Fast vehicle service quote and auto repairs provider in 2023 in Reading by carservice-centre.co.uk: Doing your own pre-MoT check can also help you save, as latest figures reveal more than a quarter of MoT failures come from faulty light bulbs and low-pressure tyres. Both are a cheap and simple DIY fix, and sorting them out in advance means you won’t have to pay for a retest which can cost up to half the full MoT rate. Buying a car is an expensive business, but unfortunately the costs don’t stop there. Running a car isn’t getting any cheaper either, so when you’re budgeting it’s crucial to consider all the associated spending required to keep a car on the road, and how you might be able to keep a lid on costs. Find extra info on cheap car servicing Reading.
How frequently should I service my car? You should have your car serviced annually or before it reaches a certain mileage outlined by the manufacturer (typically 12,000 miles) – whichever comes first. It’s best to check the service intervals in your car’s handbook, because they vary depending on the model, fuel type and engine. What work is carried out during a service? This depends on the service interval your car has reached. Most first services for new cars will involve only an oil and filter change, then the second service will also include the replacement of components with a 24-month lifespan – such as the spark plugs (petrol cars only), glow plugs (diesel cars only) and the brake fluid. There will be a larger, full service the following year, and after that the same cycle continues throughout the car’s life. However, if you own an older car and don’t cover many miles, you can opt for smaller services more often.
Then consider where you buy them from. Many car spares and DIY shops are open on a Sunday, which is handy. But if you plan ahead and ensure you’ve everything you need before starting a job, you’ll have the best chance of getting products at the lowest prices. Also don’t forget to factor in the cost of delivery when making an online purchase; it’s often the difference between a good deal and a poor one. Petrol and diesel : We should start with talking about fuel, however. Different techniques can help you use as little fuel as possible, but however frugal your driving style, at some point you’ll need to pull into a filling station and part with an uncomfortably large sum of money for a tank of petrol or diesel. It is still possible to make savings here, however, with some simple forward planning. Service stations on motorways, for instance, should be avoided at all costs, because it’s not uncommon for them to charge more than 10p extra per litre than other stations. Based on filling the average 55-litre fuel tank from near empty, you could be forking out more than £5 extra. Many petrol stations on major dual carriageways aren’t much better.
Any tyre that doesn’t have at least 1.6mm of tread across the middle three-quarters is an instant MoT failure. Tyres with significant damage such as cuts, bulges or cracking will cost you a pass certificate too. All your vehicle’s lights must be clean and work correctly, or you will fail the MoT. So before you book it in, check they do. That means headlamps on full and dipped beam, sidelamps and daytime running lights, hazard lights and indicators, fog lamps if fitted, and even number plate lights at the back. You can pick up most bulbs from car accessory stores, and they’re usually easy to fit – if sometimes a little fiddly.
IHS Automotive reports that Americans are keeping their cars and light trucks for longer than previously reported – an average of 11.5 years – an increase attributed to both improved vehicle reliability and economic factors. With 84 percent of vehicles on the road in need of a service or new part, YourMechanic surveyed hundreds of mechanics from more than 30 states to compile the top five tips car owners can follow as a guide to help extend the life of their vehicle.
We will consider Any Job And will Always Give you our Customer The Best Advice Possible To Save You Money Where We Can. Are You Going On Holiday, Get Your Car Checked By our Fully Qualified Technicians Before You decide to travel from the Tilehurst Car Service Centre. Suitable for some high mileage vehicles needing frequent Car Engine Oil Change or low mileage vehicles needing only minor annual servicing. Oil and oil filters are changed, engine bay fluid levels are topped up and a visual brake system check and tyre report are carried out and completed. A vehicle health check and road test by a qualified technician are carried out. Find even more info on http://carservice-centre.co.uk/.
Ignore the myth of the 100,000-mile tune-up. “It doesn’t exist,” states Principe. “Each vehicle has a specific tune-up schedule recommended by the manufacturer. The more you keep the systems clean, the better the vehicle will run.” Variations in climate and driving style also dictate the necessity for maintenance. Commuting in dusty desert conditions will quickly clog air filters, while driving short distances repeatedly can wear out the exhaust system, as moisture is never completely evacuated. Extremely hot and cold conditions require more attention paid to radiator fluid and engine oil.
The corner of the car should quickly return to its original position. If it bounces more than twice, this could mean the shock absorbers are faulty and need to be checked. Horn: give a short blast of the horn – if it doesn’t work or isn’t loud enough to attract the attention of pedestrians or other motorists, get it repaired. Speedometer; Your vehicle speedometer must be working both correctly and accurately. The swept area of the windscreen must not have any damage larger than 10mm to pass the MOT test.
Have you ever collected your car after an MOT, and then been left open mouthed at the cost? Some MOT centres advertise one price and then add on hidden charges. There are no hidden charges with Tilehurst Service & MOT Centre. The price you see is the price you pay. We have an outstanding reputation for great customer service, high quality repairs and low prices. Call us today for a quote, and find out why. Great value MOT testing, at times to suit you.
Spending about $20 to replace the fuel filter can save you a lot of money on a fuel filter. Most experts recommend owners change the fuel filter annually to keep it in top shape. While this is a fast and inexpensive replacement, it’s a more advanced project not recommended for DIY. A professional can take care of the fuel filter when you take the car in for maintenance.
If you are planning on washing your car, it’s important to pick the right soap, according to Consumer Reports. Laundry detergent, dish soap or hand soap are abrasive and may strip off the protective wax. It’s best to use a car soap that’s specifically designed to be used on automotive paint. It may be tempting to ignore the warning light for a day or two when your car’s fluids are low. However, according to Popular Mechanics, low fluid levels can negatively impact your car’s performance, fuel economy and longevity. It’s recommended to check your fluids, as well as top them off at every oil change. Also, as Car Advice points out, your fluids may need to be flushed and replaced periodically, since they can break down and lose potency over time. Remember to always follow the recommendations in your owner’s manual to ensure you’re adding the correct fluids and amount.