It’s a gut-wrenching feeling when you find out something has gone wrong with your car and it never seems to come at an ideal time. Paying for a mechanic to fix these issues can cost you a lot of hard-earned cash, and something you may not have even budgeted for.
We take a look at the top 5 things that could go wrong with your car. Here are some interesting statistics to get you started:
- More than 75% of Brits would leave it to a mechanic to do all standard maintenance checks on their vehicles
- A third of British motorists have never carried out basic maintenance tasks on their car before (28%)
- More than 30% of UK drivers don’t feel confident enough to change a tyre
- 10% per cent of motorists are unable to identify warning lights on their car’s dashboard
- One in ten drivers do not feel 100% confident when it comes to filling up their petrol tank
- More than 10% don’t have the confidence to check their own tyre pressure
Swinton research reveals that more than a quarter of British motorists avoid basic car maintenance tasks – three quarters would leave standard maintenance checks to a mechanic, rather than checking themselves.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled out the top five problem areas faced by UK drivers and developed some handy tips on what you can do to make sure you avoid a sticky and costly situation.
WHAT CAN GO WRONG WITH YOUR CAR AND HOW YOU CAN FIX IT:
1) Oil runs out unexpectedly
Half of motorists don’t feel confident changing oil themselves. Oil is crucial for the functioning of an engine and if it runs out, the engine will start to overheat and the increased friction can cause permanent damage.
You can avoid the panic by checking the oil dipstick at least once a fortnight. Simply find the bright handle labelled ‘Engine Oil’, remove the stick and wipe clean, place it back into
the pipe, pull out once more and check where the oil film comes up to.
2) Flat tyre and no spare
A third of UK drivers feel uncomfortable changing a tyre. One of the most common car nuisances, a flat tyre can seriously hinder your journey. If you aren’t able to use your spare, handy repair kits are available from most auto parts stores and include a can of clever sealant which can temporarily seal any holes until you can get to a garage. Be sure to keep one of these in your car boot at all times and try to get into the habit of checking your tyre pressure regularly.
3) Empty Screen Wash
Almost one in ten don’t feel confident filling their wiper fluid. Having enough washer fluid in the tank is important for safe driving, especially if you drive long distances often. Most screen wash caps are marked with a windscreen wiper symbol, so just unscrew the cap and fill with a mixture of water and screen wash fluid – your owner’s manual will contain instructions on mixing the right proportions. No more engine coolant – more than a third of motorists would ask a mechanic to check their coolant levels
It may be the last thing on your mind but checking the coolant levels in your car is extremely important as it prevents your engine from overheating and will stop the inside of your system rusting. Your driver manual will talk you through how to do this on your car model.
4) Dead Battery
Two thirds of motorists would go straight to a mechanic about battery issues
Preparation is key when it comes to a dead battery. Always ensure you have a set of jump leads in your car and carry out regular checks on your battery voltage with the multimeter under your bonnet. Key tell-tale signs of a battery
The UK’s best car warranty will provide you with an ideal safety net for any serious repairs. Warrantywise provides a form of additional insurance against certain faults to provide you peace of mind and protects you from costly repairs.