Mot collection and delivery providers in Reading right now: Dealing with car problems can be stressful, especially when taking time off work or arranging transportation. With a mobile mechanic, you can have the repair work done at your home or office, reducing the stress and inconvenience of bringing your car to a garage. Using a mobile mechanic can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting your vehicle to and from a garage. Looking for Mot Collection from Home or other MOT verification services in the UK? They can come to you when you are broken down! If your vehicle has left you stranded on the side of the road with a flat battery, or something more serious, a mobile mechanic can make their way out to you and may even be able to fix your vehicle on the spot, saving you from paying for a tow truck to your nearest workshop and then waiting for them to have an opening available to look at your vehicle.
There was a time when a paper MoT certificate was a vital document, and the police would routinely ask to see it during traffic stops. Nowadays the information is stored on a national MoT online database and the paper MoT issued after your test is simply a statement of whether your car has passed or failed. It can be a handy document for when it comes to sell your car on as it shows its service history, and it’s also a useful reminder of when your test is coming around again. However, if you’ve mislaid the paperwork – which is easily done – you can check your car’s MOT status (or the MoT status of any vehicle) by searching for the phrase ‘when’s my MoT due’ online.
Check belts and hoses: A broken belt or a leaky hose can stop you in your tracks. For example, a snapped serpentine belt can cause several systems to fail, including your air conditioner compressor and power steering, according to Consumer Reports. Plus, they also point out that if your radiator hose is damaged or leaking, your car can quickly overheat, resulting in significant damage. To avoid any problems, you, or your mechanic, should check your hoses and belts during every oil change. Also, it’s easy to pop your hood occasionally to see if there are any overly worn belts, or cracked, broken or hardened hoses. As Bob Vila points out, if you hear any squealing or wailing noises when your car is running, a belt or hose may be going bad. Consult your mechanic and owner’s manual on how and when to replace any belts or hoses.
Pre-MOT checks you can do yourself – A vehicle can fail an MOT test for a number of reasons, a wide range of tests are carried out across all areas of the vehicle and it only has to fail in one of these areas to fail the whole MOT. It’s a good idea to prepare a checklist a few weeks before your MOT to make sure that your car is in the best possible condition by the time it is inspected. Many of the most common reasons for MOT testing failure are areas that can easily be checked at home. So, by assessing these in advance, you can fix any issues and increase the chance of passing your MOT.
Checking the tires before hitting the road is always a good practice. And this practice can prove to be helpful during the summer months too. Visually inspect if your tire threads are showing signs of wear or not. It is dangerous to drive with worn tires as those can lead to uneven handling of your car both during driving and while using the brake. And they may also blow out if not replaced timely. Next, it’s time to examine tire pressure. Depending on the build and type of your tire, the pressure should be between 30 and 35 PSI. Make sure that the tires are not over or under-inflated, as those may lead to a flat tire on hot days. Don’t forget to do the same with the spare tire as well. Do check out these top tips on how to inspect your tires before getting started.
Ask questions. Lots of them. Don’t be intimidated. Ask questions about why something needs fixing or how a technology works. As the customer, you have a right to become more educated about your vehicle. Request Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. Whenever parts need to be replaced, be sure to request genuine OEM components rather than generic pieces. Maintaining exact manufacturer specifications is important in achieving optimum performance. The low-price allure of aftermarket parts often prompts customers to forgo OEM quality, but spending the extra dollars on factory-approved equipment now can make a big difference down the road, especially in terms of vehicle longevity.
The handbrake: check the tension in your handbrake. If it slides up and down without resistance and can’t be ratcheted to a set level, there’s likely to be a problem needing fixing by a professional mechanic. Seats and seatbelts: check the driver’s seat adjusts forwards and backwards and inspect the full length of the seatbelt for any damage. Check all the seatbelts latch and fasten securely, and lock when you give them a sharp tug. Windscreen: any damage wider than 10mm in the driver’s central view will cause an MOT fail, as will any damage larger than 40mm in the whole of the swept area.
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. Find additional information at mot-centre.com.
An MOT is a legal requirement after three years. Without it your insurance is invalidated, and you could be fined. There’s another important aspect to the MOT. It proves that your car is roadworthy, and safe to drive. Vehicles have a lot of stresses put upon them. As they age the chances of parts wearing or failing increase. An MOT test can help to spot problems before they occur. Call Tilehurst Service & MOT Centre today. We perform fair and thorough MOTs for all cars and motorbikes.
If your radiator builds up deposits, it can mess with the cooling system in your car. To keep the radiator in top shape, a radiator flush will do the trick. How often you need to replace the radiator fluid will depend on your vehicle. Start by consulting the owner’s manual to get an idea. For the most part, you can get away with flushing the radiator every couple of years. Now that you know about these basic car repairs, you can keep your car in top shape for many years to come. Remember to rotate your tires, change the oil, replace the brake pads, and more.
Once a car is three years old (four years in Northern Ireland) it must be tested each year to check it meets road safety and environmental standards. This Ministry of Transport test is commonly known as an ‘MOT’. MOT tests are carried out at authorised test centres around the country, all of which display an official blue sign featuring three white triangles. An MOT test is a legal requirement once your car reaches 3 years of age. An MOT test must be undertaken by a DVSA certified MOT test centre. The DVSA guidelines specify what will be tested on your vehicle – these include your cars identification, bodywork of your car, the interior of your car and your car’s engine.