Tag Archives: servicing

9 Signs Your Car’s Air Filter Needs Changing

air filter in a car

Your car needs to combust petrol. And as every GCSE science student will tell you, this needs three things. Fuel, an ignition source and air.

In engines, this is supplied by the petrol, diesel or other fuel source, the spark plugs, and the air is drawn through the air filter, ensuring that dirt and muck doesn’t enter into the piston chambers. Of course – all that filth ends up caught in the air filter, reducing its effectiveness.

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10 Ways to Stay in Your Mechanic’s Good Books

mechanic working on a car

If you want decent prices, the odd favour here and there and a happy interaction with your mechanic it’s always good to keep them onside. Once you have found a decent mechanic in the early days and you have a great relationship, it’s easy. But what are some of the questions and behaviours you should avoid with a new mechanic to keep them onside?

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Keeping Your Convertible’s Soft Top Clean

cleaning a convertible roofKeeping 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

Name that Tune? How to Diagnose Faults from Car Noises

Car making noise

It’s time for us to take a look at the sonic symptoms of various car issues, particularly when braking, cornering or even putting your foot down and accelerating. It’s always worrying when you hear an unfamiliar sound coming from somewhere in your car and you’d be forgiven for thinking that if you don’t do something about it the problem might grow. As a result noises cause anxiety and can even distract you from keeping your eyes on the road.

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How to Prepare Your Car for its MOT

MOT Logo

In 2015 nearly 40% of all cars failed their MOT, according to the DVSA. Many cars fail for simple reasons, which could have been checked and fixed by the owner before they dropped of their vehicle at the test centre.

Avoid wasting time and save yourself money with our simple guide that helps you prepare your car for its MOT. All you have to do is follow each section and we will give you some guidelines and tell you what to do if your vehicle isn’t up to the required standard.

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Preparing your car for the summer

Car driving in the summer

We have talked previously about how to prepare your car for the winter months, but what about sorting it out for the hotter months, and getting it ready for the summer?

Heat, dust and the stop and start driving associated with heavily congested summer holiday roads can all take a toll on your vehicle and impact its ability to perform. Apart from the regular checks, what season specific things can you do to ensure your car is ready and prepped for the sunshine streets?

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11 Top Tips for Keeping your Car Clean in the Winter

Car wheel being cleanedYou might think that it’s not worth keeping your car clean in the winter as you’re simply going to pick up more dirt and damage. However, leaving the salty, wet residue of slush on your car can actually cause corrosion to the paint and bodywork. Even though the thought of cleaning and washing your car in the cold can be a bit of a turn off, there are definitely advantages to being proactive. Continue reading

You won’t believe these 12 weird maintenance related car laws from around the world

Car on a map

Every country has their own strange cultures and customs. But did you know that this also extends to car maintenance laws? You might be surprised to find out that there’s some pretty strange regulation and legislation controlling the state of your vehicle in far off countries. So in our opinion, what’s the weirdest?

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Replacing an indicator stalk

Indicator stalk

The indicator stalk is the part of the car’s control systems that is used to control your vehicles indication lights. It is usually mounted on the steering column, giving you easy access without having to remove your hands from the steering wheel. Most indicators have a mechanism in them that turns them off when the steering wheel is rotated in a contrary direction to the indicator light.

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