The cold wave that hit the northern half of France this week is not without consequences for motorists.
Garage mechanics work hard to fix tire and battery problems.
Europe 1 asked them for some advice to avoid unpleasant surprises.
REPORTAGE
Frigid temperatures, snow and freezing rain… A cold wave shivers the northern half of France.
Bad news for motorists, whose vehicles suffer from low temperatures.
Since the start of the week, they've been jostling at the mechanics.
"It's an old car and an old battery. With the cold, it did not hold the shock", sighs Malika, at the microphone of Europe 1. She is far from being the only one.
In this workshop in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, the mechanics work almost on the assembly line.
"In the current health context, people drive their car less. Not driving already lowers the battery intensity. And temperature variations give the battery a blow, it damages them even more. We change it a lot: Wednesday we closed later than expected because too many customers came for battery problems, "says Kalid.
"In winter, the engine is subject to certain constraints"
Merciless cold for cars with poor maintenance.
Hence this little advice from Anthony, head of the market-workshop: remember to check all levels regularly.
"This is important because in winter the engine is subject to certain constraints. You have to make sure that the oil level is good to avoid over-stressing the engine."
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The coolant must be particularly monitored.
"It contains antifreeze. It is important not to have fun filling with water because when the temperatures drop, it can freeze the coolant. This has consequences on the vehicle."
The best choice for tires is four-season tires.
Demand is also increasing sharply.