Professional local car service in Reading: Spending five minutes carrying out these simple checks every few weeks – and certainly before a long journey or an MOT – can save you a lot of time and money in the long run, not to mention help keep you safe on the roads. To keep things simple, here are 12 simple car checks you can carry out today to keep your car safely on the road and on the right side of the law. When it comes to preventing a breakdown, remember the acronym FORCES, which stands for Fuel, Oil, Rubber, Coolant, Electrics, Screen wash. Check you have plenty of fuel in your tank for your journey. It may sound obvious but you’d be surprised just how many people run out of fuel, particularly in harsh winter weather. Worried about running out? Here’s our guide to saving fuel. Find additional info on Car Servicing Reading.
What Should I Do If My Check Engine Light Comes On? The dreaded check engine light – what does it mean and what should you do if it suddenly illuminates on your dashboard? It’s essential not to ignore this warning light, as it could indicate a serious issue with your vehicle that requires immediate attention. Firstly, check if your fuel cap is loose or damaged – if that’s not the case, then it’s best to bring your car in for a diagnostic check at carservice-centre.co.uk. Our team of highly trained vehicle technicians (car mechanics) will be able to identify and fix any underlying issues, ensuring your vehicle is safe and roadworthy.
Although they might not seem as important as tire rotation or oil change, replacing the windshield wipers is also important. If you’re caught in a storm and your windshield wipers don’t work properly, you could put everyone around you in danger. Windshield wipers are not only affordable, but they’re also easy to change on your own. You can get them in all auto parts stores, and the instructions are on the back of the package. Of course, if you doubt your skills, you can always ask an auto parts store employee to change them for you. While you’re there, don’t forget to check your wiper fluid levels.
Inquire about pricing and labor rates. Before you surrender your keys to the service department, be sure to determine the labor rate. Shops typically post the rate in a conspicuous place, so be observant and ask questions if you’re confused. Make sure you understand the way in which you will be billed for an auto repair. Many shops bill according to estimated repair times established by the manufacturer. A repair that the service tech deems “minor” could indeed be an all-day job according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Car service in Reading close to me: Headlights and indicators: front, rear, headlights (main beam and dipped), hazard lights and indicators. If any aren’t working, first check for broken bulbs and replace them. Brake lights: ask another person to check the rear brake lights come on when you press the brake pedal. Tyres: check all the tyres have at least the minimum legal tread depth of 1.6mm, or they’ll be marked as an MOT ‘fail’. This can easily be done with a 20p coin – see the diagram on the Tyre Safe website. Check for any damage such as splits in the tread, bulges or cuts in the sidewalls. Also check the tyre pressure is correct – the car’s manual will list the right pressure and they might also be on the sidewall of the tyre itself – and increase it at a petrol station if necessary. Find extra info at carservice-centre.co.uk.
Why Choose Us for your vehicle servicing: Simply because we are reliable our work is second to none and we take great pride in our work we offer a free collection and delivery service to all our customers dont take our word for it check out our online reviews see what our customers are saying about us we are friendly polite and considerate. If you have booked and combined your yearly Mot with a Service and your vehicle fails its annual Mot we will stop work phone you and give you the choice weather you have the Mot failure work carried out and not the Car Service or instruct us to do all the work. Change oil and oil filter: Your car cannot function properly without lubricant. Therefore oil and oil filter are used in it. After prolonged use, the oil and oil filter need to be replaced. It is also necessary to check the brake fluid every month.
An annual service suitable for average mileage vehicles covering 12000 miles per year or at 12000 mile intervals for high mileage users. The schedule is more comprehensive than most main dealer service schedules. The service includes oil and oil filter, air filter and pollen filter changes. All tops ups to the engine bay area are included. It is a comprehensive service with all wheels removed and brakes inspected, cleaned and adjusted. A diagnostic scan, vehicle health check and test drive by a qualified technician are all included.
Even though it has been around a long time, the main ethos behind the MoT has not changed. It is designed to identify any weaknesses or faults on a car which may endanger the lives of road users – both inside and outside the car. However, and very topical at the moment, emissions testing was also introduced to the MoT test in a bid to identify and repair cars which have defunct emissions control systems e.g. catalytic converters. Should a vehicle fail its MoT, it is not permitted to be used on the public highway (excluding of course being trailered), unless you are going to or from an pre-booked MoT MoT test at an authorised garage. Thus, it is vital to make sure your chariot of fire passes its MoT first time, saving you time, money, and hassle.
Keep up with oil changes. When oil levels are low, or oil is old, added friction between moving parts can cause wear and tear to the engine. Follow your owner’s manual to determine the best intervals for changing oil. Check the brakes every time the oil is changed. Take care of your tires. Check and maintain proper tire pressure. Tires inflated within five pounds per square inch (PSI) of their recommended level improve gas mileage and general handling of your vehicle. Recommended PSI can be found in the owner’s manual. Rotate tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
Antifreeze, as its name suggests, stops the water in the engine’s cooling system from freezing. To test the effectiveness of your antifreeze, an antifreeze tester can be brought from your local car spares shop. To use it, unscrew the coolant reservoir cap under the bonnet (ensuring the engine is cold first), lower the tube into the coolant and squeeze the rubber bulb on the end to suck some antifreeze inside the tester. You can then read the freezing point of the antifreeze using the scale inside the tester. Replace the antifreeze in the car’s system and replace the cap.
Incorrect tyre pressures can cause loss of performance, tyre wear, poor road handing and instability of the vehicle. So having the right pressure is an essential part of a basic service. Check our tyre pressure guide for more information. You should also check the condition of your tyres, making sure they aren’t too worn and the tread depth meets the EU legal requirement of 1.6mm. For more information, and to learn how a 20p piece can help, check out our guide to tyre safety.