In the Southern Hemisphere, we are going into Winter, and whilst here in Perth winter isn’t as harsh as it is in some other parts of the world, it is still important to make sure your car is Winter ready.
There a few things that you can check yourself and then a few that will need to be checked by your mechanic.
Wiper Blades
Wiper blades would be the easiest and most obvious one to check. It is easy to check them, just by simply turning them on with some water coming down. If they squeal, squeak or leave streaks on the windscreen then they probably need changing. There are two types of wiper blades. One that you can just change the blade itself, and they are usually fairly cheap to replace. The other, which is more common on European cars and newer cars, is the whole wiper arm. These are usually more expensive, however, they will last longer and clear the screen much better. You can change the old style wiper arm to the newer one if you find you are constantly going through wiper blades. I did it on my old car and the difference was huge. Our Perth summers destroy the rubber of wiper blades with the heat, so its always worthwhile checking them before winter.
Tyres
Tyres are a huge safety concern when coming into the wet weather. If they are bald, or on their wear indicators, stopping distance in the wet well increase. It can be difficult to check tyres on your own. The outside, and the belly of the tyre, is usually fairly easy to see and most tyres will have a wear indicators on them. If you run your finger in the groove of the tread, you will eventually get to a little block. This is the wear indicator. If there is a large amount of distance between the block and the top of the tread, then the tyre is ok. If that little block is inline with the tread, then the tyre needs to be changed. Where there could possibly be an issue is on the inside of the tyre. It can be very difficult to see on the ground. It is always recommended to have your tyres checked by a professional. If your tyres are worn it is imperative that you have them changed before the weather gets too wet. Checking your spare tyre is pumped and road worthy is always a good idea.
Heaters
Your heater/demister is an important item to check to make sure it is in working order and early as well. If there are issues with the demister, it is generally not something that is quick and easy to fix. On a cooler day or night running it to make sure it will clear your windscreen is the easiest way to check it. Having it set to demister before you need it will also make it safer to turn on whilst you are driving.
Headlights
As it stays darker later and goes darker earlier in the day, making sure your headlights are all in good working order is easy for you to check. Headlights are always used more in winter and are easy to check and replace if necessary. Simply turn them on and have someone stand in front of the car to check to see if they are on. Do the same for the rear, making sure you check your break lights as well. If any are out, pop down to your local mechanic to have them changed. Most will have the globes in stock and should be able to replace them for you whilst you wait.
Breaks
Making sure your brakes are in good working order is always important, but as we go into the wet weather it is even more important. Breaks can sometimes start to squeal when they get wet with the dust from the drier weather. Whilst squeals can be innocent, it is always recommended that you have them checked.
Having a safe car is always important, but as the weather changes it is imperative that certain items are checked just for peace of mind. I hope this little cheat sheet is helpful.
Safe driving,
Gabbi
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