Now that government advice only to travel when it is essential, the amount of traffic on the roads is much lower than usual. This also means that services like the AA, RAC and other breakdown organisations are running with reduced staffing levels. So, if you get into trouble it might take a while to get things moving again, not to mention the danger of being stranded in your car. Preventing breakdowns could be easier than you think. Follow our advice and it might mean that you avoid a preventable breakdown.
We are open, government advice is that garages like Motorvation are essential in keeping Britain’s cars moving and ensure that vehicles can still be maintained and repaired. So, we remain open for you to keep your car on the road safely. If you have any motoring issues or needs, we’re here.
We have procedures in place to ensure social distancing is maintained, therefore, we ask that if you can, please call and book-in before coming down, this enables us to keep the number of people on site to a minimum and keep everyone safe. We are operating with fewer technicians to help with social distancing and while this this might mean that waiting times are occasionally slightly longer, we will do everything we can to get you back on the road quickly, and more importantly, safely.
Look after your tyres
The most common breakdown causes are punctures or flat tyres. These are usually preventable and the risks can be minimised by having correctly inflated tyres and by checking the tread on your tyres to ensure they are in a good condition. You should be checking your tyres at least once every couple of weeks. Follow our advice on checking your tyre tread and tyre pressures to keep the risks of punctures and blowouts as low as possible, while also prolonging the life of your tyres.
Oil
Oil is like the blood in your engine, it keeps everything working properly so checking it is very important and pretty simple. You should be checking at least every two weeks as part of your basic maintenance routine. If you don’t know how to check your oil levels, there is a step by step guide in our basic maintenance guide. If you are unsure, you can always come and see us and we will be happy to show you how to do it.
Keep your fluids topped up
Modern cars have a number of different fluids that need to be checked, depending on your car, you will almost certainly have three or more of the following: brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, coolant and washer fluid. These usually have markers on the reservoirs, so you can see when they are getting low. If any are getting low, top them up with the relevant liquid. If you run out of any of these fluids it will be an expensive breakdown to repair, so don’t wait to top them up and do it regularly. Again, if you are struggling, give us a call and come down to see us, we can show you what you need to check and how to do it.
Lights
If your any of the lights on your car are not working, your chances of having an accident are vastly increased. While your headlights light the way for you, the other lights on your car warn other motorists where you are or that you are stopping, turning or reversing. If any of those lights are not working, other motorists might not know what you are going to do next.
Most modern cars will tell you when one of the main bulbs in your car is not working, but it is always worth checking to see for yourself. These checks should include headlights, sidelights, rear lights, brake lights, reverse lights, hazard lights and indicators. Brake lights can be a little difficult if you are on your own but can be checked by reversing up close to a wall or flat surface like a garage door and applying your brakes. Using your rear-view mirror, you should be able to see if your brake lights come on and off against the surface. Some bulbs can be tricky to replace but most can be changed quite easily even without mechanical knowledge, if you are struggling, you know where we are, just give us a call and we can help you out or show you how to do it.
Following our advice could help you to prevent a breakdown. If you do find an issue with your car, please give us a call, don’t ignore it. Ignoring a problem could make it worse and your car may not be as safe as you think. If in doubt at all, call us and arrange for us to check it out.
Stay safe, we are here if you need us!