{"id":1022,"date":"2017-10-13T12:09:23","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T11:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/?p=1022"},"modified":"2025-02-26T06:34:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T06:34:20","slug":"5-easy-steps-to-preparing-your-car-for-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/5-easy-steps-to-preparing-your-car-for-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Easy Steps To Preparing Your Car For Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

The autumn always feels like a short season \u2013 at least to us here at Scrap Car Network \u2013 and it\u2019s never long before it gives way to full blown winter. Before you start getting ready on proper winter driving, it\u2019s always best to make sure your car is ready too! That\u2019s what this week\u2019s blog is about \u2013 and remember, if there\u2019s anything too expensive about replacing or repairing it, it might be worth thinking about scrapping your car<\/a>. Just food for thought! Now, onto our handy tips.
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These are main\u00a0steps to prepare your car for winter:<\/p>\n

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  1. Ensure your windscreen is clean.<\/li>\n
  2. Make sure it\u2019s all OK under the bonnet.<\/li>\n
  3. Check your lights are working.<\/li>\n
  4. Get a grip on your tyres.<\/li>\n
  5. Give your car battery the power.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So then \u2013 ready to get the full lowdown?<\/p>\n

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    1. \n

      Check Your Windscreen<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"<\/p>\n

      Vision is key at all times when driving, and it can be seriously reduced in winter driving conditions. It\u2019s a good plan to give yourself all the edge you can as early as possible by checking the condition of your wiper blades, and replace them if they\u2019re worn or too hardened. The sun is especially low in winter, too, so make sure you\u2019re equipped to deal with late afternoon rays blazing through your windscreen. Don\u2019t forget to make sure the glass is clean, and only use a cleaner intended for car glass (so you get the bare minimum of smearing, if any at all).<\/p>\n

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      1. \n

        Have A Peek Under The Bonnet<\/h3>\n

        \"checking<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Next, you\u2019ll want to make sure everything\u2019s running smoothly under the \u2018hood\u2019. Check the level in your coolant reservoir, and top it up as you need to \u2013 you\u2019ll be thankful for it later! You\u2019ll need to be changing the coolant once every two to three years, anyway. While you\u2019re at it, make sure you\u2019ve got sufficient anti-freeze, and that it\u2019s doing its job effectively. As its name suggests, it comes in especially handy during winter!<\/p>\n

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        1. \n

          Flash Your Lights<\/h3>\n

          \"<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Winter looks lovely on postcards, sure, with fluffy snow and gleaming ice, but let\u2019s be honest, the reality is rain. Lots and lots of rain. Heavy, too. Then there\u2019s mist, fog, snow, longer and darker nights, and even the odd bout of hail or two. There\u2019s not a lot to love about winter weather, and the lights on your car are designed to help you through it. That means you need to keep them in tip-top shape to ensure you can be seen on the road, guaranteeing not only your own safety, but also the safety of those around you.<\/p>\n

          Give them a quick check to make sure all the bulbs are working, and make sure they\u2019re not covered over with dirt or grime. If you have any problems, they\u2019re reasonably simple to replace yourself \u2013 or a garage could do it for you (for a small fee.)<\/p>\n

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          1. \n

            Test Your Tyres<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            \"<\/p>\n

            The cold weather is a bit of a nightmare for your tyres; their pressure can drop pretty quickly as the air becomes colder, which can lead to that unwelcome but all-too-familiar rumbling. Check your tyre\u2019s pressures regularly when temperatures start to plummet (including the spare wheel). About once a week is generally enough to do the trick. Remember, the legal minimum for tread depth is 1.6mm. Depending on where you live, you might even find it worth investing in a set of winter tyres. They\u2019re not all that cheap, but if you find yourself frequently getting stuck in the winter, they can end up paying dividends.<\/p>\n

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            1. \n

              Check Your Car Battery<\/h3>\n

              \"checking<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Your car battery has many of the same complaints as your tyres \u2013 its capacity noticeably drops in cold weather, as it consumes more energy to struggle against the temperature. So much so, in fact, that flat batteries are the leading cause of winter breakdowns. Make sure the battery levels aren\u2019t corroded, and if it looks like it\u2019s having trouble, replace it in good time. You can make things easier for it in the meantime by not switching on the headlights or heaters until the engine is running. Having some jump leads is always a smart move, too.<\/p>\n

              Of course, a flat battery might not be the only reason for a breakdown. It could just be that your car has reached the end of its natural life, and it\u2019s time to send it onto greener pastures. (Well, OK, our scrap car\u00a0dealers<\/a> are more metallic in d\u00e9cor, actually.) If you need to scrap your car in a hurry, you\u2019ll be pleased to know that here at Scrap Car Network, that\u2019s what we do best.<\/p>\n

              It\u2019s easy to get it sorted, too. All you need to do is go to our homepage and enter in your car reg and postcode, and you\u2019ll be looking at an instant scrap car quote<\/a>!<\/p>\n

              Don\u2019t forget to follow us on Twitter: @ScrapCarNetwork<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              The autumn always feels like a short season \u2013 at least to us here at Scrap Car Network \u2013 and it\u2019s never long before it gives way to full blown winter. Before you start getting ready on proper winter driving, it\u2019s always best to make sure your car is ready too! That\u2019s what this week\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":1023,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n