking down or involving in an accident.
Hence, you have to make your vehicle fit to be driven during the winter season, which is why we have curated some proper tips & tricks that you should be following. So, without further ado, let’s get on with the guide right away.
Checklist For Winter Car Maintenance
1. Proceed To Check Your Car Battery
According to a reliable company offering car parts in Wellington, if the weather is damp & cold, then such weather will put a strain on your car’s 12-volt battery. The lower temperatures already make it difficult for car engines to start and the negative impact of the weather on your car battery will further alleviate the issue. This is because low temperatures lower your battery’s power output.
Hence, if you haven’t replaced your battery in quite some time, then it could be possible that the cold weather is amplifying the battery problems. So, if the battery struggles to provide enough output, then chances are that the battery needs to be replaced.
You can obtain a battery tester to use at home regularly and they’re very easy to use. In case you do need a battery replacement, then you can drive to your local garage and obtain the same.
2. Check Your Vehicle Antifreeze Levels
As the name suggests – the antifreeze liquid helps in stopping the vehicle’s engine cooling system from getting frozen. If you want to test the effectiveness of your antifreeze liquid, then you can proceed to purchase an antifreeze tester from your local spares shop.
To use the antifreeze tester, all you have to do is to unscrew the coolant reservoir first and then lower the testing tube into the reservoir. If the freezing point of the antifreeze isn’t what is recommended by the car manufacturer, then you have to replace the antifreeze liquid.
3. Check Your Vehicle Screen Wash Levels
Since the winter weather remains wet, all the road salt and dirt will be attracted to your vehicle’s windscreen. As a result, you have to clean your vehicle’s windscreen often with the help of the windscreen wipers. So, even if your windscreen wipers are in good condition, there will always be a major risk of smearing across your windscreen if the screen wash bottle is devoid of any liquid.
Unless you want the above-mentioned scenario to take place, you need to open your car bonnet and check the windscreen washer bottle whether it’s fully topped up. If there’s not enough screen wash, then you need to purchase either concentrated or ready-mixed screen wash. Ready-mixed ones are already mixed with water, while concentrated ones must be mixed with water before use.
4. Check Your Vehicle’s Exterior Lights
Since the daytime will be shorter and the nighttime will be longer during the winter season, it’s essential to keep your vehicle’s exterior lights in top condition. Clean and check your vehicle’s exterior lights every day because dirt & road salt can easily build over time – which will reduce the overall efficiency & visibility of your vehicle lights.
Ensure that you keep your vehicle lights ON at all times during the winter season because such a stance helps in improving the road visibility of your vehicle for other drivers. Furthermore, we suggest carrying additional light bulbs, so that you can replace them when one of them goes kaput.
5. Check Your Vehicle Brakes
The overall stopping distance will be massively increased in icy & wet weather. So, if you have worn brakes, it could turn out to be a perfect recipe for an accident. Hence, you have to make sure that you’re aware of how well your brakes are working. In case your brakes feel unresponsive, make strange noises or feel spongy, then it’s ideal to get your brakes checked by a professional mechanic.
Furthermore, we’d suggest not driving at high speeds, especially on winter roads. The less you’ll put stress on your vehicle brakes, the better it will be for you.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the heyday, proper maintenance is always required to ensure that your car is fit to be driven during the winter season. Older vehicles need more care because they’re more susceptible to mechanical problems. If your vehicle isn’t fit to be driven on winter roads then you have to either pay for repairs or don’t drive at all.
But, if your vehicle is old beyond repairs, then we suggest simply scrapping the same and getting a new vehicle altogether. Lastly, for any additional queries, contact our car scrapping experts today.
