ROSSLYN, SOUTH AFRICA (1 July 2019) It’s official: Winter has arrived in the Southern Hemisphere. You’ve probably already got your winter woolies out, but is your car ready for a drop in the mercury? You may not realise it, but she requires a little extra TLC during the colder months. Not to fear, though: Datsun has put together a few tips and tricks for maintaining your car in winter that will keep the both of you going whether it is in the rainy Cape provinces or in the dry and dusty parts of central South Africa. Grab your favourite travel mug, fill it up with a steaming cup of coffee and hit the road.

Tyres

Driving with worn tyres becomes even more dangerous in wet conditions and / or when there is ice on the road, so keep an even closer eye on the tread on the tyres this time of year. In addition, make sure that they are inflated to the correct pressure as per the manufacturer’s recommendations, otherwise your car’s road handling might be impacted. While you are checking tyres, remember to also check their balancing and don’t forget the spare wheel and tools. The Datsun GO comes with a full-sized spare for your convenience.

Lights

In winter, many of us find ourselves leaving home before sunrise up and returning after sunset, so it’s important to make sure that your car’s headlights are in good working condition. To make yourself visible to other road users, it is a good idea to always drive with the headlights on. The Datsun GO has a warning sound to remind you to switch them off, once you have parked and avoid discharging of the battery.

Windscreens and wipers

On winter mornings, you may find a layer of frost on your windscreen. It is important to clear this before you start driving, however don’t use warm water as this might crack the glass. It is also important to regularly check the condition of your wiper blades – all year round, but especially in winter - and to replace them when needed.

Heater

You don’t want to get stuck in a traffic jam without a working heater in winter so make sure yours is in tip-top condition.

Emergencies

You never know what’s in store and so you should have a first aid kit in your car at all times. In winter, though, it’s worth including some extra items such as a torch, a blanket, a bag of sand (for if you get stuck in snow or slush), an ice scraper and brush, a spade, extra coolant and non-perishable snacks. Remember to programme emergency numbers on your speed dial. The Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity in the Datsun GO make it easy to dial these numbers when you come across an emergency on the road.