There are some parts of your car which are more important than others, and it’s hard to imagine them without tyres. A car that doesn’t have tyres can either be incredibly difficult or nigh on impossible to drive. This is why it’s important to make sure that they’re working properly and that they’ve not sustained any damage. However, if they’ve become worn out or punctured, they may need changing, and for some people, changing them might be tough to do.
Fortunately, as this instructographic illustrates, changing a tyre can be done quickly and securely with no fuss whatsoever. To make sure that you can change one as and when it’s required, you need to be prepared, so make sure that you always have a spare tyre with you. Also, you need the equipment listed below, as without it, changing a tyre can be impossible. If you have everything you need, you’re safe in the knowledge that if something went wrong for whatever reason, you can fix it.
Little-Known Driving Facts
There are many interesting facts associated with driving in Britain, from the fact that there are over 31 million cars on the roads to the shocking statistic that £90 million was spent on repairing potholes in 2011.
With 30 million cars on the road and e lot of potholes (although significantly less now!), it’s no surprise that bumps, scrapes and general wear and tear need to be addressed by car owners frequently. To do this effectively, you need to choose a garage you can trust to carry out everything from an MOT to a full service.
Choosing a less reputable garage could leave you vulnerable on the road, as they may not give you the standard of service you were expecting. To combat this, do your research and find an established garage that has a good reputation for quality and price.
So, whether you are one of the many driving a Ford Fiesta or are the lucky billionaire with the Bugatti Veyron, make sure you choose the right garage for your car service and MOT.
Electrical Lights – Dash Instrument Warning Lights: Check Engine Warning Light
The Check Engine Light
This is a fault-registering system connected to sensors all over the car, engine, fuel and emissions system and is an indication that you may need mechanical repairs or electrical repairs. When the check engine light comes on, it can mean many things. There are something like 4,000 unique OBD2 codes that can be stored. Handheld OBD2 diagnostic tools can be plugged into the OBD2 port, which is normally under the dash on the driver’s side or centre console, or engine bay. These tools can read out the fault code and/or reset the system to contain no codes. Codes are split into two categories – historical/inactive and active. The historical codes are lists of things that have been detected in the past but are no longer an issue, whilst the active codes are things that are a problem right now. Codes are subdivided into B-codes (body), C-codes (chassis) and P-codes (powertrain).
P0440 OBD-II code. This is the most common code you’ll find, and it’s the first thing you should check. P0440 is the code for Evaporative Emission Control System Malfunction, which covers a multitude of sins. The one thing it covers that you can check is your petrol cap (gas cap). Most new cars have a pressurised fuel system and vapour recovery loop. If you’ve filled up with petrol and not twisted the petrol cap until it clicks, you’ve not sealed the fuel system. It won’t pressurise, and the OBD2 system will log a P0440 code. In fact, on a lot of cars, that code is so common that they’ll have some way of telling you to check the gas cap. In some Hondas, for example, if a P0440 code is logged, the dash scrolls “CHECK GAS CAP” across the odometer display. So if you get a check engine light, check the petrol cap first and see if the light goes off. Note: even if the light does go off, the code will likely still be stored in the OBD system and will show up next time it is checked. If it isn’t the petrol cap, then you’ll need to call for a technician to attend and diagnose the source of the code.