Essential Winter Car Maintenance Tips to Avoid Breakdowns
Stay safe this winter with expert South African car maintenance tips. Learn crucial battery and service checks to avoid breakdowns and save money with Fixxr.
Read More3 December 2025
Bayabulela Jolobe | 10 December 2025 | Diagnostic & Warning Signs, Diagnostic Tools & Techniques, Business Vehicle Maintenance, Car Repair and Maintenance, Diagnostic Services
As South Africa heads into the festive season, roads become busier, and vehicle troubles can quickly spoil holiday plans. The best way to avoid unnecessary stress is to book essential car services before the holiday rush starts. This guide covers the top car checks and services to prioritise, ensuring your festive travels are safe and hassle-free.
A professional inspection catches potential issues early. Fixxr’s complete car inspection service checks brakes, suspension, tyres, fluids, electronics, and more. This step is vital for peace of mind on long journeys.
Before long drives, check and top up all vital fluids: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and windscreen washer. As Arrive Alive notes (source), keeping fluids at optimal levels can prevent breakdowns. If you notice any oil smells, book an inspection for oil smell.
Worn, underinflated, or damaged tyres are a major risk. Inspect tread depth (at least 1mm by SA law), sidewalls for cracks, and ensure correct pressure. For more tips, see Cars.co.za’s guidance (source).
Don’t wait for squeaks or poor stopping to act. Have brakes checked and serviced before peak travel. Signs like grinding sounds or a vibrating pedal require immediate attention.
Hot weather and frequent stops can drain a weak battery. Book a diagnose a hard-to-start car if you’ve noticed slow cranking or sluggish starts.
A suspension and stability inspection identifies bounce, sway, or knocking—which get worse under heavy loads. AA South Africa advises suspension checks as a roadworthiness essential (source).
Test all lights, change faulty bulbs/globes, replace worn wiper blades, and make sure the washer system works. Good visibility is especially important in SA’s summer storms.
If your car hesitates or rides rough, these could be signs of deeper issues. See our inspection for rough idle or lack of power.
Overheating and aircon failure are holiday spoilers. Check refrigerant levels and cooling system components before travelling.
Double-check your spare wheel, jack, first aid kit, warning triangle, and valid licence disc. For a full checklist, visit our essential car checks for the holiday season.
Workshops fill up as the holidays approach—book 2–4 weeks ahead. With Fixxr’s mobile mechanics, you can book service before the holiday rush for convenience and peace of mind wherever you are.
For more DIY tips, see how to schedule a car diagnostic inspection, and if you notice ride issues, get an inspection for an unstable ride.
Safe travels and happy holidays!
As the Head of Consumer and Operations, Bayabulela is responsible for continuously serving our customers, increasing our supply base, and driving the next phase of our business growth.
What that means is highlighting the Fixxr opportunity for as many potential mechanic partners as possible. The role also includes broadening and deepening our platform in existing markets, scaling into new markets and continuing to set the bar for safety and compliance in our industry.
He typically starts his days by diving into customer data and mechanic partner feedback. He also has to consistently evaluate Fixxr’s business strategy and drive governance and accountability in concert with our cross-functional partners.
Bayabulela has built a breadth of skills and experience across operations, strategy, marketing and product development.
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