It is winter and it has snowed. Especially for all car drivers:tips for driving a car in winter:from a frozen car lock to being stuck in the snow.
Especially with the winter weather you will be confronted more often with long traffic jams. Make sure you are prepared for this, especially if you have (small) children in the car. Bring extra toys for children (books, coloring book, pen and paper to play simple games or special travel games) and make sure you have something to eat and drink with you.
A blanket can provide extra warmth. It is also useful for yourself to take food and drinks with you. If you unexpectedly have to sit in the car for a number of hours, it is also advisable to occasionally leave the (highway) road to stretch your legs. Driving in the cold can be as tiring as driving in the sun.
Have a charged phone so you can always be reached and you can reach people.
Save the number of a car emergency service such as the ANWB in your phone, so that you can be helped in case of an emergency.
Besides a good preparation for the road, you can also have to deal with frozen locks, doors that are frozen and stuck in the snow with a car. Fortunately, you can solve all of that with the tips below.
If the car is in a garage, thaw the locks with a hair dryer. You can also treat the lock with a special anti-freeze agent.
Another solution is heating the key. Heat the key with a match or lighter (not the lock!). Insert the key into the lock and let it sit there for a few minutes before turning. Repeat if necessary.
Keep a bag of cat litter in the car in the winter. The material provides resistance if you get stuck on ice or snow.
Remove the rubber mats from the car and place them behind the rear wheels. Perhaps they provide just enough resistance to get the car going again.
In winter, run the air conditioner for five minutes every week to keep it in good condition. Make sure that you do not do this when you are in the car or ensure sufficient ventilation.
One of the most important tips for the car in winter is the lighting. Switching on the headlights ensures that the battery is warmed up and the car will start more easily. Always keep spare bulbs in the car so that a broken bulb can be replaced quickly.
If there are salt stains on the cladding caused by brine roads, remove them with equal parts water and vinegar. Let the spot dry and then use the vacuum cleaner to remove everything.
The handbrake can freeze, so do not use it in winter! Rather put the car in P or reverse (pay attention to this when starting!).
If the handbrake is still frozen, it helps to first gently push it down and then pull it extra once, so that the ice breaks.
Car doors can also freeze shut. This can be prevented with these indispensable winter tips for car drivers:treat door seals with talcum powder, vegetable oil, rubber grease or silicone spray.
If the doors are frozen shut, it helps to push against them, so that the ice that has formed will break.
Place the car backwards in the garage. With a cold engine it is easier to drive forwards than backwards.
If the car will not start in the cold, blow warm air over the carburetor with a hair dryer. Warming up the battery by briefly turning on the headlights also helps.
Depress your clutch pedal, this helps to let the engine run more freely.
Ensure short starting attempts instead of long ones, this will reduce the battery load and there is less chance that the battery will fail.
A full fuel tank will add extra weight, so the car has more resistance on slippery roads.
Check the fluid level in the reservoir. Add some anti-freeze in the winter.
Never defrost windows with water! This only exacerbates the problem and can even cause the car window to crack. Also, never put newspapers or boxes on the window pane to prevent freezing, as that will only increase the problems.
Special blankets are available to prevent freezing and having to scratch the windows clean.
If the wipers leave a lot of streaks, clean them with alcohol.
Check the tire pressure, especially in winter this is crucial. Minimum in winter is 3-4 millimeters. Winter tires are definitely recommended. Keep in mind that the braking distance on a winter road surface is considerably longer.
Since it can be very unpredictable on the road in winter, it is wise to leave the house on time. A traffic jam can cause delays for hours.
Be aware of bottlenecks and avoid them if at all possible.
In winter too:Be a gentleman in traffic!
With the above tips for driving a car in the winter for car drivers, you will experience fewer problems and arrive safely and easily, despite a white winter. Are you looking for general DIY tips for the car? Then quickly read on for DIY car.
