What is a winter health check?

A winter health check is a series of tests and safety checks carried out by a trained mechanic. These checks include assessments of your tyres, fluids, lights and battery and are a great way to prepare your car for colder weather and frosty conditions.

Volvo

Volvo Cars is a Swedish luxury vehicle manufacturer, established in April 1927, over 90 years ago.

How popular is Volvo in the United Kingdom?

With around 645k cars on the roads in the UK today, Volvo is a considerable contributor to the UK motor industry.

With a steady rise in status from the boxy estate models popular in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Volvo now produces a strong, executive range of luxury, performance vehicles.

Luxurious executive saloons, estate cars and SUVs

Sticking to the market they understand best, Volvo produces a small range of estate cars and a selection of bang-on-trend SUVs, complimented by 2 luxury saloon models. In other words, Volvo makes cars for ‘grown-up’ drivers where it knows its customers inside out.

Volvo: Exceptional aims for in-car safety

One of Volvo’s key visions is to provide a level of unrivalled safety inside their vehicles and has proven to be a dedicated leader in the field. Their current vision is that nobody should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car by 2020.

Pursuing perfection through Volvo technology

The ethos behind Volvo reaches further than just selling units and making a profit. By putting their customers first, they have committed to creating vehicles where ownership gives quality time back to their drivers, are environmentally efficient and exceptionally safe.

Using modern technology and striving to develop the systems to lead the field, is something they take very seriously. After all, this is the company that brought drivers:

• The 3-point safety seatbelt

• The Lambda Sond emissions detector responsible for reducing harmful fumes by 90%

• Side impact, whiplash, and roll-over protection

• Blind spot systems

• City safety scanning

• Pedestrian detection

• Auto-braking

Does a winter health check replace my car service?

No, you should still keep up with your car's regular servicing schedule, regardless of whether you get a winter health check. A winter health check does not include as many checks as a service, but is a great way to prepare your car for the cold. The checks will still be carried out by a trained technician and will go a long way in ensuring your car remains safe and roadworthy.

What does a winter health check involve?

• Antifreeze level check and top up

• Oil level check

• Screen wash check and top up

• Tyre tread and pressure checks

• Wiper blade condition check

• Battery load test

• Full lights check

What are the signs that my car needs a winter health check?

It's always a good idea to ensure that your car is safe and reliable for the colder season by having it looked at by a trusted mechanic. Even if you think there are no issues with your car, the winter conditions can prove challenging for many vehicles. Some tell-tale signs that your car should be checked are:

• If your car struggles to start

• Your tyres have been slipping of skidding more than usual

• You've noticed issues with your engine's performance

• Your car lights aren't as bright as they used to be

• You've noticed issues with your wipers or screen washing system