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Excellent local car servicing Reading, UK: Spending five minutes carrying out these simple checks every few weeks – and certainly before a long journey or an MOT – can save you a lot of time and money in the long run, not to mention help keep you safe on the roads. To keep things simple, here are 12 simple car checks you can carry out today to keep your car safely on the road and on the right side of the law. When it comes to preventing a breakdown, remember the acronym FORCES, which stands for Fuel, Oil, Rubber, Coolant, Electrics, Screen wash. Check you have plenty of fuel in your tank for your journey. It may sound obvious but you’d be surprised just how many people run out of fuel, particularly in harsh winter weather. Worried about running out? Here’s our guide to saving fuel. See even more details at Car Servicing Near Me.

How Do I Know If My Car’s Battery Is Dead? A dead battery can put a damper on any day, especially when you’re running late for work. But how do you know if it’s really your battery that’s causing the issue? Look out for signs such as dim headlights or difficulty starting your car. If your car has been standing idle for a while, it’s best to get the battery checked as part of your vehicle service. Our team at carservice-centre.co.uk can test and replace your battery if necessary, ensuring you’re not left stranded when you need your car the most.

Changing the oil and checking the fluids is something your car cannot go without. Depending on your car and how often you drive, most cars need an oil change between every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Making it a habit of changing the oil will extend the life of your vehicle and save you money on costly repairs. During routine oil changes, your mechanic can also check to make sure all other fluids in your car are topped off.

Ask questions. Lots of them. Don’t be intimidated. Ask questions about why something needs fixing or how a technology works. As the customer, you have a right to become more educated about your vehicle. Request Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. Whenever parts need to be replaced, be sure to request genuine OEM components rather than generic pieces. Maintaining exact manufacturer specifications is important in achieving optimum performance. The low-price allure of aftermarket parts often prompts customers to forgo OEM quality, but spending the extra dollars on factory-approved equipment now can make a big difference down the road, especially in terms of vehicle longevity.

Excellent car service Reading, UK: How much does an MOT cost? The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency sets the maximum fee official test centres can charge for an MOT. It’s currently £54.85 for cars and motor caravans and £29.65 for motorbikes, but many garages charge less than this – sometimes up to 50% less. Search online for “cheap MOT” or “MOT discount” to find out how you can save money on your car’s next MOT. Top 5 simple reasons for cars failing the MOT test: Nearly two in five MOT tests are a fail first time. Yet often this is because of minor faults the owner could easily have fixed beforehand. See even more details at http://carservice-centre.co.uk/.

You can get a quote online by using our quote engine widget for every vehicle make and model by simply entering your vehicle registration number to make a booking and you do not pay car service centre reading until the work has been carried out to your liking and you are happy with the work that has been carried out. On collecting your vehicle all the work that has been carried out will be explained to you and our technician will run this through with you before driving away in your vehicle. Change oil and oil filter: Your car cannot function properly without lubricant. Therefore oil and oil filter are used in it. After prolonged use, the oil and oil filter need to be replaced. It is also necessary to check the brake fluid every month.

Although some may not be dealer owned, many private mechanics and technicians are just as good, if not better than most approved garages. You may just be referred to them by someone you know and trust. SO go ahead, but just make sure they do a good job on your car. Service stations with a good reputation aren’t hard to find, you just need to look around and ask the right people. Out Of The Way Car Servicing Reading If you happen to drive far out of town and then are faced with a problem, you’ll no doubt have to visit a nearby car servicing centre. Unless it’s an absolute emergency, don’t let just any technician get under your car’s bonnet.

There was a time when a paper MoT certificate was a vital document, and the police would routinely ask to see it during traffic stops. Nowadays the information is stored on a national MoT online database and the paper MoT issued after your test is simply a statement of whether your car has passed or failed. It can be a handy document for when it comes to sell your car on as it shows its service history, and it’s also a useful reminder of when your test is coming around again. However, if you’ve mislaid the paperwork – which is easily done – you can check your car’s MOT status (or the MoT status of any vehicle) by searching for the phrase ‘when’s my MoT due’ online.

Check vehicle fluids. Vehicles rely on transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid and properly mixed coolant to run. Fluids need to be topped off for optimal vehicle performance throughout the life of the vehicle. Change air filters regularly. Dust and grime accumulates over time and can negatively impact gas mileage and engine performance. Take care of minor repairs when they arise. New noises or changes in the drivability of a vehicle should be checked out promptly.

Check and clean your lights regularly. Salt and dirt can quickly build-up, reducing the effectiveness of the lights and reducing your visibility to other road users. It’s best to keep your lights on in all sorts of weather, because it helps you to be seen. Carry extra bulbs in case of a failure, but do try and learn how to replace the bulbs when it’s convenient, because when one does blow it’ll almost certainly be in the dark and possibly in cold and wet weather, too, not an ideal time to learn about your car.

It’s important to check your engine coolant level regularly and replace it when needed. Doing so will keep your engine running smoothly and help prevent costly repairs down the line. Some manufacturers recommend replacing spark plugs every 30,000 miles, but keep in mind there are other recommendations depending on the engine type or manufacturer, so refer to the service literature for you own vehicle. If your car is struggling to start or vibrates a lot, you may need new spark plugs sooner. Remove the HT leads first before unscrewing the plugs themselves, making sure you clean the area thoroughly. Place the new plugs in the socket and lower into the gap, before tightening up by hand at first followed by a torque wrench to the correct setting.