Winter Car Checklist: 8 Checks to Do Before the Cold Weather Arrives

Why check your car now?

The best time to get your car ready for winter is autumn, before the first frost. Cold weather finds out weak batteries, low antifreeze, worn tyres and tired wipers — and it always seems to happen on the darkest, wettest morning. Most of the checks below take a few minutes each, and the ones you cannot do yourself we can check in one visit.

The eight checks

1. Battery: cold weather reduces a battery's power just when the engine needs more to turn over. If your car is slow to start now, or the battery is five years old or more, get it tested before winter.

2. Antifreeze (coolant): the level should sit between the min and max marks on the expansion tank when the engine is cold. The mixture also needs to be strong enough to protect against freezing — we can test that in seconds.

3. Tyres: the legal minimum is 1.6mm, but grip in wet and icy conditions falls away well before that. Many motoring organisations recommend changing at around 3mm. Check pressures monthly too, as they drop in the cold.

4. Wipers: if they smear, judder or leave streaks, replace them. Winter spray and low sun make a smeared screen dangerous.

5. Screenwash: use a proper winter screenwash that will not freeze. Plain water can freeze in the bottle and the pipes.

6. Lights: check every bulb and clean the lenses. You will be driving in the dark for much of the day from late October.

7. Brakes: any grinding, squealing, a soft pedal or the car pulling under braking needs looking at before the roads turn icy.

8. Heater and demister: the heater and air conditioning clear a misted screen far faster than the fan alone. If either is weak, get it checked now rather than in December.

Keep a winter kit in the boot

An ice scraper, de-icer, a torch, a warm coat or blanket, a phone charger and some water go a long way if you are stuck. The Highway Code says you must be able to see out of every window before you drive, so clear the whole screen, not just a letterbox — and brush the snow off the roof and lights too.

Let us check it for you

If you would rather not do it yourself, bring the car to us on Bristol Road South in Northfield. We will test the battery and charging system, check the antifreeze strength, tyres, brakes, wipers and lights, and tell you honestly what needs doing now and what can wait. If a service is due, it is a good time to have it done so everything is covered in one visit. Call us on 0121 476 2287.