FAQ

At Cotteridge Car Care, we have created this frequently ask question section to our website to offer helpful, free advice, to the most commonly asked questions about vehicle maintenance and safety.

VEHICLE CARE

In order to keep your car running at its best, it’s important to keep up with routine maintenance and inspections. By properly maintaining your vehicle, you’ll reduce future repair costs, optimise your car’s performance and extend its life.

GET IN TOUCH

Do I have to get my car serviced by a main dealer?

You are not obliged (since October 2003) to get the car serviced by a franchise dealer during the warranty period.

You must though get it serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule and criteria using only manufacturer approved parts.

The legislation only applies to the part of the warranty offered by the manufacturer, i.e. insurance-backed extended warranties offered by dealers are not covered and may stipulate different conditions.

If you do get the car serviced outside the dealer network, you must make sure it’s done to the maker’s recommended schedule and criteria using approved parts. You must also keep records so you can demonstrate to the manufacturer that servicing was undertaken to their requirements.

How much is reasonable for garage labour?

Vehicles are complex with multiple sensors and electronic control units to keep exhaust emissions to a minimum, improve stability/braking and to operate safety systems.

Technicians at franchised garages need to be highly trained and must attend many manufacturers’ training courses. Not only are the courses expensive, but the technicians demand salaries to match their skills. Garage hourly rates vary by location, the nature of the facilities and whether or not they hold a manufacturer franchise.

Independent garages charge less than half the labour rate of their franchised counterparts.

Must I get air conditioning serviced?

Regular servicing is important for health and to maintain the system working effectively. Up to 15% of the refrigerant gas will be lost annually.

Run your air conditioning at least once a week throughout the year.

Have the refrigerant gas checked regularly and topped up to manufacturers’ recommended levels.

Help improve hygiene and air quality with a regular cabin filter change, as it can become blocked with pollen.

A regular air duct clean helps remove the bacteria and fungi that can cause unpleasant odours.

How do I find the correct tyre pressures for my vehicle?

The tyre pressures recommended for a vehicle are normally shown on a sticker situated on the A-post pillar between the front and rear doors, on the driver’s side. Alternatively you can check your Owner’s Manual.

What is AdBlue?

It is a well-known fact that diesel engines emit more harmful gases than petrol engines. Over time, this increased pollution builds up, and can cause serious health problems and even smog and acid rain in densely populated areas. In recent years, laws have been introduced to deal with this increased pollution.

Since 2014, one of the ways car manufacturers have dealt with stricter emissions laws is to introduce a mandatory chemical called AdBlue to diesel vehicles. This urea-rich liquid is a fuel additive which, when added to your engine, is broken down into nitrogen and water vapour (both naturally occurring products), significantly reducing the nasty pollutants emitted by your diesel engine.

Do I need AdBlue?

If you own a diesel vehicle built after 1 January 2014, it is highly likely you’ll need AdBlue.
The simplest way to check whether your car requires AdBlue is to look in your owner’s manual. Some vehicles have a small blue cap next to the black fuel cap under your fuel cap cover, on other vehicles the tank can be found in the boot or under the bonnet.

If an AdBlue indicator has appeared on your dashboard, don’t wait to top up. Running out of AdBlue can significantly increase your car’s emissions, and if left, can prevent your engine from starting altogether. Your car may also go into ‘limp mode’, reducing the speed at which you can drive

Lights Safety

Your lights are essential for your visibility and it is a legal requirement to have lights that work correctly. To ensure they are working, turn your ignition and lights on (without starting the engine). Once on, you should see a light appear on your dashboard. if you are unsure what this looks like. Ideally, ask someone to walk around your vehicle while you operate the lights. Make sure checks for cracks in the lenses or obvious signs of a bulb blow are carried out. In addition to this, clean your lights regularly, using warm, soapy water.

Tyre Safety

Carrying out a visual inspection of your tyre’s condition and checking your tread depth is extremely important for your safety. In simple terms, your tyres are the only contact between your car and the road and they influence how your car steers, accelerates and brakes. Your tyres essentially stop your car, so making sure to choose the right tyre for your vehicle is just as important.

To observe how close you are to the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm, make sure to check your treadwear indicators. You can also place a 20p coin into the grooves of your tyre and if the outer band of the coin is hidden, your tyres are above the legal limit. You should also look for cracks, punctures and uneven tyre wear.

Oil Change

When was the last time you checked your oil?
Not only does your oil protect the moving parts in the engine, but it cleans, cools and lubricates, preventing your car from breaking down. If your oil levels are too low, this could cause your engine to overheat and potentially cause your engine to seize. With safety in mind, it’s really important that you check your oil levels regularly.

Checking your oil levels will require opening your bonnet and locating the dipstick (most cars have a brightly coloured handle). You also have your vehicle’s handbook to refer to if you are unsure where to find this. Make sure you engine is cool before checking. If your oil level is not between the upper and lower markers and is beneath the lower marker, your oil will need topping up immediately. If you don’t have a dipstick, you should be able to check your oil levels via your car’s on-board computer.

Coolant Check

Carrying on with safety, your engine coolant (also known as antifreeze), regulates the temperate of your car’s engine by flowing through passages and absorbing heat. During winter, engine coolant ensures that the water in your radiator system doesn’t freeze and during warmer conditions, coolant prevents the water from boiling or evaporating.

To find out your coolant level, check your vehicle’s handbook to locate the coolant tank. Make sure to never remove the coolant cap while the engine is hot. Once found, you should see minimum and maximum markers on the side of the plastic tank. If the coolant level is below the minimum marker, this will require a coolant top up.

What Is an MOT?

The MOT scheme is primarily a road safety measure designed to ensure as far as possible that all cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles more than 3 years old.

•are properly maintained and;

•at least once a year are examined at an authorised MOT test station to make sure that they comply with certain important requirements of the law

M.O.T. Stands for Ministry Of Transport.

Remember- the test certificate relates only to the condition of the testable items at the time of the test and should not be regarded as evidence of their condition at any other time; nor should it be accepted as evidence of the general mechanical condition of the vehicle.

What Happens if My Vehicle Fails the MOT Test?

Should the vehicle fail, you will be issued with a VT3O Certificate stating the items causing the failure of the MOT test. Make sure that you are clear as to what rectification is required for a pass to be issued. In certain cases expert or special services may be required regarding emissions or welding.

There is no set time limit before a retest and it is at the discretion of the individual. Remember – a car that does not have as current MOT Certificate is not allowed to be used on the road except when going for repairs for an MOT test, or to a prearranged MOT test.

How Long Does an MOT Take?

An MOT test takes approximately 45 minutes.

When do I need to change my brakes?

Different driving patterns have a dramatic effect on how often your brakes need servicing.

For example, a set of brake pads could last up to 60,000 miles or more on a car driven mostly on the motorway. However the brakes on the same car driven mostly in busy city centre traffic may last only 25,000 miles or less.

Front brakes normally wear out before rear brakes because they handle a higher percentage of the braking load, especially on front-wheel drive cars.
It is often recommended that brake pads should be replaced if the pad friction material has worn down to a thickness of 3 millimetres. Brake disc thickness should be measured if they are at or below the manufacturer’s safe minimum thickness specification they should be replaced.

ALL MAKES AND MODELS

Our experienced technicians can service & repair any make or model vehicle. You’ll receive the same friendly, expert service with Main Dealer quality and standards at independent garage prices.