How to Avoid Car Breakdowns
Eighty per cent of car breakdowns are easily avoided if you have a simple understanding of your car’s systems and how they work.
A few quick checks and some basic maintenance will keep you on the road without fear of a mechanical failure at the most inopportune time.
The most common causes of vehicular breakdowns, according to the AA (http://www.theaa.co.uk) and the RAC (http://www.rac.co.uk), are:
- Flat or faulty battery
- Flat or damaged tyres/wheels
- Alternator faults
- Starter motor failure
- Distributor cap problems
- Running out of fuel/wrong type of fuel
- Damage to clutch cables
- Neglected spark plugs
- Faults with high tension leads
- Worn out cylinder head gasket
- Improperly working alarms and immobilisers
- Broken and slipped fan belts
Unless you’re a trained mechanic, you can’t be expected to be able to keep your car in top condition and deal with all difficulties you might be unfortunate enough to suffer. Having your car serviced at regular intervals by a reputable mechanic is the best way to keep your vehicle on the road.
However, you can limit the chances of a breakdown and increase the possibility of safe, trouble-free motoring with some simple procedures, which you should carry out frequently and before long journeys.
Battery
Check every few months that the terminals are clean and protected by a layer of petroleum jelly or grease, and that the clamps and terminals are secure. Top up with distilled water if the level is low.
Modern batteries are supposedly maintenance-free, but there is no harm in casting an eye over yours every now and again.
Tyres
Check your tyres’ pressure every couple of weeks, using a good quality gauge. The correct pressure will be given in your vehicle’s logbook. Look for cuts on the sidewalls (they may lead to slow punctures).
Keep an eye on the tread. A tyre must have at least 1.6mm of tread in a continuous band at least as wide as three-quarters of the central tread breadth. But it is widely recommended that you replace a tyre when its tread reaches 3mm – roughly the depth of a £1 coin. This is especially true for motoring in wet or icy weather.
Uneven wear on your tyres suggests problems with your suspension.
Make sure your spare tyre is in good condition, too.
Oil
Check the engine oil levels once a fortnight, using the dipstick to make sure that the level is between minimum and maximum (and have the oil and oil filter changed at recommended service intervals).
Water
Check the coolant is at a sufficient level and top it up when necessary. Make sure the engine is cold before you do this. Modern cars have opaque plastic reservoirs that allow you to check the coolant level easily. With an older vehicle, you will have to unscrew the radiator cap.
Have the concentration of antifreeze checked before winter to ensure it is sufficient.
Keep the windscreen washer bottle topped up, adding an antifreeze in winter and an additive to tackle grease - created by squashed insects - in summer. This might seem trivial, but it is a legal requirement that your windscreen washing system works at all times.
Windscreen and wipers
Keep your windscreen free of dirt and greasy marks, and inspect it for cracks or chips caused by stones. Some types of damage can be repaired, while others will require a new windscreen.
Replace the wiper blades annually - or sooner if they begin to leave smears on the windscreen (it means they are worn or split.)
Electrics
Your engine’s high-tension leads should be checked at regular service intervals for cracks and wear caused by age, which allows in water that creates faults. You can apply damp-repelling spray, but this is only a temporary solution.
Lights
Keep all your lights clean and check them weekly for cracks, chips or missing glass or plastic. Ensure all lights – including the ones that illuminate your dashboard – work properly.
Keys
A worn key can quickly wear out the lock barrel in your car door or ignition and cause the lock to jam. If you have an electronic fob key, replace the batteries every six months to ensure maximum performance.
Get extra keys made and keep them in a safe place. This also goes for your transponder key (if you have one), which sends a coded message to your car’s central locking. Stash away the original, ‘master’ version (usually red in colour) and use a copy.
Fuel
Fill up at the start of every journey, and be certain about what sort of fuel your car uses. Using the wrong kind will mean the tank will have to be drained and the fuel disposed of - and that is an expensive business.
