As a car owner, you will no doubt be aware of the massive dirge of common car faults that can befall drivers at any given time.

Whether it’s a car garage giving you an eye-watering bill for a “simple repair”, or one of the common car faults where your car fails to start en route to your biggest conference of the year. Common car faults are a problem that most of us could do without.

While some of us driver cars that run with pristine authority, some drivers just cannot seem to get out of the street without something going wrong!

So… to try and get yourself prepared for auto life, here are five of the most common car faults you are likely to make or witness at one stage:

A Lack of Life

Battery problems are the bane of any driver’s existence.

Common car faults like draining the battery by leaving the lights on overnight can be a terrible mistake, especially if you can’t get to work because of a flat battery.

The problem is that you don’t hear of these common car faults regularly as you should – but they happen all the time!

Common car faults like this have been a long-term problem for many motorists over the years. The best way to dodge this problem is to buy a charge kit so that you can get yourself going in the morning, or to live next door to the world’s friendliest neighbor who happens to have a jump lead pack.

Flat Tyres

Common Car Faults

Doh! This is one of the most common car faults issues you’ll see on the roads. In fact, on any typical work week you’re likely to see at least one absolutely raging person standing by their car waiting for vehicle support to arrive, usually in the rain. A flat tyre can be dodged, by making sure you go for a car service regularly and getting your tyres checked out.

Fuel Problems

Ah, fuel – one of the most costly resources on the planet. Fuel problems are part of the common car faults pack. For a typical driver and the best way to deal with these problems is to make sure that you ALWAYS use the correct fuel in your vehicle. Sound stupid? Okay well hands up how many have put the wrong fuel in their car?

Damaged Cabling

Common car faults can also entail damaged vehicle cables. This can be so infuriating because they can literally put you off the road. A car with damaged brake cables, a weak throttle cable or a useless clutch cable is effectively a massive danger on the road. Here’s some advice: get those cables checked pronto. Find a good garage and get those cables looked at and replaced.

Another suggestion is to try a buy a solid car from the get go. This may sound obvious, but you would be surprised at the level of poor electrics that are found in cars. However a good car garage should be able to sort you out with an easy and reliable fix fast.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post 4 Ridiculous Common Car Faults appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

One of the most liberating parts of owning a car is that it becomes your own little X factor auditon room. Flying down the motorway belting out your favorite songs on the car radio can be great fun, and without having access to that radio you are missing out on one of the most enjoyable parts of driving.

The problem is that radio issues can start from literally nowhere, and leave you with a very frustrating drive to work in the “peace & quiet”.  Sometimes, just hearing that one great song can make all the difference to your work performance, so having a working car radio is very important.

So, what could be causing your problem? Here are some of the most common issues and how to solve them;

Won’t Turn On

The most basic car radio problem is the old-school “just won’t turn on” method that we are all such huge fans of. When this happens it can be absolutely infuriating and most of the time the issue is actually really easy to fix. It will typically be a power and/or ground issue – start off by checking the fuses. You can find online guides for your own car model to find these with ease.

Try replacing the car radio fuse, and see how that goes. If it’s still broken or breaks again shortly later, you might have a short elsewhere in the car that will need help from a pro mechanic.

No Sound

car radio solution

How great is it to have access to the car radio, but have no sound? Not great at all, that’s how great it is! The problem is that this can be caused by so many different issues as well, so it’s kind of hard to come up with a solution. It could be dodgy speaker wires, it could be an issue with the amp…it’s a bit of a nightmare to come up with a solution for!

Additionally, it could be something simple like a broken wire or a bad connection with the car radio speaker wires. Therefore, you’ll be doing a fair bit of running around trying to come up with a solution – be prepared for the hard work that comes with doing so, and the trial & error sessions that come from dealing with a lack of sound from your speakers.

A common solution is opening and closing the car door again – this might sound daft, but some cars just love to be awkward to put you in a bad mood for the rest of the day! Solving car radio problems can take a while, especially when it’s something innocuous like your speakers. But if you are really at our wits end with the problems then take your car to a specialist or a garage, they’ll be able to sort it for you within no time at all.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Broken Car Radio Solutions appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

In this day and age in car gadgets for safety is a must.

As a new driver, finally embarking on your first time legally driving on the road can be quite an intimidating experience. However, the technological advancements made by car manufactures has seen a huge wave of new in car gadgets hit the market to make your driving experience as safe as possible.

Whether you’ve been on the roads for many years or this is an entirely new experience for you, picking up a couple of new in car gadgets can make all the difference to your safety on the road.

If you’re looking for some great in car gadgets to pick up, then be sure to consider some of these great ideas for ramping up your safety;

In car gadgets ?

‘Lifehammer’

Lifehammer is an incredibly powerful in car gadget tool, but it’s also very subtle. In fact, the majority of owners might never even use their Lifehammer installation. However, it could actually save your life in the rare occurrence that you do need to use it.

This is, in effect, a double-tipped hammer which is perfect for hammering through your windows. It’s also got a razor blade at the other end that can get through the seatbelt.

If you ever get stuck in your car, this can get you quick and safe access out of the vehicle in an emergency situation.

Camera Detectors

Camera detectors are a good in car gadgets solution that will help you avoid any unwanted speeding fines. The in car gadgets tool will allow you to pick up any black spot cameras that could catch you when you are over the limit. This is a very useful tool and although you should never be speeding anyway, it’s better to keep yourself covered.

Bluetooth Set

Bluetooth hands-free sets are incredibly useful in car gadgets tools for drivers. Driving while speaking on the mobile phone is illegal as it can use up valuable hand space, and outside of this you are putting others in danger. If you absolutely need to take a call, you can get a hands-free Bluetooth adapter that will let you answer your car while driving without impacting on your safety or anybody else’s.

Visibility Bulbs

Perhaps you may not think of these as a in car gadgets, but the headlights on your car should be extremely bright, and not only will this make sure that people see you coming from afar, but it will give you a longer visual range in front of you when driving as well, making you see like a bat in the dark, improving your confidence and safety when driving at night tenfold.

Make sure you consider changing your break lights, as well.

Breakdown Kit

In car gadgets like Emergency kits, can be found in stores like Halfords or you can get them online. You can buy them from garages but expect the price to be significantly higher. They can easily be packed into a small essential kit that will give you everything from a tyre pump to a jump lead for getting started on those annoying days where nothing else will work.

Phone Charger

Again, using your mobile phone when driving is dangerous and irresponsible. However, one of the worthwhile in car gadgets to consider is a phone charger.

It makes sense to have a car charger installed to keep your phone alive in case of emergencies. Emergency chargers can be bought from petrol stations, gadget stores and online, and tend to fit just about any phone, plus you can change the adapter if it does not suit your phone.

Fire Extinguisher

This should be fairly self-explanatory. In car gadgets like fire extinguishers are cheap, light and incredibly effective. They can deal with a Type B fire if you buy the right brand, meaning you should be able to contain any fires that start while driving. This can literally save your life – so make sure you buy one.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

The post Top Seven In Car Gadgets For Staying Safe. appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Fuel, air, and a spark are required to make your engine run. It is the spark that sets it all off, with electricity required to create it. Your battery will eventually supply electricity, but it takes a while for that to happen. More electricity is needed, which is where the alternator comes into the picture. It is the job of the alternator to continually supply a charge to the battery so that it will never be out of juice.

How Does An Alternator Work?

OK, to understand how does an alternator work s consider…

Your car battery is 12 volts, but in order to work at full capacity and power all of the electrical components in your car, the alternator has to deliver in the region of 13.5 to 14.8 volts. Before we discuss how that happens, let’s first look at the three main components found in an alternator: the stator, rotor, and diode, with a voltage regulator tossed in for good measure. It is the spinning of the alternator belt (V-belt) that spins the pulley on the alternator. That makes the rotor housed inside the alternator spin at an incredible speed. The rotor is a single or group of magnets that spin, quickly, inside a bunch of copper wires (stator).

Explaining how a magnet and copper wires generates electricity takes more time to explain than we have here, but it does play a part in How does an alternator work so I guess you’ll just take my word for it. You can find more detailed information on that all over the internet.

The next part of the process involves a diode set-up that changes the current from AC to the DC that the battery needs. The final step is the voltage generator, which is something that is usually already built in.

It used to be that voltage regulators were massive black bolted that basically had to be bolted into place and wired into the system. The job of the voltage regulator is to assess the flow of juice to the battery and shut it down when it is more than is needed, which is usually anything over 14.5 volts. This basically stops your battery from getting fried. That’s how it all works, with the alternator supplying more juice to the battery as it gets drained, a process that is repeated over and over again.

motor/generators used in electric cars and hybrids. For that reason, it is AC we will focus on.

There are 4 main parts found in an AC Motor/Generator:

1)A wire wound armature that is shaft-mounted (rotor)

2)A housing that holds a field of magnets that are stacked side by side to induce electrical energy (stator)

3)Slips rings whose job it is to move the AC current to and from the armature

4)Brushes that come into contact with the rings in order to transfer current from the electrical circuit in both directions

The AC Generator in Action

A mechanical power source is used to drive the armature. The wire coil wrapped around the rotor passes over the magnets in the stator as it spins, creating an electrical current in the wires. The individual loops within the coil pass both the north and south poles over and over again, causing the current to quickly and continually shift direction. Each of those direction changes is referred to as a cycle that is measured in cycles per second or hertz (Hz). In the U.S., the cycle rate (60 Hz) is a little different from the rest of the world (50 Hz). The current is given a path away from the armature courtesy of slip rings found at both ends of the rotor’s wire loop. The path of the current is completed by the brushes, which ride against the slip rings.

The AC Motor in Action

The reverse of generator action is motor action, which is essentially the supply of mechanical power. In this action it is a circuit that feeds the current as opposed to the rotor. The current being sent through the armature creates an electromagnet. The electromagnetic force created is repelled by the permanent magnets, which in turn makes the armature spin. The motor will continue to run for as long as electricity flows through the circuit.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post How Does An Alternator Work? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

How An Electric Motor Works

Electrical motored types of cars are the wave of the future, so it’s interesting to learn how they work. An electric motor works by delivering the power an electric car need to get moving, while hybrids use electric motors in combination with an internal combustion engine. The electric motors in question use a process known as regenerative braking to get the power that they need to charge up the onboard batteries. Most of us understand the concept of electric motors being used to run household appliances that we use every day, but it take a little more thought to understand how that self-same process can actually work in reverse, which is essentially what happens with these motors. Instead of consuming energy in order to work, How an electric motor works is by generating the power needed so that it can be used by the hybrid needs in order to get moving. The whole process makes more sense when you learn about electromagnetism.

Electromagnetism

To understand how an electric motor works, you need to understand a little about electromagnetism. The whole process of generating electricity and motor power starts with electromagnetism, which is the physical relationship that exists between electricity and a magnet. An electromagnet is much like a regular magnet in many ways, but its force is essentially controlled by electricity. When a conducting material wire, such as copper, is passed through a magnetic field, it creates a current that turns the wire into a basic generator. When a wire is twisted around an iron core and has electricity passed through it while the core is in the presence of a magnetic field, it will start to move and twist, turning it into a rather basic motor.

How An Electric motor works

A motor/generator is basically a single device that can run in opposite modes. It is a common misconception that those two modes have to run backwards from one another, with the device going one direction as a motor and another as a generator. The reality is that the shaft spins the same way, with the direction change coming from the flow of electricity. When working as a motor, electricity flows in to create power, whereas that mechanical power is consumed, or flows out, when it acts as a generator.

Electromechanical Rotation

To understand how an electric motor works, there are usually two specific types of electric motor/generators: AC (alternating current) and DC (Direct Current). Both types indicate the type of electricity that is generated or consumed. Simply put, AC will change direction when flowing through a circuit, whereas DC follows the same direction all the way through. Efficiency level and cost are usually the factors that decide which type is chosen. AC is the more expensive of the two, but also the most efficient.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post How An Electric Motor Works appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Owning a car is expensive business no one can deny that. But you can save money on car servicing by learning how to handle basic car servicing yourself.

Modern cars are full of electronics, so when something goes wrong it makes sense to take your car to the local garage. There are however some basics that you can learn, which will allow you to save money before standard car servicing is required.

Although you may not be mechanically minded, owning a car means looking after your vehicle. Apart from booking your vehicle in for car servicing periodically, here are few tricks you can learn to maintain the condition of your vehicle and boost performance.

Save Money on Car Servicing

First, before you take your car hit the road check; the oil, water, windscreen wash, and tyre pressure, to make sure the levels are correct. All of these are easy to do and almost anyone can do them.

Now it is time to start some basic car servicing that you would otherwise be charged for. I would advise to do these jobs when the car is cold; otherwise you could end up being splashed with burning oil or water.

To begin, lift the hood of your car. If you cannot work out how to do this then simply ask someone. Generally a lever is located under the steering wheel, which will unlatch the hood. Make sure that when you lift the bonnet it is secure before you put your head underneath it.

Okay so find where your water, oil, screen wash and break fluids are located and one by one check that they are at the correct level. If you are unsure of which one is your water and which is your screen wash, there should be little icon on top of the unit to help you identify them correctly. Alternatively simply check your car manual or if all else fails ask someone.

If you establish that your water is low, it could be a sign that your vehicle has been overheating. Fill it to the right level with the correct concentration of anti freeze and water, and check again after a couple of days. If you find that your car is constantly losing water or oil, you will need to make an appointment with your local garage for a car servicing.

Once you have checked and filled the brake fluid, water/anti freeze mix and your screen wash, it is time to locate the dipstick for the oil. Take out the dipstick and wipe it clean and then place it back in. Take it out again and check the level, remember that oil expands when it gets hot, so when you car is totally cold the level should be between minimum and medium. Last but by no means least take your car to a local petrol station to check the pressure on all of your tyres.

Happy days… nice and simple

These are just but a handful of car servicing tips that anyone can learn, which can add months or years to the life of your car saving you money.

It should be noted that while this basic type of car servicing or general upkeep may extend the life of your vehicle, it doesn’t mean that you should go without the required car servicing that the car manufacture recommends. So be sure to book your vehicle in for car servicing when required.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless mechanic

Phil

The post Save Money on Car Servicing appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Car diagnostics is great for finding out systematically what is hampering your car’s performance.

Computer aided car diagnostics can help a car mechanic, and in turn you as a paying customer in so many ways. First and foremost cost-effectiveness, for example it allows technicians to accurately find out the root cause of the problem by permitting the mechanic to fix it. In other words it saves you time and cash.

Don’t be afraid

I’ve seen it so many times a mechanic recommends a computer car diagnostics check, to met by raise customers eyes brows. I guess computer car diagnostics can sound a little serious, and serious vehicle problems generally mean serious maintenance costs. But don’t be to overly concerned; computer car diagnostics is common practice for identifying pretty much all vehicle problems with today’s microprocessor-controlled cars.

For peace of mind, just be sure to ask your mechanic to explain what will be done before you authorise the work, because at times computer diagnostics can be a generic term that covers a wide range of operations.

Okay, so what is involved in a car diagnostics check – Let me break it down for you:

Car Diagnostics

You car has an electronic control system that monitors the operating parameters of its components.

When the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) that manages the components sees a signal that is irregular, or fails to pick up an expected change in a signal – it stores a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC).

To access your car diagnostics trouble code technicians connect a “scan” tool to a Diagnostic Link Connector to display any stored codes. This link connector tends to be located under the driver’s side of the instrument panel.

The DTCs won’t actually tell the technician if a particular vehicle part is bad, they only really indicate that the PCM has picked up on something it didn’t expect in a certain circuit. For example the issue may be a certain car part, but at the same time it could just as easily be an issue with the circuit’s electrical wiring.

Sometimes Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are set when there is nothing wrong with the electronic control system. This happens when a mechanical problem like an engine vacuum leak, creates operating conditions that cause system components to generate signals outside their normal range.

To identify a problem your technician will start with the DTC, and thereafter perform additional tests. These tests can be mechanical, like engine compression to comprehensive electronic diagnostics.

Successful car diagnostic is down to the ability of your mechanic to determine what additional tests are required, and accurately interpret both test results and the computer network data. I guess it should go without saying then that a mechanic that has extensive training and experience is necessary.

Think of computer car diagnostics in the same way as when a doctor employs medical testing. In both cases they would combine test results with expert knowledge and skilled hands, leading to accurate diagnostics and hopefully a cost-effective cure.

Yes… I know it may seem slightly technical, but hopefully now you know how car diagnostic works.

So next time you see the “check engine light” flash up, don’t just ignore it, head down to your local garage for a car diagnostic check because prevention is definitely better then cure!

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless Mechanic,

Phil

The post What is Car Diagnostics? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

The last few weeks I’ve been though a right ordeal trying to find a genuine mechanic in London  But now I’m happy to say my car is running sweet thanks to Xavier Auto Clinic.

MY STORY

When It’s comes to cars I’m no mechanic, but know a little thing or two about average car maintenance. I can change the oil, thermostat, alternator and various other bits and bobs. But if my car has an issue with a number of possibilities, instead of crawling under the car at the risk of making things worst, I prefer to take it to someone that really knows their stuff, someone that is experienced and has the tools to diagnose and carry out the job properly… a mechanic.

Recently I was blessed to be referred over to Phil and the Xavier team by my friend Jonathan,(thanks darling). I’m happy to say at last I’ve found a garage with a mechanic that has not been tainted by the somewhat dodgy car mechanic circle.

Michael (Phil’s brother) also a mechanic, told me exactly what was wrong with my car. He showed me where the part was, and gave me a fair price on repair. To be honest after he diagnosed the problem I could of replaced the ignition coil pack myself, but since he was honest and upfront I paid him to do it.

Job done, from now on I will be taking my car to the Xavier boys whenever I have a problem that I can’t or don’t feel like fixing it myself.

The reason for asking Phil to add this to his blog, was to simply express gratitude my for the genuine car mechanics out there.

As single mother at times things can be tight, and some mechanics just seem to take advantage of individuals with challenging circumstances.

For example recently my car needed a radiator flush.

I didn’t feel like doing it myself so I decide to take it to a well-known franchise. Low and behold they tried to hand me a quote for £890. £890! Yes I’m a woman, but please don’t insult my intelligence. Obviously I politely refused the quote and as gesture of goodwill (unfortunately not) the mechanic left the caps off my radiator off with a dirty cloth tuck in between… nice.

Naturally I decided to take the car somewhere else. I was then told that my car, (ok it’s a few years old) was a complete on its way out, actually the mechanic called it “a plum” requiring a stack of repairs, which of course where far from cheap.

Thoroughly pissed because he called my car a plum, I moved on. BTW my car may be may many things but its no plum!

It all just cheeses me off, that a mechanic will just try it with a woman or anyone in vulnerable situations perhaps without experience. Why don’t they just try that BS with the rich, and lie to the people that actually have the cash? Or better still…how about as a mechanic they just pipe up and tell the truth?

Either way their poor attitude was my gain, as I managed to find a genuine mechanic in Phil and the boys. So thank you Xavier for all your help.

Amanda P

The post Genuine Mechanic? Few and Far Between appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Porsche UK

The Porsche UK is one of the finest manufactured cars on the market. And anyone that owns a Porsche is aware that they own a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

Porsche’s in the UK don’t come cheap, which is one of the reasons why the owner of a Porsche in the UK is touch more concerned when it comes to the general upkeep of their vehicle.

I love Porsche, and as an owner myself there are a few things you can do to ensure that the life of your “baby” is extended for many more years to come.

Porsche UK: Winter Maintenance

Porsche winter car care doesn’t have to be excessive. First it makes sense to check your tyres for pressure and tread depth to make sure everything is in order. A trip to your local auto clinic, to have your tyres and fluid levels checked and perhaps even a once over should do the trick.

Weather in the UK is sometimes unforgiving, and you never know when the snow is coming. Being trapped in the snow can be a right palaver, a great way to prevent this happening is to carry a bag of kitty litter and salt in the boot that can be used for tyre traction, with a de icer and ice scraper to remove ice from the windscreen.

Porsche UK: Spring and summer

As chilling as winter may be, spring and summer is generally not to far away.

With more frequent use during the spring summer months, it’s at this time of year when Porsche UK owners really enjoy their vehicles. That being the case, checking your oil and oil filter makes sense.

With the warmer weather be sure to also have your cooling system inspected, and in particular the hosepipes for leaks. Check your drive belts for any suspect cracks and make sure that your antifreeze is fresh to prevent the coolant from boiling in the summer heat. Just like in the winter take a little time out to make sure your tyres are at the correct pressure, preventing excessive petrol use and tyre wear.

Porsche UK: Bodywork and Interior

Irrespective of the time of year, if you’re anything like me I always like the bodywork of my car to be in tip top condition. Come on… a Porsche is meant to look great at all times, and there’s nothing worst than a grimy, dirty looking Porsche.

Salt can be a killer of bodywork. So when the weather starts to warm up I would suggest that any build up of salt that has occurred during the winter months is removed. Pay particular attention to the wheels; using a jet wash should do the trick.

As a Porsche UK driver, I find spring to also be the perfect opportunity to check for any damage that may have happened during the winter months. Unfortunately bodywork scratches, or small stone cracks in the windscreen can easily happen. Fortunately, if the damage created is small there’s no need to replace the windscreen, a simple repairing chip should do the job.

Dirty interior mats and carpets can be made to look as new using a decent carpet shampoo. Interior Vinyl can also treated to prevent cracking, and with your windows cleaned of grease, and the washer fluid topped up you should be ready to go.

Porsche UK: Regular Check ups

I always intend to get as much mileage out of my car as possible. So I advise having the oil checked several times a year, and changed around every 5000 miles.

As a Porsche UK owner, when having your oil changed it offers a great opportunity to have your Porsche specialist look over the overall condition of your vehicle. Checking your engine and electrics doesn’t take long, and may save you big money in the long run.

Finally

My personal opinion is that a Porsche is worth every penny it costs to own one; just make sure that those pennies don’t add up unnecessarily. And with very simple car care and maintenance carried out on a regular basis, you can have the pleasure of driving your Porsche for years to come.

Feel free to get in touch, we look forward to helping you.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post Porsche UK Car Care Tips appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Most drivers like to think they are the best in the game when it comes to driving. We spend hours upon hours in our vehicles so it’s understandable why this may induce some level of confidence.

Now I don’t want to put a downer on it, but during winter it’s very easy to overestimate our skills behind the wheel. And winter driving has a nasty habit of biting us where it hurts; hazards such as darkness, rain, fog, ice and dazzling sunshine only add to the danger.

The fact remains, winter driving brings with it accidents, so much so that research by the AA showed that during January 2010 when the UK was gripped by snow and ice, road accidents increased by almost 50% compared to the same period a year earlier.

Although road salters do their best to keep the roads safe, for some reason they always seem to be slow on the uptake when it comes to flash winter weather conditions, I guess like us, they too are also at the mercy of the weather gods.

Given that at the end of 2012 there were 34.5 million vehicles licensed for use on the roads in the UK, of which 28.7 million (83%) were cars, there is a high chance that you’ll find yourself encountering driving mayhem when the winter conditions strike.

Winter driving can be a challenge, so planning ahead and having the general winter driving “know how” and the skills necessary to get the better of what the winter wonderland may throw at you is a must.

The following winter driving tips will help you stay safe this winter.

Winter Driving Tips

Commonsense

Now this may sound like common sense but… the best way to stay safe in bad weather is to stay off the roads and use alternative means of travel. So before you travel, consider whether your journey is necessary.

Plan Ahead

Fail to plan, plan to fail. Yes, winter driving may also mean making an effort to plan ahead.

If you’re unsure of the weather forecast before you hit the road, take some time to look up the weather conditions. Check forecasts and traffic news, both local and national. There are numerous options out there to help you do this; a good mobile app to consider is perhaps the Met Office Weather App.

Are you fit to drive?

It’s easy to over estimate our ability to drive especially if we need to get somewhere urgently. But be practical, and make sure that medicine, alcohol, drugs, stress, tiredness or mobile phones will not impair your driving at any time of year, but especially during winter. Also it helps if you inform someone of your intended journey, route and time of arrival if you feel your health may be suspect.

PREPARING YOUR CAR FOR WINTER

Winter Driving Tips

One of the winter driving tips that you can roll out before facing our unpredictable UK winter is winterizing your vehicle.

Tyres

I know, I know you’ve heard it before, but come on… how may of you actually check your tyre treads before winter hits?

As I mentioned in the previous blog – Winter car checklist, makes sure your tyres have the suitable tread depth – the penny test is great for this. Tyre pressure goes down in the cold, so if left unchecked it will lead to poor control and possibly a host of other issues.

NB: Tyre tread depth should be at least 3mm to be safe in wet or icy conditions and tyres should be inflated to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer.

Snow Tyres

Although snow tyres are perhaps not required for everyone, a good winter driving tip especially if you live in an area known for heavy snow fall, is to consider putting some snow tyres on your vehicle at the start of the season.

Windshield Wipers and Fluid

If you’ve ever been behind a vehicle, or worse still… a lorry in the snow, with slush splashing up all over the windows, you’ll probably agree that driving in winter can at times come with challenging visibility issues.

Another one of those useful winter driving tips, is to replace your windscreen wipers at the start of the season. Believe you me, there is nothing worse than poor blades in bad weather so make sure your wiper blades function effectively. Oh… and don’t forget to top up with the applicable windscreen fluid.

Anti-freeze

Winter driving tips couldn’t be complete without the self-explanatory… but be sure to address… anti-freeze. Add anti-freeze to the radiator and winter additives to the windscreen washer fluid to prepare for winter driving.

Fuel

Ice in your fuel tank is by no means good but trust me, it can easily happen. A winter driving tip to prevent this from happening is to keep your fuel tank half full at all times to help prevent ice in your fuel lines and tank.

Winter Emergency Safety Kit

There can be many unforeseen eventualities when driving during the winter, so the following are a few emergency driving kit recommendations that will help you deal with winter conditions, and the possibility of your vehicle getting stuck in it.

To begin, a nice way to go about this, apart from making sure you have the obvious in your emergency kit, is to think about the main passengers that are likely to be traveling in your car and plan ahead for their specific needs.

Winter Driving Tips: Keep warm and snug in your vehicle

Blanket
Extra clothing
Wellington boots
Bottled water
Food: high energy, non-perishable
Two large containers with lids for melting snow and sanitation

Winter Driving Tips: Getting unstuck

Ice scraper
Salt
Flashlight
De-icer
Shovel
Sand/kitty litter

Winter Driving Tips: General car preparation

Handheld road map
Compass
First-aid kit
Warning triangle
High visibility vest

Winter Driving Skills

Although few and far between, there are a handful of winter driving schools devoted to specifically helping drivers learn and practice their winter driving skills.

If you’re interested, Prodrive has a pretty cool winter driving school, which looks like fun. So check it out, and if you decide to sign up, let me know how you get on!

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Winter Driving Tips appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.