Tips and Tricks
Below are some tips and tricks to help maintain and keep your vehicle road worthy.
#Tip 1
Check your oil level frequently, and keep an eye out for any anomalies with consistency. If your levels are running low be sure to top up as soon as possible. Oil is a crucial component of the engine and ensures it runs smoothly by lubricating the engine to prevent friction and permanent damage.
#Tip 2
To ensure that your engine runs smoothly you should ideally have an oil change every 5000 to 7500 miles, or once a year, this can also depend on the manufacturer. However, if you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, leave your car on idle or drive in extreme weather, you may need to change the oil more frequently.
#Tip 3
Check your coolant levels regularly and be sure to top up when you're running low. Coolant protects the engine from overheating and without it, the heat can cause key components to warp and become damaged.
#Tip 4
If your windscreen wipers are not cleaning properly or making a lot of noise they will need replacing. Wiper blades ideally need to be replaced every 1-2 years, possibly more depending on weather conditions.
#Tip 5
Keeping a spare tire, jack and the necessary tools to change a tyre can come in very handy. Especially if you're on a long journey and your tyre pops unexpectedly, it can be hard to find a place that not only sells them but fits them too. Be sure to check your tyres' pressure and tread regularly. If your tread is lower than 1.6mm the need to be replaced urgently.
#Tip 6
The battery of a car is one of the most vital components and can greatly affect the lifespan of a vehicle. By keeping your battery in good condition you can get more life out of your vehicle. You can do this by using a trickle charger to keep the battery topped up, especially if you don't drive it much. You should aim to drive your car at least once a week to keep the battery running smoothly.
#Tip 7
Don't forget to change your filters, oil and air filters can become clogged over time and are replaced during a routine full service. If these filters become clogged it causes major issues and so be sure to get them changed, most car manufactures recommend having a full service done once a year or every 12,000 miles, which ever comes first.
Warning Lights
It is imperative that you learn to recognise the different warning lights for your vehicle. Below is an overview of some of the standard warning lights. However, depending on the manufacturer, you could have additional lights.
Handbrake/Parking Brake
This light should come on when your handbrake is engaged. However, if the light remains after the handbrake is fully released, or is the light comes on while driving. It may indicate that your brake fluid is low.
Furthermore, if the ABS light is also illuminated, there may be a fault in the braking system, in which case the EBD light should also be illuminated.
Engine Management Light
This warning light can indicate multiple different faults, from minor issues like a broken sensor, to major mechanical issues. If this light becomes illuminated you should get your car looked at as soon as possible.
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Air bag/SRS (Supplement Restraint System)
When this light goes red, it indicates a fault within the air bag safety system. This can either be the air bag themselves, the system that detects passenger position and weight to deploy the air bag correctly, or the seat belt tensioner system, which tightens the belt in the event of a crash.
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Oil Warning Light
This light comes on when either the oil temperature gets too high or the oil level/pressure gets too low. When this light comes on, you need to find a safe place to stop as soon as possible. Once stopped, turn the engine off, then look for any obvious leaks and check your oil level.
If the light remains after topping up and no visible leaks, then the oil pump could be faulty and should be looked at as soon as possible.
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Battery Warning Light
If this comes on while driving while driving it indicated the battery is not charging. This could be due to a fault in the electrical system and could have a number of different causes. It is important that you get to a garage quickly, if that's not possible then find a safe place to stop and call for a recovery.
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ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
This is an important feature of vehicle, if the ABS light comes on by itself, then you should still have unassisted braking and should be able to continue your journey safely.
If the ABS light is accompanied by the brake warning light, it means that the brake system is failing and you should find somewhere to stop immediately.
EPS/EPA Power Steering
This light indicates a fault with power steering, this can be a simple fix by finding somewhere to stop and turning the car off then back on again after 30 seconds. However, if the light remains on after doing this you should take your car to be checked.
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DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)
This light indicates that there is a problem with the filter and could indicate that the filter is blocked. If this light is illuminated you need to take it to a garage as soon as possible. Do note that this warning light applies to diesel engines only.
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Engine Temperature Light
This light will come on if the engine is overheating. This could mean that the coolant levels are running low, a possible leak in the system, or a much bigger problem like a head gasket issue.
If this light is red you need to stop straight away and allow the car to cool down. If this light is yellow it means your coolant levels are running low, be sure when topping up the coolant that the engine has cooled down before opening the coolant cap.
Electronic Stability Problem (ESP)
Also known as the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). If this light stays illuminated it could indicate a problem with the traction control. Try stopping and restarting the engine, if the light remains on you will need to get the car checked as soon as possible.
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Brake Pad Warning Light
Also know as the wear sensor warning light, indicated that the brake pads are or are becoming dangerously tin and should be replaced as soon as possible. Note that if your vehicle has wear sensors, they will need to be replaced when your pads are replaced.
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