Course Blog

As residents of the UAE, we're fortunate enough to experience warm weather for the better part of the year. However, the winter chill can sneak up on us if we're not cautious enough. Relax, relax. This isn't us telling you to stock up on heavy-down jackets and winter coats. You don't need all that. What we're getting at is winter car care.



While we don't deal with adverse conditions such as frost and snow, that doesn't necessarily mean we can be complacent. With a cool head and a hint of proactivity, we can make it through the winter with just about no car troubles. Lest we forget, the winter's when we have most of our road trips planned.

Whether it's unexpected rains, expected morning dew, or a sudden burst of fog, proper vehicle maintenance is imperative in the winter. Cold weather tends to take a toll on cars, and the difficult driving conditions might catch you off-guard. With a bit of long sight and proper planning, you can ensure your vehicle stays road-ready for the winter.

Let's look at what some of the most essential winter car care tips are for the season, straight from your resident auto service experts at Service My Car.

Keep a check on your oil and fuel levels

Ensure your oil level is well within the minimum and the maximum mark on your car's dipstick. Running low on oil can cause hazardous situations on the road. You're advised to check your oil levels only after the car has fully warmed up. If you find yourself running low on oil, it's best to get a car oil change.



With doorstep services becoming more popular than ever, you can get your oil changed at your doorstep with a mobile oil change service, such as the one provided by Service My Car.

While you're at it, it doesn't hurt to fill up on petrol too. Ensure you have the right amount of petrol in your tank before you plan long trips. You're especially advised not to stretch out the last few kilometers with low fuel as you might just end up being stranded on the road.

Ensure your headlights are clean

With unexpected rains and dust storms, it goes without saying that cars tend to get dirty during the winter. While a simple car wash might fix most problems, it's especially important to ensure your headlights are clean.



It's estimated that your headlights lose around 40% of luminosity in 35km when driving on a wet winter's day. If possible, get someone to stand outside the car and ensure all your lights are working correctly.

If you happen to have any issues with any of your lights, it signals battery issues.

Get a thorough battery test done

Speaking of battery issues, did you know that the number one cause of vehicle breakdowns is a flat battery? It turns out, the risk of battery failure grows exponentially in cold and wet climates.



While you should endeavor to change your car's battery every three years, you might have to do it sooner if the cold climate is affecting it. Some signs to look out for include the engine turning over slower than usual, the battery light flickering in the dashboard, and any faults in the electrical unit.

Whether your headlights aren't working, or you run into any other battery troubles, it needs to be fixed. You can avail a hassle-free battery replacement from the auto repair experts at Service My Car.

Thoroughly assess your tyres

We've covered this before, but it doesn't hurt to be repeated. Tyres that are worn out are always dangerous, but the danger is enhanced when you drive in wet conditions. We're aware that the UAE is prone to sudden rainfall in the winter, and driving in such conditions can be hazardous if your tyres aren't in a good condition.



It's also vital to ensure you have a roadworthy spare tyre too. If you happen to face the misfortune of dealing with a flat tyre, Service My Car provides flat tyre services as part of their roadside assistance services.

Check your windshield wipers and ensure you have washer fluid

Ensure your windshield wipers are in proper condition. They should not have any holes or tears. Moreover, they should be able to clean your windshield accurately without posing the risk of damaging it.



You can wipe the wipers clean every now and then. On top of that, you'll need adequate windshield washer fluid too. A mix of rain and dust can make your windshield dirty in no time, and washer fluid is the best way to get it back to its original state.

Winter's also when you're most likely to face some form of windshield damage. If your windshield's worse for wear, then it's probably time to get it replaced. Get the best windshield replacement from Service My Car.

Inspect your brakes thoroughly

Your brakes need to be working at its best, especially during the winter. If your brakes are squealing or grating, it's best to get them checked immediately.

Moreover, if you're taking the car out after a while, start off slowly to allow the discs, calipers, and handbrake to warm up gradually.

Check if it's time for a service

Like several of the tips above, this one's essential all year round. However, the adverse wintry conditions make this one just the more necessary.

You're typically advised to get a major service every 20,000km. You can always consult the vehicle manufacturer's guide if you're unsure. Alternatively, you could just ask one of the resident auto service experts at Service My Car.

[Note:-These tips and tricks are powered by the Subaru Service Center of United Arab Emirates] With hassle-free service packages, they can guide you to choose precisely what's required for your car. Get prepared for the winter by booking a service package at Service My Car today.

Buying a car is an investment, and for most of us, a car is something we want to maintain for as long as we possibly can. However, sometimes, we tend to commit some driving faux pas. These bad habits are the biggest enemy of a car. Are your bad driving habits putting your vehicle under unnecessary strain? Here's a list of six driving habits that could be damaging your vehicle.

1. Late/sudden braking
You never know when you might have to make an emergency stop. In these situations, sudden braking is essential. But regular late braking will put more pressure on the brake system, wearing your pads and discs out faster and costing you more fuel. In general, a slow and thoughtful approach to driving, anticipating what's to come on the road, is not just better for your car, but for the environment too.

There are some things you can do to help prevent overheating of your brakes. Instead of resting your foot on the brake pedal when you're descending a hill or navigating stop-and-go traffic, you should drive cautiously, with extra space between cars. By doing this, you can release the accelerator to slow down. You can also use your handbrake at red lights instead of resting your foot on the brakes.

2. Revving the car when the engine is still cold
This is a matter of general driving practice. You must let the engine warm-up for a while before you move the car. Moreover, it's better to keep the engine running until it's warmed up. It enables the engine oil to warm up and circulate in the engine, avoiding potential damage and excessive wear.

3. Neglecting your dashboard warning lights
Modern dashboards have more lights than Burj Khalifa! Never ignore the flashing lights, or the warning light, as it attempts to signal something important. We always advise you to check your owner's manual to find out what each warning sign on your dashboard indicates. This, in turn, also helps you familiarise yourself with the most serious ones, and which ones to pull over and immediately address, when you're on the road.

4. Hitting potholes and speed bumps by driving fast
Speed bumps have a single purpose - to slow down incoming traffic. However, a lot of SUV drivers take their high suspension for granted by accelerating over these speed breakers.

Studies have shown that a lot of vehicle damage is due to driving fast over potholes and speed bumps. Avoid potholes when you're on the road. The impact may cause deformed wheels, lumps in the tyre, and cracked alloys, as well as interference with wheel tracking and balancing. Some potholes may be hard to spot, especially when wet or at night. They can still be avoided, though.

5. Driving with a dead or depleted battery
A dead or depleted battery is a car issue that's commonly reported. There are plenty of reasons for your car battery to doze off. Whether it's leaving electricals on when not in use, faulty charging, parasitic drain, defective alternator, or more, it spells a lot of trouble.

If you ever get into a situation like this with your car, there are two options you can use - either jump-starting the car, or getting a car battery replacement. You can get flat battery roadside assistance and a car battery replacement from Service My Car.

6. Fast driving habits
Fast driving requires effort on the part of the engine. More effort means more wear. So you can't say that speeding is good for the engine. However, cars are meant to be used. They can be used to drive at high speeds, but only occasionally.

What are the top tips to become a safer driver?

Safety techniques start when you get inside the vehicle. Start by creating good habits (like the ones below) and use them for every drive, whether it's a trip to the supermarket or you're driving blocks or hundreds of miles.

-Always wear your seat belt
-Obey traffic rules
-Do not drive under the influence
-Do not text and drive
-Drive under the speed limit
-Obey work zone speed limits

Keeping a car healthy for a long time is not a hard job. All you need is a little push and a few tricks. More importantly, you need a trusty car maintenance solution if you run into any car troubles. Suppose you're facing some problem with your Nissan in Dubai, all you need to do is make an online booking through our app or website after that we'll help you and find the best Nissan Garage in Dubai for your all car-related problems with a free pickup and delivery from your location.

For such a modern solution, look no further than Service My Car. You can request a quote for car repairs, or book a service package for car servicing.

It's an early start to the weekend. You wake up full of excitement. You've waited a long time for the day, and it's finally here. You get ready, pick your mates up, and hit the road. Everything's going great, and then your car breaks down. It's never a great feeling.

A road trip is one of the best ways to get away from stress and live in the moment. It's one of the memorable moments to enjoy a vacation with your favorite people. But a road trip can go awry quickly if your car gets into trouble. With that in mind, let's take a deep dive into the most common car troubles you might experience on the road.

What are the most common issues you could face on the road?

Your car battery quits on you
Car batteries can fail when you least expect them to do so. Before you plan for a road trip, get a thorough battery inspection. This will ensure everything checks out, minimizing the risk of facing a flat battery on the road.

If your battery is more than two to five years old, it's necessary to change it. Get a hassle-free car battery replacement at Service My Car.

You get a flat tyre on the road
We've covered this before, and it goes without saying - no one likes a flat tyre. Why would you want to waste your getting your hands dirty and replacing the flat tyre, when you could be having the time of your life with your mates?

In any case, it's best to be prepared for such situations. Always ensure you have a spare tyre in your car before you set off on the road. That's just half the battle won, though. Studies have shown that most drivers don't know how to replace flat tyres.

Thanks to trusty and swift roadside assistance services like Service My Car, you don't have to anymore. Get a flat tyre replacement in no time when you book one at Service My Car.

You run into brake trouble
Before heading out on the road, check your brake pads, fluid, rotors, and drums. If only one thing goes wrong with your brakes, it poses a severe risk for you and your passengers.

To mitigate such risks, it's advisable to get a professional mechanic to carry out a brake check. At Service My Car, our certified mechanics carry out brake checks and top-up vital car fluids with our Major Service. If something needs fixing, we'll take care of it.

Your engine fails on you
The engine is the heart of the car. You should keep a constant check on the engine. This is required, especially if the engine light is on, or if it tends to overheat a lot.

By doing this, any problems with the engine can be detected and fixed before they become problems on your road trip. The first checks can be helpful as they overcome the trouble you might face on the journey.

An engine tune-up can provide confidence, so you know that your engine will not fail you. We'll assist you in tuning your engine, or carrying out a car engine repair, so you don't have any problems in the future.

Your transmission goes out
Dashboard lights, dead spot sounds, fluid leaks, and grinding gears can all signal that your transmission may be in trouble. If your transmission stops, you'll never get anywhere. It's frustrating at home, but dangerous when you are far, far away on a trip.

A transmission check may reveal that you need to change the transmission fluid, or flush your transmission system. Such maintenance can prevent issues later. You can also get a car transmission repair at Service My Car.

Your car runs out of petrol
Now, the solution is simple. Fill your tank before you can get started with the road trip. Don't assume you can travel to the next petrol station at the first sign of low fuel.

Here's a pre-road trip checklist we swear by

-Tyres (tread, integrity, air pressure, wear)
-Oil and oil filter check
-Air filter check
-A/C filter check
-Coolant fluid check
-Spark plugs check
-Fill your windshield wiper reservoirs
-Spare tyre and jack check
-Electrical units check (exterior lights, cabin lights, blinkers, and hazard lights)
-Radiator flush check

If all of that sounds daunting, why not get a Major Service at Service My Car? We have the best Auto Garage and We'll check and replace all the vital parts, top-up all the fluids, and we'll collect and deliver your car once it's done.

Car maintenance doesn't have to be a hassle. It certainly isn't one when you choose Service My Car.

Book a Major Service today on our website or on the Service My Car Super App.