Parts of an exhaust system

Written by Declan
If you own an older car then you may have to replace part or all of the exhaust at some point. The exhaust system is vital to the car running as it should and getting rid of the harmful gases that are produced by the engine. The exhaust is usually in three sections, back box, centre and front. Often it will only be one part that will need to be replaced and the most common part is the back box. If your car starts to sound particularly loud then it may be that you have a hole in the exhaust system. You may be able to repair the exhaust using exhaust tape or bandage but this should only be a temporary fix and you should look at getting the part replaced...
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Giving your car the once over

Written by Declan
From time to time, it is very important to give your car a once over. On a daily or weekly basis you should be checking the fluid levels, tyre condition and tyre pressure but ideally once month or so you should have a really good look around the car. Look for any damage to parts body or mechanical that you had not noticed. If it has damaged the paintwork, then you may need to get it fixed to avoid rusting. Also, check that it has not done any mechanical damage, for example, if there is a kerbed alloy wheel. Take a look under the car, it is very easy to miss corroded brackets causing your exhaust to hang low or heat shields that are barely hanging on. Often if you...
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When repairs outweigh value

Written by Declan
If you own an older car then there may come a time when the cost of the repairs outweigh the value of the car. If this is the case then you have to make the choice as to if you want to risk spending the money on it and hope that it will last you for another few years or whether you cut your losses and start again. If you can only afford to buy another cheap car, less than £1500 then you may find that the types of vehicles that you can buy within your budget will need work doing anyway, or may not last very long. This is often a cycle that may people get into and it can be hard to get out of it. If possibly...
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Haggling when buying a car

Written by Declan
Buying a car can be a nerve wrecking time, you may constantly worry if you have chosen the right make and model and if you can afford the repayments. Or if you have bought an older second hand car, your concerns will probably be about the reliability of the vehicle. When buying a car new or used you may be able to haggle on the price. Many people do this when they are buying from a private dealer or small second hand dealership buy not from main dealers. Main dealers will still have an amount that they can move on the price and even if they won’t give you much off the purchase price you can often get a number of freebies thrown in. If you are worried about rushing...
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Buying at an auction

Written by Declan
There are a number of ways to buy a used car. You may see a local ad in a paper or in a shop, use a popular site such as AutoTrader or even on social media (which seems to be growing in popularity when it comes to buying and selling vehicles). Another way to buy a used car is to visit a car auction. There are hundreds up and down the country and most of which have their own way of auctioning off cars. As a general rule though, you will get time before the auction starts to view the vehicles that are due to go under the hammer. Some vehicles will have had inspections carried out and will detail the results in the window. These inspections will often give...
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