Category Archives: Maintenance

Summer is here in a big fashion. The air waves are packed with heat and no doubt the one place this is making feel uncomfortable is in the cabin of your car. Good air conditioning system is the obvious answer.

Obviously like all of your vehicle’s systems, air conditioning is no different. Use it in a conservative, careful way and you can prolong its lifespan, use it without forethought and you could find yourself with a new purchase on your hands sooner than you think.

To help you get the most out of your air conditioning system for many years, you can find some of motoring’s best tips in our easy to use guide. Continue reading →

Paint does more than make your car look good. It protects the bodywork from damage. And in the same light, rust isn’t simply a bad look, it actually can devalue your car. Corrosion caused by salt and water impacts your vehicle beyond its aesthetical value and can be responsible for fatigue placed upon the hydraulic and mechanical systems.

Prevention as the old adage goes is better than cure. In the automotive world this translates into taking a little care can save you a whole stack of cash further down the road. So make sure you’re protecting your car and your wallet with our handy tips. Continue reading →

Cleaning your tyres and wheels isn’t only a cosmetic measure. Of course, your car will be more imposing with freshly shined rims and black tyres, but as with many instances of car care there is a deeper reason for ensuring your wheels are grime free. Brake dust can damage your wheels and should be regularly removed to prevent fatigue, and cleaning protects your tyres from weathering and cracking.

It is advisable to clean your wheels at least every other time you wash your car or every two weeks. Follow our step by step guide to not only get the cleanest and shiniest look for your wheels but to also give them that long term protection. Continue reading →

With summer on the way you need to be aware that your car could potentially overheat. Even though it is less common with modern vehicles than their older counterparts, a well-tuned automobile can still overheat. Incidents will normally occur when excess stress is placed on the engine, such as crawling in stop-go urban traffic or climbing a steep gradient.

Take precautions to avoid overheating with our helpful guide, which details emergency steps you can take if your engine starts to show signs of temperature problems.

Keeping Your Convertible’s Soft Top CleanNow that summer’s starting to emerge from the cold clutches of winter it’s time to get out in your convertible. However, you might find that the dirt accumulated on the soft roof over the winter from all the grit and muddy water on the road. Looking good is the whole point of owning one of these cars, so not cleaning the canopy is most probably not an option.

Whilst is can be a hassle to keep the roof clean, it can deteriorate if not looked after properly. Fortunately, we have put together another of our now internet-famous guides to help you get the muck and filth off your soft top. Convertible soft tops come in two different types. Vinyl and canvas. Each material has different cleaning requirements and it’s important to know the difference, as you could make an expensive mistake with the wrong cleaning techniques and products. Continue reading →

Has one of your headlights stopped working due to a faulty or broken bulb? This isn’t only a MOT failure but represents a major driving hazard that could see you in trouble with the law or even in an accident.

Replacing a bulb is a fiddly little job that requires both patience and time, but it is one of the simpler jobs to complete on a car. You will be able to check that you have completed it properly with the flick of a switch and you can save money against a regular repair.

Having a bad clutch may be the result of poor habits in hill-ridden or heavily congested areas. But it is also one of those parts that has a limited lifespan and will not last forever. If you notice that your clutch is slipping, what other kinds of problems are symptomatic of deeper issues?

In this article we look at some of the most common tell-tale signs that your clutch is on its way out. Continue reading →

Being splattered by bird poop is considered to be lucky for some. But perhaps not so much for your car’s paintwork if it falls victim to a flying attack. And with birds migrating home for the spring, it doesn’t take a BBC expert to predict an increase in this problem.

Of course, bird poop isn’t simply a comedy problem. The chemicals in the poop have the power to erode small areas of the paint, leaving stains on your bodywork or even causing permanent damage to your glowing and shiny paint job.

Should your car’s electrical system experience an overload then the most probable result is a blown fuse. This is usually the result of issues within your car such as a short circuit where a worn cable could be touching the bodywork of the car. Blown fuses may be a little annoying, but they are actually a preventative measure that stops your car from further damage and potentially even catching fire.

How do you know when a fuse is blown? The most obvious sign will be the failure of your electrical appliances in the car, such as the windows ceasing to operate correctly, the car radio stopping or the dashboard lights no longer illuminating properly, without any previous signs of problems or fatigue. Continue reading →

Cars are undoubtedly rather expensive. You might do all the right things in terms of servicing and regular maintenance, but if you have bad habits on the road you could be wasting all that expenditure. Laziness and carelessness are not only dangerous behaviour behind the wheel, but lack of due attention could cause your car to wear out faster and make you into a hazard for other road users.

Of course, nobody is perfect, so here is our list of the 6 deadly sins. Each one appertains to some of the main parts in your vehicle and the behaviours that cause all the problems.