Beat the Winter Chill: 5 Essential Checks to Prepare Your Car for Suffolk’s Cold Weather

As the days get shorter and the Suffolk weather turns damp and chilly, the change of season brings unique challenges for your vehicle. For drivers in Martlesham, Kesgrave, and Woodbridge, now is the time to move from summer driving mode to winter readiness.

A well-maintained car is a safe car, especially when dealing with early morning frosts and wet country lanes. Our team at Dave Chapman have put together the top five things you need to check right now to ensure your car doesn't let you down this winter.

1. The Cold Truth About Your Battery

The cold is the single biggest killer of car batteries. An older battery loses its ability to hold a full charge, and the cold weather demands more power to turn over a cold engine. If your battery is more than three years old, or if you've noticed sluggish starting recently, a cold snap could be the moment it fails entirely.

Our Recommendation: We can perform a quick, complimentary battery health check. It takes minutes but could save you the frustration of a breakdown on a freezing morning.

2. Check Your Tyre Tread and Pressure

Your tyres are the only contact point between your car and a wet, potentially icy road surface. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but experts recommend at least 3mm for effective braking and handling in winter conditions. Anything less drastically reduces your grip on wet roads.

Additionally, tyre pressure tends to drop as the temperature falls, which affects fuel economy and safety.

Our Recommendation: Pop into our Martlesham centre. We’ll check your pressures and tread depth to ensure maximum safety for your journeys around the A12 corridor and beyond.

3. Lights, Wipers, and Visibility

With short daylight hours, you will be driving in the dark more often. Check all your bulbs—headlights, fog lights, brake lights, and indicators—are working correctly.

Crucially, top up your screen wash with a proper additive. Water alone will freeze in the reservoir and won't effectively clear the oily winter grime and road salt from your windscreen, which is a major safety hazard. Ensure your wiper blades are not cracked or perished for a clear view.

4. Protect Your Engine with the Right Coolant

Engine coolant, or anti-freeze, is vital for two reasons: it prevents your engine from overheating in summer, and it prevents the water in your engine from freezing and causing catastrophic damage in winter. The mixture needs to be correct to protect your engine block and radiator.

Our Recommendation: We can test the concentration of your anti-freeze and top it up to the correct level, ensuring your engine is protected against freezing temperatures.

5. Don't Ignore the Heating and Air-Con

Yes, you need your heating system in winter, but the air conditioning is just as important. Your A/C system dehumidifies the air, which is the fastest way to demist your windows when the car is full of wet, cold air. If your air-con isn't working properly, you’ll struggle with a steamed-up windscreen.

Ready for a Stress-Free Winter?

Don't wait until the first major freeze to find out your car isn't ready. Take the anxiety out of winter driving by ensuring your vehicle is safe and reliable.

Book a service with the experienced team at Dave Chapman Ltd today.

Call us on 01473 927927 

We look forward to keeping you safe on the roads this winter.