What Can I Do If My Car Fails Its MOT?

What do you do if your car fails its MOT? Well, before I explain that, I'm going to take a step back. When did you book your car in for its MOT? Was it right on the day it was due to expire? You might not be aware of this, but you can actually book your car in for its MOT up to one month prior to the expiry date, and still have the new MOT run for a full year from that expiry date. What's more, since the whole system is now computerised, you don't even have to waste time hunting around for the old MOT certificate!

If you already knew that and allowed plenty of time, then even if your car fails, you know you don't need to panic! You can take your time having the relevant repairs done, and then having an MOT re-test. At most MOT test stations, the re-test will be free of charge, although some places will charge you part of the price (such as half the full MOT price) if you choose to have the repair work done at another garage.

The Difference Between A Tarp And A Fitted Vehicle Cover

In tight times everyone wants to save money where they can. One way to help keep the cost of big ticket items down is to invest in wholesale items. An auto covering will extend the life of your vehicle by protecting it from UV wear, scratches, and other unsightly issues.

Of course, many people have chosen to try to use a tarp instead in an effort to save even more money. While this may initially seem like a good idea, it almost always turns out a bit differently than planned. First, it should be pointed out the cost of buying something like this through a wholesaler is really not that much more than the purchase of most tarps.

What is different, though, is that any tarp is simply not going to hold up. One, maybe two storms can separate the eye holes from a tarp and you immediately get shredding of the nylon. The material is just not strong enough to withstand high winds and take a lot of abuse. Nylon of this grade is not all that effective for long term protection against UV rays, either.

Frequency of Brake Repair

It is fun to have a powerful engine but it is life saving to have a reliable braking system. When you are driving your car to your destination whether it is an older or less dependable vehicle, you are likely to typically focus on whether the car will start and when it does you are relieved. And you may just be one of those drivers that dreams about a fast car with one of the world top rated engines that can accelerate so quickly that you have to be extremely alert in order to maintain control and drive safely on any road. You can have decades of driving experience and knowledge of defensive maneuvers and tricks known by heart - they have saved you from many accidents in the past. But one of the most critical components of your vehicle safety function is your braking system. Transportation safety is irrelevant without the balance of the stop aspect to the stop and go of driving. Anything can be propelled down the road and its important to have air bags, etcetera. Therefore, the performance of regular maintenance specifically on the components of your particular car's braking system is just all around great auto care for your life.

Recertification Assures Quality In Auto Body Repair Shops

It's natural for veterans of auto body repair to think that they've seen it all when it comes to repairing and refinishing crash-damaged cars that enter their shops. That may have been true in decades past, but now that a bewildering array of new technologies are being used in today's cars, it would be mere hubris for any auto technician to think that he or she knows everything that needs to be known about repairing and refinishing cars.

Some of today's cars are so complex that do-it-yourself repairs are simply no longer possible. If that is the case for owners, what it means is that the technicians we entrust our cars to must have the proper skills and knowledge to repair these complex cars. Many countries have government-recognized institutions that issue certifications to individuals based on skill and aptitude tests. In the U.S., the coveted ASE certification is issued only to people who have undergone a battery of tests and show proof of at least two years experience in a specific field. And lest one think that these certifications are only a diploma mill, the failure rate for first-time test takers is 30%.

Why Scrap a Car When It Can Be Repaired?

Michael has a diesel saloon car in great condition with more than a hundred and twenty thousand miles on the clock. It had a full service only around 4 months previously and the engine is superb. Then one day out of the blue it was difficult to start so he called out the RAC and they suspected that Michael may have put petrol in the diesel tank. But this was not the case so the mechanic used some engine easy start spray and the car fired up without any problem. The vehicle ran as well as normal and travelled over thirty miles to get him home without any difficulty but failed to start the following morning.

On the same day Michael paid an appointed dealership one hundred and fifty pounds to carry out a manual fault check following a free diagnostic test that did not show any faults. Apparently small metal filings were discovered in the air filter and faulty fuel injectors were diagnosed together with fuel pump problems. The total cost to replace the parts amounted to more than three thousand pounds but the car was only worth about one thousand pounds in working order.

Ways to Avoid Windscreen Damage

Having to pay for an emergency windscreen repair or replacement can be stressful. Luckily, there are strategies you can use to protect your windscreen from chips, holes and cracks and keep it in good repair.

The most important thing you can do while driving is to always maintain a proper distance between you and the car in front of you. Make sure there is at least three car lengths of space in between you and the other car. That way, if the car's tires kick up stones or other debris, your windscreen is much less likely to be hit. Keeping enough distance is also a strong deterrent to car accidents in general.

Another key strategy is to avoid driving behind vehicles that are carrying construction materials. Vehicles of this type include cement trucks, loaded tractor trailers and semi-trucks hauling gravel. Trucks carrying those kinds of loads will inevitably spray gravel and other small, hard objects behind them. You don't want your car to be anywhere near that.

A Break Repair Job Is Needed If You Are Hearing Noises

Everyone knows what a hassle it is to be driving a car and all of a sudden you go to make a sudden stop, only to hear that dreaded squealing and screeching sound. You roll down your window, hoping that sound is coming from the vehicle that is next to you. Naturally while you are hoping that sound you heard is not from your own car, the flow of traffic starts to pick up and you are no longer at a standstill. Since traffic is now moving smoothly, you have forgotten about what was giving you a pause for concern. A few days pass by and you haven't paid attention to your vehicle or made any more sudden stops that would make you suspect that something is wrong. The longer you continue to drive and not have your vehicle looked at; you may be causing a bigger problem to arise.

You may not know it, but that high pitched squealing sound you heard a few days ago was the sound of your brakes screaming for your attention. 

Wholesale Automobile Covers And Matching Repair Kits

When you are able to find an auto cover that matches your vehicle's specifications, it is not a bad idea to get a repair kit along with it. Sometimes, this is easier than finding the actual proper covering. Kits are basically put together to address a wide range of potential needs with the proper material, and adhesive that works well with the material, and additional things such as elastic or extra tie down material.

The bigger question is whether you should repair damage or replace the entire covering. There are some repairs that are just obviously much too large to do anything productive with and in this case the answer is clear. Smaller jobs may be something you can do on your own but you will need to be sure that it is a secure and complete repair.

Do not try to apply adhesive with the covering on the vehicle. This mistake often happens when there is damage in an area that is difficult to get right due to the significant curvature of the vehicle. 

How to Sense If You're in Need of Brake Repair

Most people invest in an automobile to help them go places. But being able to stop when you need to can be just as important as being able to go. There are a lot of warning signs to find out when you may be in need of a brake repair - before it's too late.

Listen up

Several early signs of brake wear and tear can only be detected once you turn down the stereo and open your ears. A squeaking or squealing noise when you push down on the brake pedal could be a bad sign. It is common to hear a loud screech when slamming on your brakes in an emergency situation or to hear a little squeaking after your brakes get wet. However, if you hear a loud persistent squeaking, it could be something worse. Clean the area behind each wheel to make sure it is not just dirt and dust. If the noise persists, take it into the shop.

Approved Auto Body Repair

The road can be an unpredictable place and it is always possible that your vehicle may encounter a few knocks and dents.

Vehicle repair can unfortunately be equally as unpredictable which is why leading auto manufacturers provide a number of approved auto body repairers which conform to their exact specified standards.

In the unfortunate event of your vehicle being involved in an accident, these approved auto body repairers come highly recommended as their use ensures that you continue to receive the benefits of the warranty offered by said repairs, to the extent that your warranty has not expired or lapsed.

Approved Auto Repair Guarantees