The 7 Most Common Breakdown Problems

One of the main causes for your car to break down is Battery trouble.

Your car battery may be flat or worn out if:

– Your car engine struggles to turn over
– If your car takes longer than usual to start
– If your car doesn’t start when you turn the key
– If your red battery light displays while you are driving

Regularly driving your car is important to keep the battery charged. Travelling short journeys often does’t provide enough power.

Batteries don’t last forever we recommend you replace it every few years.

If you are experiencing persistent battery problems and dim headlights when your engine is idling, you could have a fault with your alternator.

If the alternator isn’t working properly, the battery cannot be charged up by the engine. The battery’s stored power is enough to keep the electrics running for a short period of time but if your alternator stops working the car battery will eventually go flat.

A flat tyre caused by a puncture is a very common cause of your car breaking down.

If you accidentally hit a pothole or a kerb you need to check your wheels and rims for any damage.

Poorly maintained tyres are generally more likely to have issues. You should check your tyres regularly, ensuring they have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm and they’re inflated to the right pressure.

The electrical system of your car includes a range of circuits which control everything from the headlights to the sound system. Problems can arise due to faulty wiring, blown fuses, burned out bulbs and general wear and tear.

If its not an obvious issue like a blown bulb we recommend that you ask an expert for help. The electrical problem can be tracked down by a little detective work and a multimeter. A trained mechanic can run a full analysis of the electrical system and offer advice.

Generally nowadays it is harder to lock your keys in your car due to the central locking system, although it is not impossible. Alarms and immobilisers are more sophisticated than ever and many people have to call for help when they can’t get into their car.

Having the wrong level of oil could damage your engine. Having too much oil is as risky as having too little.

How to avoid engine oil problems:

– Regularly check your engine oil level using the dipstick
– The level should be between the 2 lines
– The amount of oil between the bottom and top line of the dipstick is usually 1 litre
– Check your vehicle handbook it will give you the correct oil specification

Starter motors are usually tough and robust but they do fail eventually.

We recommend that you have your car serviced regularly as this will pinpoint any potential faults. Finding the faults early will help prevent any long term damage.

We have years of experience and are trusted locally by many clients offering a professional and competitively priced range of services.

Book in with us and we will get to the root of the problem.

Get in touch today to discuss your car problems.