Warning Signs Your Electric Vehicle Needs a Service Check
Warning Signs from Your Vehicle That it Needs Service or Repair
However, there are also lights on your dashboard indicating preventative maintenance such as the motor oil change light. This light does not indicate a problem, but rather that it is time for a motor oil change soon. When its time for your vehicles motor oil to be changed, we recommend Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic motor oils. Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic motor oils help to extend engine life and protects your engine for up to 15 years or 500,000 miles, whichever comes first. Guaranteed1.Pennzoil Platinum is the first motor oil made with natural gas.
A number of the items covered here such as brakes and potential suspension problems are directly related to vehicle safety and should be checked by a professional immediately. Items such as headlights that are dull or not working should also be replaced immediately due to reduced visibility in darkness or rain.
Many auto service centers that offer Pennzoil Full Synthetic motor oils can also diagnose and repair problems with your vehicle. To find a service center near you, please use our location finder.
1 15 years or 500,000 miles whichever comes first, guaranteed, if you exclusively use Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic motor oils. Your engine must have less than 125,000 miles and have been manufactured in the past 72 months. To maintain your warranty, change your vehicles oil and oil filter at least as often as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Enrollment required. Keep your receipts. Other conditions apply. Click here to enroll and for full details and terms.
How to tell if your gearbox is failing: 15 warning signs
Manual gearbox and automatic transmission problems can wind up being very expensive to repair. Its a good idea to know what to look out for so you can identify the problem early.
Here the breakdown experts at Sterling Insurance identify 15 signs that your gearbox might be failing.
1. Check for gearbox fluid leakage
If you drive an automatic and your car appears to be struggling to change gear, park your car and check underneath for leaking red automatic transmission fluid. If oil levels are very low it may have started to burn so it may be brown or black.You can also have problems selecting gear if your manual gearbox oil is low. You should top up the oil and get to a garage quickly, or call us for instant breakdown cover and we can help you immediately.
2. Check dashboard warning lights
The check engine light on the dashboard can warn you about a variety of problems, including a faulty gearbox. Its not a warning light that should be ignored. Check coolant, oil and transmission fluid levels, or take your vehicle to the garage. To find out more, read our blog on dashboard warning lights that every British driver should know.
3. Are your gears becoming unresponsive?
If youre having trouble changing gear, your gearbox probably has a fault.
If you drive an automatic, you might notice the car will stay in a low gear for too long, and if you drive a manual, you may notice a delay between new gear selection and an increase in revs. The vehicle may also accelerate at a slower rate than the increased revs suggest.
4. Listen for any unusual sounds
Your gearbox may be malfunctioning if you hear unusual noises coming from it. Listen out for whining, banging and clunking.
Note that these noises may be caused by other problems: perhaps a faulty engine, drive shaft or exhaust. Whatever the cause, if you hear abnormal sounds coming from your gearbox, its probably time for a trip to the garage.
5. Beware a shake, jerk or grind
You may find the car shakes, jerks or grinds if you have developed gearbox bearing problems.
Automatic gearbox telltale signs include hesitation, slipping, or trembling during gear changes. Manuals are more likely to grind.
Jerking and clunking noises are more likely to be caused by failing engine and transmission mounts.
6. There might be a rumbling in neutral
A rumbling gearbox while neutral is engaged usually means your transmission fluid has broken down and needs replacing. In some cases this can signify bigger, more serious problems, so it makes sense to get professional help.
7. The smell of burning rubber could be a bad omen
If you notice a rubber-like burning smell or smoke, you could have a transmission problem, especially if it is accompanied with fluid leakage.
If transmission fluid burns, the gearbox will not be getting the lubrication it needs and friction will generate heat within the gearing cogs.Burning smells coming from the engine should be a serious cause for concern and could result in you becoming stranded on the roadside. Before that happens to you, read our ultimate guide to breakdown cover.
8. The car struggles to change gear
Trouble getting the car into gear or feeling resistance while shifting is a clear sign of gearbox trouble. This may be caused by incorrect or low transmission fluid, blocked filters, faulty sensors or a failing solenoid.
9. Watch out for gear slippage
Gear slippage is an easy sign to recognise and provides a warning that your automatic transmission or manual gearbox is failing and in need of expert attention.
10. A dragging clutch is a common problem
Clutch drag occurs in manual cars when the clutch disc and flywheel dont disengage fully when the clutch pedal is pressed. You might find that this results in noisy gear changes or difficulty putting your car in first or reverse gears.
11. Poor acceleration
Difficulty in accelerating, even when pressing the accelerator, can be linked to gearbox problems. The vehicle may also accelerate at a slower rate than the increased revs suggest or there may be a delay in the vehicles response when you press the accelerator.
12. Gearbox oil contamination
Check there is sufficient gearbox oil or transmission fluid and that it is in good condition. Discoloured or foul-smelling transmission fluid could indicate internal damage or contamination. It may be more than a simple top up job as the cause of the contamination may come back to haunt you!
13. High RPMs at speeds
If your engine revs higher than usual when driving at a consistent speed, it may be a gearbox issue. It will only get worse, putting more strain on the engine so should be addressed quickly.
14. Difficulty in engaging reverse
If you have trouble getting the car into reverse or there is a delay between putting the car in reverse and the car actually moving, this could indicate a gearbox problem.
15. Poor fuel efficiency
A failing gearbox can lead to increased fuel consumption due to inefficient power transfer so keep an eye on how many miles you are getting to the gallon. You may put off the trip to the garage to have your gearbox checked out by a professional but you will be shelling out on buying extra fuel and it may cost you more in the long run.
Trust Sterling Rescue to save the day
No one wants to be stranded on the hard shoulder of the motorway with a problem gearbox. Thats why its sensible to have vehicle breakdown cover you can trust. Sterling Rescue offers 12 months cover from as little as 25.42.
Help is on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we can arrange roadside recovery or a reliable home repair service, whether your gearbox lets you down in the UK, Europe or further afield. Call 0344 381 9959 for a quote.
5 Signs Your Hybrid Car Battery May Need Replacing
Hybrid Car Battery
Since theyve entered the market,Americans have bought more than5 million hybrid electric cars. But while hybrid cars are better for the environment, they still have their ownmaintenance toworry about.
At some point, you need to replace a hybrid cars battery.Experts say the battery life is at least100,000miles or about 8-10 years.Sincehybrid carshave been around for a while, many customersare looking for a new battery.
If yourenot sure whether you need a new battery, keepreading this article! You will learn five signs you need ahybrid car battery replacement.
1. The Dashboard Light Is On
When the vehicle stability control (VSC), red triangle, and check engine light are all on, you need a new battery. Sometimes known as the red triangle of death, this is one of the most common signs ofneeding a new battery.
2. Fuel Economy Is Decreasing
Over time you may notice that your miles per gallon (MPG)are worsening.This is a telltale sign something is wrong with the battery.
If you find yourself using more gasoline than usual, it could be a sign your battery isnt getting a full charge or losing its charge quicker than before.
Decreased MPG means its time tocheck your battery.
3. Charging Issues
If the display shows an erratic charge, there is probably something wrong with the battery. The battery life should not be fluctuating as you drive.
In addition, if the battery is not holding a charge, there is something wrong. For example, the battery should not have a low battery after charging overnight.
In rare cases, there may be an issue with the electrical plug when it comes to charging problems. Its always best to get it looked at right away.
4. The Internal Combustion System Is Running More
The internal combustion engine (ICE) runs when the car doesnt have enough battery. So when theICEruns more than usual, its because your battery isnt providing enough power.
The ICD mayalso cut in and out while driving or stop randomly. Anytime the ICE is operating out of the norm, you need to check the battery to see if it is dying.
5. Weird Noises
Finally, the sound of the fan continuously running means the hybrid cars battery is getting too hot. Running the battery too hot is going to damage the battery and surrounding components.
Hybrid Car Battery Cost
Even though the hybrid car battery life is around 8-10 years, it is important to know that it will be more expensive than a regular car when you replace the battery.
A regular car battery can be between $50-200, while a hybrid battery can be between$1,000 and $6,000for some models. So plan ahead when it comes to paying this expense.
Get Your Hybrid Cars Battery Fixed Today
Nothing lasts forever, and the same is true for your hybrid cars battery. So if you notice any of the signs listed above,contact ustoday at Christians Automotive to speak with a professional about getting a hybrid car battery replacement.
5 signs that your car battery needs charging (or replacing)
Our car batteries are working harder than ever before. In fact, modern vehicles have over 200 electronic control units and all of these place increasing demands on your battery, even when youre parked.
Our driving habits have also changed, with frequent shorter journeys using more charge than were putting back in.
When you add in that extreme temperatures can play havoc with your battery, a lack of battery maintenance can lead to a shorter lifespan, and batteries will automatically lose some charge over time anyway, its no surprise that battery failures are widely acknowledged as the number one cause of breakdowns in the UK.
So, what can you do to avoid the inconvenient and potentially costly scenario of a flat battery, particularly as the colder and darker nights draw in? Well, weve partnered up with CTEK to put together a list of five key signs that its time to hook your battery up to a charger or replace it altogether.
1. Your car struggles to start
That sinking feeling you get when you try to start your car and it splutters and groans at you in return is something weve all probably experienced at one time or another. If your car doesnt start with one simple turn of the key (or push of a button), then thats a sure sign your battery needs charging up.
While you could keep trying to get the engine going and then if youre successful head out on a journey of at least 30 minutes to give your battery enough time to charge, theres a much easier way to resolve the situation: invest in a battery charger, like those in the new CTEK range (more on that below).
2. Theres a loss of power to your cars electrics
If your windows, lights, heater and other electric systems are slow to respond or experience a complete loss of power then its probably time to charge your battery.
This kind of problem tends to be more noticeable in the colder months when your battery has to work particularly hard to keep everything ticking over and youre more likely to be using a greater number of your cars electrical systems like the lights and heater.
Again, this is a situation where a battery charger could really come in handy.
3. The battery warning light on your dashboard comes on
When that pesky battery symbol lights up on your dashboard then it suggests theres a fault in your alternator, battery or electrical system. That means your car wont be charging itself properly while youre driving and theres probably going to be a flat battery at some point in the future.
Because the symbol can appear for different reasons, wed recommend booking a Free Battery Health Check so that one of our experienced technicians can help you get to the bottom of exactly what the problem is.
4. Your cars start-stop function stops working
Start-stop systems can monitor your battery and detect how much current is being drawn from it. So if the system senses that your battery is struggling, it may disable the start-stop function to avoid the battery being drained so much that your car wont actually start.
Again, this is something that can be more of an issue in the winter when there are more demands on your battery like your heaters, lights and wipers. And again, its a problem that can be overcome with the help of a battery charger. Just make sure you choose a type thats compatible with start-stop batteries, such as a smart charger (see below).
5. Your batterys more than five years old
Most car batteries are designed to last between five and seven years, so a struggling battery could simply be a sign that yours is approaching the end of its life. You can check the age of your battery by finding the date that it was manufactured, which is stamped on the battery itself.
If your battery needs replacing, then our vehicle registration checker will help you to find the perfect fit for your car. We also offer various fitting options for a small fee, including via our Halfords Mobile Experts wholl fit it right on your drive or at your workplace.
CTEK chargers
If youre looking for a battery charger then you cant do much better than the CTEK smart charger range. The company is a global leader in maximising battery performance and all smart chargers on the market today contain CTEK-based technology.
The companys award-winning products include:
- Maintenance chargers like the XS 0.8, which is ideal for maintaining the battery charge in cars that arent being used and for charging the smaller batteries in devices like motorbikes and lawnmowers.
- Conventional smart chargers like the MSX 5.0, which is the worlds best-selling battery charger and winner of multiple international awards.
- Specialist chargerslike the MXS 10.0, which offers state-of-the-art technology and is designed for workshops, caravans, RVs and more.
Whatever option you choose, youll be receiving a clever and cutting-edge product that will help to keep your battery healthy and, most importantly, charged.
To learn more about the company behind the chargers, check out our recent blog Introducing CTEK battery chargers.
Keeping your battery healthy can also save you money on repairs or replacements. With the uncertainty of the cost of living crisis, we know that youll be keen to save as and when you can.
Here at Halfords, were committed to driving down prices and offering you the best value possible to keep you safe, happy, and secure. Weve pledged to never be beaten on price on 1000s of motoring essentials read more here.
