Autumn brings many changes for Cardiff road users, from blinding sunlight to icy windscreens. Be prepared and follow our guide to help you drive safely on the road and avoid being caught out, if you need any help on any of the points mentioned below we can help service your vehicle from our Cardiff based workshop pictured below.

Low sun

Autumn and winter in Wales is particularly bad for glare from low sun. Even though we can’t change this we can help improve visibility by making sure that your windscreen is clean – inside and out. Scratches, abrasions and chips on the outside can intensify the sun’s dazzle too, so make sure you call us to get these fixed sooner rather than later.

Windscreen wipers

Blades usually last for two years at the most. New blades clean windscreens more effectively and help reduce dazzle from the sun. Now is a good time to renew worn blades.

Windscreen washer fluid

Before the weather starts turning cold make sure you top up and treat your car with with a quality, purpose-made additive to reduce the chance of freezing.

Battery

Battery failure is one of the most common causes of breakdown at any time of year, not just in Cardiff, but the whole of the UK. This is particularly prevalent in the winter when electrical loads are higher. If there’s any sign of the battery struggling now, the chances are it’ll let you down at some time during the winter, particularly if it’s more than five years old. It makes sense to renew the battery now to avoid the hassle and inconvenience of an unplanned failure later.

Bulbs

Check all bulbs regularly, and don’t forget to check brake lights and number plate lights. Your handbook will show you how to change the bulbs, though some headlight bulbs may require a visit to the garage and our assistance. We highly recommend keeping some spare bulbs in your glove box just incase.

Tyres

For winter motoring we recommend at least 3mm of tread, so if the treads are getting low, get in touch and we’ll replace any dangerous tyres now before the colder weather sets in.

Antifreeze

Antifreeze is important all year round as it helps to prevent corrosion during the Autumn and winter months and improve summer cooling too. A frozen engine is very expensive to repair so if there’s any doubt now is a good time to check the concentration.

Winter Check and MOT

If you need assistance with any of the above our Cardiff Garage can help. We offer a winter check and MOT to help you stay safe and to keep your vehicle running smoothly. This check and MOT includes:

Full MOT
Anti Freeze Check
Battery Output Test
Alternator Check
Break Fluid Check
Windscreen & Wipers Checked
Tyre Pressure & Tyre Check

Contact A1 Diagnostics

Please enquire or book an appointment using the contact details below:

A1-Diagnostics and ECU Repairs
64 Sloper Road
Leckwith,
Cardiff
CF11 8AB

Tel: (029 20) 220380
Fax: (029 20) 223172

Opening Times

Mon – Fri: 8:00am – 6:00pm

Email: info@a1-diagnostics.com