Hidden code that could help you prevent a breakdown this winter revealed
MOTORING experts have revealed a hidden code that could help you prevent a breakdown this winter.
As the -11C big freeze sweeps the country, your vehicle is at more risk of dying in the middle of the road.
Luckily, car pros at Howden Insurance have shared a genius hack to avoid a mishap.
One of the most common causes of winter breakdowns is your car battery.
Below-zero temperatures can affect your battery performance and they can stop holding their charge properly.
For this, experts recommend to always do a quick check before hitting the road.
They said: “A car battery typically lasts between 3-5 years, so determining its age can indicate whether it is likely to need replacing over winter.”
Those who purchased new cars, will have a brand new battery with a similar age as the model itself.
However, second hand car owners are more unlikely to know the battery’s age – unless the previous owner revealed this information.
To check the age of your battery all you need to do is to look carefully at a code located in your car’s bonnet.
Cars pros added: “Some batteries will have a sticker on them which has a recognisable date format such as 4/21, which indicates the month and year it was manufactured.
“In this example, the battery was manufactured in April 2021, which would mean that it falls within the 3 – 5-year mark and is unlikely to need replacing just yet.”
But if you can’t find a date sticker, experts recommend to check the battery cover for a heat or engraved code of numbers and letters.
The first two digits tell you when the battery was made – with the first one representing the last number of the year that the battery was manufactured.
The second one, which ranges from A to L, indicates the month it was made.
“For example, 1D would indicate that the battery was manufactured in April 2021.
“Different manufacturers may have these first two digits swapped around (e.g. D1), but it can still be decoded in the same fashion,” experts added.
However, if your battery struggles to start in the morning, that could mean you are putting on extra stress by taking short journeys.
To avoid damaging it, experts recommend to take the car out for long drives of around 30 minutes to recharge the battery to a more optimal state.
But there are other ways to stay safe this winter.
RAC expert Simon Williams revealed his three-step method for driving safely on the roads.
First, he said “those who decide to drive should leave extra space behind the vehicle in front”.
Next, drivers should “reduce their speeds to give plenty of time to stop”.