Stay safe this winter! Here are some basic vehicle winter checks we should all be doing. The nights are drawing in and it’s almost that time of year again when the trip to work and back are done in darkness. So its probably not a bad idea to give the car a quick check over in anticipation.
Checking all your lights are working is generally a good place to start, you’ll need someone’s help with the brake lights or you can always check their reflection in a window.
Checking all you tyre treads for the upcoming wintry months is another good idea, best to check them now before the icy mornings arrive.
On the tread of each tyre you’ll find a little lump in the tread of the tyre (the tyre wear indicator) if this is level with the rest of the tyre, your tyre is worn and will require replacement. the lump is set at 1.6mm.
A check under the bonnet is next. Carry out all you usual checks- Oil level. Brake Fluid Level, Coolant Level and Windscreen Washer Fluid Level. Any signs of oil or fluid leaks are not a good sign and should be reported to your garage, sooner rather than later. Generally a rule of thumb for most modern cars is, anything under the bonnet with a yellow cap or cover should be checked.
with winter coming the spare tyre should also be checked. This is always easily overlooked, with them generally being hidden away in the boot of the car, but it is an essential check before any journey. You’ll be glad you checked, if you come to need it!
It’s not a bad idea to have a waterproof jacket, a warm blanket, a couple of snacks and a bottle of water in the car. Just in case the worst comes to the worst and you find yourself broken down at the side of the road.
Hope this all helps.
Paul.