Throughout the winter, our cars are put through their paces. Make sure yours is ready to face wind, rain, ice and everything in between by checking three key areas: your bulbs, batteries and blades.
Whether you’re commuting to work, doing the school run or heading out on a longer journey, these simple tips and services will help keep your car ready for whatever winter brings.
1. Car batteries
Many drivers have experienced a car that struggles to start on a cold winter morning, or worse, won’t start at all.
This is because cold weather slows down the chemical reactions inside your car battery, reducing its ability to store and deliver power. At the same time, your engine needs more energy to start in lower temperatures, putting extra strain on the battery. While any battery can be affected, older or weaker batteries are much more likely to fail in winter.
Free Battery Health Check
You can pre-empt any potential problems with our Free Battery Health Check. In this, one of our team of technicians will assess key performance indicators including charging and cranking capabilities. It’s the best way to get the peace of mind that your battery is in good working order, and if you need a replacement, we’ll advise you of the cost of a new battery with no obligation to buy.
Use your Halfords Motoring Club benefits
If you’re a member of the Halfords Motoring Club, you can also get a 10-Point Car Check, which covers checks of key areas of your vehicle including headlights, wiper blade condition, tyres, battery health, and more. It’s great for peace of mind that your vehicle is in top condition for the winter period.
Find compatible batteries for your vehicle online using our vehicle registration number checker.
Battery fitting
If your car battery needs replacing, you can have it professionally fitted by Halfords. Our trained technicians will install your new battery safely, check it’s working correctly and help ensure your vehicle is ready to drive.
Choose the fitting option that works best for you:
- Visit your local Halfords garage or store
- Book our Mobile Expert service and we’ll come to your home or workplace
Or, did you know that you get a store fitting included on batteries, bulbs or wiper blades when you join the Halfords Motoring Club as a premium member? Find the right battery for your car online and choose the fitting option.
Halfords Mobile Expert
If you don’t have time to get to a garage or store or your battery is completely dead, we’ve got you covered! Through our Mobile Expert service, we can come to you at home or at work, at a time that suits you. The service covers over 80% of households in the UK and we’ll help get you back on the move.
We recycle batteries
Unless they’ve been through an extensive clean-up process, batteries can’t be sent to landfill. So, whether we’ve changed your battery or you’ve completed the job yourself, at Halfords, we can safely dispose of and recycle your old battery for you.
Battery chargers
Fully charged batteries are much less susceptible to problems. That’s why, if you don’t drive regularly or leave your car idle for extended periods, it’s best to regularly top it up with a charger so when you do come to start your car, it doesn’t let you down. Here at Halfords, we have a wide range of chargers available, and you can find the full range here.
2. Wiper blades
Worn or damaged wiper blades can leave streaks, smears and patches of water on your windscreen, reducing visibility when you need it most. Before the wetter months arrive, it’s worth checking your blades and replacing them if they’re showing signs of wear.
Here are some simple tips to help get your wiper blades ready for autumn and winter:
Check your blades for signs of wear and tear
Few parts of a car are more exposed to weather conditions than a windscreen. It collects everything from salt to dirt, which will damage wiper blades over time. That’s why we recommend replacing your blades every 12 months. Even if you already do this, you should still regularly check your blades for any damage.
Halfords wiper blades and fitting service
If your wiper blades need replacing, it’s easy to find the right ones for your vehicle. Simply enter your vehicle registration into the Halfords registration checker to see compatible wiper blades for your car.
Once you’ve chosen your replacement blades, you can have them professionally fitted at your local Halfords store, saving you the hassle of installing them yourself. If you’re a Halfords Motoring Club Premium member, store fitting for a pair of wiper blades is included as part of your membership benefits.
Ensure screenwash is topped up
Keeping your screenwash topped up is one of the easiest ways to maintain clear visibility in winter. Dirt, road salt and spray can quickly cover your windscreen, and plain water isn’t a suitable replacement because it can freeze in cold temperatures.
Choose a screenwash with the right level of frost protection for the conditions you drive in. Many screenwashes are commonly rated to temperatures including:
- -5°C
- -10°C,
- -20°C
- -30°C
So make sure you are using the right screenwash for the current temperature, if you’d rather not do it yourself, Halfords can top up your screenwash in store, so you’re ready for the colder months ahead.
Duxback windscreen treatment
If you’re looking to improve visibility when driving in the rain, a hydrophobic windscreen treatment can help. Halfords Duxback is a professional windscreen coating that repels water, causing it to bead up and clear more easily as you drive. By helping rain move off the glass more effectively, Duxback can improve visibility by up to 35% in heavy rain. The treatment is available at selected Halfords Garages or can be applied by a Halfords Mobile Expert at your home or workplace.
3. Car bulbs
With the days drawing in and the nights getting darker, visibility out on the road becomes more important than ever. Not only do you need clear visibility, but other motorists need to easily see you too. That’s why your car’s bulbs are so important. If your bulbs fail or noticeably become dimmer, they’ll need to be replaced.
Finding new car bulbs
Finding compatible bulbs for your vehicle is easy with our vehicle registration number checker. Simply enter your registration number and we’ll let you know which bulbs are compatible.
Replace bulbs in pairs
When one bulb fails, it can be tempting to just get that single bulb replaced. However, there are several reasons why you should change your bulbs in pairs:
- It saves time.
- Having bulbs with differing brightness or light quality can be disorientating and affect other drivers too. Changing bulbs in pairs can prevent this and make driving at night safer.
- With Halfords, it’s quick and easy as we can replace the bulbs for you.
Bulb Fitting
If your bulbs need replacing, why not let our experts take care of it for you? Available for a small fee, you can book this convenient service online when you purchase your new bulbs or by popping into your local Halfords store.
At Halfords, we’re here to help you save money across all your motoring needs, especially during the colder months. Explore our full range of winter motoring essentials online and ensure you and your car are fully prepared for the cold.
Halfords Motoring Club
By joining the Halfords Motoring Club today, you’ll get access to a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe, and keep you saving all year round.
Free Halfords Motoring Club Membership includes:
- Money off your MOT.
- A free 10-point car health check.
- A welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or upgrade to our Premium membership (£5.49 monthly/£54 yearly) to unlock:
- An included MOT.
- 5% off all motoring services and products online and across our stores, garages, and Halfords Mobile Expert.
- 2 x 10-point car safety checks, worth £15 each.
- Even more exclusive member bargains and benefits.
Don’t forget, it’s important to stay safe on the road throughout autumn and winter, and we’ve also pulled together a handy guide to our other essential services here.
