One simple step patient motorists can follow could stop them from having to fork out £100 this winter – low temperatures mean certain things can break more easily
Motorists are being warned to follow a simple step to make sure they avoid a £100 bill this winter.
Colder weather at this time of year could lead to drivers making a simple error, car experts said. It is common for drivers to need a repair of the washer nozzle, which can malfunction because of the weather.
Jo Golden, Aftersales Manager from Harwoods service team, says that “the most common winter service repair issue they get during the winter is washer nozzle malfunction”.
READ MORE: FIFA hand Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup despite ‘unimaginable human cost’ warning
READ MORE: Baba Vanga’s 2025 predictions warn ‘war in the East will destroy the West’ – and aliens
READ MORE: Motorists could face prison for splashing pedestrians as expert reveals odd driving lawsREAD MORE: Thousands more driverless Brits ‘priced out of car insurance over the past year’
She added that “a way to avoid a costly repair bill is to avoid repeatedly turning on the washers if there’s ice on the screen. The washer jets themselves could be frozen and attempting to use them could build up enough pressure to disconnect the pipes from the washer pump”.
Jo continued: “If the windscreen wipers are activated but the blades are frozen to the screen, it may result in the motor trying to work too hard which could result in the fuse blowing or worst-case scenario, the motor itself burning out.”
The best way of avoiding these problems, Harwoods said, is to “remember to calculate the concentrate to water ratio correctly and try not to mix brands where possible” when topping up the washer fluid.
They added: “In the event that your car windscreen is not clear, wait for the engine to warm up and activate the heating on your windscreen to assist with demisting.
“The best way to clear ice from your windscreen manually is with a de-icer spray and ice scraper. Using your wiper blades with ice on the screen could shorten the lifespan of the rubber.
“If your washer jets aren’t working and can’t seem to clear themselves, make sure you find a reputable dealer to take a look and get a quote before agreeing to any work.”
Drivers need to be careful in winter condiutions. A survey released in February this year said 39 per cent of would still get behind the wheel regardless of the amount of snow on the roads, new research suggests.
The RAC, which commissioned the survey, warned that driving during extreme weather “can carry huge risks”.
Some 29 per cent of respondents in the poll of 2,300 drivers admitted scaring themselves after losing control of their vehicle in snow.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.