Your Car Is Freezing Outside!

If you live in the UK you will have recently experienced some very cold weather and an amount of wind, snow and ice. There’s a good chance it will happen again before Spring switches the lights on. Certainly, Great Britain is not exactly Siberia but it is surprising how many motorists get caught out when the mercury drops. More to the point, your car doesn’t like it and this includes electric cars which can suffer as well, especially when it comes to batteries.

So What Should You Do?

Well, ideally your car will be best kept in a garage where it will be protected from winter’s ravages, but unfortunately many drivers don’t have that luxury. To some of those that do have one, an attached garage is more like a storage facility in this day and age; perhaps it is better if it reverts to its original purpose.

Otherwise, our cars stand outside in all weathers and yet we expect them to perform no matter what, so the first thing you can do with a car is to use it. Vehicles hate being left standing at the best of times, but during cold snaps batteries can really suffer and they'll flatten themselves much more quickly. Running a car at least every week or so will help massively. If it’s icy in the morning’s try to give it a run later; for a half hour if possible to really warm it through and get the lubricants flowing.

It's also important to check under the bonnet and examine the battery terminals from time to time. It’s straight-forward. With the engine OFF, just give them a quick wiggle to check they’re tight and have a visual check to ensure they're not dirty or corroded.

It goes without saying that a car works best if it is fully serviced. Your local professional garage will examine all the parts and advise on any remedial action needed to keep the motor tip-top in cold weather. There’s nothing worse than hearing the dreaded ‘click of doom’ when trying start-up, which signifies a totally flat battery in which case you’re going nowhere. Many garages, especially independents, which usually cost less than main dealers and have a vested interest in providing good service, offer free battery health checks and can advise if a battery is charging and holding power safely. Don’t get left out in the cold.

Electric Vehicles Suffer Too

Drivers of electric vehicles should know that their cars are not immune to the effects of cold weather. Low temperatures slow battery chemistry in electric cars, reducing the range available from a full charge. Using the heater and defrosters adds to the drain. Ensure your vehicle is fully charged before long trips. Make use of pre-conditioning features that warm the cabin and battery while the car is still plugged in. Allow extra time and charge for journeys during very cold conditions.

Clean Your Drains

At all times of year but especially after the autumn, leaves have dropped. Have a look under the bonnet to see if gutters and drain holes are clear. There’s potential for water to access the interior if drains are blocked leading to condensation and even potentially damage to electrics. Windows can steam up from the moisture. Check on line for ways to ensure this doesn’t become a problem (there’s always a YouTube video for everything) or ask your local car servicing garage to check the car over before Winter kicks in.

A Clean Screen

Having a clear view out of the windscreen is vital. Don’t be one of those people who clears a circle from the ice in front of the driver and thinks that’s enough. Remember too to check the screenwash levels between services, and before the roads get mucky. Filling the reservoir with water might seem like a free and easy fix, and it does work up to a point, but you really should buy a ready-made screenwash because they're designed not to freeze, unlike water. A frozen washer system is no system at all.

Winter roads are filthy, muck gets everywhere and a clean car can be covered in just one journey. This means drivers will be using much more screenwash as the screen gets dirty quickly and, worse still, the low sun makes seeing through a grimy screen much harder and is dangerous. Topping up with good quality screenwash costs very little and it pays to carry some in the boot. Screenwash runs out when least expected.

Tyres

Did you know that cold weather reduces the air pressure in your tyres? Underinflated tyres are one of the biggest causes of not only breakdowns but also poor fuel consumption. It can even make your car unstable as indeed can worn or aged rubber. Many garages and service stations have tyre pressure pumps available at a very low cost. It takes five minutes to check tyre pressures (at all times of the year ideally). Do it yourself or ask you garage to do it for you. Winter or ‘all-season’ tyres are good at the cold end of the year. Although it does involve extra expense, it could make sense, especially for high mileage users.

Tyre checks are part of the MOT test so it pays to heed any ‘advisories’ related to the test. Using a local professional garage that is also good enough to be a MOT testing station makes sense because, as a regular customer, they’ll get to know you and give good advice on staying safe on Winter roads.