DIY car care

Looking after your car and having it serviced regularly will reduce your chances of breaking down.

We recommend that you leave the complex repairs to a qualified professional but there are a number of maintenance checks you can do yourself to help prevent a breakdown.

Check your distributor cap

The distributor cap is a cylindrical casing that holds the wires that run to the spark plugs from the distributor. It generally has five 'posts' at the top depending on the number of cylinders your car has.

Keep it clean and dry and check for small cracks. If the distributor cap is damaged or cracked, get it replaced by a qualified mechanic.

Test your clutch

The clutch should 'engage' when the clutch pedal is depressed about half way, if it engages when the clutch pedal is depressed further than this it could be a sign that the clutch is worn. Stiff gears can also be a sign of a worn clutch.

Check your spark plugs

Spark plugs are small and easy to change. If your car cuts out when driving, it could be that your spark plugs are dirty and need changing.

Standard copper spark plugs should be changed every 10,000 - 20, 000 miles.



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These are the basic car parts you can check to avoid car breakdown. Maintenance is a big role to have your car a long existence.

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