GEM Motoring Assist Tips for Getting your Car Through the Colder Season
With winter having officially started, it’s time to start thinking about prepping your car for the coming season. The IAM RoadSmart suggest giving some attention now to batteries, tyres, antifreeze, wipers, lights and other vehicle essentials is the best way of ensuring reliability for the entire winter. Members’ motoring and road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist has put together five simple things to consider for ‘winter driving’.
Check your batteries
Get the battery and charging system checked to ensure best performance. Cold weather puts a lot of strain on tired batteries, so consider replacing yours now to avoid the inconvenience of a breakdown.
If your battery seems to be turning your engine over more slowly than usual, get it checked straight away, including all connections. Similarly, if the red battery warning symbol illuminates on the dashboard, do get the battery checked.
Cool it down
Ensure your car’s cooling system has the correct levels of anti-freeze, which is vital to prevent the water in your engine’s cooling system from freezing.
Light it up
Make sure all the lights on your car are working properly. Clean them regularly to ensure they are free of dirt, so that you can see clearly, and others can see you.
Consider your tyres
Check tyre tread depth and pressure weekly through the winter. Good tyres will ensure the safety systems on your car are as effective as possible.
Don’t forget wipers
Check your windscreen wipers, front and rear. Make sure they are working properly and top up your screenwash regularly using cold weather washer fluid.
GEM Motoring Assist has a line-up of short online video guides to help you carry out simple car maintenance and checks at home. These include MOT checks, tyre tread, tyre pressure, oil levels and screen wash.
GEM Motoring Assist has a line-up of short online video guides to help you carry out simple car maintenance and checks at home. These include MOT checks, tyre tread, tyre pressure, oil levels and screen wash.
