<< BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE

THE HOLIDAY SERVICE ALERT!

Bank holiday weekends away will soon find the faults in your car. Engines overheating while stuck in long traffic queues are commonplace, so check all fluid levels before you set out, and make sure hoses and clips are in sound condition. A breakdown is not only inconvenient, it can put you, and other road users in considerable danger. At holiday time the likelyhood of a breakdown is multiplied many times over, particularly with older cars, but with some basic preventative measures you can minimise the chances of vehicle failure, and keep your car running safely and reliably.

  Do not wait for it to go wrong! Have your car serviced and checked before you start that long journey, and prevent it happening. The advertisers in the Ourcar Services pages are experts in their fields, and will gladly advise you.

 TYRES LINK YOUR CAR TO THE ROAD!

THIS TYRE HAS PLENTY OF TREAD HASNT IT?  IT IS IN FACT ILLEGAL, THE TREAD DEPTH BEING BELOW THE LEGAL MINIMUM. NOT ONLY WOULD YOU GET LESS THAN HALF THE EXPECTED LEVEL OF WET WEATHER GRIP WHEN USING THIS TYRE, BUT IF STOPPED BY THE POLICE, YOU WOULD GET A FINE, AND 3 POINTS ON YOUR LICENCE. IF YOU HAVE 4 ILLEGAL TYRES, THATS 12 POINTS. REFER TO YOUR DRIVERS HANDBOOK FOR THE CORRECT TYRE PRESSURES, CHECK THEM REGULARLY, AND DO NOT FORGET THE SPARE.

EXHAUSTS DO NOT LAST FOR EVER.

THIS REAR SILENCER IS WELL PAST ITS SELL BY DATE! THE ADDITIONAL NOISE WOULD ALERT YOU (AND THE POLICE) TO IT OF COURSE, BUT WORST OF ALL WOULD BE THE RELEASE OF POTENTIALLY LETHAL GASES SUCH AS CARBON MONOXIDE, INTO YOUR CAR. EVEN SMALL LEAKS CAN BE DANGEROUS, PARTICULARLY ON A LONG JOURNEY.

FANBELTS - OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

 FANBELT FAILURE!  IF THE BELT WAS DRIVING ONLY THE ALTERNATOR, THE IGNITION LIGHT WILL COME ON, BUT ENGINE TEMPERATURE WILL STAY NORMAL, AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO A LOCAL GARAGE BEFORE YOUR BATTERY GOES FLAT. IF THE BELT WAS DRIVING THE WATER PUMP, ENGINE TEMPERATURE WILL RISE RAPIDLY.  STOP - AS SOON AS ITS SAFE TO DO SO. IF YOU CONTINUE, YOU COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE. GOOD IDEA TO CARRY REPLACEMENTS IN CASE THE LOCAL GARAGE DO NOT HAVE THEM. ON SOME OLDER CARS AN 'EMERGENCY FANBELT' CAN BE FITTED WITHOUT USE OF TOOLS, AS A 'GET YOU HOME' MEASURE ONLY.

OIL - THE LIFE BLOOD OF YOUR ENGINE!

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD OIL GOES WITHOUT SAYING, BUT ENGINE AND GEARBOX OIL DETERIORATES WITH USE, HENCE RECOMMENDED OIL AND FILTER CHANGE PERIODS. KEEP CLEAN OIL AND A CLEAN FILTER IN YOUR ENGINE AND YOU WILL REAP THE BENEFITS, AS REGULAR OIL CHANGES HELPS KEEP OIL WAYS CLEAR ENSURING CORRECT LUBRICATION. CHECK THE LEVEL REGULARLY, AND USE THE BEST QUALITY OIL YOU CAN AFFORD. THERE ARE NO BAD OILS AS SUCH, BUT SOME ARE MUCH BETTER THAN OTHERS!

 

  AND FINALLY. . . 

 HAVE YOUR CAR SERVICED, ALL THE ANCILLARIES CHECKED, AND MAKE SURE YOUR HAZARD FLASHERS WORK CORRECTLY, JUST IN CASE!  KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT IN THE BOOT WHICH IDEALLY SHOULD INCLUDE A SET OF JUMPER LEADS, A GALLON OF FUEL IN AN AUTHORISED CONTAINER, EMERGENCY FANBELT AND/OR REPLACEMENTS, SPARE BULBS AND FUSES, TORCH, A SMALL FIRST AID KIT, AND SOME HAND WIPES. A MOBILE PHONE AND RECOVERY ORGANISATION MEMBERSHIP IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, AS WELL AS SOME BASIC HANDTOOLS IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR USE. ITS ALSO A VERY IDEA TO INVEST IN A HIGH VISIBILITY JACKET / WAISTCOAT TO WEAR IF WORKING ON YOUR CAR - IT COULD BE A LIFESAVER. 

YOU CANT HAVE TOO MUCH IN YOUR EMERGENCY KIT, BUT YOU CAN EASILY BE SHORT OF THE ONE ITEM YOU NEED.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

<< BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE           GO TO SERVICES SECTION >>

Site construction and copyright © www.ds-uk.net