Why Your Car Isn’t Rubbish

E-waste includes discarded electronics products that contain parts that may be regulated because they are harmful to the environment but luckily it is always collected by office rubbish removal Sydney. Every year, cars in Britain must pass a test to declare them ‘roadworthy’ and safe for the year ahead. This test is called an MOT and owners can be punished by law if their vehicle does not have a valid MOT certificate. Lead by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), MOT’s are often dreaded by car owners as they can be extremely costly and there is a perception that garages are out to fleece unsuspecting motorists. In some cases, this has been proved to be true with watchdogs flushing out the rogue mechanics. Local councils now often offer MOT test centres that do not offer repairs so mechanics have no incentive to pretend there are issues with your vehicle which should be some comfort to motorists who are currently feeling the pinch thanks to Britain’s prolonged economic troubles.

Do you know what issues will cause your car to fail its MOT? Sometimes, an MOT failure is easier than you might think. For example, a broken indicator bulb, low tyre tread or a worn out windscreen wiper is enough to fail your MOT. However, if there are several minor faults with your vehicle then the blame lies solely with the car’s owner. The key to passing an MOT is good maintenance.

In January 2009, figures were released under the Freedom of Information Act that showed a shocking first time MOT failure rate of cars registered in 2004 and MOT tested for the first time in 2007. What is interesting is that some of the recurring faults that caused cars to fail their MOT in 2007 are due to genuine manufacturer faults, but so many are due to poor maintenance. For example, the Citroen Berlingo saw a 21.5% first time failure rate. However, this is a commercial vehicle that is very likely to be abused by its driver. The same goes for the Ford Mondeo as it is a popular choice for fleet drivers so the higher than average mileage means wear and tear is substantial but unlikely to be the fault of manufacturers. Brakes, tyres and suspension are all easy victims when a car does high mileage, particularly over the three years that a new car does not require and MOT.

What was most surprising was that family cars did not fare as well as one would hope. The Renault Scenic has a 23% first time failure rate with nearly half of MOT failures due to tyres. 16% of Renault Scenics failed because of ‘the driver’s view of the road’ which could be down to chipped windscreens, worn out wipers or damaged washer jets.

The model of car that performed worst in the vital first MOT was the Renault Megane with 28% of 3 year old cars embarking on their first MOT failing. Renault explained this by stating that it was the second-best selling car in its segment with a majority of its sale to company fleets. So again, probably due to high mileage and no-one is accepting responsibility for maintenance.

How did the nation’s favourite car, the Vauxhall Corsa fare? 24.7% of Corsas failed their first MOT. Again, this was down to wear and tear from town driving. Stopping and starting in traffic wears the clutch and gearbox down quicker than regular motorway driving. Speed bumps are lethal for a car’s suspension and as Corsas dominate towns, they will see far more speed bumps than many other models. As this is a popular model of car, it is easy to find Vauxhall Corsa part at a breaker’s yard to minimise costs.

How can drivers avoid first time MOT failures?

– Check lights regularly. You can do this by reversing up to your garage door and seeing the lights in the reflection.
– If you get a chip on your windscreen then get it sorted ASAP. Chips can very quickly become cracks and could compromise your safety in a collision. It is much cheaper to fix a chip in your windscreen than replace the whole windscreen!
– When you check your oil and water, check your tyre tread and how well tyres are pumped up. Petrol stations often offer free air to blow up your tyres. Correct tyre pressure should be listed in your manual. Bear in mind that front and back tyres require different pressures.
– Approach speed bumps very slowly (5mph-10mph max) and avoid potholes wherever possible.
– Use the correct oil in your car. When you take your car for the MOT then you should ask the mechanic for some advice on which oil to buy.
– Don’t take your car to the dealer’s garage unless it is under warranty and you HAVE to take it there. The unscrupulous will charge over the odds for ‘authentic’ car parts etc. £200 for an oil and filter is ridiculous so make sure for that money they have replaced all necessary fluids e.g. brake fluid and checked the spark plugs, brakes, lights and battery and tracking.

This is not a comprehensive list but if you follow these basics then your vehicle should be well prepared for its first MOT.

Megavaux is a leading authority in the East Midlands on genuine Vauxhall car parts. If you wish to maintain the value of your vehicle, then careful maintenance is the key.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paul_Lanham/231042

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