GTÜ: Defy Frosty Nights with Good Preparation

The Battery

According to ADAC, nearly half of the operations of the automobile club on vehicles with internal combustion engines are due to defective or weak starter batteries. The first signs of a weak battery are a slow crank when starting the engine and a flickering or dim lighting system.

A weak battery especially leads to the car not starting after frosty nights. This causes stress because appointments cannot be kept or shopping cannot be done. It doesn't have to come to that. Professional workshops offer a - often free - battery test. It reveals how the power storage works under load. You can also find out for yourself how the power supplier is doing with a voltmeter or multimeter.

For 12-volt batteries, the optimal voltage value should be between 12.4 and 12.7 volts. If it drops below 12 volts, the battery must be replaced or at least charged. This is recommended at regular intervals if the car is only used for short distances. Because during fewer kilometers of travel, the battery does not charge sufficiently after start-ups and after turning on consumers such as fans, seat heaters, or rear window heaters.

Extended tours are good for the battery, subsequently providing enough power and extending its lifespan. This usually ranges from four to six years. Maintenance includes checking the positive and negative poles, which should be free of corrosion. If white or greenish deposits are visible, the poles can be cleaned with a wire brush and protected with pole grease.

Antifreeze for the Windows

Clear visibility is particularly important in winter. This includes regularly checking and appropriately refilling the windshield washer system with frost-proof cleaning fluid. Heating wires are very useful for quickly defrosting the front and rear windshields.

Effectively, covering the windshield in the evening before frosty nights with suitable mats from the accessory trade or with a roughly cut cardboard to fit the window size helps. For the side windows, many turn to ice scrapers. A little less environmentally friendly is the use of spray bottles, which contain chemical additives alongside alcohol as a de-icing agent.

Antifreeze for the Radiator

The antifreeze in the coolant prevents it from freezing. Frozen water expands and can cause damage to the cooling system or the engine. During regular servicing, the antifreeze is checked. If a car rarely visits the workshop, GTÜ recommends an antifreeze check before winter. Workshops can complete it in just a few minutes. Coolant testers can also be purchased for a moderate price.

See and Be Seen

Short days and poor visibility require flawless lighting. Especially in winter, it's important to regularly check the functionality of headlights, taillights, and indicators. When refueling, the dirt or dust film usually present on the lights can be quickly wiped away with the windshield cleaning sponge. If the wiper blades cause streaks or the rubber shows the first signs of cracks: please replace them.

Caring for Rubber Seals and Door Locks

Frost can cause doors to freeze shut. Special care products on the rubber seals of doors and the trunk prevent this. For door locks, de-icing spray is recommended. It makes sense to store it outside of the vehicle so that it doesn't become inaccessible inside the car when locks are stuck. If the car has central locking with remote control, the spray is unnecessary.

In Case of Emergency

An emergency kit should always be on board during winter drives, in case you get stranded in ice and snow. An ice scraper, snow brush, gloves, a warm blanket, and a flashlight are essential. In snowy regions, carrying snow chains is advisable.