Author: Declan

Finding new wheel trims for your vehicle

Written by Declan
If your car or van only has steel wheels and not alloys then you may wish to add a set of wheel trims. Steel wheels can look a little unsightly, especially if the wheels are corroded. You can often pick up a set of wheel trims for around £20. Wheel trims are plastic covers that fit over the top of the steel wheels. They are usually fairly straight forward to fit although you may need to apply some pressure to get them to click in to place. Wheel trims do have a habit of coming off from time to time so if possibly, it is best to cable tie them on to the steel wheel in a few different places. IF you want something a little more permanent then why...
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Do you have a coolant leak?

Written by Declan
Coolant is very much needed in your car and without it the engine will very quickly overheat often causing irreversible damage. You may not realise that you have a coolant leak until a warning light comes up on your dash, you notice a puddle on the floor under your car or your car goes in for repair work or an MOT and it is picked up there. Another tell tale sign that your coolant is running low is your temperature gauge shotting up and down. You may also notice that your heaters in the car begin to blow hot then cold air, this can be a warning to top up your coolant. Occasionally coolant will need to be topped up anyway but if you are having to do it every...
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How do I know if my brakes need replacing?

Written by Declan
Brakes are a particularly important part of your vehicle. It is important to check your brakes are working before any journey, especially if you have not used the car in a while or you are going on a long journey. Brakes wear down as the car is driven more often but they can also need attention if the car has been sat standing for several months as this can cause them to seize. People often are not aware that their brakes need replacing until it comes to their MOT. This means they may have been driving around for months without realising that their brakes were not operating as efficiently as they should have been. If you hear a squealing or griding noise when you apply the brakes then you will...
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Are you on the market for a second hand car?

Written by Declan
Buying a second hand car can be exciting but it can also be extremely stressful. You often have no guarantees that the car is mechanically sound and will have to try and do some investigating yourself. You may be lucky enough to know a mechanic that you can take with you or if not decide to pay a company such as the AA to give the vehicle a once over for you before you buy it. Although this can pick up on more obvious issues that the car may have it may not pick up everything. You have a choice when buying a used car to buy from a garage / dealer or privately. You may be offered a warranty if you buy the vehicle from a garage but the...
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Repair or replace your vehicle exhaust pipe

Written by Declan
For many car owners the first they know that their vehicle exhaust pipe needs attention is the noise it makes and many do not realise that a damaged exhaust pipe leads to reduced engine performance and fuel efficiency so it is important if you suspect that there is a problem with your vehicle exhaust system that you have it checked by a mechanic. Should there be an issue then whether to replace the whole exhaust, part of it (as it comes in sections) or repair it will depend on how badly it is damaged. Replacing an exhaust system is costly but if most of the pipe is corroded it is probably the best option. Most garages will be able to quote for this but there are specialist exhaust centres that...
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