Be prepared with Maitland Motors
As the summer starts to wind down, preparing your vehicle for autumn can be a lot less stressful by taking a few proactive steps now that can help avoid unexpected breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Below, we have put together a few Maitland Motors tips to help keep your car safe, reliable, and road-ready for the colder months ahead.
1. Check Your Battery Before the Cold Snap Hits
Cold weather is notoriously tough on car batteries. As temperatures drop, your battery has to work significantly harder to start the engine, all while handling extra electrical loads from heaters, defrosters, and headlights.
- What to watch for: Slow cranking when starting the engine, dim headlights, or a battery that is more than four to five years old.
- Top tip: Get your battery tested early. A quick health check can tell if your battery holds a full charge or if it’s nearing the end of its life before it leaves you stranded on a cold morning.
2. Ensure Clear Visibility
Shorter days mean more driving in the dark, and autumn weather frequently brings heavy rain, mist, and road spray. Clear visibility is essential for safe driving.
- Wiper Blades: Inspect your wiper blades for cracks, splitting, or squeaking. If they leave streaks across the glass, replace them right away.
- Screen Wash: Ensure the screen wash is topped up.
- Exterior Lights: Check that all lights including indicators, and fog lights are working and clean. Ensure your headlights are correctly aligned so you get maximum road coverage without blinding oncoming traffic.
3. How do your tyres feel?
Your tyres are the only contact point between your vehicle and the road. Wet leaves, standing water, and black ice mean maximum grip is non-negotiable.
- Tread Depth: Although the legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, we strongly recommend having at least 3mm of tread during autumn and winter for effective water displacement and stopping power.
- Tyre Pressure: Meanwhile, keep in mind that air pressure drops as temperatures fall. Check your tyre pressures at least once a month when the tyres are cold to ensure even wear and optimal traction.
4. Protect Your Engine with Coolant & Antifreeze
Besides keeping your engine cool in summer Coolant (antifreeze) prevents the water in your engine’s cooling system from freezing solid when temperatures dip below zero. Frozen coolant can crack the engine block or destroy the radiator, leading to catastrophic engine damage.
- Check the Level: Ensure the fluid level in the coolant reservoir sits between the minimum and maximum lines.
- Check the Strength: Over time, the anti-corrosive and anti-freeze properties of coolant degrade. Specifically, a quick hydrometer test during a health check verifies whether your fluid protection is strong enough for deep winter frosts.
5. Keep an Autumn/Winter Emergency Kit in the Boot
Even with a perfectly maintained vehicle, unexpected delays or sudden weather changes happen. Keeping a small emergency kit in your boot provides peace of mind.
Your kit should include:
- An ice scraper and de-icer spray
- Pair of warm gloves, a blanket, and a waterproof jacket
- Reliable torch (or headlamp) with fresh batteries
- Portable phone charger/power bank
- High-visibility vests and a warning triangle
- Bottle of water and non-perishable snacks
Book Your FREE Vehicle Health Check
Ultimately, preparing your vehicle for Autumn can be made a lot easier with Maitland Motors. If you would like total peace of mind before the cold weather sets in, our team is here to help.
Book a comprehensive Free Vehicle Health Check online today by clicking the book now button above. We will check your battery, tyres, lights, fluid levels, and brakes and give you a full report on your vehicles health.