During the cold months, we find it becomes far more common for small issues to cause big problems with our cars, and this is why I thought today would be a good time to highlight a basic five point check anyone can do themselves at home in minutes. This check could help you to identify any problems before they occur, giving you ample time to book your vehicle in at the local garage for a quick service or minor repairs. As with anything in the motoring world, the longer you leave it, the more expensive it will become.
With temperatures in both the UK and the US plummeting to freezing almost every night at the moment, there really has never been a better time to memorise all the information below and ensure your car is in perfect health. Snow also causes many problems, and as this is predicted to occur at some point over the next couple of weeks, theres no time to delay. Leave it until then, and youll never find a garage willing to look at it. Theyll all be far too busy helping other motorists.
1 – Battery Check
This is simple and can be completed with a cheap device you can buy from most motoring shops in whatever country you live. In fact, if you haven’t got the right equipment to check how the battery is performing, the chances are one of your neighbours will, so just ask for some assistance. A flat battery is the most common reason people call breakdown services.
2 – Lights Check
If youre knowingly driving down the road without all of your lights in perfect working order, youre breaking the law and can be punished with a hefty fine. This is why its vital that you test them regularly to make sure youre keeping within legal guidelines. All you need to do is turn them on and walk about the perimeter of your car – simples!
3 – Oil Check
If you identify the need to purchase any genuine car parts during this five point check, youll find plenty of options online, however, you shouldnt need to do this when checking to see if your vehicle has enough oil. All tanks should have a dipstick, so all you need to do is remove this and check the level of oil against the recommended amount listed in your manual. Again, this is easy and should take less than a minute.
4 – Wipers Check
As the weather is due to get worse throughout the last couple of weeks in January, its a good idea to make sure your window wipers are in perfect working order. Sometimes weather erosion can be a problem, and so you should look to replace any that have split or seem deteriorated. This shouldnt cost much, though you usually find better prices online.
5 – Screen Check
The last thing anybody wants is to have their windscreen crack when driving over speed bumps, which is why you should spend some time looking for scratches or small chips that might lead to bigger problems. Nowadays, most insurance providers will pay for any repairs to windscreens, so you wont even have to take a trip to the bank to get it sorted.
Well, thats all Ive got time for today, but you should now understand exactly what you can do to minimise the chances of your vehicle performing poorly during times of bad weather.
Be careful out there, it can get very slippy.
