What Does A Winter Safety Check Include?

Regular vehicle maintenance is essential to keep your car roadworthy and safe for everyone inside and around it. Being prepared is everything, particularly during the colder and wetter months. The best way to get your car ready is with a FREE Winter Safety Check at Elite Garages. Not only does this give you peace of mind knowing you and your family are safe but it can also help in other ways.

The Importance Of Vehicle Maintenance

While breaking down is part and parcel of owning a car, you can minimise that risk by booking a winter safety check with Elite Garages. Look after your car and it will look after you as it performs at its best when it is well-maintained.

With everyone’s busy schedule, it can often be difficult to keep track of everything but a safety check will take off loads of pressure. If you think about it, the most common causes of breakdowns are as a result of damaged tyres and dead batteries. However, these are simple to avoid with regular inspections including other vital components.

If you don’t have time to do it yourself, or you have no clue about vehicle maintenance, Elite Garages can help. We have several branches across the southeast of England with expert, friendly staff and facilities to match.

What’s Included In A Winter Safety Check?

As the light turns into dark and the weather takes a turn for the worst, UK roads can be hazardous. Considering heavy rain, snow and ice in some places, the likelihood of accidents on public roads are significantly higher in winter. A winter safety check will give you much-needed peace of mind knowing your car is ready for winter.

A typical winter safety check focuses on six main areas of your vehicle including the following:

• Tyre inspection
• Battery test
• Topping up coolant & antifreeze
• Inspecting windscreen wipers
• Assessment of all lights
• Check oil level and refill

At Elite Garages, our expert technicians will discuss the results with you and offer the necessary advice. If your car requires any repairs, they can provide a quote and you can rest assure that we will never do any work without your consent.

Tyre Inspections

Tyres are important as they keep you safe and steady on the road. Along with the brakes, they also help bring your vehicle to a stop when needed. Worn tyres negatively affect stopping distances and increase fuel consumption while damaged tyres could result in a blowout.

Your car tyres must be ready for the possible change in terrain as UK roads in winter can become icy and wet. Part of Elite’s free winter safety check includes inspecting the overall condition of your tyres, tread depth and tyre pressure.

Recommended Read: ‘When Do My Tyres Need Replacing?’

Battery Testing 

A dead battery is a frustrating experience and even worse in winter. Battery failure can happen anytime and anywhere if it’s charging power has drained and it can no longer turn over the starter motor. It’s further exacerbated by using more electrical components inside the car like lights, heaters and chargers for mobile devices. A winter safety check will help protect your battery by making sure it’s in good condition, charged and secured.

Coolant Check And Top-up 

Your engine’s coolant level should be checked regularly to avoid causing serious damage to your engine. Coolant (antifreeze) ensures that fluids don’t freeze and crack the radiator in winter and avoid overheating in summer.

Frozen water expands and makes it hazardous to your engine as it can split engine hoses and pipes. This will, of course, result in leaks and reduce cooling efficiency. A winter safety check will ensure the cooling system is working optimally while checking and refilling your antifreeze if necessary.

Oil Checks

There has to be a happy medium as too little or too much oil can cause major engine problems. Avoid winter breakdowns by checking your oil level and find out what the best engine oil is for your car during winter. Sometimes you may need a thinner oil in winter to allow the vehicle to run better but fear not, our technicians will advise you on this and much more. 

Windscreen, Wipers and Wash Levels 

It goes without saying that windscreen wipers are vital to your vehicle. Regardless of weather conditions, they need to be in perfect working order to ensure you have perfect vision whilst driving. During our winter safety check, our technicians will inspect your windshield wipers and look for any signs of splitting or damage. They will also look at your wiper fluid level and top it up if necessary.

Checking All Lights

During winter you will drive in the dark for longer which makes a vehicle light assessment crucial. A winter safety check includes checking to see if the lights on your vehicle are working correctly for your safety and other road users. Not only does good lights help you see the road but it also allows others to see you.

Our technicians will make sure that your headlights, taillights, fog lights, indicators and brake lights are working. Remember, having faulty or damaged bulbs is illegal and dangerous which makes it a necessary precaution. 

Do Your Own Winter Safety Check 

The items listed in the free winter safety check at Elite Garages cover general vehicle maintenance but you can do more. What tools and equipment should you keep in your car to be better prepared for winter driving?

• First aid kit
• A mobile phone and charger
• A hazard warning triangle
• High visibility vest
• De-icer, scraper and shovel
• Good quality tow rope and jumper cables
• Wellington boots and warm clothes
• A torch
• Food and drink
• Good quality car mats

Why Choose Elite Garages?

Winter safety checks at Elite Garages are comprehensive and highly effective to help get you back on the road safely. If your car is misbehaving in any way or you suspect something is not quite right, visit your nearest Elite branch.

Trust Elite Garages to provide dealership quality services with exceptional value for money and no hidden costs or small print. We offer MOTs, car services, brakes, battery, exhausts and shocks among others. If you want to keep you, your family and other road users safe, don’t delay and book your winter safety check today!