Surge in car breakdowns expected with the big freeze

Thousands of motorists across the UK are expected to be stranded at home when their vehicles fail to start on Monday 5th of January 2009 – more vehicle breakdowns are expected on Monday than at any other day in the last year, claims a new report.

Motorists are predicted to be left stranded with flat batteries and frozen cooling systems. With New Year's day falling on Thursday many vehicles will not be used until the following Monday when the majority of people return to work. The five days between New Year's Eve and Monday the 5th of January are expected to drop as low as minus 13 degrees C according to the Met Office. A combination of freezing temperatures and vehicles parked-up for several days will result in thousands of motorists unable to start their vehicles.

Owners of diesel vehicles and motorists who have not maintained their vehicles are the most likely to be left without transport according to mail order specialist, Carparts-direct.co.uk. Cars with weak batteries will fail to start. Heater plugs that are used in diesel engines will need to be replaced. Drivers will flatten their battery or burn out the starter motor trying to start diesel cars when the glow plugs are not working. In extreme freezing temperatures some vehicles will burst radiators, hoses or seize other engine components such as water pumps.

Between Monday lunchtime and Tuesday, Car Parts Direct expect online sales of alternators, starter motors, glow plugs and wiper blades to reach record levels as motorists and garages order spare parts online. Motorists who do manage to start their vehicles may abort their journey with split wiper blades caused by the severe frost.

Martin Mosley of Car Parts Direct said, “The combination of freezing weather and vehicles parked up always finds the weaknesses of a vehicle. We fully expect Monday to be the single busiest day for years, simply because of how the days fall this year and the sudden drop in temperature after a mild few months. We’ll have extra staff in to cope with the extra demand for picking and packing orders.”

Drivers are advised to check antifreeze levels to avoid their cooling system freezing, whilst motorists requiring spare parts can visit online specialists carparts-direct.co.uk