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Problems:
if your battery can’t output
enough power you may be left unable
to start your car on a cold morning.
Solution:
if your battery is more than
five years old – get it replaced. If your
car’s been sat still for long periods or
been doing lots of short journeys, it
may need a good charge. If your car
is struggling to start in the morning,
turn off all the electrical add-ons like
heated seats, fans and stereo before
trying to start to give the battery a
better chance.
4. Icy skids or spins
Roads get icy and slippery during
winter and if your tyres aren’t in good
condition and aren’t inflated properly
you could risk a scary skid or spin.
Cause:
it doesn’t need snowfall to
cause icy roads. Lower temperatures
can lead to standing water, rainfall or
condensation freezing on roads. Tyres
don’t grip properly when bald, cracked
or under/over inflated.
Problems:
lack of grip could mean
your wheels lose grip leading to a skid
or spin, or worse you could be unable
to stop suddenly when needed leading
to an accident.
Solution:
check your tyre tread –
a minimum of 1.6mm is needed.
If you have less than 3mm left,
consider getting them changed now
as performance will already be much
less than when new. Also, check your
pressures are set to your manufacturer
recommendation.
5. Poor running engines
If you haven’t had your car serviced
regularly, your spark plugs could be
worn out or your HT leads could have
deteriorated.
Cause:
spark plugs are vital in making
your engine run smoothly and when
worn or damaged could lead to rough
idling or misfiring. HT leads are also
a vital part of the ignition system but
often overlooked.
Problems:
if either of these are failing
it could make it difficult to start your
car or lead to a rough-idling engine.
Solution:
take your car in for a full
service and a qualified mechanic
can check the condition of your HT
leads and spark plugs – if they need
replacing it’s a quick job and shouldn’t
cost too much. If they are in OK
condition, fresh oil, new filters and a
tune-up can make all the difference to
a poor running engine anyway.