Caring For Your Car Windscreen During The Winter Months

Caring For Your Car Windscreen During The Winter Months

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The front windscreen is a vital component of any vehicle and one that can be costly to replace, so it pays to take good care of it. Many drivers do not clean their windscreens thoroughly and though water will shift the top layer of dirt the build up of grit, insects and plant material, combined with use of the windscreen wipers, can cause serious damage if you are not careful.

It is advisable to invest in a quality windscreen wash and clean your windscreen regularly. This also provides a good opportunity to check for any small chips or cracks. Should you find a chip it is vital to arrange a repair as soon as possible. A small chip can rapidly become large crack, especially when the weather turns cold, and this could result in you needing an entire new windscreen.

During the winter months you will need to take extra care of your windscreen. If there is snow or ice present use a de-icer spray and specially designed scraper. Do not use a credit card or other makeshift tools as this could damage the glass. It may be tempting to pour boiling water onto ice as a quick fix but this too could cause severe damage if the sudden temperature change causes the glass to crack. In addition, if conditions are really cold then the water will simply freeze on the screen again and you will be back to square one!

Make sure that you also regularly top up your antifreeze during the cold months and dont forget to add windscreen wash to your windscreen washer reservoir so the glass is kept clean on long journeys. When it is cold you may find that your windscreen water jets become blocked. This can be a nightmare in bad weather when you need them the most and you find yourself having to stop the car every few miles to clean the windscreen with de-icer.

Blocked jets can be fixed using a thin piece of wire. If this does not do the trick then it could be the washer tubes that are blocked and these will need to be cleaned with air. You may find that the jets simply start working again once the weather warms up. If you need to adjust the angle of the jets so that they point towards the screen then this can be done by inserting a needle into the jet valve and rotating it until you find the right angle.


About the Author:
Taking care of your windscreen will ensure a long lifespan but if you do spot a crack or chip do not waste time. You should book windscreen repair or a windscreen replacement as soon as possible to stop a small chip from rapidly turning into a large crack.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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