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Intermittent car maintenance tips

Check the condition of tyres	Every few weeks, it’s a good idea to do a visual check on your tyres to make sure that they have the legally required depth of tread. The legal minimum is 1.6 millimetres across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre. However, many vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing at 3 millimetres. A car with 1.6 millimetres of tread doing 50mph takes 8 metres longer to stop in wet conditions than a car with 3 millimetres of tread.

Check the condition of tyres

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Every few weeks, it’s a good idea to do a visual check on your tyres to make sure that they have the legally required depth of tread. The legal minimum is 1.6 millimetres across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre. However, many vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing at 3 millimetres. A car with 1.6 millimetres of tread doing 50mph takes 8 metres longer to stop in wet conditions than a car with 3 millimetres of tread.

Check the condition of bodywork	You don’t have to be an expert to walk around your car and check for any displaced trim, dents, breaks in the paintwork, or signs of corrosion. Once bodywork is compromised, corrosion will attack quickly, so it’s usually a sound investment to have damage made good promptly.

Check basic electrics	Again, it couldn’t be simpler. Ask someone else to stand in front of your parked car, while you sit in the driver’s seat and test each set of lights in turn. Then do the same at the back of the car. If you find a light not working, it will probably simply need a bulb replacing and, though these are not always readily accessible on all modern cars, a quick check will tell you whether you could easily reach the lamp in question or not. If several lights have stopped working, it’s likely that a fuse has blown. These are easy to replace, and your owner’s handbook will help you identify the fuse and show you how to replace it.

Check basic electrics

Again, it couldn’t be simpler. Ask someone else to stand in front of your parked car, while you sit in the driver’s seat and test each set of lights in turn. Then do the same at the back of the car. If you find a light not working, it will probably simply need a bulb replacing and, though these are not always readily accessible on all modern cars, a quick check will tell you whether you could easily reach the lamp in question or not. If several lights have stopped working, it’s likely that a fuse has blown. These are easy to replace, and your owner’s handbook will help you identify the fuse and show you how to replace it.

Check windows and mirrors	Walk around your car every few days and just check that your windows, especially your windscreen, have not developed chips. If they have, get them dealt with immediately, as a small chip is usually simple to fix. If you have the Windscreen cover option included in Your Cover, our approved repairer, Autoglass will send a repair team to you to fix a chip in your windscreen free of charge and with no impact on your No claims discount. Where replacement is necessary, there is an excess of £75 to pay, but if you use Autoglass, thereafter we will meet the full cost of the replacement.

Check windows and mirrors

Walk around your car every few days and just check that your windows, especially your windscreen, have not developed chips. If they have, get them dealt with immediately, as a small chip is usually simple to fix. If you have the Windscreen cover option included in Your Cover, our approved repairer, Autoglass will send a repair team to you to fix a chip in your windscreen free of charge and with no impact on your No claims discount. Where replacement is necessary, there is an excess of £75 to pay, but if you use Autoglass, thereafter we will meet the full cost of the replacement.

Investigate noises	Noises can become an obsession, but if something is rattling, buzzing, humming or creaking, there’s a reason why. Often it will be simply that a cable tie or clip has worn and needs replacing. If you’re not sure, and the noise persists or worsens, ask your garage to check it. Be particularly diligent about clunks and other noises that occur when you steer heavily one way or the other. These are likely to be related to a problem with your steering mechanism, and you should have a garage investigate as soon as possible.

Investigate noises

Noises can become an obsession, but if something is rattling, buzzing, humming or creaking, there’s a reason why. Often it will be simply that a cable tie or clip has worn and needs replacing. If you’re not sure, and the noise persists or worsens, ask your garage to check it. Be particularly diligent about clunks and other noises that occur when you steer heavily one way or the other. These are likely to be related to a problem with your steering mechanism, and you should have a garage investigate as soon as possible.

Windscreen washers	Regularly check the level of your windscreen washer fluid and make sure it is topped up at all times. If you do find you need to top it up, you should avoid using washing up liquid as this will leave a film on your windscreen. Instead, buy windscreen washer fluid from a garage, the agent in it should keep it from freezing during the winter months and by mixing it with water, you can make it last longer. When checking your windscreen washer fluid, you should also check the condition of your wiper blades. You can do this by carefully lifting the windscreen wiper away from the car so it doesn’t spring back in to the windscreen. Examine the condition of the rubber blades and check for any damage or brittle bits, if you notice any damage, replace them immediately.

Windscreen washers

Regularly check the level of your windscreen washer fluid and make sure it is topped up at all times. If you do find you need to top it up, you should avoid using washing up liquid as this will leave a film on your windscreen. Instead, buy windscreen washer fluid from a garage, the agent in it should keep it from freezing during the winter months and by mixing it with water, you can make it last longer. When checking your windscreen washer fluid, you should also check the condition of your wiper blades. You can do this by carefully lifting the windscreen wiper away from the car so it doesn’t spring back in to the windscreen. Examine the condition of the rubber blades and check for any damage or brittle bits, if you notice any damage, replace them immediately.

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Your Cover is a product from Allianz Insurance plc, registered in England no 84638 at 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1DB, United Kingdom. Allianz Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration number 121849 and this can be checked by visiting the FSA website at www.fsa.gov.uk or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.

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Intermittent car maintenance tips

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