Pro Installer November 2016 - Issue 44 | Page 31

31 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.