Car Maintenance Checklist - Winter Car Care

Car Service Stations Near You

So this year, winter is here again, to get you all the expected and unexpected chills and shivers. Don’t know this season how deep the mercury will rise, as Indian weather conditions are full of surprises. Anyways by now, you must be up and prepared with all your winter gears and stuffs to take on the harsh freezing weather. But, just like you is your car too ready to face the wintry challenge. Have you done enough to shield your car from the unkind weather?

Your car not only needs some preparations to encounter the jarring conditions, but you are also required to take some precautionary measures so that you enjoy a safer drive this winter. Hence, in a nutshell, this weather is here to assess your physical competence as well as your car’s mechanical ability. So why wait, follow the below easy steps to ensure a peaceful driving in winter.

Car Servicing:

The first and foremost step is to get your car examined and serviced by a professional. If necessary, go for the replacement of parts that have been used up due to continuous usage. Never hesitate on this, as this will lessen the chances of your car getting stalled under cold conditions. If you get them replaced half the battle is won!

Car Cleaning:

Apt visibility is very important; hence with the help of lukewarm water clean all the window panes and the ORVMs with lukewarm water to get away the snow or the droplet patches. Remember to use warm water and not hot water as directly putting in hot water may cause crack due to abrupt temperature change. Headlamps and tail lamps cleaning is also vital for better illumination in foggy conditions. If you reside in a region, where snowfall is a usual affair, then cleaning of the car roof is also crucial. With snow cleared there won’t be any chances of it rolling down the windscreen during emergency braking.

Checking Electricals:

Make sure that all the lights together with indicators and the rear windscreen demister are up to the mark, not damaged and working fine. To keep the cabin warm check the heater twice, as its functioning during unpleasantly cold is very important just as the role of air conditioner in the scorching summers. In case any mechanical breakdown happens and you get stalled, the heater will act as a lifeguard.

Windscreen Washer / Wipers:

If the conditions get snowy, visibility is bound to go down. Due to snow if the wet ice is all over the roads, then there are chances of your car’s windshield getting in a mess, thanks to the tyre spray of other vehicles. Hence in such a situation, windscreen washer fluid comes handy and don’t forget to get it topped up every time after use. Take water and concentrated screen wash in exact quantity, mix them well in order to ensure the mixture doesn’t freeze. Go for new wiper blades if they are 6-8 months old and also get its motor tuned up.

Examine Battery and Engine Oil:

Under cold mornings you may find some difficulty in starting your car’s engine, irrespective of petrol or diesel engine. To avoid such issue, the battery needs to be checked, as its functioning decreases in cold conditions. Don’t forget that your car battery hates cold, and as a result, in under zero degrees celsius temperatures, a fully-charged battery will only have its two-thirds of the available power. Moreover, if your battery is old, this is the right time to get it replaced with a brand-new one alongside also get the charging system and cables examined. Look for an engine oil and coolant which is capable of handling low temperatures.

Tightening Brakes:

Wet or snowy roads are the enemies of stopping distance, as with slippery roads, the stopping distance will get multiplied. You can get the brake pads checked, and ask the service advisor, if there is any need of brake pads replacement, if need suggested, take no risk go ahead with the replacement. Also to ensure smooth functioning of the brakes, ask to get the brake calliper cleaning and greasing done.

Tyre Check:

Although it’s the last, but seriously not the least, as a lot is dependent on your car tyres, in terms of safety. Check each and every tyre of your car, including the spare, and make sure that they are in upright condition. In simple terms they should possess adequate tread (here more than adequate depth would be great), should be free from any cuts or injuries and be correctly inflated, as per the recommended tyre pressure by the maker. Never overinflate your car’s tyres as it intensifies the possibility of getting skid on a wet and slippery road. If you live in a region that receives frequent snowfalls and roads you drive are covered with snow most of the year, then switching to winter tyres won’t be a bad idea.