Caring for your catalytic converter

Written by Declan
Catalytic converters are fitted as part of many cars exhaust systems. The job of the catalytic converter is to reduce the emission of pollutants caused by incomplete combustion in the engine by means of a chemical reaction. They commonly contain a catalyst (a material that facilitates a reaction without being used up in the reaction) made of precious metals such as platinum and are therefore quite expensive. Un-burnt fuel passing through the engine into the exhaust can damage the catalytic converter so it’s important to avoid this if possible. Certain fuel additives may cause damage so always consult the manufacturer’s instructions before using them. First off, you should keep your car regularly serviced and don’t ignore ECU warning lights as a poorly running engine can cause damage to the converter....
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Cam-belt time bomb

Written by Declan
Is there a time bomb ticking away in your engine? If you’ve recently bought a second hand car, do you know if it‘s cam-belt needs changing? The cam-belt transfers motion from the engine to regulate the cam shaft which in turn operates the vital inlet and exhaust valves. If the cam-belt snaps, there’s a chance that many of these valves will be damaged, along with the cylinders and pistons. This can be very costly to repair. Firstly you need to establish if your engine utilises a cam-belt or a timing chain. Chains should not need changing as they should not snap. Manufacturers specify the mileage at which the cam-belt should be changed in the service schedule. If your cars service history doesn’t show this having been done or you don’t...
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To repair or replace an exhaust system

Written by Declan
If you suddenly find that your car sounds particularly loud when you accelerate and the noise is coming from the exhaust then you most probably have a hole. This can not only be embarrassing and could actually get you in to trouble with the police if it is too loud, it can mean that your car fails an MOT and is therefore not roadworthy. So what options do you have? Depending on where about the hole is in the exhaust and how big it is, you could try repairing it. Some garages offer this as a service where they will weld a patch on or you can actually buy exhaust bandage that you can apply yourself to cover up he hole. Both of these methods are somewhat temporary although the...
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Making sure your car insurance is correct

Written by Declan
Car insurance is something that all of us need to have that want to be able to drive a vehicle. You also need to keep your car insured if you keep t on the road even if it is not drivable. When looking for insurance quotes, there are many factors you need to consider and often the policy can seem extremely complex. With the recent trend of comparison sites, it does make obtaining several quotes relatively easy, but be aware as sometime these sites will mean that you have multiple credit searches show on your file. Once you have found a quote you are happy with it is important to re-read through all the information that you have given them. If there are any mistakes, even typos in your name...
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Defrosting your windscreen

Written by Declan
It’s that time of year again where you rush out of the house in the morning (normally late for work!) and you see that your car is completely frozen over. So what’s the best way to defrost it quickly? Start the engine – Firstly you need to try to get the car warm, which in modern cars with stop start can be a bit of a pain as they don’t tend to warm up properly until you are moving. Turn the hot blowers on full and switch on the rear heated screen. De-icer – this is by far the quickest method of removing the ice however it does tend to leave a greasy film over your windscreen that seems to smear once the ice has gone and you have your...
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