Your Expert Guide to Common Vehicle Care Problems & How to Fix Them

Simon Wells
Authored by Simon Wells
Posted Monday, July 15, 2024 - 11:20pm

Some car care issues are fairly simple to resolve while others may need a professional to oversee them. If the engine warning light comes on, then you will probably need to take your car to a mechanic to diagnose the issue for you. However, some of the more common problems are much easier to spot and deal with. Read on to find out more about basic car maintenance that you should know even if you've never done any before.

Poor Visibility

To begin with, one of the worst problems you can have as a driver is not being able to see properly. If your windscreen doesn't demist fully or has a crack blocking your view, then you will need professional assistance to resolve the problem. More likely, you will be able to deal with something stuck to your windscreen by simply scrubbing it off. Make sure you know where the screen wash reservoir is located under the bonnet and refill it, especially if you're on a long journey, for example, travelling from Scotland to England or vice versa. When it rains, your wipers must clear your view fully. If not, it will probably be a result of worn-down rubber on the wiper blades. These can usually be replaced by unhooking the old ones and hooking the new ones onto the wipers themselves, often without the need for a tool

Worn Tyre Tread

Insert a twenty-pence coin into any sections of your tyre tread that look worn down. If the rim of the coin still sticks out, then you are beneath the legal limit. This is a job you can do for yourself without the need to take your car to a tyre fitting centre to establish whether or not you need new ones. If a replacement tyre is required, then you can opt for a mobile tyre fitter to come to you these days in many parts of the country. This is often much more convenient and time-saving. Bear in mind that just because you’re using a mobile service doesn’t mean it has to cost a fortune. Prioritise your time and convenience and enjoy seamless mobile tyre fitting with Fife Autocentre! Stay safe on the road without the hassle of visiting a garage and let the fitters come to you. It is best advised to never drive with low tread tyres. You could end up invalidating your insurance and even face a fine or a ban.

Drifting Control

When your car is pulling to one side or the other when you drive, it is usually because there is an alignment issue. Simply having the tracking adjusted can resolve this but you can avoid the problem in the first place by slowing down more for speed bumps and so on, the sort of thing that knocks wheels out of kilter. Don't keep hold of the steering wheel to force your car in the right direction since this is unsafe and can lead to you slowly drifting out of your lane, potentially colliding with oncoming traffic. Moreover, misaligned wheels typically lead to excessive tyre wear, as well, because they are constantly fighting against one another.

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