Get help facing the winter months from tool and equipment specialist Draper, who is offering PMM readers its top tips for the colder and shorter days in the workshop.
The winter is a key time for vehicle maintenance, with temperatures dropping and driving conditions getting worse, it’s vital to prepare for the challenges the season brings. A few straightforward checks, together with having the right tools, can significantly reduce the risks that winter brings with it. It’s equally important to consider the conditions in the workshop during winter and plan ahead with the necessary equipment. Here’s a few recommendations from Draper:
Bringing batteries back to life
A great addition to the garage for busy times is battery charging station that can charge multiple vehicle batteries at once. Draper offers a microprocessor controlled 6V/12V bank charger station with capacity to charge and maintain three vehicle batteries simultaneously. It’s compatible with all AGM and VRLA flooded batteries, making it suitable for range of vehicle batteries including motorbikes, vans and caravans.
For those times when a vehicle really won’t start you need a big boost from a battery starter. A heavy-duty model capable of an 800-amp boost is ideal for professional workshops. For maximum safety and efficiency in the workshop look out for models with a fast-charging facility, terminal overload protection and polarity protection. Choosing a battery starter with wheels is also a good idea for easy portability.
Improving winter vision
It’s hard enough for drivers to see in winter, with the poor weather conditions and the darkness, so it’s especially important to keep lights and windscreens clean and clear at this time of year. When you have a vehicle in for a winter service, why not clean the windscreen inside and out, to offer best possible visibility for drivers?
Don’t forget to add the right anti-freeze additive into the vehicle’s screen wash too and check the condition of the windscreen wipers. It’s often the small jobs and simple checks like this that can make a significant difference to driver safety in winter.
Identify electrical faults fast
Winter can play havoc with vehicle electrics, which can create additional workload at this busy time of year. It’s advisable to have a quality auto-ranging multimeter as part of your servicing kit – so that the next time you’re stood in front of a vehicle wondering, ‘is it the bulb, is it the fuse, is it the earth?’ – you’re able find the answer with speed and accuracy.
Well-lit working conditions
Seeing clearly under the bonnet or underneath a vehicle is not always easy at the best of times but with it getting dark so early in winter, having plenty of additional sources of light in the workshop is essential. Torches are great but for hands free working why not opt for an LED headtorch or an inspection lamp with magnetic base?
Draper Tools offers a 3W rechargeable COB LED head torch that runs for two hours after charging on a micro-USB cable, making it a great option for winter working. Having a few LED work lamps can make a huge difference too if you workshop needs to boost brightness levels.
Keep warm and carry on
Invest in some heavy duty thermal gloves to keep your hands warm during pre-drive vehicle inspections and during deliveries. It’s also a good idea to choose gloves with a latex coating to aid grip when everything is soaking wet in the inevitable winter rain.
If you’re considering a heater for the garage, an electric space heater is a worthwhile investment. Opt for an energy-efficient PTC model, this means the heater is able to self-regulate in order to warm up your space (and keep it that way) quickly and efficiently.
