Are your car brakes squeaking? When listening to the noises from your brakes, it will never be completely silent - you’ll always hear some level of noise coming from your brakes. However, there are some noises which you should be aware of – such as squeaking – which could indicate there may be a problem with your brake pads. So, why do brakes squeak? Why do my brakes squeak? Worn brake pads -...
What are anti-lock brakes? An anti-lock braking system – also known as ABS – is a safety feature which is standard in all modern cars. It is designed to prevent the wheels from locking, which helps to maintain control and grip of the vehicle on the road. The ABS system takes over from when you apply pressure on the brake to avoid a collision – ensuring that the control of the vehicle is maintaine...
What is the diesel emissions test? As part of the UK's annual MOT test for your vehicle, there is a strict exhaust emissions test. In order to adhere to the large worldwide focus of reducing pollution levels, which are produced by diesel engines, it's imperative that your vehicle passes this test. To ensure vehicles aren't actively creating excessive emissions, certain limits have been introduce...
What does XL mean on tyres? A reinforced or XL (extra load) tyre is a specially reinforced tyre which carries heavier loads than tyres of the same size. These types of tyres are stronger and more hardwearing than standard tyres, and are often used for large vehicles that carry heavy loads or large family cars, such as 4x4s. The internal structure of XL tyres is much stronger, designed to help ma...
We have introduced new safety measures at all branches to ensure we protect our colleagues and customers. We respectfully ask that you observe the following guidelines if you do visit one of our branches. • Please park your car in a safe place and wait to be called into the reception area.• We will only be allowing 2 customers into the office one at a time and you must wear a face covering.• Pl...
It's common for alloy wheels to experience some damage over time due to natural wear and tear, which can be caused by kerb damage, scuff or light scratches. However, with a bit of DIY know-how, you can clean up your alloy wheel damage yourself rather than having to take your vehicle into a professional. Save yourself some money and learn how to repair alloy wheels at home with our helpful guide....
Wondering how to charge a car battery? Or how long it takes to charge a car battery? More often than not, if your vehicle does not start because of your battery, it's likely the battery is flat rather than a serious problem. Car batteries can become flat for a number of reasons - such as forgetting to turn off your vehicle's lights, if your vehicle hasn't been driven for a long period of time or...
Although some believe this to be a myth, air con does in fact increase your fuel consumption. It's suggested that by using your air conditioning, this can increase your fuel consumption by around 8-10%. While air conditioning uses more fuel than normal, it's important to note that driving with open windows also reduces your fuel efficiency. This creates a 'drag' for the vehicle, which means the e...
As the summer months are approaching, the demand for using our air conditioning systems in our vehicles naturally becomes higher. But is there a right and a wrong way to use our car air con? And are you wondering how car air conditioning works? From the top air con mistakes to avoid to details on how air conditioning works in vehicles, our air conditioning tips guide has you covered all year round...
What is a tyre pressure monitoring system? A tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is an electronic system that is fitted to your vehicle. This monitors the air pressure in your tyres and alerts you if your tyre pressure is under the legal requirement. Having received this alert, you will then need to take action in order to rectify your tyres’ air pressure. How do tyre pressure sensors work?...