It’s cold, dark and – depending where you live in the country – possibly raining. This is winter in South Africa. To keep yourself warm you bundle up in layers of clothes and turn on your heater, but what do you do about your vehicle in the colder seasons?
Car maintenance is crucial all year long, however, you especially don’t want your vehicle to break down in winter, leaving you stranded on the side of the road. If you’re preparing to take your family away for the June school holidays, it’s even more important to ensure that your car is in tip-top condition. Here are five key vehicle maintenance areas to focus on.
- Windscreen wipers
Inspect your front and rear wipers and replace them if they’re worn or cracked. Old or damaged wipers won’t properly clean your windscreen, which reduces visibility. On particularly cold mornings you could experience frost on your windscreen, scrape it off rather than using hot water which could crack the windscreen.
- Tyres
All four tyres and the spare must be checked for wear and tear, and the tread and sidewalls must be in a good condition overall. Tyres must be aligned and inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines. When tyres are not properly inflated they are a safety risk to you and your passengers, as well as other road users.
- Lights
In winter it gets darker earlier and the sun comes up later, so you use your headlines more often. Check that both your headlights and brake lights are working properly, and clean their covers if they appear slightly foggy. Adjust headlights if necessary, so that they are focused on the correct area of the road. As a safety precaution, keep a spare set of globes in the cubbyhole.
- Battery
Batteries cause more problems in the winter months, as your cold engine draws more energy to start. Regular battery maintenance includes checking the battery power, cleaning the terminals and removing dirt or acid that has built up, and topping up the water levels with distilled water. It’s recommended that you leave jumper cables in your car in case of an emergency.
- Antifreeze
For your vehicle’s cooling system to work efficiently, you need antifreeze. This fluid prevents water from freezing and it raises the boiling point of engine coolant, helping protect your engine from damage.
With regular vehicle maintenance you keep your car in excellent working condition, while also helping to protect the driver, passengers and other road users. In addition to keeping your car in good shape, you also need to maintain your home. Read our quick checklist on getting your home winter-ready.
Click here to read more about Indwe’s vehicle insurance cover, and to check that your vehicle policy is up to date, please call your Indwe advisor today on 0860 13 13 14.
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