We rely on our vehicles so much! Those who don’t drive say they don’t miss it, but as soon as they get a license, they don’t know how they ever survived without one. However, as much as we need our cars, we don’t need the fact that they break down quite regularly. Here are the most common reasons why cars break down.
We rely on our vehicles so much! Those who don’t drive say they don’t miss it, but as soon as they get a license, they don’t know how they ever survived without one. However, as much as we need our cars, we don’t need the fact that they break down quite regularly. Here are the most common reasons why cars break down.
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Batteries don’t last as long as we would like them to. And then there’s the fact that many of us regularly forget to switch our lights off, running the battery completely flat. A flat battery, or a faulty one, is actually the most common cause for a vehicle breaking down. People who regularly do short journeys are most susceptible to this because they don’t give their batteries a chance to recharge. Hence, make sure you take that longer trip every once in a while.
Although this is not technically a reason for a car to actually breakdown, roadside assistance companies like the RAC and the AA report that the second most common reason for them to receive a call out is because people have lost their keys.
The only way to fix this is to have your car towed to the nearest authorized dealer and have your keys – or your locks – replaced. This is a very costly mistake, so make sure you always have a spare key somewhere and try not to lose them in the first place.
Flat tires are quite a common occurrence as well. You may think that this is because glass or nails or other foreign objects on the road causing a puncture, but the reality is that tires usually go flat because people don’t pay attention to the pressure in them. Make sure you check the depth of your thread regularly as well and ensure you have a spare tire in good condition.
If the alternator goes, you have a serious problem. There are a number of signs to look out for. If your battery suddenly starts to go flat, your headlights go dim, a red warning light comes on in your car or if your water pump and radiator don’t work as well as they should, you are likely to have a problem. If you suspect this is the problem, stop driving straight away.
Starter motors are robust pieces of machinery, but they can break. Ensuring you take your car for its annual service will generally stop this problem from happening. If the starter motor does go, you may as well scrap your vehicle.
Most problems with distributor caps are caused by dirt and moisture. If your cap is cracked, it can start leaking. The problem is that cracks can be so small that you didn’t even notice them. It is easy to replace the cap, however, and you should do this regularly.
You would be surprised at how many people put the wrong type of fuel in their vehicles. Also, and this is quite understandable in light of the cost of fuel, people tend to run their tanks to empty before putting a minimal amount of fuel back in. Unfortunately, this can cause great damage to your vehicle.
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