Some useful tips to protect your car in the winter

Start by checking the following points:

Check the condition of your windscreen wiper blades and replace them if necessary.

• Check if the windscreen washer reservoir still contains enough fluid and add antifreeze.
• If you want to cover your windscreen with cardboard or a thermal blanket to protect it from frost, remember to lift the wipers and place them over the protection.
• Always keep a scraper and defrosting product inside the vehicle.
• If your car windows are steamed up, this will disappear as soon as you turn on the air conditioning. Dirty windows steam up more quickly, so remember to clean your windows inside as well as outside.
• Regularly check your tyre pressure and the depth of the tread profile: while legislation recommends a minimum tread profile depth of 1.6 mm (bearing in mind the tread profile is 8 mm on a new tyre), we recommend that you respect a minimum depth of 3 to 4 millimetres.
• Keep an eye on the condition of your battery. A battery works less well at low temperatures. Whether you have a petrol or diesel engine, a new car or an old one, battery problems can happen to everyone. Even recent cars are at risk, because batteries now have to power a large number of energy-intensive accessories. Remember that to properly recharge a battery, you need to cover a minimum distance. Driving round the block isn’t enough, it’s better to go for a 20 to 40 km-drive, preferably on the motorway.

Avoid making these mistakes

• Don’t pour hot water on your windscreen to defrost it. The difference in temperature could cause it to crack. If necessary, use lukewarm water.
• Don’t pull too hard on the doors or the trunk lid to open them – you could tear the rubber seals. It’s always better to push than to pull. If you can’t open a door or trunk lid, use a lock defroster, or fill a plastic bag with hot water and apply it to the stuck door. As a precautionary measure, you can also coat the rubber seals on the doors, bonnet and trunk lids with lubricant, silicone spray or talcum powder to prevent them from freezing stuck to the metal.
• If the windscreen wipers are frozen stuck, don’t try to work them. Start by de-icing them, otherwise you could blow the fuse or damage the wiper engine.
• Never try to force the windows open. You could damage the window-winding or electrical opening mechanism. Gently tap on the window to break the ice. If this doesn’t work, wait until the interior is warm enough to melt the ice.
• When your car is parked, instead of tightening the handbrake, put the car in gear. The hand brake risks freezing.

Source: VAB