Loose Fasteners are Bad News... Advises Kim Henson. It may seem obvious, but whenever a vehicle – old or new – is being worked on, fasteners have to be released/removed in order to take off ailing components so that they can be repaired or renewed. Equally these fasteners have then to be refitted/retightened when re-assembly takes place. The thing is… It is always wise to re-check the … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips
(to help you get the best out of your car)
You don’t need to be a ‘technical’ person to follow our tips, which we hope will help you get maximum enjoyment and value for your money, from your vehicle.
Whether you drive a new car, a recent model, a classic or something in between, there are many simple things that can be done to help give the vehicle the best chance of a long, cost-effective operating life, and in the long-term make ownership more enjoyable.
It has been proved over and over again that, regardless of whether you service and repair the car yourself, or entrust the work to others, a well-maintained car will run better for longer, and will cost less to operate. In addition, if/when you eventually sell it, the vehicle will be worth more money than a neglected example.
Most of our tips address issues that are straightforward to comprehend and deal with (no rocket science here then!), and many could save you thousands of pounds…
Kim Henson.
Kim’s Tips – Removing Debris from Car Bodywork Areas Normally Enclosed and Inaccessible
Leaf it Out… Kim Henson Advises on Getting Rid of Leaf Debris etc. from Car Bodywork Crevices, Whenever the Opportunity Arises. It is surprising how much leaf debris and silt can collect in nooks and crannies around car bodywork, especially in areas that are difficult to access and so usually are left undisturbed for long periods. Examples include hollows around and beneath scuttle panels, … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips – Keep Your Cooling System (Classic or Modern) in Good Nick
Hot Stuff! Off the Scale… Kim Henson offers advice on keeping your engine cool and operating as it should. The recent spell of hot weather has caught out many motorists, in classic and modern vehicles. Temperature gauge needles have been rising, in some cases to catastrophically high levels. Any vehicle with a cooling system in ‘marginal’ condition, and/or with a low coolant lever, is at … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips – For Safety and Cost Reasons Check Your Car Frequently for Fuel and Coolant Leaks
UNION DUES. Fuel and Coolant Leaks can be Dangerous and Expensive, yet Checking is not Difficult… Kim Henson explains. One way and another I spend a great deal of my time peering under bonnets of both new and old vehicles, and lately I have encountered a number of cars with potentially dangerous leaks of fuel and coolant. Fuel weeping from a loose union or a split hose will ignite if it gets … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips – Steering Wheel Removal – Take Care!
If Removing a Steering Wheel (Classic or Modern), Think BEFORE You Act… By Kim Henson. Whether your car is a recent model or an ageing classic, there can be occasions when the steering wheel has to be removed, possibly in order to remove the dashboard, or to gain access to the steering column controls, or even just to ‘centralise’ the wheel on its splines so that the spokes align in their … [Read more...]
Give Your Battery a Helping Hand – Kim’s Tips
Kim Henson advises on getting the best from your battery, at the same time helping it to 'survive and prosper'! Whether your car is a classic or a more recent model, its battery has to take a great deal of punishment in winter, with constant demands on its output, through a wealth of electrical systems that it has to supply (particularly on modern vehicles). Low temperatures sap at battery … [Read more...]
More Cold Weather Tips to help you keep moving…
An update from Kim Henson… I am indebted to Wheels-Alive reader/viewer Gerald Morgan for contacting us to say that he enjoyed, and found helpful, my recent ‘Kim’s Tips’ article entitled ‘Getting Colder’ (and dated 11th January). He has made a few further suggestions which he feels may be useful to ‘Wheels-Alive’ users, and here they are (please see below). Thanks Gerald, I feel that your … [Read more...]
Getting Colder… Stand by for below freezing temperatures, possibly with ice and snow. Are you and your car ready? Here are Kim’s Top 10 Tips…
Winter motoring advice which may help you cope, from Kim Henson. So far this winter in the UK, the weather has been predominantly mild and exceedingly wet, to the extent that we have all been lulled into a false sense of security as far as cold conditions are concerned. However, all that is forecast to change over the coming few days, and it is very likely that below freezing temperatures will … [Read more...]
Driving on Flooded Roads – Kim’s Tips
Advice to help you stay safe and keep motoring, from Kim Henson. The recent very heavy and persistent rain has resulted in widespread flooding in many parts of the country. This can make driving very hazardous and certainly has the potential for wrecking your vehicle, if not risking life and limb. However, if you keep your head and don’t panic, you should be okay; just think carefully… The … [Read more...]
Let There Be Light (and you can do it yourself!)
A bulb not illuminating? Don’t panic. Kim Henson advises on quick and easy ways to check the system yourself, restore operation and keep your car legal as well as safe… It’s a fact of life that although motor car bulbs usually last for a very long time (and some modern types have the potential to survive ‘indefinitely’ unless physically damaged), eventually they will fail. Inevitably this … [Read more...]
Don’t be Tyresome! – Kim’s Tips
DON'T BE TYRESOME; STAY SAFE! says Kim. The difference in the dynamic behaviour of a vehicle fitted with tyres in good condition and correctly inflated, compared with one on defective/worn out and probably under-inflated tyres is, quite simply, amazing. In order to be sure that the vehicle will respond as designed to the controls, to safely steer round a bend, brake, accelerate and so on, … [Read more...]
Check your oil – save your engine!
Here at Wheels-Alive we have long appreciated the crucial importance of maintaining engine oil at the correct level (as well as carrying out regular and frequent oil and filter changes). Indeed, often we have witnessed the sad and expensive consequences of not maintaining oil at the correct level. The engine oil serves to keep apart metal components working in very close proximity, minimising … [Read more...]
Stay Alert and Safe; Don’t Get Dehydrated
The benefits of taking regular breaks when driving are well-known; driving when tired is a recipe for disaster. However, you may not be aware that staying hydrated is also essential. According to Shell, a drop of just two per cent in your body’s water level can affect your concentration levels. It is worth bearing this in mind when travelling, especially if driving long distances, and when … [Read more...]
Flexible Hoses – Check them
Flexible hoses are essential to the operation of hydraulic clutch and brake systems on cars both old and new. However, as they age, problems can arise. Even if you are not technically minded, it’s a good idea – and very easy – to visually inspect the hoses at least once a year, for signs of splitting, crazing, bulging and other obvious external damage. Bending the hose through a tight angle, by … [Read more...]
Help your engine survive
“Looking after the oil in your engine is the single most important step you can take to ensure trouble-free running and long-term survival of the motor”. It is true that the operating clearances within modern engines are closer than in days gone by, so in theory they should use less oil. However, it is also true that oil sump capacities in recent cars are smaller than in their predecessors, and … [Read more...]
Keep it clean (Washing your car)
When a car is washed (usually infrequently), many people use the minimum possible amount of water, and some start by scrubbing thick mud from the lower parts of the vehicle. This results in the sponge or cloth becoming impregnated with grit, which can then be spread around the rest of the vehicle, including the glass. While there is no need to use a hose (and the large quantities of water that … [Read more...]