The top three Breakdown tips

A Breakdown is a nightmare for all motorists; they can stress you out and cause unnecessary road rage among other motorists on the road, especially if they are running late. However, in this article we are going to put your mind at ease by providing you with the top three tips to keep your car going strong and making sure that your car is well maintained and hopefully reduces the risk of a bigger problem or more expensive solution.

1.    Avoid having to call for breakdown assistance

The first tip is, avoid breakdowns in the first place by making basic checks on your car before a long journey. For example: by ensuring that your tyres are in good working order and are properly inflated, your anti-freeze is topped up, your brakes are in good working order as well as ensuring that your power steering works.  Carrying out these checks once a month is potentially going to reduce your risk of a breakdown and the need to call roadside recovery.

2.    Your battery needs you

All cars require a good working battery so try your best to avoid unnecessarily draining it if your car is switched off. Make simple checks like switching your lights off – including lights inside and outside of the car (headlights, tail lights, fog lights). Car stereos and devices plugged in to the 12v cigarette lighter are also battery draining culprits so unplug and turn them off when your car is turned off.

Most people believe that the car battery gets checked at an MOT test, but this is generally not the case, so it should be your responsibility to try and check it yourself on a monthly basis as well as before a long journey. Your car manual should have information in about how to check that your battery is in good working order so always consult your car manual.

During the wintry months, the most common causes of car breakdown is your battery so ensure it is checked more regularly in the winter months, especially if you have an older car. Also, if you’re not planning to use your car very often during the winter months then start it up every now and again so that the battery doesn’t freeze over and cause you problems when you do actually want to use it.

3.    Don’t let your tyres get worn out

Avoid grazing the tyres against the kerb when parking as it can damage the sidewalls of your tyres. This can then turn into a tyre puncture an cause you more problems. Always check for grazes and cuts in the tyre that could also be a sign of worn tyres. Make sure the tread on the tyres is not less than the legally required 1.6mm over 75% of the tyre’s width.

Ensure that the tyres are inflated correctly to the correct pressure for a smooth drive. Over inflated tyres can cause the tyres to burst during when drive whereas under inflated tyres can affect the handling of your car. Make sure you know where your spare tyre is and how to change your tyre in your car in case of emergencies.

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