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PRO INSTALLER NOVEMBER 2016
PRO NEWS
@proinstaller1
BE PREPARED FOR
WINTER MOTORING
As the first frosts begin to bite, we can look forward to some challenging winter weather ahead.
The key is to be prepared, especially where your vehicle
is concerned. After all, you
rely on it to get you safely
where you need to be in order to get the job done. So it
makes good sense to ensure
it is in the best possible
order before the worst of the
weather arrives.
The AA offers some general
advice for safe and trouble-free
driving through the cold, dark
months ahead.
BATTERY AND ELECTRICS
Lights, heaters and wipers put
high demands on the car battery.
If your driving is mainly dark
rush-hour trips, the battery will
give out eventually.
Batteries rarely last longer than
five years. Replacing one near
the end of its life can save a lot of
time and inconvenience at the side
of the road.
Avoid running electrical systems
any longer than necessary.
If the car stands idle most of the
weekend a regular overnight trickle charge is a good idea to give
the battery a chance to revive.
Turn off non-essential electrical
loads like lights, rear screen heater
and wipers before trying to start
the engine.
Use the starter in short five-second bursts if the engine doesn’t
start quickly, leaving thirty seconds between attempts to allow
the battery to recover.
ANTIFREEZE
A continuous squealing noise as
soon as the engine is started is
a sign the water pump is frozen
- it’s the fan belt slipping on the
pulley. The cylinder block could
be frozen too. Stop the engine immediately and allow it to thaw out.
This may take several days unless
the car can be moved to a heated
garage.
If the car begins to overheat a
few miles from home it’s likely
that the radiator has frozen preventing coolant from circulating.
Stop straight away to avoid serious
damage and allow the radiator to
thaw.
Antifreeze costs only a few
pounds, but a frozen and cracked
engine block will cost hundreds of
pounds to repair.
Most modern cars use long-life
antifreeze - it’s important to use
the right type and avoid mixing
different types. Check the handbook or ask a dealer for advice.
VISION
Keep the windscreen and other
windows clear. Clear snow from
the roof as well as from windows.
Dazzle from a low winter sun
can be a particular problem.
Improve vision by making sure
that the windscreen is clean both
inside and out. Scratches, abrasion
and chips on the outside can also
worsen the dazzling effect of the
sun.
Greasy smears on the screen
that don’t go with use of a normal
screenwash additive will require
a little elbow grease. Try using a
cream glass polish with a slight
abrasive action. If that doesn’t
work then try dishwasher powder
dissolved in a little water – Use
clean kitchen paper to clean a
small area at a time and try not to
go back over a patch you’ve just
done.
Use air conditioning for faster
demisting and to reduce condensation on cold windows.
Make sure that wipers are
switched off in the park position
when leaving the car, when there’s
risk of freezing. If you don’t and
the blades freeze to the screen,
you could damage the blades or
wiper motor when you turn the
ignition on.
Top up Windscreen washer fluid
and treat with a suitable additive
to reduce the chance of freezing.
Don’t use ordinary engine antifreeze as it will damage paintwork.
You must use headlights when
visibility is seriously reduced. You
may also use front or rear fog
lights but these must be switched
off when visibility improves as
they can dazzle other road users
and obscure your brake lights.
VISIBILITY
TYRES
Make sure that all bulbs are
working and that lenses are clean.
When roads are really mucky you
might need to clean lights after
every journey. Keep the number
plates clean too, as you can be
fined if they are dirty and illegible.
If you have to clear snow from
the car it’s important to clear it
from the lights - front and back
- as well as from the glass and
roof.
The AA recommends at least
3mm of tread for winter motoring,
and certainly no less than 2mm.
Don’t reduce tyre pressures to
get more grip – it doesn’t work,
and reduces stability.
Consider changing to winter
tyres or all-season tyres – these
have a higher silica content in the
tread which prevents it hardening
at lower temperatures, and therefore gives better grip in cold, wet
conditions.
BEFORE YOU GO
Get up at least ten minutes early
to give you time to prepare the car.
Use a cigarette lighter to warm
a key for a frozen lock. Don’t
breathe on the lock, as the moisture will condense and freeze.
Plan routes to favour major roads
which are more likely to have
been cleared and gritted.
Put safety before punctuality
when the bad weather closes
in. Allow extra time for winter
journeys but be prepared for the
inevitability of being late for work
due to unexpected delay.
The AA has a winter motoring
kit containing all the essentials
from an LED torch to a snow
shovel check online at shop.
theAA.com/store.