A diagnostic test can help to detect problems before it causes any serious damage or causes a breakdown. The cars computer will also store information about the history of the vehicle to help technicians carry out the best repairs for the vehicle.

You don’t have to wait until the engine management light is on to have a diagnostic test. If you believe major components to your cars engine are not performing as they should or the performance of your vehicle has altered you can book in for a diagnostic test.

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Not all exhaust systems look the same this can depend on many factors but they all work in a similar way. The exhaust ensures toxic gases are channeled away from the vehicle and passengers. These fumes are collected in the engine from the cylinder head by an exhaust manifold. First of all these gases are collected in the front pipe before travelling through a catalytic converter which removes carbon monoxide and hydrogen monoxide to be converted into inert gases.

Next, the gases go through a silencer which deflect the sound waves from the engine cancelling out the loud noise. If your car becomes very loud this could be due to the silencer becoming corroded and developing a hole.

Finally, the fumes will exit from the vehicle through the tail pipe and away from the vehicle. The whole exhaust system it held together and to the vehicle using sets of flanges,, hangers, gaskets and clamps.

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Pulling When Turning – If your suspension is damaged you could feel a pull when you are turning a corner meaning the vehicle is no longer being kept stable by the shocks. If you get this feeling round a corner its best to book in for a check.

Uneven Tyre Wear – If the tread is wearing unevenly on your tyres it could be a sign the suspension isn’t holding the car even and could be putting uneven pressure on the vehicle and therefore wearing out the tyres.

Rough Ride – This is the sign that most people pick up on when their suspension is damaged, if you start to feel the road as being more bouncy you may need to have your suspension checked.

One way to test your vehicles suspension from home is by trying the bounce test this is done by simply pressing down on the front of the vehicle when it is parked, bounce it up and down a few times and then release it. If the vehicle continues to bounce a few times after you release it instead of just spring back up stable this could mean your suspension is worn out and needs a professional to look at it.

The post Signs Your Suspension Needs Repair appeared first on AllCarz.

Try to get to a safe location so you can stop incase it suddenly stalls. The problem could be coming from the battery itself, the alternator or fuses in the engine. If you are close to or are only a few minutes away from a garage take it to the repair shop.

If your car stalls during your journey coast to the side of the road and call your breakdown assistance such as the RAC or the AA. There is no way to tell how long the battery will last once the light comes on so it is best to be cautious and plan to stop as soon as you can.

The post How to React When Your Battery Light Comes On appeared first on AllCarz.

Checks during a service include: the engine oil and filter, the car battery, brakes, fluid levels, tyres, lights and suspensions.

Having an up-to-date service history on your car can be useful when it comes to selling it as it shows that the vehicle has been well looked after. 

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Underinflated or overinflated tyres can also have a serious effect on grip as it causes the tyre to lose its shape and lowers the contact between the car and the road. Pressures should remain at the manufacturers recommended settings.

It’s essential that you ensure all tyres are in good condition and you adjust your driving to the conditions of the road.

Tread depth
-If your tyres are below 2mm, consider whether it is worth risking waiting rather than replacing them
-If you don’t have a tread depth gauge, use a 20p coin as a guide – insert the coin at three points across the tread pattern and at various point around the circumference. If you can see the border at any point, have a professional check them
-The legal limit for cars, vans and all vehicles below 3.5 tons is 1.6mm. A potential £2500 fine and three penalty points can be applied on each tyre found to be below those limits

Air pressure
-Are all tyres at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings?
-Settings can be found in the owner’s handbook, in the door shut or fuel filler cap

Condition
-Tyres should be free of lumps, bumps, cuts and cracking – if you see these, have them checked by a professional
-If you slide and the tyres hit an object like a kerb, check it before your next journeys to ensure it has not been damaged, which may result in a bulge, for example

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An few easy fixes are to ensure the visibility of the road from the drivers view is clear. Make sure the wipers are clearing the windscreen effectively with no cracks in them and the washers are working as they should. Another easy fix is the lighting, a car can fail its MOT if it has a blown bulb or the lights are discolored or cracked. Take a good look around the car to ensure all lights are functioning.

Some things aren’t as easy to spot when they break try listening out for any strange noises when you are driving. Any unusual sounds when cornering or breaking could be due to issues with your suspension. Grinding noises could be a sign your brakes need replacing, the brake pedal shouldn’t feel spongy and the car shouldn’t pull to one side when braking.

Finally, a good one to check yourself is the tyres. The legal tread depth of a tyre is 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the tread, you can use the 20p test to check, also check for any cuts, lumps or bulges. If in any doubt about the condition of your tyres drop into AllCarz and we will check them for free!

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