With the weather set to become colder in the coming weeks and months, drivers are being urged to carry out essential car maintenance checks as soon as possible.
Car experts, Leasing Options, say failure to do so could leave motorists facing a fine of up to £1,000 and three points for failure to have proper control of a vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead, reports Wales Online.
So what checks should we be carrying out and what rules should drivers be aware of?
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Here are their tips for motorists going into the colder months.
Six essential winter car maintenance checks
1. Check and replace worn down windscreen wipers
If you’re driving with worn-down windscreen blades in wet, snowy, and icy weather you will not have a full view of the road.
Ahead of the change in weather, drivers should look for splits or harness to the rubber of their windscreen wipers. Replace the wipers immediately if there is a sign of wear and tear.
2. Ensure all lights are working ahead of the darker evenings
With dark evenings approaching car lights are more important than ever. Not only so that as a driver you have a full view of the road, but also so other road users can see you in advance too. Having broken lights on dark evenings could lead to a serious accident.
Make sure all your car lights are working, including fog lights front and rear. Back up to a garage door or large window to check the functionality of brake lights and reverse lights.
3. Clean your mirrors before setting off
Rule 229 of the highway code states that when driving in adverse weather conditions before setting off drivers must make sure the mirrors are clear and the windows are de-misted thoroughly.
Keep a cloth in your car glove compartment in winter months to clean your mirrors before setting off on a car journey.
4. Check your tyres for inconsistencies
Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures, anything different could affect braking distances, and steering feel.
If your car has been laid up for a while, you may have developed slight flat spots in the tyre, which will feel like a vibration. If you take the car on a drive, the heat from friction and rotation should remove the flat spots.
Also, check the sidewalls for signs of cracking and your tread depth.
5. Check the coolant system has not frozen
A frozen coolant system can cause significant damage. You should also make sure the coolant is at an adequate concentration to prevent freezing at lower temperatures. Drivers should not just top up the existent coolant they have in their vehicle with water, the mixing ratio should be 50:50. Always top up coolant with the same colour already in the system.
6. How to prevent screen wash from freezing
Another fluid that needs to be the correct concentration to prevent freezing is screen wash. For the winter months, it is best to go with a 50:50 mix of water and screen wash.
