Autumn brings wetter roads, falling leaves, shorter days, and cooler temperatures, all of which can affect how your car performs. A few simple checks before the season gets underway can help keep your vehicle safe, reliable, and ready for changing conditions.
With more than 30 years of experience providing MOTs, servicing, and repairs, Pantech Auto Technicians understands the importance of regular vehicle maintenance. This guide covers the key areas to check during September, October, and November, from tyres and visibility to your battery, fluids, and braking system.
Key Takeaways
- Check your tyres, lights, and wipers to maintain grip and visibility during wet and darker autumn conditions.
- Clear fallen leaves from your car and keep the windscreen, drainage areas, and lights free from debris.
- Check your battery, fluids, brakes, heating, and other essential components before temperatures drop further.
- Make sure your MOT and service are up to date, and arrange any necessary maintenance before winter arrives.
Autumn Car Maintenance Checklist
1. Windscreen Wipers
Autumn brings more frequent rain, so check your wiper blades for cracks or deterioration. Replace them if they leave streaks or fail to clear the windscreen properly, and keep the washer fluid topped up with a suitable screenwash.
2. Tyres
Check your tyres for a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around its entire circumference, as required by UK law. Check the pressure when the tyres are cold, using the manufacturer’s recommended pressures, and look for cracks, bulges, or uneven wear.
Good tread depth and tyre condition are particularly important during September, October, and November, when wet roads and fallen leaves can make surfaces more slippery.
3. Lights
With the days getting shorter from September onwards, check your headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reversing lights. Poor autumn visibility, particularly during rain and early evenings, makes working lights essential.
4. Windscreen and Demisting
Cooler autumn mornings can lead to condensation on the windscreen, so keep the glass clean inside and out. Test the demisting system to make sure it clears the windscreen effectively before the colder mornings arrive.
5. Bodywork and Fallen Leaves
Fallen leaves can collect around the windscreen, bonnet, lights, and drainage areas throughout autumn. Clear them regularly, particularly if you park beneath trees, to prevent blocked drains and remove trapped moisture and debris.
6. Battery
As temperatures fall through October and November, an ageing battery can come under greater strain. If the engine is slow to start, the lights appear dim, or you have experienced starting problems, have the battery tested before winter arrives.
7. Heating and Air Conditioning
Your heating system becomes more important as autumn temperatures drop, while air conditioning can help remove moisture and condensation from the windows. Have either system checked if it is performing poorly or producing unusual smells or noises.
8. Engine Oil and Fluids
Before the wetter and colder months arrive, check your engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and screenwash levels in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Look for any signs of leaks or unexpected fluid loss.
9. Brakes
Wet autumn roads and fallen leaves can make stopping conditions more challenging, so pay attention to unusual noises, vibrations, pulling, or changes in pedal feel. Any brake warning light should be checked promptly.
10. Emergency Kit
Keep a few essentials in the car in case of a breakdown or unexpected delay. A torch, phone charger, warm clothing, and suitable warning equipment can all be useful during darker, colder journeys.
Get Your Car Ready for Autumn
Give your car the checks it needs before the colder, wetter weather arrives. From MOTs and servicing to repairs and general maintenance, Pantech Auto Technicians can help keep your vehicle safe and road-ready.
Book your MOT or service today and get your car ready for autumn.