As much as we hate to admit it, Summer is well and truly over. The leaves are turning brown and falling, nights are drawing in earlier and there is now a chill in the air – yes Autumn is here and driving conditions can become more challenging during this season. Your car takes a lot of abuse in the autumn, what with the wind and rain, plus all those pesky fallen leaves getting everywhere. That’s why it pays to be prepared. With some simple checks, and a handful of basic accessories, drivers can ensure that their cars are fit for the road.
Give your car a good “spring” clean – even if its Autumn…
If summer flew by in a blur and you can’t remember when you last cleaned the inside of your car, now’s the time to do it. Damp autumn weather and low sun are a potentially dangerous combination, as they bring out the worst in a dirty windscreen. So grab a bottle of window cleaner and a micro-fibre cloth, and clean the inside of the windscreen and other windows to help prevent them fogging. If they’re really dirty, you may need to go over them twice. Pay particular attention to the tray area below the windscreen, where leaves and water can gather, blocking it up. The water can then damage the car’s electrics after seeping through – which can be expensive to fix.
Take a look at the outside…
Its not just the inside of your car that needs attention when preparing for the colder months. There are a few things we need to consider and check on the outside too. Be sure to check all the car’s bulbs are working. Have a friend walk around the car as you try the side and tail lights, headlamps, brake lights, indicators and fog lamps. And don’t forget the reversing light! Before the worst of the dirty weather sets in, have any fresh chips in the car’s windscreen repaired. It helps prevent it expanding into a crack. Examine the condition of your wipers carefully and replace them if necessary. The rubber that sits against the screen shouldn’t be frayed or split, and the wipers should clear the screen without smearing. And finally, if you have a spare day, ask yourself when you last treated the paint to a wax and polish? Can’t remember? Then give the car a good wash, wax the paint then apply a polish. It will protect it from the worst of the weather.
Make sure that your tyres are in tip-top condition…
With the wet and frosty roads you’re likely to encounter over the next few months, you need to make sure that your tyres are good. Your tyres are vital to staying safe on the road. To ensure they perform as well as possible, the tread depth should be regularly inspected. If the tread drops below 3mm, you should consider replacing them. With tyres, the legal limit is 1.6mm in the UK, and 1mm in Guernsey. Roads are not only likely to be wet in the autumn, they’ll be covered with fallen leaves, which turn into a soggy mulch and can be extremely slippery. Again, it’s a good reason to examine tyre tread depths, and also ensure their air pressure is correct (don’t forget to check your spare).
Venture under the bonnet…
Grab your handbook, lift the bonnet (when the engine is cold) and roll up your sleeves: it’s time to check your car’s vital signs. Start with the screen wash. Unless you’re using ready mixed, this should be diluted with tap water to the correct mix according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and will help keep the windscreen and headlights clean during autumn weather. Next, ensure the level of engine coolant is correct. The car’s handbook will point out the location of the reservoir, and the fluid should sit between the maximum and minimum marked points. If the car is serviced according to the manufacturer’s schedule, then the mix of anti-freeze and coolant should already be correct. Your car’s battery is worth checking, too: ensure the top is clean and dry, the terminals are tightly connected and there’s no sign of corrosion. If it’s more than five years old, you might want to consider changing it, especially if it’s beginning to struggle. The last check under the bonnet is the engine oil. Do this at least 10 minutes after the engine is switched off, to allow oil to return to the sump. Grab two paper towels, one to grip and remove the dipstick (some cars may only have a digital readout; again, check the handbook) and the other to wipe the end of the dipstick clean. The oil should be between the minimum and maximum marks.
Stay one step ahead of the seasonal switch in driving conditions…
Autumn’s not just about blackberries and fiery leaves – it brings changes to the roads, too. Now that you have ensured your car is ready for autumn, you as a driver also need to be as well. The road conditions can be a lot wetter and slippery during Autumn so you need to be vigilant on the road. Plan ahead, leave longer for your trip as you’ll have to take things slower in poor conditions. If it’s bad out there, try to travel outside rush hours and use major roads. Where possible avoid driving through deep puddles, go slowly even on shallow ones to avoid aquaplaning. Autumn weather should reinforce safe driving practices, as cooler temperatures produce slick roads – make sure you drive with caution and awareness at all times.
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