KNOW YOUR CAR – Part 2
Continuing on from our part 1 update a few weeks ago. Get to know your car part 2 & its importance as to why you should have your vehicle serviced regularly.
Braking Systems:
Brakes create a lot of heat. This can cause bending, warping & wear on the brakes. If you brakes are squeaking/squealing, shuddering or slow to respond. You may need brake pads replaced. Or worse case scenario it may also be disc rotor in which case it means you need to have these replaced along with the pads so the bill will be twice the price approximately.
Brakes will be checked thoroughly at each service.
CV Boots & Joints
The CV joint allows the wheels on your vehicle to move left, right, up & down while in motion. The CV boot protects the joint from water & dirt from underneath the vehicle sprayed up from tyres, rain and puddles. The boot also protects the grease on the joint. If you hear a clacking sound as you turn your vehicle it could mean that the joint is worn and needs replacing. Best scenario is the boot is torn and cracked and is easily replaced or worse case you need to have a boot and joint at the same time.
Again CV boots are inspected at each service. Problems caught early keep repair costs down. CV joints will wear even if boots are kept in good condition. Once we have detected wear in the joint we will advise on how long before replacement will be needed.
Suspension:
Shock absorbers control the movement of springs & suspension. They smooth out bumps and vibrations but the job the do most importantly is to keep your tyres in contact with the road. Because wear happens over time you may not initially notice that you have changed your driving style to compensate. If you notice excessive bounce, body roll into corners or, bottoming out when hitting pot roles or judder bars. Ensure you get your mechanic to have a look. Good shock absorbers increase your chances of stopping before an accident rather than being part of it.
Electrical Systems:
Nowdays most cars are controlled by computers. You generally will have a warning light appear on your dash. However sometimes the vehicle may seem to be working fine but you notice that it is performing unusually. In both cases we have electronic scan tools that we plug in so we can detect the fault & diagnose the problem. Its like a blood test from a doctor and reveals the true nature of the problem. A great way to find a small problem before it could become major.
DONT IGNORE WARNING LIGHTS – If your air bag light is on chances are they wont work!
Book in for a scan asap
Batteries:
The battery powers the starter motor, ignition system and the lights. If the engine is slow to start or wont turn over, lights wont turn on, the radio wont retain the pre-set stations, headlights loose brightness/go out. Your battery needs to be tested. We can do this very quickly to report on the state of it. Sometimes it may just need over night charging or cleaning of terminals. Worse case it needs replacing. Please be aware that they last generally 3-5 years only.
During the lockdowns & with more persons working from home, people havent been out and about as much. So we have seen a really run on batteries these last few months. A vehicle needs to be run regularly to keep recharging the battery.
Hybrids & PHEV:
These vehicles have 2 motors. They still require regularly servicing. The specialty battery is in a compartment that only technicians can access. These also need to be maintained well. Ask your mechanic for a battery condition report at each service. Early detection of issues can with this battery could save you thousands.
I hope you have found ” know your car – part 2″ of some interest. I must say I have learnt a few things myself over these two updates. Plus having asked Ross to explain and show me some faulty parts has been a real education & given me an appreciation of why you need to maintain your vehicle. Appreciate any feedback!
Stay well & safe everyone.