Aftermarket December/January 2023

O ffering winter checks on vehicles could pay in more ways than one, as Julian Goulding, Northern Europe Marketing Manager at Delphi Technologies Aftermarket observed: “Winter itself brings safety concerns to all road users, but this is often overlooked due to the variable weather conditions we have in the UK. “Informing your customers of the benefits of winter checks and the reason for them, such as increased salt on the roads that can be harmful to a car’s brake discs or steering and suspension components, can be financially rewarding and improve the reputation of your business. The latter is especially so if no remedial work is identified, but also if you’re able to stop any potential issues from escalating into more serious, costly problems. Julian continued: “Of course, the current economic climate could see a reluctance by customers to book their vehicle in following the invitation of a winter check. However, by promoting the importance of prioritising safety and preventative maintenance, there is ample opportunity to see an increase in workshop traffic and revenue even if the checks are undertaken at low-cost or offered for free. Providing such a service becomes even more attractive when you consider the time it takes, with a competent mechanic able to complete such a check in only a matter of minutes.” Batteries Car batteries are set to fail in high numbers over the next few weeks, battery manufacturer Clarios, the company behind VARTA, is warning. Andy Cook, Battery Expert at 52 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 WINTER CHECKS www.aftermarketonline.net Winter checks offer consumers peace of mind, and are an ideal marketing/upsell opportunity for garages Clarios observed: "Due to the extreme and long-lasting heat waves this summer, significantly more batteries could fail in the upcoming winter than in previous years. Even in normal years, defective 12-volt batteries are responsible for almost half of all broken-down vehicles. That also applies to both vehicles with combustion engines and modern electric cars. “Despite the last few years having mild winters, the low- voltage battery has further extended its lead over other causes of breakdowns. The main reason for this was downtime due to lockdowns and home office working, where batteries lost their voltage and were not recharged. The hot days of this past summer are now added on top. The high temperatures lead to self-discharge, which ages the battery faster. This has already taken its toll on batteries this year. If battery performance then drops because of the cold and the engine starts to demand more from the battery, that's too much for old or stressed batteries. Just one night of frost can be enough for the battery to get to the point where it can’t start the engine. Even the warmer winters in the last few years have had an average of more than 50 frosty days.” He added: "A battery test-check at a workshop will clarify how much the vehicle battery has suffered this summer and whether it can survive the upcoming winter.” Charging Not all batteries will need to be replaced entirely though. Henry Bisson, Marketing Director at Ring Automotive, observed: “Flat batteries are one of the most common reasons for breakdowns in the UK, and the demands of the Above: Ring Automotive has launched the SmartCharge Pro battery charger SEASON’S GREETINGS