While we
have all been having to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic our cars
have been used less and less perhaps only being used once a week for essential
shopping trips. This can cause major problems when you do use your car
especially if it is not a newer model.
Brakes and
tyres are two essential parts of a car that will need to be checked if the car
has been immobile for a while. Moving the car around just a short way will mean
that the tyres will be rotated, and the brakes applied. Visual checks on the
tyres to check for bulges or splits is a good idea as is making sure the tyre
pressures are correct. The correct pressures can be found in the handbook or on
a plate inside the door frame.
A working
battery on a car is a necessity to ensure your car starts first time reliably
and although the battery is not used very much when the car is idle it can
become flat. If you are not using your car regularly it should be started and
run for at least fifteen minutes or alternatively a trickle charger can be used
if your car is parked on a drive or in a garage.
These simple
steps can help to keep your car ready for the journeys you will make and
improve its dependability.
If you are
considering replacing your current vehicle it is important to give some time to
think about how you will use your car. If towing your touring caravan is on
your list of uses, there are a few points to remember.
The First
thing you will need to judge is whether the car will tow a caravan of a given
weight. Some modern hatchbacks will tow a small caravan but if your caravan is
larger or a twin axle version you will need to look at the torque of the
vehicle to see whether it is powerful enough to successfully pull your caravan
without putting your vehicle under strain and possibly causing mechanical
issues.
If you are
sure that your potential vehicle has the torque you need next it is time to decide
whether you need a manual or automatic transmission. Surprisingly, people who
regularly tow a caravan say they prefer automatic transmission as it makes
towing easier.
Four-wheel
drive vehicles would be advised if towing a large twin axle caravan however as
some estate cars offer four-wheel drive options this does not necessarily mean
that a SUV is needed.
If you are
unsure about the suitability of a particular make or model of car most
representatives in car dealerships will be able to advise you on the best
vehicle for your needs.
Car seats
are of vital importance to a baby or child’s safety when travelling. It is
essential that you ensure that your child always has the correct car seat for
their, height, weight and age.
There is a
huge selection of car seats to choose from and they are often split into stages.
New-born babies will often need a different car seat to a 5-year-old for
example although you can get some seats that have been designed to be used from
birth to age 5 or above. The latest law requires a child to be in a car seat
from birth up until they are 135 cm or 12 years of age although many experts
suggest that you should actually use a child seat until your child is 150cm
tall.
When using a
car seat that has a harness system, the harness should be level with their
shoulders, with the harness fitting snugly around them. You should only be able
to get two fingers under the harness. Always be sure to remove any padded
jackets and do not strap them in with a blanket under the straps as if you do
have to stop the vehicle suddenly the belts may not be tight enough when the
clothing / blanket compacts.
Some cars
have built in booster seats which can be used from a certain age or height.
Dents in
cars happen often. It may be that you accidently reverse in to something or
that you bought a second hand car that already has a bump in it. Dents can look
unsightly and can even cause issues with the paintwork if on metal as exposed
areas can begin to rust.
They can
make even the newest of cars looked uncared for and can make it difficult to
sell. If you have a car with a plastic bumper and get a dent, then you may be
in luck as there are a few tricks you can try to remove the dent relatively
easy.
Before
taking the car down to the local body repair workshop or forking out for a new
bumper try the method below as many people have reported great success with it.
But make sure this is only done on plastic bumpers.
Apply heat
to the dented area either with a hairdryer or by pouring boiling water on it. I
found the hair dryer to be the best method. Once the area is warm you can push
your hand up under the dent and apply pressure to it from behind. The dent
should just pop right out and often leaves little or no indication that it was
ever there.
A MOT is one
of those things that may cost you only the price of the test or may end up with
you having to fork out hundreds of pounds.
A MOT is an
inspection that needs to be carried out by an authorised garage that checks
certain parts and the running of your vehicle. Some aspects that are checked
are safety related and other such as CO2 emissions are more for the
environment. Every car that is over 3 years old must have a valid MOT to allow
it to be driven on the roads in the UK.
The cost of a
MOT for a car is usually around £35-£45 pounds. If the car passes, then you
will only have to pay this amount. If the car fails, then you will have to fork
out for the repairs that need doing and have it retested. You will not have to
pay again if you take it back to the same test centre before the end of the
next working day for a partial retest but you may have to pay for a partial
test if it is over this time but within 10 working days. After ten working days
you will have to pay for a full retest again.
You often do
not know how much you will need to spend to get the car through and MOT until
the car has undergone the test. If the car fails and is out of MOT, then you
will not be allowed to drive it until a valid MOT has been issued. Try and put
aside an amount of money each month towards your MOT to allow you to have an
amount saved towards repairs that may need to be carried out.
You will often find taper roller bearings used in the wheels of cars and other vehicles, and they can cope with horizontal and vertical forces at the same time. They might also be found in gearboxes and engine motors, as well as being used in other industries.
Taper roller bearings will consist of inner and outer rings, with tapered rollers to allow the surface of the raceways, and the roller axles, to meet on the axis. The cones’ motion is coaxial and there is no sliding motion to worry about. Always use the right taper roller bearings for your application, and achieve perfect operation.