2020 Winter Vehicle Maintenance Checklist

MobiTyre’s Winter Car Maintenance Checklist

At MobiTyre, we’ve seen our fair share of vehicles looking worse for wear. With fewer of us having to travel for work due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic, we’re driving less and it’s easy to forget to check that your vehicle is ready for the winter months. But don’t worry, we have you covered with our list of things you should check this winter on your car. We recommend you check all of these items out, in addition to your usual vehicle services at regular intervals as set out by your vehicle manufacturer.

1. Tyres

As MobiTyre is a tyre fitting specialist, we thought checking tyres would be a great place to start. It is common for tyres to need a change at this time of year. Many people choose to change their tyres for winter tyres. Winter tyres are far better at gripping in all cold weather conditions, whether it is a wet road or snow and ice. The tyre compound tends to be more flexible, and consists of more sipes and grooves than summer tyres. However, it is not necessary for you to change your tyres from summer tyres to winter tyres. More often than not, your summer tyres will be sufficient on British roads, as long as drives exercise some caution when driving in challenging conditions. Experts have suggested that once the temperature drops below 7 degrees, winter tyres are far more effective. We recommend that you check your tyres regularly, following the checklist mentioned below to ensure your safety, and the safety of other road users.

In the event that your tyre has a puncture, it is not all over yet for that tyre. In fact, it is often repairable. Most tyres can be repaired unless there is:
-An illegal tread depth of less than 1.6mm
-Run flat damage
-An ageing or deteriorated tyre rubber
-Bead or liner damage
-Exposed cords
-Faulty of poor previous repairs

In the event that you may have a puncture, and you think that it can be repaired, get in touch with us at MobiTyre to arrange for one of our friendly team members to assess and repair your tyres.

Checklist:

• Tread Depth is not below 1.6mm
• Check your tyre is at the correct pressure
• Check for any irregular wear on your tyre – this could be a sign of incorrect wheel alignment (see section 3)
• -Always remember to check overall condition of tyres, including inner and outer sidewalls.
• Check that your spare tyre is safe and ready to use in case of any emergency.

If you think that you need new tyres, check out our guide on how to find out what size your tyres are below:

2. Check your battery out

It’s common that as the nights get longer, and the weather colder, that your battery will start to show signs of wear. There have been several occasions where individuals have been caught out by battery failure caused by the cold weather. Even if you try to jump start, or bump start your car, the problems with your battery will still be there, just for you to deal with at a later date. To avoid getting a flat battery:
-Avoid leaving interior lights on or other car accessories that use power
-Ensure your vehicle has been serviced before the winter
-Be sure to check the alternator in your vehicle is working correctly
-If your vehicle uses diesel, change your glow plugs at the first signs of failure to save wear on your battery
-Avoid leaving your car standing for long periods of time. If you are not driving for a while, try to run your car for a while to charge up the battery.

However, while you can take steps to avoid getting a flat battery, it can still happen. To extend your battery life, you should clean it, and check it regularly. Modern car batteries have a life expectancy of around five to seven years. When selecting a battery, voltage, capacity, grid type and warranties all play a part in selecting the correct battery. MobiTyre offers a free battery check, so if you think your battery is on the way out, get in touch. As well as this, all of our batteries come with a guarantee, and old batteries are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

 

3. Check out your wheels

With the winter really setting in, it wont be long before there will be more potholes on the road at the detriment of us motorists. While we all hate hitting potholes, they can damage your car significantly too. They can cause numerous problems for your wheel alignment, which should be a standard part of your vehicle maintenance. Wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of front two wheels so that they are set to the specification laid out by the cars manufacturer. Not only do these adjustments keep your vehicle driving straight and true, but also helps to maximise tyre life significantly. If your vehicle pulls to one side, it could be a sign of misalignment.

While checking your vehicle, you should pay attention to notice to whether you feel any vibrations through the seats and/or steering wheel while driving at speed. As well as this, uneven or excessive tyre wear, along with poorer fuel economy than usual are all indicators that your wheels may also be unbalanced and/or misaligned. While both of these things affect the ride and handling, they are very different aspects.

MobiTyre offers both mobile wheel balancing and mobile wheel alignment services to our customers from the convenience of their homes or workplaces. If you think that your vehicle needs seeing to, or you’re not sure, get in touch with us.

4. Check your fluids

One of the best ways to keep your vehicle in good shape between services is to make sure that you are checking your vehicle fluids yourself regularly. It is an inexpensive way to prolong your vehicle lifetime, get better performance and avoid any engine wear or damage. Your vehicle uses up a lot of different fluids, so here is an outline of what fluids to check, how to check it, and where to find each one:

•  Engine Oil – Usually found under the bonnet of the vehicle. Ensuring that the engine is cold, pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a cloth. Reinsert the dipstick, before pulling it out to inspect the oil level on the indicator. If your oil level is low, be sure to find the correct oil and top it up. If you are not sure of the correct oil for your vehicle, use halfords car registration number check to find out. Make sure that when you do this, you do not overfill the engine. If there is any grey/white liquid, it is likely water has gotten into your engine system. You should consult a mechanic before driving your vehicle.
•  Coolant/Antifreeze – The coolant resiviour is usually located somewhere near the radiator under the bonnet of your vehicle. Ensure that the level is up to the designated markers on the resiviour as set out by the vehicle manufacturer. If you need to top this up, make sure that you have the correct type of coolant/anti-freeze as there are many different types. Do not use your vehicle if this is low, as you risk doing damage to your vehicle.
• Power steering fluid – Usually, we would recommend you let a professional mechanic check and maintain this. However, you can check the fluid yourself. Locate power steering fluid reservoir, which sometimes has its own dipstick. If the fluid is dark or black, you will need to flush the system and replace the fluid. Signs of power steering fluid being needed also include jerky steering, noisy steering or difficulty turning the wheel. Please note, not all power steering fluids are the same, and you should find first before topping up.
• Brake fluid – Like power steering fluid, brake fluid is definitely something you do not want to run out of. Once again, we encourage you to consult a mechanic if you feel that your brake fluids need topping up. Find your brake fluid resiviour, usually under the bonnet. Take off the cap and make sure that the fluid is up to the correct level indicated on the resiviour tank. Signs of low brake fluid include a ‘spongy’ brake pedal, with little to no stopping power, brake warning light is on, or dirty brake fluid. This can be caused over time by worn brake pads, a leak somewhere in the system, or a damaged/split brake line.
•  Windshield washer fluid – Once again, located under the bonnet in a resiviour. A range of different washer fluids can be purchased, either pre-mixed, or concentrated, whereby you simply mix with water. All of these are acceptable options. Avoid mixing different brands or types of windshield washer fluid as very occasionally they can react together, causing your windshield sprayers to fail. This is uncommon.

5. Safety Equipment

In the event that things don’t go your way while you’re out on the roads, we have a list of must-have items, just in case. Whether you have a flat tyre or broken down, you should make sure that you have everything you need to get the help that you need. If you have a flat tyre, or need a new battery in the Shropshire region, call us on 0800 055 6099 and we will get someone out to you. However, in the mean time, check that you have the following in your car:

• Ice scraper for the windows & windshield
• A fully charged mobile phone (A portable charger is a great idea to have in the glove box)
• First Aid Kit
• A Bright Torch/flashlight
• Spare wheel & tools (Locking wheel nuts, jack, and tyre iron/wheel nut wrench included)
• Warm blankets in the event of being stranded for a while. At this time of year, it can be very cold.
• Warm clothes & waterproof jacket. The Great British weather can be very unpredictable, so be prepared.
• Spare fuel can
• Hi-vis jacket so you can be seen when you’re near the road
• Warning triangles – This will help to warn other drivers if you are stuck. Ensure to place it around 40-50 metres behind your vehicle.
• Jump leads – It is quite often that either yourself, or someone else will benefit from these at some point
• Snacks, Food and Water – You never know how long you can be stuck, so it is a good idea to have these in the vehicle.

So now you know what to look for on your vehicle when checking it over. With the ongoing pandemic, perhaps opting for mobile tyre fitting would be a more suitable option for you. MobiTyre offers a mobile tyre fitting service at competitive prices, beating that of Home Tyre and Kwik Fit. Visit our website to see how MobiTyre can make your life much more simple, easier and save you from having to wait at your local garage. We operate in Shewsbury, Telford, Bridgnorth, Ironbridge, Newport and the greater Shropshire area. Instead of looking for tyre fitters or tyre shops near you, call MobiTyre and we’ll come out to you at home, work or wherever you are. For further tips on how to maintain your car, check the video below.