Free winter car fixes that prevent breakdowns in freezing weather

Cold weather isn't fun for any of us, but for your car, it can be disastrous. Batteries drag their feet, tyres struggle, screens freeze over, and breakdowns happen more often than any other time of year.

Preventing a winter breakdown doesn’t have to involve expensive kit, hours in the driveway, or becoming acquainted with a torque wrench, though - some of the most effective fixes cost absolutely nothing. And they all take less time than defrosting a windscreen on a Monday morning.

Here are some free fixes you can get started on today to help ensure you're not going to be stranded in the freezing weather.

Tyre pressure

Cold weather actually reduces the air in your tyres, and underinflated tyres are one of the biggest causes of not only breakdowns but also poor fuel consumption. It can even make your car dangerously unstable.

You can usually check your tyre pressures for free at a garage forecourt, and you should at all times of the year, because it's one of the easiest ways to keep your car feeling sharp when the temperature drops.

Screenwash

This might sound obvious, but so many people forget to check their screenwash levels between services, and some of us even forget to ensure the screenwash mix is ready for cold weather.

Winter roads are filthy, grit gets everywhere, and that slurry the lorries throw up will have you wiping the windscreen more often than you breathe. Add to this the low winter sun, and you've got a recipe for disaster.

Topping up with screenwash costs nothing if you already have some in the boot, bottles can be bought for a few quid, and it could be the quickest and easiest bit of winter prep you do.

Filling the reservoir with water might feel like a free fix, and it does work, but you really should buy a ready-made screenwash - because they're designed not to freeze, unlike water.

Batteries

Flat batteries are one of the most common causes of callouts for breakdown services, but there are some free ways to avoid becoming stuck at the worst possible time.

The simplest fix is just to use your car. They hate being left standing at the best of times, but during cold snaps, batteries really suffer, and they'll flatten themselves much more quickly. Running a car every week or so will help massively.

It's also important to check the terminals from time to time. This free fix is as straight-forward as just giving them a quick wiggle to check, and a visual check to ensure they're not too dirty or corroded.

Fuel levels

Yes, this might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised at how often the breakdown services rescue drivers who have let their tank run dry.

Keeping at least a quarter of a tank in winter gives you a buffer if you get stuck in traffic, if you're diverted by sudden poor weather, of if you're just keeping warm while parked up.

Keeping some fuel in the tank also helps prevent condensation from forming in the tank on very cold mornings.

Check your scuttles and drains

This might not immediately lead to a breakdown, but after the autumn leaves have fallen, they can often clog up drain holes in cars. This can lead to water entering the cabin, as it has nowhere to go.

At the very least, this could lead to the windows steaming up from the moisture, but it could also affect electrics - and the worst-case scenario would be a sudden breakdown.

There are bound to be some free guides online to help you find and clear the drain holes in your car, but if you're struggling, go and see a mechanic.