Avoid a Car Breakdown.

1.       Your battery

• Every car needs a working battery, so avoid draining it when your car is off. Be vigilant when it comes to switching off lights, the car stereo, and anything else that’ll stop the juices from flowing.
• It’s a common misconception that the battery always gets looked at during a service, but sometimes this is overlooked, so it’s a good idea to check it yourself to be on the safe side. There might be a condition indicator present on your battery in a small upward-facing window, where blue usually means you’re good to go, red means you need to top up with distilled water, and white means the battery needs changing. Colours may vary but the battery should come with a guide, and while you’re at it, make sure any connections are corrosion-free.
• During  winter months, a flat battery is the most common cause of car breakdown, so if you’re not going to be using your car for a fair few days, rather than let the frost get to it, start it up occasionally just to make sure the battery is alive and well.

2.       Tyres. 

• Avoid kerb impact whilst parking. This can cause damage to tyre sidewalls, which can result in a puncture – so always check tyres for damage after any scrapes.
• Check all tyres are inflated to the correct pressure (the correct pressure can be found in the handbook). Over-inflated tyres can cause a blowout, whilst under-inflated tyres affect handling and reduce fuel economy. If tyres keep losing pressure you could have a puncture.
• Always ensure you have a correctly inflated spare tyre and the right tools to fit them.

3.        Cold weather

• Allow time in the morning for your car windows to thoroughly defrost or demist before setting off.

• Make sure your engine’s water supply is sufficient and mixed roughly half and half with anti-freeze – read the label though as ratios vary depending on the product.
• In the cold winter months, oil can thicken, so suss out whether your oil is of the correct viscosity according to your car manual.

4.       Keep your car regularly serviced

• Although you can take steps to care for your car, some faults can only be solved by a mechanic. It’s therefore important to keep your car regularly serviced in case there are any problems lurking beneath the shiny waxed surface that may have gone unnoticed before a breakdown.
• It’s also safer to have your car maintained and fixed by a qualified expert rather than attempt any jobs that are beyond your capabilities.

5.       Fuel.

• This might seem like an obvious one, but don’t start a journey without enough petrol...it’ll only be embarrassing having to explain to the recovery guy that your halted car is due to an empty tank! It’s also worth checking the level of breakdown cover to see how well protected you are.

Broken down

 Just remember…

• If you think your car’s about to breakdown, pull as far off to the side of the road as possible. If you’re on the motorway, pull onto the hard shoulder.
• Get out of the car and NEVER wander onto the road.
• Place a warning triangle 45 metres behind your car if you have one.
• Call a breakdown service for help. Consider getting breakdown cover if you don’t have it already.  

Always carry

• a mobile phone and in-car charger
• a blanket or warm covering
• a torch
• an ice scraper
• windscreen washer fluid (de-icer)
• jump leads
• a tool kit
• a tyre gauge
• a spare inflated tyre – make sure you check this regularly in case it’s worn or flat – won’t be much good otherwise
• Tyre-changing equipment (your car should probably have a jack and a wheel brace – check!)
• a first-aid kit