Buying a car is one of the biggest
investments you’ll make in your lifetime, usually second only to purchasing a
new home. It is extremely important to maintain your vehicle if you wish to
have it in excellent working condition for an extended period.
As your car begins to age, you’ll need to
have it serviced and repaired to ensure it is roadworthy and safe to drive.
Although there are a few small things you can do by yourself to uphold the
condition of your vehicle, most tasks are best carried out by a trained,
experienced mechanic.
You put yourself and your loved ones in
danger if you try and save money on DIY repairs, the only way to guarantee your
car will be professionally serviced is to visit qualified car mechanics.
Safety
& MOT Testing
If your vehicle is over 3 years old, you
must have a Ministry of Transport Test (MOT) conducted annually to ensure your
vehicle is roadworthy and isn’t emitting a high level of harmful toxins when
operational.
If you are stopped by the police while
driving and your MOT certificate isn’t up to date, you could face heavy fines.
To avoid any problems, it is advisable to
book your car into a local mechanics garage and have them thoroughly inspect
your vehicle. A reputable auto garage will have trained mechanics on site ready to fully examine your car to ensure it passes an MOT test.
An MOT test covers most
of the following:
§Steering and Suspension Tests
§Brakes
§Inspection of Tyres and Wheels
§Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions
§Body Structure
§Braking System
§Lights and Indicators
Our fully trained and highly experienced
staff at Acorn Tyres and Servicing provide a complete MOT service which
includes testing all the features mentioned above. If we identify any issues
with your vehicle, we’ll rectify the problem and have your car back on the road
as soon as possible.
Having your vehicle serviced for MOT
certification isn’t just important because of its legal requirement, it also
ensures you and your passengers are travelling in a car which is safe to drive
on the road.
Engine
Repairs & Diagnostics
If you notice funny noises coming from your
engine while driving, you may want to have it checked by a local mechanic
to
ensure there isn’t a problem with your vehicle. If you let the problem fester,
your engine could seize, and you’d be left with a complete overhaul to repair
the damage.
Replacing an engine is an expensive
undertaking, to avoid this scenario, it is best to have it assessed the moment
you notice any issues. If any one of these warning lights come on in your car,
you should immediately visit one of your nearest garages for attention.
§Check Engine
§Low Oil Pressure
§Check Oil
With so many quirky new apps on your
smartphone these days, many drivers think they can check their engine
diagnostics using computer applications they’ve downloaded from the Google Play
Store or Apple’s App Store.
This is not a good way of detecting engine
trouble, the sensible thing to do is consult with a trained mechanic and allow
them to evaluate your vehicle's condition. In addition to noticing warning
lights, you can also look out for other problems which may indicate your engine
requires attention.
Loss
of Power
– If you’ve a problem with your internal
combustion engine, you may be experiencing a loss in power when you press your
foot on the accelerator.
Reduced
Mileage
– Some cars suffer from decreased
efficiency as they age, your fuel tank may not be getting you as far as it used
to. If you notice this problem, it is important to have fuel systems checked by
a trained mechanic.
Noises
Aplenty
– If you hear any funny sounds like
hissing, banging, knocking, or spitting coming from your engine, there could be
a problem with your combustion flow, if you notice any strange noises, visit a
garage as soon as possible.
Engine
Stalling
– If you’ve experienced driving a manual transmission,
you’ll be familiar with an engine stalling when learning to drive as a
beginner. If you don’t use the clutch and accelerator correctly, your car jumps
or cuts out and you’re left red faced, with a line of cars beeping behind you.
This doesn’t happen with an automatic
transmission, so if your engine stalls, you’ll instantly know there is
something wrong. This also occurs in a manual transmission if not caused by
human error, so if it happens in your vehicle, it is best to have it checked
out.
Rough
Idling
– Idling is basically when your engine ticks
over and you aren’t applying any pressure to the accelerator. If your vehicle
is jumpy when idling, it may indicate a clog in the system or spark plug
problems.
If your warning lights have suddenly come
on or you suspect you may need immediate car repairs, book an appointment with
our professional team of trained mechanics for a free quotation. We specialise
in all manner of car repairs, we’ve
got the right tools for the job and the experience to ensure your vehicle gets
the attention it deserves.
Checking
Your Tyres
Tyres
are one of the most important
components on your car, if you drive a vehicle with defective, underinflated or
illegal tyres, you put yourself and your passengers at risk. In addition, you
also leave yourself open to heavy fines from law enforcement.
To ensure you are driving on safe tyres,
there are some regular checks you can carry out to help you identify any tears,
cuts or bulging.
If you notice any problems, you should take
your car to your local garage. If you aren’t sure where the closest reliable auto
shop is located, a quick Google search using key terms such as ‘garages near me’
should bring up a multitude of options. It is advisable to read through several
online reviews when selecting a garage.
By law, all cars on the road must have a
minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in a continuous band located around the central
three quarters of the tyre. You can test your tread depth by using a special
measurement tool, if you’d prefer a professional tested the tyres for you, one
of our skilled mechanics would be happy to help.
Checking the tread depth can be confusing,
sometimes it’s hard to find the depth indicators making it difficult to assess
your tyres, your best option is to have your car tyres evaluated by a
professional to eliminate any mistakes.
It is important to check your tyres
regularly to see if they are underinflated, underinflated tyres can lead to
overheating, loose handling or even a blowout while driving.
There are some routine checks you can
conduct to evaluate the condition of your tyres, if you suspect any problems,
drop into our fully equipped facility and we’ll conduct a thorough examination
of your tyres.
We stock a wide range of affordable,
high-quality tyres ready to be fitted onto your vehicle. We do our utmost to
have new tyres on your car as quickly as possible, allowing you to get back on
the road without any major disruptions to your schedule.
Here are just some of the many benefits of
fitting new tyres:
§Increased Handling and Performance
§Better Traction
§Improved fuel economy
§A Better Driving Experience
Examining
Your Brakes
Many drivers, when inspecting their
vehicles, forget to check their brakes. Usually, they’ll walk around the
vehicle and look at their lights, tyres and body. They’ll then get in their car
and check to see if their indicators and window wipers are working, forgetting
to take the vehicle for a quick test drive to assess the quality of their brakes.
If your brakes fail, you could do some
serious damage to your car, you could also potentially lose your life or take
the life of another driver or bystander. The next time you put your foot on the
brake pedal and you hear an unusual noise or the car doesn’t respond
accordingly, book an appointment with our dependable team of experienced mechanics.
The 3 main reasons to have your brakes
checked by our specialists include:
1.Safety
2.Save Money on Costly Repairs
3.Increased Longevity
If you would prefer not to gamble with your
life or the lives of your passengers and other road users, it is vitally
important to have your brakes examined by a trained technician the moment you
notice any complications.
Acorn
Tyres and Servicing
Our team is committed to providing our
clients with expert, affordable services which ensure your vehicle is kept in
exceptional working condition. All the products we fit on your car are 100%
genuine, which guarantees you’ll leave our garage in a fully serviced vehicle
with quality working parts.
Our name is synonymous with excellence
right across Aylesbury and the surrounding area, so if you would like to contact
one of our representatives and make a booking, call us today on 01296
612 075 or drop into our garage at Acorn Tyres and Servicing, 1 Weston Way
Industrial Estate, Lower Road, Aylesbury, HP22 5GT.
