The post Wing Mirrors – Can you see clearly? appeared first on Ashley MOT & Service Centre.
]]>Wing Mirrors - Can you see clearly?
Recently, we’ve noticed on test drives of customer vehicles, wing mirrors are pointing in totally the wrong direction.
It’s becoming apparent that more and more of you aren’t fully utilising your wing mirrors and it’s a worry to us because road awareness and vision is extremely important to both yours, your passengers and other road users’ safety.
Most importantly, wing mirrors allow drivers to see a wide section of the road around them. They also allow drivers to manoeuvre their vehicles safely, meaning there’s less risk of colliding with objects or pedestrians.
If you’re solely relying on the vision out of your front windscreen, it’s narrowing your vision down dramatically, increasing the chance of collision.
Examples of incorrectly positioned wing mirrors
Example of Correctly positioned wing mirror
So, what small, routine changes can we make, as drivers, to assure we’re being safe?
When popping on your seat belt but before turning on the ignition, check that you can clearly see down the sides of your vehicle and behind your vehicle through your wing mirrors. Also check that your interior mirror is positioned so that you can see out of the rear window of the vehicle. Once you’re happy they’re set, you’re free to go.
Vehicle Checks
We understand that vehicles are often shared and mirrors may be moved from driver to driver, however, it’s extremely important before you set off on a journey to make sure that your seating position is correct and your wing mirrors are positioned so that you can see down each side of the vehicle and beyond.
Blind Spots
Don’t rely solely on your wing mirrors, just like we don’t solely rely on other driving aids such as reversing cameras. Looking over your shoulder and checking your blind spots when manoeuvring is the correct thing to do.
Wing mirrors are a driving aid that become a second set of eyes for you so make sure to use them!
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]]>The post Why won’t my car start in the cold? appeared first on Ashley MOT & Service Centre.
]]>Why won't my car start in the cold?
Why won't my car start in the cold?
Cold, damp and frozen weather conditions cause many problems for road users and can be down to a few factors, most commonly due to the car’s battery.
Flat Battery
The AA reported that they have more call-outs for vehicles on 4th January than any other day of the year due to flat or dead batteries. Leaving your vehicle parked up over the festive period can lead to the battery being totally depleted.
Batteries that are older than three years old generally have reduced performance and with the colder temperatures reducing the performance further, this allows older batteries to discharge or flatten very quickly.
If your car’s central locking doesn’t unlock with the key or if your ignition lights on the dashboard aren’t illuminated once you’ve put the key in the ignition, these are signs that your battery may be flat.
How to fix a flat battery problem
If you have jump cables and access to another vehicle, jump-starting your car can help you get to where you need to be in the quickest way.
If this doesn’t work, you may need a replacement battery, call us on 01845 525007 and we can help.
Winter Maintenance
Cold temperatures reduce the battery’s ability to hold charge due to the chemical process that produces and stores electricity inside the battery.
Charging your battery regularly (at least once a week) during these winter months can often prolong the life of your vehicle’s battery. If, however, you don’t have a battery charger, taking regular trips in your vehicle can help the battery to last longer as your vehicle’s alternator (electrical generator) charges the battery when it’s running.
Remember to switch off all electrical loads such as lights, wipers and the radio before turning the engine off. This helps to prevent any unnecessary drain on your vehicle’s battery.
If there is any corrosion on the clamps and battery cables, use a wire brush to clean off the corrosion so that it doesn’t restrict the current flow. Alternatively, ask us and we can help.
Still unsure?
Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you’re having issues starting your car after the festive period. Flat batteries are a very common fault however, if you’ve replaced your battery and the problem still persists, drop your vehicle with us and let one of our technicians investigate your problem.
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]]>The post Free Winter Health Check appeared first on Ashley MOT & Service Centre.
]]>Free Winter Health Check
We’re heading into that time of year when our vehicles could benefit from a few checks to make sure that our cars run smoother and minimise the risk of breakdowns. After all, who wants to be stood at the side of the road with a broken down car in these lower temperatures?
Here at TCS, we’re offering motorists in Thirsk, Dalton, Easingwold and surrounding areas, a free vehicle inspection so that we can help to keep you safe on the roads this festive period.
What’s Involved in a Free Winter Health Check?
Checklist
- Tyres – The overall condition, checking the tread thickness, tyre walls and pressures.
- Battery – A test on the health of your battery, making sure your car starts on colder mornings.
- Wipers – For wear and tear, looking for cracks or potential damage, allowing you to see clearly when it’s raining.
- Bulbs – Making you as visible as possible in foggy conditions.
- Windscreen Washer System – topped up full of screen wash and checking for blockages.
- Coolant – The levels and strength.
What do our Technicians check for?
Tyres
As well as our usual routine checks, our technicians check that the tyres are inflated to manufacturer tolerances. This means you’re getting the most out of your tyres. We also check the amount of tread remaining and the overall condition of the tyres.
Batteries
Our technicians use the latest technology to ensure that your battery is working in correct order by testing the voltage and charge level. During the winter months, batteries on vehicles are prone to failure and become apparent on mornings when it’s cold.
Bulbs
During these foggier months, replacing bulbs is essential to both your own vision and other road user’s visibility of you. Our technicians check every bulb on your vehicle to see if they’re in good working order.
Wiper Blades
Our technicians check the overall health of your wiper blades, looking for any damage or cracks, impairing your vision. People often use their windscreen wipers to speed up defrosting their vehicle, which can leave the blades damaged. We check both front and rear wiper blades and report on the condition.
Anti-Freeze
A coloured liquid that stops the water in your engine’s cooling system from freezing during the winter months. As the temperature outside drops, coolant is pumped throughout your engine block to maintain an even temperature, reducing the risk of damage. Our technicians will check the levels of your coolant but will also offer to replace the coolant for winter coolant in their report.
Windscreen Washer System
Our technicians check to see if the Screen wash is full. We also check to see if there are any blockages down the tubes that carry the washer fluid from the reservoir to the jets avoiding any problems that may cause.
How long does it take?
Depending on the make, model and condition of your vehicle, it can take up to 1 hour. There’s seating available at our Thirsk Service Centre if you’d like to wait, alternatively, you can leave your vehicle and we can give you a call once complete to inform you of our technician’s report.
Is it part of my annual MOT?
Keeping on top of the condition of your vehicle is essential in keeping you, your passengers and other road users safe. An MOT is a legal requirement, however, we’re offering this Free Winter Health Check as a way to highlight and prevent potential issues for you this winter.
How can I book?
Our phone lines are open from 8.30am – 5.30pm, 01845 525007. Alternatively, you can click below to email us ([email protected]) or message us on Facebook.
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