Car Maintenance

It's dangerous to drive on tyres that are in poor condition or incorrectly inflated. There's a legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm - crash while driving on illegal or dangerous tyres and you'll be in trouble with the police and your insurance company.

Recommended pressure figures are for cold tyres, so you'll get a falsely high reading if you check them after driving for more than a few minutes. Always check tyre pressures cold.

Pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi) and the right amounts for your car should be listed in your owner's manual. It's common for different amounts to apply to the front and rear tyres.

If the amount on the pressure gauge is below that mentioned in your owner's manual, you will need to inflate the tyre. To do this, connect a pump or an air line on a garage forecourt and fill until the right amount is shown on the pressure gauge.

If you put too much air into the tyre, depress the pin in the centre of the valve to let some out.

Don't forget the pressure of your spare wheel. Your owner's manual should tell you the correct pressure.

Remember if you're involved in an accident and your insurance company find that your tyres are in poor, dangerous condition they will invalidate your Insurance claim.

If your engine doesn't have the right amount of oil, it could be seriously damaged, sometimes beyond repair. Oil is needed to lubricate the metallic parts to reduce friction and help transfer excessive heat from the engine.

Make sure you use the right oil, and the same as what's currently in the engine. Your owner's manual will contain these details.

Find the oil filler cap - it's usually on the top of the engine and marked 'oil'. Unscrew this carefully and place to one side. Pour in a small amount of new oil and recheck the level with the dipstick. Repeat until the level is about halfway between the maximum and minimum marks on the dipstick.

Oil is usually replaced at every service inspection of your car. This is usually once a year or at a maximum of 10,000 miles. Refer to the owners' manual for details.

If the engine sounds rough or you can hear a blowing sound, the exhaust may have a leak. If so, have it checked.

The two emissions tested in the MOT are carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC). If your car fails on either of these tests you will need to get the problem solved by an authorised service centre.

If you develop a hole in your exhaust its common for you to notice a loss of engine power and a noisy exhaust. Also you will notice that your car drinks fuel as the computer tries to compensate for the power loss.

Your exhaust system is secured to the bottom on your car via rubber bungs. Over time these wear and break off which will result in damage and possible loss of part of your exhaust system. Check these for wear every 6 to 12 months and replace when necessary.

Push down on each corner of the car and then release. If the shock absorbers are working, the corner of the vehicle will quickly settle into its normal position. If it bounces, the shock absorber at that corner will need to be replaced.

Rust will eat away at your car over time. Rust commonly attacks the areas of your car that are hard to get but also they tend to attack the sills of your car.

Rust on the sills of your car isn't necessary a problem just as long as it's not penetrated and caused structural damage. During the MOT your entire car will be examined for rust, especially in structural areas. If your car fails its MOT due to rusted sills this can be a very expensive repair.

Keep your sills clean from grime and dirt and get any rusted checked out before it spreads. There are lots of things a body shop can do to prevent and stop rust from spreading if it's caught early enough.

Pull on the handbrake. If it takes more than a few clicks before it will hold the car on a hill, the cable or rear callipers/drums need by an authorised service centre.

Check that there is no sign of brake fluid in the footwell, whether on the pedal, floor or carpets. This indicates a leakage.

Pump the brake until the pressure builds up and the pedal becomes rigid. Hold your foot on the pedal, feeling for any loss in pressure. If the pedal starts to give way, there is a leak in the system.
Likewise if there is a great deal of pedal movement before the brakes begin to bite, the brakes need adjusting.
If the pedal feels spongy and braking lacks sharpness, this indicates air in the system. A home brake bleed kit can cure this.

Brakes are crucially important for safety, of course, but complicated to fix. If there's a problem, avoid using your car until an authorised service centre can perform repairs and adjustments. Ask the service centre to check the overall condition of the braking system.

If your car is going to be left unused for an extended time, there are some simple measures to avoid unnecessary damage:

If it's winter, make sure that there is sufficient anti-freeze in the cooling system.

Check that your battery is charged. Battery chargers are not expensive and it is worth giving it a boost. If you're going to be away for a long time (and you aren't using an immobiliser/alarm) disconnect the earth strap to prevent the battery losing charge

Remove all valuables.

Use a car cover to protect it from rain, dust and the habits of birds.

Fit a visible steering lock.

Always remember to check that everything is in check before using the vehicle again, oil is at the correct level, brake fluid is present, coolant is topped up....you will save yourself a lot of money on repairs if you check your car regularly and keep the fluids topped up.