The intake manifold is one of the hardest working parts in the car. Whilst the part itself is quite sturdy and robust, one of the weaker points in the engine is the gasket seal that sits between the manifold and the cylinder head – which can often fail over time.
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The Nissan Qashqai is a compact, crossover SUV. Released in 2006, it was designed for customers that want the robust nature of a larger vehicle, whilst still retaining a sporty, sleeky on the road profile. It has gone through several generations and is a common sight on UK roads. Potential buyers can find many of these cars available through all second hand sales channels. But if you’re on the lookout for one of these larger cars, what are some of the common problems that you need to avoid?
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Volkswagen is without question one of Europe’s most iconic car brands. Classic car aficionados love the Beetle. The Golf still has a ton of boy racer appeal. But when you truly want the sweet spot between manoeuvrability, price and power, it’s hard to deny the Polo a place on the podium. It’s been on our streets since 1975 and has gone through 6 iterations – so expect to find a ton of different options when scouting around the second hand markets for a car.
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Brakes slow your car by applying pressure through the callipers and discs (or a similar system). The force behind the pressure is generated by the brake master cylinder when you depress the brake pedal. As one of the main components in the braking system, if the cylinder develops a fault or stops working, then this could have some severe and potentially dangerous consequences.
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Your car is making a squealing noise. What’s the problem? Unfortunately, there are many parts in your car that can start squeaking over time as they get worn out. However, with the help of this article you’ll be able to identify those that require urgent attention, hopefully preventing any minor fault in your vehicle turning into a major issue.
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If your power steering pump goes wrong, then chances are you will lose the ability to steer your car easily. Fortunately, there are several warning signs that can give you a heads up of any impending issues, hopefully preventing a major issue or fault whilst on the road.
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The charcoal canister is responsible for controlling the emission of fumes and vapour leaks from your vehicle’s fuel system. Many people don’t realise that the boiling point of petrol is comparatively low, and it is in a semi-gaseous state at room temperatures, which makes its fumes quite explosive.
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You’re driving down the road, doing a good pace. Suddenly you change gear or put your foot down on the accelerator and the car doesn’t respond quite as expected. It’s now stuck in second gear. You can’t get any more than around 2,500 rpm out of the engine, and you’re crawling along the road. What just happened?
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Yes, we’ve talked before about stopping would-be thieves from stealing your car. But what about stopping criminals from breaking in and stealing the contents?
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You notice the strong odour of petrol in your car. We might have talked about how to identify smells in your vehicle before, but today we’re homing in on the scent of the world’s favourite hydrocarbon.
Unsurprisingly, a petrol leak is the most likely cause of the smell. Fortunately, this is fairly easy to diagnose. However – if this isn’t case then these are some of the potential contenders:
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