Professional local car service in Reading: Spending five minutes carrying out these simple checks every few weeks – and certainly before a long journey or an MOT – can save you a lot of time and money in the long run, not to mention help keep you safe on the roads. To keep things simple, here are 12 simple car checks you can carry out today to keep your car safely on the road and on the right side of the law. When it comes to preventing a breakdown, remember the acronym FORCES, which stands for Fuel, Oil, Rubber, Coolant, Electrics, Screen wash. Check you have plenty of fuel in your tank for your journey. It may sound obvious but you’d be surprised just how many people run out of fuel, particularly in harsh winter weather. Worried about running out? Here’s our guide to saving fuel. Find even more information at cheap car servicing near me reading.
The brake system of your car is one of the most important, which is why you need to pay attention to the brake pads. Most owner’s manuals recommend you change the pads every 20,000 miles. However, if you drive your car every day, and have to brake more often, you might have to replace them more often. People who live in the city and have to deal with a lot of traffic and stop more often should consider changing the pads more often. Replacing the brake pads is a fast and relatively inexpensive process.
Expert Vehicle Service Answers for UK Drivers – When it comes to vehicle service, is there such a thing as a silly question? Especially in the UK, where the weather can be as unpredictable as the traffic, knowing the ins and outs of your car’s needs is essential. At carservice-centre.co.uk, we understand that every driver’s experience is unique which is why we’ve compiled a list of FAQs to help guide you through the world of vehicle service. So, buckle up, and find the answers you’ve been searching for in this guide.
Local vehicle service Reading, UK near me: An MOT certificate confirms at the time of the test your car met the minimum road safety and environmental standards required by law. It doesn’t mean your car will remain roadworthy for the following 12 months. You still need to make sure you maintain your car well, including regular servicing. Make sure you’re not caught out by any of the five simple reasons for a fail shown above, then inspect your car against our 11-point checklist below. If you find any problems in the following areas, you can fix some yourself to help keep garage costs down.
Ignore the myth of the 100,000-mile tune-up. “It doesn’t exist,” states Principe. “Each vehicle has a specific tune-up schedule recommended by the manufacturer. The more you keep the systems clean, the better the vehicle will run.” Variations in climate and driving style also dictate the necessity for maintenance. Commuting in dusty desert conditions will quickly clog air filters, while driving short distances repeatedly can wear out the exhaust system, as moisture is never completely evacuated. Extremely hot and cold conditions require more attention paid to radiator fluid and engine oil.
Full Car Servicing: This is a 52 point check list starting with replacing your engine oil and oil filter including air and pollen filters fuel filter on diesiel cars and spark plugs on petrel cars all under bonnet fluid checks plus all road wheels are removed and a report given on your brake discs and pads and a brake adjustment whee neccessary adjust handbrake check all tyre wear check suspension exhaust and underbody of the vehicle and a overall visual check. To recieve any advice or Vehicle related problems please email us on repairs@mot-centre.com or simply telephone us on 01189581198. Clean the engine : Use clean fuel to make the engine clean and strong from inside. From time to time it should also be cleaned externally. Leakage along with dust and debris can damage the engine so use any engine cleaner to wipe off the dirt. Find more info on http://carservice-centre.co.uk/.
Depending on what type of car you drive, it’s easier to pick out any faults and take care of them before they grow into larger problems. For hatchbacks and saloons used by the family, all you need to take care of is the Car Engine Oil Change Reading. If you drive a crossover or a 4×4 and your driving takes you off road or on a trail often, give the steering and suspension a few checks every now and then and drop it off for a service when its needed. Sports Cars tend to demand more attention, but they also come with several terms and conditions. If you’re comfortable working with cars, you can always try to do the small bits yourself, For everything else, the servicing guys will be more than happy to take over.
There was a time when a paper MoT certificate was a vital document, and the police would routinely ask to see it during traffic stops. Nowadays the information is stored on a national MoT online database and the paper MoT issued after your test is simply a statement of whether your car has passed or failed. It can be a handy document for when it comes to sell your car on as it shows its service history, and it’s also a useful reminder of when your test is coming around again. However, if you’ve mislaid the paperwork – which is easily done – you can check your car’s MOT status (or the MoT status of any vehicle) by searching for the phrase ‘when’s my MoT due’ online.
Check vehicle fluids. Vehicles rely on transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid and properly mixed coolant to run. Fluids need to be topped off for optimal vehicle performance throughout the life of the vehicle. Change air filters regularly. Dust and grime accumulates over time and can negatively impact gas mileage and engine performance. Take care of minor repairs when they arise. New noises or changes in the drivability of a vehicle should be checked out promptly.
If you frequently drive in winter, then consider buying a set of winter tyres. They offer exceptional grip when the temperature drops below seven degrees, and while they’re effective in snow and ice, they also perform better than summer tyres when it’s wet. They’re not cheap, but are well worth the investment for the additional safety they bring. It’s up to you whether you buy a second set of wheels to fit them on, but if you choose to swap the winter tyres onto the same wheels, it’s a job for a tyre fitter, as it’s a pretty tough job to do yourself. Even if you don’t want the extra cost of winter tyres, checking the tread depth of your existing tyres is important. The legal limit is 1.6mm, but having more than this can dramatically improve steering and braking. Indeed, if your tyres require replacement, then winter is a good time to do it. Also, check your tyre pressures regularly, because these can change with the drop in air temperature with the changing of the seasons.
Incorrect tyre pressures can cause loss of performance, tyre wear, poor road handing and instability of the vehicle. So having the right pressure is an essential part of a basic service. Check our tyre pressure guide for more information. You should also check the condition of your tyres, making sure they aren’t too worn and the tread depth meets the EU legal requirement of 1.6mm. For more information, and to learn how a 20p piece can help, check out our guide to tyre safety.