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Regular car maintenance – your guarantee of mobility

Autumn and winter. Low temperatures, high humidity, snow, black ice, aggressive salt and grit on the roads… These are the conditions drivers should expect and prepare their cars well for. Mechanics at Škoda authorised service partners perform all check-ups and work precisely in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. As a result, you can count on their getting your car perfectly ready for the winter season.
Winter tyre change and check-up

Winter tyres are essential for safe driving, and have far better grip and self-cleaning properties. They are recommended for use when the outdoor temperature falls below +7°C. The depth of the tread is also important. According to tyre experts, the tread pattern should be at least 4mm deep.

Before winter starts, have your tyres and spare tyres checked at your Škoda authorised service partner and change in old tyres for new ones if necessary. You can leave the set of tyres you do not need here for storage in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The condition and balance of the wheels is re-checked before the next season starts.

Braking systems – just a visual check is not enough

When your brakes are in perfect condition, this does not only mean that they will react quickly. The braking system must work on all wheels at the same time and with the same intensity. Although at first sight everything may seem to be okay, a check-up on a brake tester is a more certain way to find the result.

We recommend you locate an authorised service and have the brake efficiency measured on manufacturer-authorised equipment. At the same time it is necessary to have the brake fluid checked. If the boiling point does not correspond to the recommended standard (it is lower), bubbles could form in the brake liquid which affect the brakes’ efficiency. This could pose a serious danger, especially in the winter when driving in the mountains.

Cooling system
Besides checking the density and condition of the cooling system, it is also very important to check the amount and concentration of anti-freeze mixture in the system and, if necessary, add cooling liquid.


There must be at least a 40% concentration of anti-freeze in the cooling liquid. For a cool engine, the indicator must be between “MIN” and “MAX”, while a warm engine can indicate a level above “MAX”.
Battery

In the wintertime the battery is placed under a particularly high level of strain. When the weather is cold, only part of the battery’s capacity is available for starting the car. A depleted battery can freeze even at a few centigrade below zero.


This is why we recommend having the battery checked at a Škoda authorised service partner before the weather starts to turn cold, and if necessary having the battery recharged and terminals cleaned and tightened properly. In addition, the density of the electrolyte solution should be determined and, if necessary, distilled water added. It is also a good idea to keep a pair of jumper cables in the car during the winter.

Windscreen wipers

The importance of windscreen wipers is often underrated. But think about it – your safety depends on how well you can see. In general it is recommended to change the wiper blades once or twice per year. Check how well the wipers work and top off the windscreen wiper reservoir with winter additive.

For regular windscreen wipers, you can place cardboard along the length of the blades to prevent them from freezing to the glass. For aero wipers, lift the wipers off the windscreen (into the winter or servicing position). If the wiper blades do end up freezing to the glass, do not use force to pull them off the glass and do not turn them on as this could damage the wipers and the wiper motor itself.

Headlight check-up

We recommend you have your headlights checked at an authorised service partner on equipment specially designated for this test. At the same time, please check if you have spare light bulbs for each type of exterior and signalling light as well as spare car fuses.

You can remove snow and ice from polycarbonate headlights covers just using a soft brush and a de-icing liquid designated for this use. Never use a hard scraper as this could lead to irreversible damage to the protective coating on the headlight cover.

Correct car washing in the winter

Despite thorough anti-corrosion protection, ice and water on the car body’s protective layer can cause tiny crevices that destructive salt can penetrate into. It is generally recommended to have the outside of the car washed every two to three weeks in order to clean it of road salt.

After washing the car, dry the locks well and check the brakes. A couple of pushes on the brake pedal should dry off the brakes. If the car is washed regularly, it is important to clean off the wheel discs and hub caps as this will prevent grime and road salt from building up there.

Snow chains

Always mounted onto the drive wheels, snow chains improve traction as well as braking on snowy and icy roads. When selecting chains, opt for the ones that are the easiest to attach. Try fitting the chains to your wheels when you are cool, calm and collected at home first; trying to read the instructions in the freezing cold and drifting snow is hardly any fun.

Stow the snow chains in an easily accessible place in the car. And take caution if you are travelling to another country: in some European countries it is mandatory to have and use snow chains in the winter months.

What else should you have?
  • Lock de-icer – never leave it inside the car
  • Rubber mats – in an emergency, these can also be used as a traction aid to get the car moving
  • Cardboard to protect the windscreen, underlays under the windscreen wipers, ice scraper, de-icing spray, snow broom, bag of grit
  • Hand-held flashlight with spare batteries
  • Reserve fuel canister, filled
  • Gloves

Please find a checklist in the following PDF document so you can see just how well prepared you are for winter.