Thinking of replacing your car? Robin Roberts passes on some words of wisdom... The new year is finally here and for a lot of us that means a fresh start; a new job, an expensive gym membership or the tempting thought of buying a new or used car. However, today’s high-tech cars can be concealing unknown wallet-crunching problems. Fortunately, you don’t need a degree in electronics or a mobile … [Read more...]
Technical – Diagnostic fault codes can be misleading…
Running problems with your car? Accurate diagnostic assessment is vital... Kim Henson reports. A modern motor car is a complex machine, and in every case, like it or not, it relies on a computer-controlled electronic management system in order to keep running. That's usually fine when the vehicle is new-ish and everything is working as it should. However, as we know computer systems are not … [Read more...]
MoT failure repair costs are high; minimise by checking your car!
MOT failures are costing British drivers hundreds of pounds to fix – and get their cars back on the road. Motorists in the UK say they pay an average of £272 to correct faults that have been discovered on their cars during an MOT. With the price of an MOT capped at £54.85, this means motorists whose cars fail the first time round are hit in the pocket for an extra £326.85 A survey for the … [Read more...]
Headlamp bulbs – How much?!
Do you know how much it would cost to renew a headlamp bulb on your car? Robin Roberts tells all… A blown headlight bulb can cost up to £846 to replace on some of Britain’s best-selling small cars, new research reveals. A study into 13 popular models on sale today by What Car? found headlight repair bills vary by several hundred pounds depending on whether the models have halogen or HID or LED … [Read more...]
Mercedes-Benz classic sports car restoration by Hemmels of Cardiff
A Welsh car business is turning out new for old gold. Robin Roberts tells all... Hemmels of Cardiff is probably one of the least known success stories in the Welsh automotive sector but it is rapidly gaining recognition around the world. It specialises in nut and bold regeneration of classic Mercedes-Benz sports cars, and prices for their year-long rebuilt models begin at £225,000. For … [Read more...]
Full stop… Goodbye to the traditional handbrake lever?
Apparently just 37 per cent of new cars are now fitted with a conventional handbrake lever/manual parking brake... CarGurus research reveals that just over a third of new cars have a traditional handbrake. Only two mainstream manufacturers offer a manually-operated parking brake on their entire model ranges Premium makers such as Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover have ditched handbrakes in … [Read more...]
Taking your car abroad? Let there be light – but ensure that your headlamps are legal and don’t dazzle others…
Venturing overseas with your vehicle? If your headlamp beams are not properly converted for driving in other countries, this can have serious and expensive consequences… Kim Henson reports. As with so many things in automotive life, things have become more complex in terms of modern headlamp design and operation, compared with the units of a few years ago. In turn this impacts on what you can do … [Read more...]
Imminent WLTP economy and emissions test regime – important news and information. PLUS new Peugeot 3008 2.0 Diesel Road Test
New Peugeot 3008 2.0 litre diesel eight speed automatic is WLTP-compliant… …says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency), who has test-driven this latest version. What is WLTP? From September 2018 all new cars registered in Europe, India, South Korea and Japan will have to report their official fuel economy and CO2 figures according to WLTP. This acronym means Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle … [Read more...]
‘Need to Know’ Series No. 4: Threads, spanners and things.
Nuts, bolts, threads and spanners – essential for all motor cars, notably including classics. Dave Moss explains... (All words and photographs by Dave). There's a long, deep, and in places dark and slightly mysterious history behind the remarkable cornucopia of nuts and bolts and their threads encountered when working on old vehicles. Despite standardisation efforts stretching back almost two … [Read more...]
MoT Test – All change for modern cars – and, especially, classics!
Changes to the MoT test coming up on 20th May 2018... Dave Moss comprehensively explains what's happening. Various changes to the MOT test rules in England Scotland and Wales come in to force on Sunday May 20th 2018. Most of them affect all light vehicles over 3 years old, but there is also a big change for owners of classic vehicles. From that date, cars, vans, motorcycles and other light … [Read more...]
Fossil fuels, electricity, biofuels?
Why we need biofuels for a green future, according to oponeo.co.uk … Kim says: Words (and opinions) plus images in this feature are from oponeo.co.uk/ They say… Apart from producing huge amounts of pollution, fossil fuels are bound to run out. That’s a fact. Scientists have been searching for renewable power sources for ages, with the most successful one up to date being electricity. Electric … [Read more...]
60 Not Out!! ‘Car Mechanics’ magazine still helps motorists get the best from their vehicles… Special celebratory issue out on 15th March.
Kim Henson reports on one of the longest-running motoring magazines – going strong after 60 years, despite huge changes in car technologies and fashions. In the spring of 1958 a new motoring magazine caused something of a stir; the first issue of ‘Car Mechanics’ appeared, with the cover date April 1958. Like its long-established rival ‘Practical Motorist’, it aimed to help advise readers on how … [Read more...]
New Renault Mégane R.S. shod with Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres
New Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyre engineered specifically for Renault's latest hot hatchback... The New Renault Mégane R.S. has been updated with state-of-the-art technology for greater agility, efficiency and driving enjoyment. These innovations still rely on the right tyres which is why Bridgestone engineered every aspect of the Potenza S001 to match the new design of the iconic … [Read more...]
Drivers put safety at risk (and burn more fuel) by ignoring their tyre pressures!
Michelin and Kwik Fit find that four out of 10 motorists are driving on “Dangerous” or “Very Dangerous” tyres… Almost 40 per cent of cars in the UK are running on at least one tyre that is “dangerously” or “very dangerously” underinflated. The figures come after Michelin and Kwik Fit inspected more than 500 vehicles in Tesco car parks around the UK. Michelin classifies tyres that are … [Read more...]
Our Grumpy Old Mechanic underlines the benefits of regular maintenance…
Cam belt catastrophes and other (usually avoidable) horrors... Our Grumpy Mechanic says what he thinks about ignored maintenance. Every day I see the expensive results of vehicle maintenance being ignored. Notably these include engines that are clogged up internally because the oil and filter are not changed frequently enough, also written-off valves and cylinder heads because the cam (timing) … [Read more...]
SERIOUS DANGER!!! Zafira rust nightmare revealed by our Grumpy Old Mechanic!
If you drive an older Zafira, you NEED to read this. Our Grumpy Old Mechanic reports... Our Grumpy Old Mechanic avoids sensationalism but feels it important to reveal a safety-critical problem of which most Zafira owners/operators are almost certainly unaware… Last week a very tidy-looking first generation (‘A’ Series) Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 DTi dating from late 2003 was brought in to our … [Read more...]
Bearing Up! – Considerations for bearings and lubricants operating in harsh climates
Bearing the harsh environment... ~ Lubrication selection for low temperature operations. With its freezing climate, the Arctic is one of the most extreme and barren environments on earth. Despite this, four million humans have learned to live there, and these inhabitants expect crucial machinery to operate effectively – even in the depths of winter. Here Chris Johnson, managing director of … [Read more...]
New model of car, new roof bars? That’s expensive, but it doesn’t have to be that way…
If you change your car, does that necessarily mean that you have to buy a complete set of new roof bars for it, and do away with the perfectly good ones that you already have? Gerald Morgan investigates – and saves a very useful sum of money in the process… Ever bought a car, then got a set of roof bars and maybe even a roof rack to fit the bars as well? What happens to these when you buy … [Read more...]
Dave Randle goes ‘Back to Basics’ with his trusty Xantia…
BIT OF A BLOW. Dave Randle explains how it pays NOT to think the worst if an unusual breakdown occurs... So we made space in the schedule and booked up the first caravan holiday of Spring. Not an epic; just far enough away to be off the intermittent communication lines of Romney Marsh and sequestered among the Surrey Hills several times as far above sea level. We’re just getting back into … [Read more...]
Cutting Costs: The Art Of Fuel-efficient Driving
Cutting Costs: The Art Of Fuel-efficient Driving The personal views of guest contributor Giles Kirkland... Cars are rarely cheap and, of course, the more you drive yours, the more you have to spend. This is why many drivers value vehicles that offer plenty of miles to the gallon, but what about the car you currently have? Fortunately, there are ways to improve your fuel efficiency. Also known … [Read more...]
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