Autumn and winter check
In winter it is mainly the battery that causes trouble: cold reduces its power, and on short trips it hardly recharges. We also check the antifreeze in the coolant and screenwash, the wipers and the lights. The legal minimum in Germany is 1.6 millimetres of tread, but on snow a tyre barely grips with that. In black ice, snow or slush, German law requires winter or all-season tyres with the Alpine symbol.
Typical items at the check
- Lights and indicators
- Tyres: tread, pressure, damage
- Brakes: pads, discs, lines
- Brake fluid
- Engine oil, coolant and antifreeze
- Battery
- Wipers and screenwash system
- Ventilation and air conditioning
Spring and summer check
After winter, wiper blades are often cracked, and road salt is still sitting in the wheel arches and on the underbody; more on this under car care. It is better to have a stone chip looked at before the first heat, because large temperature differences can make it grow into a crack. If the air conditioning cools weakly or smells musty, the air-conditioning check is due. The winter tyres come off when there is no more risk of frost; on request we store them, see tyre service.
Holiday check
Fully loaded, with a roof box or caravan and for hours at high speed: on the drive to your holiday, things that still hold up in everyday use are more likely to fail. You will usually find the tyre pressure for a full load on a sticker inside the fuel filler flap or on the frame of the driver’s door. If a pickup such as the RAM tows a heavy caravan, we also check the towbar and the trailer socket. With the caravan, the brakes have more work to do as well. Travelling abroad with LPG? Depending on the country you will need a filling adapter; more under LPG systems.
What customers often ask
When is the right time for the winter check?
In autumn, before the first frosty nights. Combine the check with the change to winter tyres, so that the car only has to come to the workshop once.
How long before my holiday should I come in for the check?
Ideally one to two weeks before you leave. If a part has to be ordered, there is then still time for the repair.
Do I need winter tyres at all with four-wheel drive?
Yes, the requirement in wintry conditions in Germany also applies to four-wheel-drive vehicles. Four-wheel drive helps when pulling away on snow, not when braking and steering. For that, what counts is the grip of the tyres, on a compact SUV just as on a Jeep Wrangler.