Looking after your car.
Bodywork

All you need is some hot soapy water and a sponge to get rid of the grime. If you have some car shampoo use it. Rinse off the suds with some clean water and that is it. I won't go over the top with precise washing and waxing tips, but now might be a good time to check inside for water leaks, usually through broken windscreen rubbers.

Engine

Resist the temptation to clean under the bonnet. Water and engines don't mix, they have a habit of refusing to start, or suddenly developing intermittent electrical faults. What you can do though, is wipe the grease off the items that you will need to check periodically. Use a rag lightly dipped in petrol/paraffin. If the car has not recently been serviced to your knowledge, then a simple oil change will help.

Windows

For your own safety, you ought to be able to see out. The traditional household window cleaners aren't really suitable for cars as they polish the glass and leave a reflective glare. The biggest problem, even after the glass has been washed, is the presence of grease which smears all over the windscreen. The simple answer is to use the pages of a newspaper which will soak up the grease. Just rub on and see what muck comes off.

Interior

A good old-fashioned dust pan and brush, or vacuum cleaner, will do the job. If any of the carpets or mats can be detached from the floor, get them out. Domestic furniture polish will do if you want to buff up plastic seats and dashboards, otherwise a damp cloth will soak up the worst of the dust. If there are some persistent smells, or festering stains, don't be frightened to use well-known brands of disinfectant.

Workshop manual

This will save many frustrating hours searching for various items and deciding which spare part is right for the car. They can help you trace a simple fault and are invaluable for telling you how to take bits off properly. These can often be picked up for older cars in charity shops and car boot sales for not too much. Otherwise there is always the local library. If you can't find or borrow one I would argue that however complicated cars are these days even buying a brand new one is a worthwhile investment. You'll be amazed at how satisfying it is to repair something simple like a window washer and the details in the book at least means you will be poking at the right piece of kit. Compared to what a garage may charge for sorting that problem out again the book will pay for itself.

Oil

At the very least the first thing you should do is change the oil unless you have proof (i.e. receipts) that it has been done recently. In simple terms the oil provides lubrication. When it gets old and black, with bits of metal in it, the liquid is less effective and starts to damage the engine. So changing the oil and oil filter is a good place to start and in most cases finish. If you don't want to get your hands dirty, ask us - its what we do!

Breakdown service

Although the cost of joining might even in some cases exceed the value of your banger, it is essential to invest in this service, especially if you plan to rely on the car. The only exception might be if you restrict the car's adventures to local runs. These days it is a very competitive market and there are some very low membership costs for a basic rescure/recovery service. However some companies may charge more for older vehicles, or ones they believe to be less reliable so always shop around and look at the small print. As with any service try to compare like with like.

Tool kit

A motley collection of spanners and screwdrivers are all you really need. Adjustable spanners make sense, although the purist mechanic won't be impressed and there are some good budget spanners around.

The only specialist tool would be a spark plug spanner. Self-locking grips, sometimes referred to as a 'Monkey Wrench' can prove useful. A collection of screwdrivers both with flat and cross heads is a good idea. Also a good wheel brace is worth having as sometimes the pathetically small spanners supplied with the car have little or no chance of removing the wheel nuts. Other items include: fuel can, cloth, adhesive tape, spare bulbs and fuses, tyre pressure gauge, foot pump, battery charger and jump leads.

Warranty

This is essentially an insurance policy which covers your car against specific mechanical failures. Not everyone bothers but maybe they should because on some cars it is certainly worthwhile as they are so pricey to fix. You can even get a policy that operates when a car fails its MOT (Contact us for details) and there are also packages, which cover maintenance and spread any servicing and repair costs over the year. It will suit some drivers perfectly and remove any worries they have about unexpected expenditure. To get the best warranty that suits you it is important to read the small print to see exactly what is covered. You may have a claims limit and be required to contribute towards any costs. Indeed high mileage and older Bangers may not be eligible for cover and they probably won't be worth covering.

If you need advice we are more than happy to help, give us a call 702819.