Category: #tipthursday

#tipthursday Check your Advisories

This week’s tip from Maitland Motors, Check your MOT Advisories.

Your vehicle has been in for a MOT and has passed, happy days! However, be sure to check if any advisory repairs have been noted by the MOT tester. These issues or repairs should be seen to in the near future to ensure the continued safe and sound running of your vehicle. The wear and tear that vehicles are constantly under mean that just because your vehicle has passed its MOT it may still need maintenance work carried out.

The good thing about knowing any advisories is that you can plan ahead, booking in for any works when its convenient time wise and financially.

Any MOTs carried out with us, we’ll let you know of any advisories when you pick your car up. We can also put a no-obligation, quote together to give you an idea of the costs involved. As we always say, prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to cars. Nipping a repair inn the bud sooner rather than later will save you money in the long run and, more importantly, help keep your car safe on the road until your next MOT.

If you have any questions please leave a comment below, call the office or send us a message.

#tipthursday Check your oil levels

#tipthursday from Maitland Motors this week is check your oil levels regularly. Your car runs smoothly and effectively thanks to serval different fluids which ensure correct lubrication of eternal parts, the most important being your oil. Oil levels being too low or over-filled can cause issues for your car, and in worst case scenarios, result in costly and timely repairs.

You can check your oil level by popping the botnet and looking for this sign. (It looks like a oil can.)

#tipthursday from Maitland Motors

If you’re still unsure, your owners manual will advise of where to look exactly, how much oil is optimal and the preferred oil. To use the dipstick, wipe it with an old cloth first then replace before checking it to see where your oil levels are sitting. You will see a minimum and maximum line; your levels should be near the maximum. If its low or below the minimum, top it up accordingly asap. A low reading could also indicate a leak or your car is burning oil. Keep an eye on this and if you find you are going through oil quickly, book your car in with a technician for a check.

The Dipstick can be seen with the orange handle. Just pull that out, wipe, replace and you’ll be able to see where your oil level is.

Other levels to ensure are correct are:

  • Coolant
  • Power Steering Fluid
  • Brake Fluid
  • Transmission Fluid

We check all levels as part of our Free Vehicle Health Check if you’re unsure how to do it yourself. Any questions or would like to book in with Maitland Motors, just leave a comment below and we’ll get back to asap.

#tipthursday from Maitland Motors: Check when your MOT is due

Almost every aspect of life has been effected by Covid, including the servicing and maintenance of our cars. Many people were automatically given a MOT extension at the height of lockdown. These extended MOTs are now due or overdue, which is why we’d recommend double checking yours to avoid fines and more importantly, driving a unroadworthy car.

Its really straightforward to check on the Gov website and we also have more info on a recent blog post. All the extra MOTs on top of regular MOTs for this time of year mean that garages are more busy than normal, so be sure to get booked in sooner rather than later.

If you have any questions or would like to book your MOT with Maitland Motors, leave a comment below of call the office.

#tipthursday Check your tyre pressure regularly.

Checking your tyre pressure and ensuring each tyre is set to the correct pressure for your make/model helps tyres last longer and keeps you safer on the roads. Underinflated tyres are more likely to blow out, increases your stopping distance, affect the handling of your vehicle, wear unevenly and impact fuel consumption. Over-inflated tyres will wear out more in the middle, lose traction and increase your stopping distance.

The easiest way to check your tyre pressure is by using the pressure pumps at your local petrol station. Before you start you should always check your own car’s PSI (pounds per square inch), which you’ll find in your owner’s manual. Sometimes it’ll be on a sticker on the driver/passenger door edge or the inside fuel flap. Set the machine to your PSI and it’ll do the rest for you, beeping once you’re done.

#tipthursday from Maitland Motors - Check your tyre pressure regularly.
Example of a sticker on the inside edge of a car door.

Ideally, you should check every week and put air in if needs be. Tyres should also be cold as heat generated from driving can affect them. We’d definitely recommend checking before a long car journey, in spells of bad weather, and if you think your tires are looking low.

If you have any questions about tyre pressure or would like us to check your tyres, call the office or leave us a comment below.

#tipthursday Why we recommend using fuel additives

Here at Maitland Motors, we believe in helping you get the most from your car, which is why we recommend using a fuel additive. Over time, a car’s fuel system builds up with contamination which can affect its efficiency, fuel consumption and performance.

Fuel additives work with your car to help optimise engine performance, maximise fuel economy and help to maintain car parts. It’s like a spring clean for your car’s internals. Cleaning and lubricating the fuel system means you get more value for money when filling your car up and lower emissions.

We’d recommend a treatment every 6 months to help your car run smoothly and for its general upkeep & maintenance. We are proud to work with Forte, who has over 40 years of experience in the industry, supplying all our engine treatments and additives.

Leave a comment below or message us to find out more.

#tipthursday Check your windows & wipers

#tipthursday from Maitland Motors

This is a really easy one all of us can do in just a few minuets every few weeks. Check your windows and wipers regularly, especially your front and rear windows looking for any cracks or chips. If you do find anything, most insurance companies will replace your windscreens as part of your policy, so be sure to give them a ring. We’ve all seen the adverts, a damaged windscreen can be fatal.

You can also check your wipers easily yourself by lifting them away from the window, inspecting them for any cracks, tears or nicks in the rubber. Any damage will stop them from working as well as they should and will make diving in poor weather conditions more difficult. If you do spot any damage, you can go ahead and replace them yourself, though it can be a bit fiddly.

These are really easy checks you can do at home, especially as we approach the winter months, but any questions regarding your windows or wipers leave us a comment below or call the office.

#tipthursday Is your car making strange/weird noise? Get it checked.

Is your car making weird or strange noises, such as banging, nocking, squealing or grinding? Then this could be a sign it’s time to get your car booked in for a check. Ignoring noises could result in what would have been a quick and affordable fix, turning into a large and expensive repair.

Brakes, suspension, timing belts, and wheel bearings (to name a few) can all be culprits of noises when they are no longer working as well as they should/can. There are parts on cars that do wear over time and you should expect to replace them as general, ongoing maintenance of your car. As we always say, prevention is better than cure when it comes to cars and booking in as soon as you hear or feel any changes with your car will only help to keep it running at its best and as safely as it can.

To book in for a FREE Vehicle Health Check, where we visually check and inspect all areas of your car, then call the office or send us a message.

Get Winter Ready with a Free Vehicle Health Check

As the weather begins to change and the nights are getting shorter, it definitely feels like autumn is here early. The change of year is a great reminder to get your car booked in for a Free Vehicle Health Check here at Maitland Motors.

We will get your car up on the ramp and visually check areas of your car inc,
brakes,
levels,
tyres,
horn,
wipers & washers,
seat belts,
lights,
power steering,
battery,
antifreeze,
cooling system,
condition of the exhaust,
suspension,
and all safety components.

Getting your car checked over regularly means we can flag any issues and the costs involved early and before they escalate into bigger more costly repairs. As we always say here at Maitland Motors, prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to cars. You can find out more about a VHC with us here.

To book your Free Vehicle Health Check and make sure your car is winter ready, call us in the office, send us an email or leave a comment below.

#tipthursday Get to know your Owner’s Manual

For this week’s #tipthursday we’re talking about your Owner’s Manual and why you should get to know yours. The Owner’s Manual is usually left forgotten in the glove box but it’s full of useful information specific to your make and model of vehicle. It can answer a whole range of questions such as when you should get a service, what your ideal tyre pressure is and warranties you may have.

We recommend having a look at the Maintenance Schedule, which if you follow, will help save you money in the long run. As we always say, when it comes to vehicles, prevention is better than cure and having a well-maintained vehicle will help keep it running effectively, efficiently and safely. Following the manufacturer’s spec will help with this.

Any questions about your vehicle and how to keep it running effectively and safely, just get in touch.

#tipthursday from Maitland Motors: Keep an emergency kit in your boot

You never know when the worst might happen, and you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, hungry, thirsty and cold waiting on recovery in a broken-down car. That’s why we here at Maitland Motors we recommend having an emergency kit made up to keep in the boot just in case. It could make an unbearable situation that little bit more comfortable.

  • A big bottle of drinking water
  • Snacks (cereal bars are always handy)
  • Torch
  • First Aid Kit
  • Blankets
  • Old hoddie or jackets, gloves and socks to help keep warm.
  • Emergency cash change
  • Jump Cables
  • Tyre Puncture Repair Kit or better still make sure your spare is in good working order. (We can check this for you.)
  • Spare Oil
  • Jerry Can
  • Antifreeze
  • Washer fluid
  • Tow Strap

Keep your kit in a large bag or storage box in your boot and forget about it. Do you already have an emergency kit? Have you ever had to use it and did it help?

If you have any questions or need advice on putting a kit together, then just leave a message below.