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Winter is coming.

Apparently, that’s a reference to something.

At Walton Bridge Garage it’s simply a reality and means it’s time to get things in order where your car is concerned and although it has been unseasonably warm, you never know when the British weather will act up.

You wouldn’t leave your nan without enough money on the gas meter and plenty of cans of hot soup to get her through until Spring, so why would you treat your car any different?

It might seem like a pain in the rear end and an additional cost in what can be an expensive time of year, but there are a few cost-effective things you can do to keep your motor running through the winter.

Tyres

Start at the bottom and check your tyres. We’re not suggesting you whip out the tyre chains, as let’s face it, you probably won’t need to go that extreme.

But there are a wealth of fairly affordable winter tyres designed especially for dealing with the rain, sleet, snow and ice.

Ask your friendly Walton Bridge Garage mechanic today and we can advise you on which will work best for your budget.

Failing that, at least make sure your tyres are legal. There are laws on tyre tread and grip for a reason and these were implemented based on normal driving conditions, so taking your illegal racing slicks out with ice on the road can be disastrous are even life threatening.

If there is one thing we recommend you do this winter, it’s making sure your tyres are suitable.

Checking antifreeze

This probably goes without saying, but anti-freeze has a dual use. It stops your car from freezing up, but also from over-heating.

You want to make sure you have enough anti-freeze (somewhere around the half way mark is about right) as well as making sure it is working properly.

De-Icer

Go out now and buy yourself a fresh bottle of de-icer. You probably won’t need it for a month or so but having to pull the classic Ace Ventura head out of the window trick on your way to buying some in the morning, is never recommended.

Windscreen Fluid

Whilst you’re getting the de-icer, make sure you have enough windscreen fluid and keep it topped up at all times. Having an actual screen wash is more beneficial as it takes a lot colder temperatures to freeze compared to water. Then when the sheet of ice across your glass starts to freeze and your wipers wake up, it can help to clean the screen quicker.

Wipers

Make sure your wipers are in good working order and it may pay to invest in some new blades. After all, they will spend a fair amount of time scrapping across the rough ice in an attempt to clear the windscreen.

Heating

Not only will heating make your car more comfortable to be in, it will help you get on the road quicker. Check that your heating is actually working first and then make sure the fans are all in good working order, as otherwise, it will take a lot longer for the windscreen to clear.

The Battery

If you need a new battery, now is the time to invest in one.

It can be susceptible to low temperatures and the last thing you want is for your car to die as soon as the cold kicks in.

The Survival Kit

It may sound drastic but it really could save your life. Breaking down in freezing cold temperatures can make anything from changing a tyre to a full recovery a lot trickier. So you never know how long you could be stuck at the side of the road with no heating.

Make sure you have all of the usual essentials:

• Scraper
• Warning Triangle
• Tow-rope
• Spare Wheel
• First Aid Kit

On top of this make sure you have the more modern essentials like an adapter to charge your mobile phone and the number of your breakdown recovery provider. If you’re going on a long journey, bring a flask of tea or soup.

If you cover all of these simple, affordable winter precautionary steps, you and your car should be just fine until Spring starts stretching out its welcome hand.

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