Vehicle Repairs in Abingdon

What does my exhaust do?​

Although there are no moving parts, your exhaust system is one of the hardest worked parts of the car. It is a series of pipes linking the engine to a silencer and a catalytic converter that performs the following functions:

• Controls noise
• Directs exhaust fumes away from passengers
• Improves engine performance
• Improves fuel consumption

 

Identifying problems with my exhaust​

If you notice any of the following you should have your exhaust checked by a technician to find out whether any components need replacing:

Noises

• Rattling – a rattling noise may indicate loose brackets holding the system in place
• Roaring – a roaring noise could be a potential problem with the silencer
• Hissing or popping – this could be a sign that the muffler or one of the pipes is leaking

 

Emissions

• Blue smoke – this could indicate a fault in the engine which is putting burnt oil into the exhaust system and resulting in blue smoke
• White smoke – white smoke when first started is normal. If it continues, this could be due to an internal coolant leak and the white smoke is the result of burning antifreeze. If there are no water leaks underneath your car it could be a leaking head gasket or a crack in the engine

 

Visual Appearance

• Rust or corrosion on the pipe as well as cracks, especially where the pipes connect could indicate a problem

On average a car battery will last around 3-5 years, if it is no longer holding its charge or the battery will not jump-start, it may be time to replace it with a new battery. If your car battery seems to be dying much earlier than this it can be down to a number of things, for example:

• The battery isn’t being charged as the car is not being driven enough
• The battery is being drained due to a vehicle fault
• The car is only doing short journeys

If you want more out of your batteries lifespan you should:

• Ensure that you regularly have the vehicle serviced so that an inefficient engine isn’t putting strain on the battery
• Don’t leave the air conditioning, lights or radio on while your vehicle is not running as this drains the battery
• Do drive your vehicle regularly so that the battery has a chance to charge

A car’s suspension components include a coil spring and a shock absorber (AKA a dampener). These shocks and springs work together to dampen down and cushion the vehicle by absorbing the impact from potholes and other minor imperfections in the road. This keeps your vehicle stable and your tyres firmly in contact with the road surface for the maximum amount of time which is essential for your brakes to work effectively.

Worn shock absorbers can add up to 2 metres to your braking distance when travelling at 30mph as tyres have less contact with the road. So, inspection and maintenance of a vehicle’s suspension system are vital if you are to gain the optimum comfort, stability and handling characteristics from your vehicle.

What are the symptoms of bad shock absorbers?​

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Shock Absorber:

• Vibrations while driving
• Swerving or nose-diving while braking
• Brakes take more time to stop the car
• Uneven tyre wear
• Leaking fluid
• A cracked bushing at attachment points
• Try the “bounce test”

TPMS Sensors usually don’t need replacing that often, normally it will be anywhere between 3-7 years based on how much information is being transmitted by them. There is a battery inside the sensors (which is constantly transmitting information to the vehicle, even when stationary) so when the air pressure in a tyre has dropped below the limit, the battery usage will be a lot higher.

Other things such as bad handling of the sensor or neglect can mean that the sensor will need to be replaced sooner than average.

The performance of tyres is directly related to the inflation pressure of that particular tyre, correct tyre pressure means better performance from your vehicle whether that be overall stability, brake efficiency or handling. So it is important that your TPMS is working correctly.

Ensure that you and your car are safe on the road by bringing your vehicle in for a health check. We thoroughly examine various areas of your vehicle including tyre pressure and oil checks amongst others and highlight any causes for concern to put your mind at ease.