By The Acclaim Team on 02nd October 2015 in News
Autumn Driving Tips
Are you prepared for driving in the Autumn? Don't get caught out by the seasonal change in driving conditions act now to avoid any problems over coming weeks and months.
Autumn brings many changes for road motorists, from dazzlingly and blinding sunlight to the first icy windscreen of the season. Be prepared and plan ahead to avoid being caught out.
Autumn is particularly bad for dazzle from the low sun. Improve your vision in your vehicle by making sure that your windscreen is clean – inside and out. Even non-smokers find a hazy film builds up on the inside surface of the windscreen over time. Scratches, abrasions and chips on the outside can intensify the sun's dazzle too.
Windscreen Wipers
Windscreen wiper blades will last for around 2 years at the most. New wiper blades will clear the windscreen more effectively and so help reduce dazzle you get from the sun. Autumn is a good time to renew worn wiper blades, in order to keep your vision as clear as possible.
Windscreen Washer Fluid
You need to top up your washer water bottle and add to it a good quality, purpose-made additive to reduce the chance of the water freezing in the bottle. Don't use ordinary engine anti-freeze but do check the handbook carefully to make sure you fill the right reservoir.
Battery
How good is your vehicle's battery? A faulty battery is one of the most common causes of breakdown at any time of the year, particularly in the autumn/winter months when electrical loads on your vehicle are much higher. If there is any sign of your battery struggling now, the likelihood is that it will let you down at some time during the winter, particularly if the battery is more than 5 years old. It makes sense for you to renew the battery now in order to avoid the hassle and inconvenience of an unplanned failure later.
Bulbs
You need to check all bulbs regularly (preferably at least once a week) not forgetting brake and number plate lights. The handbook in your vehicle will show you how to change bulbs, though some headlight bulbs may require a visit to a garage to be changed as access in some vehicles is difficult. We advise you to carry some spare bulbs to avoid problems in the future.
Tyres
Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth. We recommend at least 3mm of tyre tread for winter motoring, so if the tyre treads are getting low, think about buying new tyres now before the colder weather sets in.
Antifreeze
You need to check your antifreeze levels now too. Antifreeze is not just for winter months, antifreeze is important all year round as it contains additives to prevent corrosion and improve summer cooling too. Antifreeze should be checked as part of the regular service schedule on your vehicle.
A frozen engine is very expensive to repair and so if you have any doubt, now is a good time to check the concentration. Your vehicle handbook will give details of the correct antifreeze to use for your car. If in doubt get a garage to check this for you — many offer cheap, or even free winter checks.
