Author Archives: Justin Smith

About Justin Smith

As the man at the helm of BreakerLink, it is no surprise that its Director, Justin Smith, has always had a keen interest in cars, bikes and most things wheeled. Having spent over two decades in the car parts industry, Justin combines his passion that since 2002, has successfully united those looking for new and used car parts with the breaker that supplies them. Follow Justin on LinkedIn.

The Unwritten Rules of the Road

rules of the road

Yes, there is the Highway Code. There’s also a set of penalties and fines that keep you on the straight and narrow when behind the wheel. But what about that unspoken code of road behaviour that’s simply not on? You know, the kind of rules that are simply about being a decent human being. For instance, no one with a shred of moral dignity would dream about diving into a car parking spot whilst someone else is backing into it. Would they?

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Common New Driver Mistakes

new driver p plate

Everyone had to learn at some point. Learning to drive is considered a major life achievement for young people and it’s never too late to get behind the wheel. Of course, once the lessons have finished and you’ve passed the test, it’s a whole different world. You can no longer rely on the sagely wisdom of your instructor, and you’re out there on your own.

What are the mistakes that can plague new drivers and more importantly, what’s our best advice for avoiding them?

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Signs You Car’s Wheel Bearings Are Failing

wheel hub bearing

Wheel bearings on older cars used to make a load of noise when they started having problems. These searing sonics would alert you to problems with the part and you could have them looked at before they became a major issue. Now, with all the soundproofing on the modern motor, it can be tough to distinguish bearing problems from tyre noise. However, if there’s a rumbling or grinding, accompanied by wobbling steering or uneven wear on your tyres – then wheel bearings could be to blame. In this article we go through some of the main danger signs.

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What to do if Your Car Breaks Down

Car breakdown

Being in a car can often give you the illusion of protection and invulnerability. You’re so separated from the outside world you can forget the more pertinent realities of the situation. Many people even drive their cars with warning lights lit up on the dash, or other dangerous symptoms. However, whether you know it’s coming or it arrives like a bolt from the blue, the last thing you want to deal with is a car breakdown.

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How to Spot a Cut and Shut Car

how to spot a cut and shut car

 Over the years we’ve mentioned the dreaded cut and shut job many times. From the selling tricks of dodgy dealers to spotting cloned cars. Although this problem was more prevalent when there was less information and checks available to keep sellers and mechanics honest about this dastardly practice, it hasn’t disappeared completely. 

Accidently buying a cut and shut unknowingly is disastrous. Not only is it illegal for someone to sell you a reconditioned write-off, but it is incredibly dangerous to the driver, any passengers and other road users. If it is involved in a crash it will literally fall apart. How can you avoid this potential catastrophe by spotting a cut and shut before you buy?

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Signs that You Have a Failing Mass Air Flow Sensor

mass air flow sensor

The mass air flow sensor (MAF) is a critical component in your car’s fuel injection system. It sits nicely between the air filter and the intake manifold, carefully measuring the amount of air that’s being drawn into the engine to drive the combustion. The sensor sends the information to the Engine Control Unit (ECU), which in turn delivers the correct amount of fuel to the engine. As the sensor picks up different information about air density, temperature and other variables, it ensures that the engine functions at the most efficient level.

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6 Signs Your Car has a Failing Turbocharger

turbocharger with cutaway

Your turbocharger is an important part of the engine, helping you accelerate faster and get to top speeds in important situations. It gives you that thrust when you want to overtake on the motorway, quickly and safely. On some cars you can even hear a satisfying rush as the turbo kicks in, forcing air into the engine. However, if your turbo stops working properly, your engine may become inefficient and could suffer from poor performance. What are some of the signs that your turbo is failing?

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10 Top Tips: Keep Your Wiper Blades Working for Longer

wiper blades working

Wipers are not the most expensive part on your car, but you know what? There’s no excuse for letting them get old before their time and spending unnecessary cash. After all, think about the hours you’ll have to spend hunting around for new ones and then fitting them. Wouldn’t it be better to simply think about keeping your current wipers for longer? Well now you can with a touch of our expert advice…

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How to Fix Dents in Your Car

car with dents

Have you ever returned to your car to find that someone’s dented the bodywork? Fortunately not all dents require an expensive panel beater to put them right. Here’s our guide to how you can get your car back to that flat, clean dent free look…

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How to Clean Oxidised Headlights

oxidised headlight

Keeping your car looking good is important. But letting others see you in the dark is vital. Headlights not only show you where to go, they also let other cars travelling in the opposite direction know you’re on the road. So when your headlights get oxidised, with the clear covers on the front turning cloudy, it’s not only your vehicle’s great profile that’s in danger of being damaged.

What’s the solution? Of course, you could purchase a new set of headlights and replace them yourself, which will leave you out of pocket, or you could follow our simple guide to restore yours to their former glory.

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