1. Tyres are one of the most overlooked parts of a car. There is very few reasons why you should check and maintain your tyres regularly. Number one and probably the most important reason is safety while driving your vehicle.
   Tyre checks are also essential during each MoT inspection. The MoT tester will check if the tread on the tyre is at least 1.6mm deep across the central three quarters of the tread width going around the complete circumference of the tyre.
• does your car pull to one side?
• does your car handling feel like it is all over the road?
• uneven tyre wear?
• is your car steering wheel off-centre?

If for any of those questions your answer is “YES”, then you should consider checking alignment on your car.
Q: How do i check my tyres?
A: You can click here for more information.

2. Change Oil and Oil Filter. Oil is the lifeblood of your car. It keeps hardworking engine parts running clean, smooth and cool. It’s really important to maintain the right level of car engine oil in your vehicle. Owner’s manual of your vehicle should explain when your engine needs routine oil changes.

   Read more: How often should I change my oil?

3. Check Hoses and Belts. Check hoses for cracks, leaks and loose connections. Hoses should be firm, never soft and malleable. Belts can also be visually checked for cracks and damage. Take note if the belt looks excessively slick or smooth.

   Read more: When should my cambelt be replaced?

4. Change the Air Filter. Over the winter, your car’s air filter can get clogged with salt and other thick debris. A clogged air filter can really lower your fuel efficiency. The air filter for your vehicle helps to clean the air passing through the engine area and into the vehicle. There’s no real science to knowing when it’s time to replace the filter. The only real way to know if you need to replace your air filter is take it out and give it a quick inspection.
5. Replace Your Windshield Wipers. The summertime is notorious for sudden, violent thunderstorms. When buckets of water are beating against your windshield, you need wipers that really work! Winter can be tough on windshield wipers. Ice, snow, salt and extreme temperatures make cracks and tears in the rubber that lower the effectiveness of the wipers.
6. Check Your Brakes. Your brakes are probably the most important safety feature on your car. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk by driving with worn or faulty brakes.
   Do you hear a noise when braking? is it grinding, squeaking, growling? Does your brake pedal feel lower than it used to? Is your car increasingly harder to stop than it used to be?

   Read more about How to diagnose when your Brake Pads are worn? and how to replace brake fluid.

7. Check the Coolant and Radiator. Don’t let your car run hot because it’s low on coolant. It’s easy to check the coolant level in your radiator. It should be part of your regular maintenance routine.
   To add the coolant, simply unscrew the cap on top of the coolant reservoir and add your car coolant mixture until it reaches the full mark. Now put the cap back on nice and tight and you’re ready for your summer trip.
   Never add coolant to a hot engine! If you need to add more liquid, wait until the engine has cooled down to avoid the possibility of being burned. Don’t open the coolant cap when the engine is hot. If you do, hot coolant may be ejected.

8. Maintain Your Air Conditioning. Maintaining your air conditioning system is essential for your personal comfort as well as passengers. It is also essential for your health. Air Conditioning units, especially in older vehicles are subject to spreading bacteria as this builds up in the vents, so it is essential to ensure your air-con is working safely and cleanly.

Back to Motoring advice.

Keeping track of the oil level in your vehicle is one of the most basic general car maintenance checks you can do yourself. But it’s a pretty important one.

Do NOT measure the oil level right after driving the car. It’s best to check it at least 5 minutes after the engine is turned off.
To check your vehicles oil level you should follow these simple steps:

1. Ensure the engine is cold Park the car on level ground (if your car is on an angle, you won’t get an accurate reading of your oil level)
2. Open the hood and locate the dipstick. It’s usually brightly colored, often red, yellow or blue. Carefully pull out the dipstick and wipe it down with a clean cloth or paper towel.
   

   Oil dipstick in Škoda Fabia I, engine 1,2 HTP – By Frettie (Own work) CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5), via Wikimedia Commons

3. Reinsert the dipstick to its maximum depth and then remove it again. This time carefully look at where the oil level comes up to on the dipstick and make sure it falls between the upper and lower marks on the dipstick. The lower mark shows the manufacturer’s minimum recommended oil level, and the upper mark shows the maximum recommended oil level.
4. If the oil level was between the two marks then you’ve got nothing to worry about. If the level is too low or even worse – there is no oil on the dipstick at all, you’ll have to top it up. Check your vehicle’s manual to see what type of engine oil it requires. Always use the recommended oil, otherwise you can damage your engine and even void your car’s warranty.
   If you vehicle is low on oil, don’t drive it anywhere. Not even to your local service centre or auto shop to buy oil or for a service! Even a short trip with low engine oil could seriously damage your engine.

Check how ABC Car Service can help you with Replacing Engine Oil or Replacing Oil Filter.
 

My first impression was that the place was very clean and I have found that the service is just as good. Thank you for honesty and all hard work on my Toyota.

After this experience I will not trust anyone else with my car!

Highly recommended…

Source: ~Terrie2233 @ Review Centre

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ABC Car Service – Your car mechanic in Leeds…

See more Client reviews.

Old spark plug removed from a car, new one ready to install.

Back to Motoring advice.

1. Keeping the right tire pressure high can save you (depending on your mileage) £100 per year in lower tire wear and wasted fuel consumption.

   More about Tyres here. Additionally: Does your car pull to one side? Does your car handling feel like it is all over the road? Uneven tyre wear? If for any of those questions your answer is “YES”, then you should consider checking alignment on your car.

2. Use the airconditioning to warm the car up in winter as this is faster than waiting for the heat from the engine to kick in. Using the aircon in winter will also help to keep the compressor in good condition and prevent it from seizing up.

If you notice any strange smells when you put your air-con on then this could be signs of bacteria build up on your system. These bacteria can cause unpleasant smells as well as some allergic reactions. By disinfecting your air conditioning system, we can kill any microorganisms and apply a protective layer to your air-con components.
Check how ABC Car Service can help you in case if you have problems with your Car Air Conditioning system here.

3. If your car is stuck in mud remember to keep the speed low. The more your wheels spin the deeper you will get stuck (similar rule applies when driving in snow).

4. If your brakes fail, use a lower gear and engine braking to slow up the car. Drive carefully, with extreme attention and take your car to the nearest car garage immediately.

5. Remove unnecessary clutter and roof racks. This will reduce your car’s weight and air resistance.

6. Well-maintained cars in good condition tend to run more efficiently. Check how often your car should be serviced by looking in the owner’s manual or simply contact us for advice.

7. Driving at 50 miles per hour (mph) instead of 70 mph can improve fuel economy by 25 per cent. Driving at slower speeds also gives you time to anticipate traffic ahead, helping you drive more smoothly.

8. Changing up gears a little earlier can reduce revs per minute (rpm) and reduce your fuel usage. If you drive a diesel car, try shifting up when the rev counter reaches 2,000 rpm. For a petrol car, change up at 2,500 rpm.

   Remember to change down a gear at the right time too – if your car is struggling, it will also use more fuel.

9. Avoid leaving your engine running to warm up – idle engines use 0.5 litres per hour, the equivalent of 3.5 miles worth of fuel (average).

10. Plan your journeys – combine errands into one sensible trip to avoid unnecessary mileage and save CO2 emissions.

Back to Motoring advice.

Clutches are used whenever the ability to limit the transmission of power or motion needs to be controlled either in amount or over time Clutches control whether automobiles transmit engine power to the wheels.

›› Mechanics
›› Wheel Alignment
›› Diagnostics
›› DPF removal
›› Chip tuning
›› Tyres
›› Paint and Body Work
›› Air Condition
›› Courtesy and Hire cars

The car clutch is something that you use extensively while driving. So you need to make sure that it is in good working condition. Although the clutch normally lasts for an average of 5 years, the actual lifetime of your car’s clutch really depends on the way you drive and the journeys you make.

Five Signs That You Need A New Clutch

Clutches are located out of sight, so it’s not always easy to know when they need replacing. There are five signs to watch out for when it comes to your vehicle’s performance that mean you could need a clutch replacement:

• Having difficulty changing or putting your car into gears
• Hearing a crunching noise when you try to depress the clutch
• Car shaking and vibrating when moving off
• Sensing a burning smell
• Vehicle not picking speed as it would normally do when gas pedal is depressed

Single, dry, clutch friction disc. The splined hub is attached to the disc with springs to damp chatter.

Back to Motoring advice.

When timing belt breaks, the pistons continue to move, but the valves do not, usually resulting in contact between at least one piston and valve. The belt most commonly breaks while you are driving and instant internal engine damage is very likely – by the time you register the loss of power, the damage has been done.

There’s no a standard change interval for cam belts (also known as timing belt or timing chain). There is few considerations or best practices with regard to cambelt replacement.
Your vehicle owner’s manual will recommend at what mileage the timing belt must be replaced.

Read more about replacing cambelt here: When should my cambelt be replaced?
 
Our Car Service facility is located in Leeds, Pudsey – just few turns of the Ring Road.

Back to Motoring advice.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all documentation needed to comply with the requirements of immigration, customs, health and other relevant regulations while travelling in Europe.

You may use your GB licence for driving in other European Community/European Economic Area [EC/EEA] member states. However, you should note that while the minimum age for driving a car in GB is 17 individual member states may apply their own age restrictions for entitlements.

The member states are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. Check with a motoring organisation if you want to drive in a non-EC/EEA country. They will advise you whether you need an International Driving Permit. Directgov

Documents to take

• Valid full (not provisional) driving licence
• Driving licence paper counterpart – if you have a photocard licence
• An International Driving Permit (when necessary)
• Vehicle registration document (V5c) – the original not a copy
• Motor insurance certificate
• Passport(s)

You may need a visa for certain countries too.

Check with your insurer to make sure you have the cover you expect when driving abroad. They may ask to be notified when you travel abroad or provide only third party cover when you do.

Borrowed / hired / leased

If you are taking a vehicle abroad that is company owned, hired or borrowed you will need a letter of authorisation from the registered keeper.

In addition you will need to take either the original vehicle registration document (V5c) or a Vehicle on Hire certificate (VE103b).

In an emergency

112 is the European emergency call number you can dial anywhere in the European Union in case of accident, assault or in any other distress situation.

Reflective Jackets

Many countries require all drivers including visitors to carry reflective jackets.

Warning Triangle

Many countries require visiting motorists to carry a warning triangle.

Servicing

Service your car well in advance to reduce the chance of expensive breakdowns when abroad.

Tyres

Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth before you go.

Most countries have the same requirement as the UK – a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference.

You can find more information on The AA website

Back to Motoring advice.

A damage to your pump might occur within a short period of time if you continue to drive with little or no fluid in your power steering reservoir.

Power steering fluid provides much improved wear protection, resists thermal breakdown, evaporation and foaming at high temperatures to your vehicle’s steering system.

You should check the fluid levels if you hear a squealing noise when you are turning the wheel to a full lock in either direction. However, If you hear a grinding noise when turning the steering wheel at all, or the steering stiffens up, get to a garage as soon as possible because your power steering may be about to fail completely.

Bear in mind that power steering fluid isn’t something that is ‘used’, like windscreen wash or oil – it shouldn’t go down unless there is a problem or a leak. So, if you notice that your power steering fluid level has dropped below the minimum more than twice in 12 months, you should have it checked out because it could mean that there is a problem that could damage your power steering.
 
Our Car Service facility is located in Leeds, Pudsey – just few turns of the Ring Road.

Back to Motoring advice.

Q: How can you tell if your vehicle is due for a brake fluid flush?

A: Special test might indicate high levels of moisture present in the brake fluid. Another method is the old fashioned “eye ball test”. Remove the brake master cylinder cap and visually inspect the condition of the fluid.

Many experts have long recommend changing the brake fluid every year or two for preventative maintenance. Their rationale is based on the fact that glycol-based brake fluid starts to absorb moisture from the moment it is put in the system. The fluid attracts moisture through microscopic pores in rubber hoses, past seals and exposure to the air. The problem is obviously worse in wet climates where humidity is high.
 
Our Car Service facility is located in Leeds, Pudsey – just few turns of the Ring Road.

Back to Motoring advice.