Avoiding a Car Breakdown

<h1>Avoiding a Car Breakdown</h1>Author: <a title="Rich Bendall" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/rich-bendall/69568.htm">Rich Bendall</a> Every year in the UK as many as 3 million drivers will experience a breakdown of their vehicle.  In many cases the breakdown is the result of a problem that could have been avoided had the car owner performed some basic maintenance of their vehicle.  To decrease the chances of a car breakdown there are a number of simple routine jobs that a driver can perform.
To ensure that their vehicle remains in a working condition car owners should aim to perform at least some of these checks -
Examine headlights, indicators and other exterior lights to ensure that they are all in working condition.  In the UK it is a legal requirement for all vehicles to have fully working lights.  Car owners should particularly check rear brake lights as it may not be noticeable in the day to day running of the car that these have broken.  Headlight and indicator lenses should also be free from damage and should be kept clean so that they are easily visible.
Oil and water levels should be checked regularly and topped up when needed.  In winter especially the anti-freeze content of the engine cooling system should also be checked. Depending on the type of battery it may be necessary to top it up with distilled water if levels have run low.  Car owners should also look at battery connections to ensure that they haven’t become loose or corroded.
Front and rear windscreen wipers should be checked firstly to see if they are aligned correctly and secondly for general signs of wear and tear.
The pressure and tread depth of all tyres including the spare should be regularly monitored to ensure that they meet the minimum legal standard.  It can also be useful for car owners to have practised fitting the spare wheel so that they are prepared and know what to do should they get a flat tyre when driving.
A key that has become worn can cause damage to the lock, and so car keys should be checked and if necessary replaced.
As can be seen there are a number of simple routine tasks that car owners can carry out to ensure their vehicle stays in good working condition.  Performing this maintenance can significantly reduce the chances of a car breakdown.About the Author: Rapid Recovery UK provides <a href="http://rapidrecoveryuk.co.uk/car-breakdown-recovery-uk.php">car recovery services in Greater Manchester</a>. Rapid Recovery also operate <a href="http://rapidrecoveryuk.co.uk/covered-car-transporter-trailers.php">covered car transporter trailers</a> and offer <a href="http://rapidrecoveryuk.co.uk">prestige car transport</a>.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/avoiding-a-car-breakdown-572216.html" title="Avoiding a Car Breakdown">Avoiding a Car Breakdown</a>

Every year in the UK as many as 3 million drivers will experience a breakdown of their vehicle. In many cases the breakdown is the result of a problem that could have been avoided had the car owner performed some basic maintenance of their vehicle. To decrease the chances of a car breakdown there are a number of simple routine jobs that a driver can perform.

To ensure that their vehicle remains in a working condition car owners should aim to perform at least some of these checks -

Examine headlights, indicators and other exterior lights to ensure that they are all in working condition. In the UK it is a legal requirement for all vehicles to have fully working lights. Car owners should particularly check rear brake lights as it may not be noticeable in the day to day running of the car that these have broken. Headlight and indicator lenses should also be free from damage and should be kept clean so that they are easily visible.

Oil and water levels should be checked regularly and topped up when needed. In winter especially the anti-freeze content of the engine cooling system should also be checked. Depending on the type of battery it may be necessary to top it up with distilled water if levels have run low. Car owners should also look at battery connections to ensure that they haven’t become loose or corroded.

Front and rear windscreen wipers should be checked firstly to see if they are aligned correctly and secondly for general signs of wear and tear.

The pressure and tread depth of all tyres including the spare should be regularly monitored to ensure that they meet the minimum legal standard. It can also be useful for car owners to have practised fitting the spare wheel so that they are prepared and know what to do should they get a flat tyre when driving.

A key that has become worn can cause damage to the lock, and so car keys should be checked and if necessary replaced.

As can be seen there are a number of simple routine tasks that car owners can carry out to ensure their vehicle stays in good working condition. Performing this maintenance can significantly reduce the chances of a car breakdown.

Rapid Recovery UK provides car recovery services in Greater Manchester. Rapid Recovery also operate covered car transporter trailers and offer prestige car transport.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/avoiding-a-car-breakdown-572216.html

Article Tags: Car, Vehicle, Maintenance, Transport, Breakdown

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