Faqs Page

1. Do I have to get my car serviced by a franchised dealer... ?
2. How can I tell when my brake pads are worn ... ?
3. When should I change my Engine oil ... ?
4. What if my car fails the Mot Test... ?
5. What does it cost for the Mot Test... ?
6. Is it correct, I can return my car for a FREE oil top up...?
7. How often should I change my Antifreeze...?
8. What is a Pollen / Cabin filter for...?
9. How do I correctly check my tyres...?
10. What is a Timing Belt / Cam Belt / Timing Chain...?
11. My Car Smells like Rotten Eggs...?
12. Mot Test Only £35 with a Full Service...?
13. My Air Conditioning Seems Very Poor...?
14. I am thinking of changing my Car can you inspect it before I Buy...?

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7 How often shoul I change my Antifreeze

For "ordinary" antifreeze, the vehicle manufacturers generally recommend coolant changes every two to three years or 30,000 miles. Others say it's not a bad idea to change the coolant every year for maximum corrosion protection -- especially in vehicles that have aluminium cylinder heads, blocks or radiators. Several antifreeze suppliers have just recently introduced "long life" antifreeze formulations that claim to provide protection for four years or 50,000 miles.

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8 What is a Pollen filter / Cabin filer for.

With increasing traffic congestion and commuting distances adding up to more time being spent inside a car, cabin filters not only increase the comfort, but help to protect the health of the occupants by improving the quality of the air inside the vehicle. Air contaminated by dust, soot, fumes and odours is not only unpleasant, but can present a serious hazard to health. In particular, filtering out many of the pollutants present in the roadside atmosphere it can also offer relief for asthma, allergy and hay fever sufferers.
Some filters even include a layer of activated carbon to further enhance their efficiency. In common with all types of filter, a cabin filter will begin to lose it's effectiveness as it becomes dirty through use. Most car manufacturers recommend replacement at intervals of around 15000 miles or every 2 years.

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9 How do I correctly check my tyres

The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm over 75% of the tyre's width and around its entire outer circumference. Check using the short 'tread bars' (each 1.6mm deep) which lie across the tread at intervals in modern tyres. It is best to change your car tyres before they reach the limit. A tyre with less than 1.6mm tread requires twice the braking distance of a new tyre When inflating tyres, check the pressure readings used. Some air gauges use bars, rather than pounds per square inch (psi), and any confusion could lead to burst or over-inflated tyres. As an added safety check, inspect your car tyres' inner and outer walls regularly for any cuts, bulges, or abrasions.

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10 What is a Timing Belt / Cambelt Belt / Timing Chain.

The job of the timing belt / cambelt is to turn the camshaft (s) at exactly 1/2 the speed of the crankshaft while maintaining a precise alignment. This means that the crankshaft will make two revolutions for every revolution of the camshaft. Engines will have at least one camshaft, or as many as four camshafts in some of the V-type engines. The camshaft causes the intake and exhaust valves to open and close in time with the pistons which move up and down in the cylinders. The valves must open and close at exactly the right time in relationship to the piston movement in order for the engine to run properly. Timing belts / Cambelts have a limited life span. Car makers use these belts instead of more durable chains because chains are noisier and cost more to manufacture. Your vehicle owner's manual will recommend at what mileage the timing belt must be replaced.

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11 My Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs

The "rotten egg" sulphur smell is usually generated by high temperatures in the catalytic converter caused by excess unburned fuel going through the exhaust. The converter oxidizes this fuel, which generates the heat, and the high heat generates the smell. An occasional whiff of this smell upon start-up or momentarily at idle isn't necessarily a problem. In fact, it indicates the catalytic converter is doing its job in preventing unburned fuel vapours from reaching the atmosphere. But of course, the concern is what's causing the higher percentage of unburned fuel from the engine.

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12 Mot Test Only £35 With a Full Service.

Many items on the Mot Test checklist are also duplicated in our service schedule, for this reason if you have a full service carried out at the same time as your mot test we are able to reduce the cost of this combination saving you over 30% off the Mot test fee.

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13 My Air Conditioning Seems Very Poor. 

Over a period of time, air conditioning systems can lose some (or sometimes all) of its effectiveness. This is mainly caused by drivers not using the system all year round and, of course, not understanding the importance of regular servicing. Most vehicle manufacturers advise running the air conditioning system at least once a week throughout the year. The biggest problem by far is loss of the system’s refrigerant. Most air conditioning systems have a seepage rate of around 15% a year but this can increase dramatically in systems which are not used for long periods. This is particularly so during the winter months due to an increase in expansion and contraction of components.

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I am thinking of changing my Car can you Inspect it before I buy.

YES we can, many of our customers get us to Inspect the car before they hand over there cash. This is a service we offer absolutely free of charge all we ask is that you bring the car to us.

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