Is your Car Winter-Safe? 3 Key Items you may be Missing

Driving a car in the best conditions takes an extreme amount of care and caution, but the winter months bring a whole new element to safety. The colder weather, sometimes including snow and ice, can make driving on the roads a lot harder and if your car is not up to scratch your safety, your passengers’ safety and that of others around you, can be put at risk.

After you’ve checked the regular items such as battery, brakes, wipers and heating systems, what else needs to be done heading into the Tassie winter?

Check your windscreen - Inspect your car’s windscreen carefully for cracks or chips. In icy conditions, the windshield glass can become very cold and any cracks can spread further or even shatter your windscreen altogether. Getting the tiny chips fixed before winter can prevent such a disaster occurring.

Test your tyres - Did you know that if you turn your steering wheel to full hard lock you can check the wear on the tread of your tyres?  Doing this presents the full face of the tyres, which helps you to check the entire surface for baldness. Car tyres have wear indicators and shouldn't get to the point of ‘smooth’. If they do, you need to pay us a visit as a matter of urgency to avoid unsafe driving conditions.

Prepare an emergency kit - Apart from your regular first aid kit, it’s important to have an emergency kit packed in case you become stranded with your car during the freezing winter months. Items to include are: a blanket, portable phone charger, extra drinking water, protein snack bars and a torch. These few things packed in the boot will ensure you and your passengers are kept warm, fed and watered in the event of an extended wait for help.

If you need any assistance in making sure your vehicle is ready to face the harsh temperatures of winter, contact one of the Cooper Automotive Service Centres today. 

http://www.cooperautomotive.com.au/all-service-centres.html

Mid-Winter Car Safety

Although this winter we have enjoyed above average temperatures in Tasmania, there have been a number of wild, wet and windy days with a few extreme cold temps thrown in. Weather has certain effects on our vehicles, so to keep your car on track for the rest of winter and heading into spring, be sure to complete these simple safety checks.

·       Tyres - Wet roads due to rain or snow can be slippery. If car tyres are worn their ability to grip the road in such conditions is limited. Check the tread on your car’s tyres to ensure it has enough depth in the rubber. Besides being a requirement for registration, this is a major safety concern. Replace worn tyres, and make sure you check the air pressure and adjust according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t forget about the spare!

·       Lights - Fully functioning lights on your vehicle is of high importance in the darker days and rainy nights we can experience in winter. Test all of your car’s lights on a regular basis and replace globes as necessary.

·       Windscreen and wipers - If you’ve noticed they are leaving lines on your windscreen when in use, now is the time to insert new blades. While you are at it, check the wiper fluid and refill. The inside of your windscreen can also become hazy and covered in a dirty film, so clean this too to achieve maximum visibility for safe winter driving.

·       Battery - Extreme cold temperatures put extra strain on your car battery as it has to work harder to get started and continue running. If you notice your engine is having difficulty starting in the morning, check the age of your battery and replace if necessary. You can also have your battery checked at a service centre.

Regular servicing can help keep your car safe and running smoothly. If you haven’t had a full

service done for a while, book one in today and keep you and your family safe on the roads for

the rest of winter.

Teaching Kids to Drive – What they don’t learn at a Driving School

Indicating before changing lanes, checking blind spots and nailing a three-point turn are all requirements to obtain a driver’s licence. While it’s great to outsource the practical lessons to teach your kids how to drive (because, let’s face it, teenagers are not known for taking instructions well from their parents) there are some lessons that just aren’t taught by a trainer but are essential for driving in the real world.

As part of their driving training, be sure to teach your kids the following:

• How to change a tyre (or at least have the roadside assistance number on speed dial!). Changing a tyre in a remote area may be quicker than waiting for roadside assistance to show up.
• Keep a toolbox of essentials in the boot of the car, not only for car difficulties, but also for general safety. A torch, old rag, first aid kit, old blanket, jumper leads and some disposable gloves are a great start.
• Keep a spare mobile phone charger in their car in case of emergencies.
• How to check tyre pressure and refill air.
• How to refill petrol and the grade of petrol that is suited to their car.
• Help them to think about what they would do if they broke down in heavy traffic or in an isolated area. Imagining such a scenario in advance and having a rough idea of what to do will help keep them calm if they find themselves in this situation.
• Reinforce the importance of not using their mobile phone in the car without a hands-free kit.
• General maintenance of their car such as:
• Checking fluid levels
• Changing wiper blades
• Keeping the car manual in the glove box or boot for easy reference if needed
• Ensuring they have the car regularly serviced
• Check the condition of the spare tyre in the boot

Giving your kids a great start to their driving career with these tips will also help you rest easy knowing that they’re safe and well prepared.

Now open in Sorell

Today we've opened our 9th service centre, in the southern Tasmanian town of Sorell. We'll be providing all our usual car servicing and repairs as well as carrying on the tyre business of the location's previous owner - South East Tyres.

The service centre will also stock a large range of automotive and marine batteries at Battery Shop.

Opening hours are 8am-5.30pm Monday to Friday.

We look forward to welcoming you there.

Introducing Battery Shop!

About Us 

We have been selling batteries for 20 years through Cooper Automotive Service Centres and have now added the convenience of roadside assistance and fitment. If it’s on water or wheels we have the battery to suit. We only stock and sell quality batteries, all our batteries are backed by a replacement warranty.

Need a specialty battery for your vehicle?

From prestige cars with the latest technology right through to trucks, motorbikes and marine batteries, if it’s on wheels or water we have the battery to suit. We’ve been supplying Tasmanians with batteries for over 20 years.

Why DIY, when we can Do It For You?

Battery and vehicle technology have changed a lot over the years to the point where sourcing and fitting your own battery can be fraught with danger. So why DIY and risk getting it wrong when we can Do It for You. Our technicians can provide expert advice and professional fitting and it’s all part of the service.

Environmentally Friendly

When Battery Shop replaces your battery, we’ll ensure your old battery is recycled and doesn’t end up as land fill. Even if you don’t buy a battery from us you can drop your old battery in to any battery shop for recycling.

---

So when you need your next battery call the Battery Shop. And watch the video below for an easy way to remember our phone number!