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Small checks you can do yourself on a city car
If you regularly check the tyre pressures, lights, fluids and the warning lights on the dashboard, you will notice changes in good time. These checks do not replace servicing, but they keep a small fault from taking you by surprise.
Tyre pressures and tyre condition
The correct pressures are usually on a sticker on the driver's door pillar, inside the fuel filler flap or in the owner's manual. Measure the pressure when the tyres are cold, in other words before a longer drive. Pressure drops gradually on its own and also in freezing weather, so check it about once a month and in autumn as the weather turns colder.
Pressure that is too low increases fuel consumption and wears the tyres unevenly. Look at the sidewalls and the tread at the same time: a bulge, a cut or a screw stuck in the tread is a reason to have the tyre checked. A punctured tubeless tyre can often be repaired (Tubeless / tyre repair, €50–70). There is more on this in our article on tyre pressures in city driving.
Lights
Walk round the car with the lights on: headlights, main beam, indicators, rear lights and number plate light. The brake lights are easiest to see when someone presses the brake for you, or by reversing close to a wall and watching the reflection in the mirror.
Cloudy headlight lenses weaken the light even when the bulbs are fine. Headlight lens repair (€60–80) can be booked online.
Fluids
- Washer fluid. Top up the reservoir before it runs out, and in winter use a frost-resistant fluid. Washer fluid top-up (€10–25) can be booked online, and we have both winter and summer grade fluid.
- Engine oil. Check the oil level on the dipstick with the car on level ground, after the engine has been switched off and left to stand for a moment. Some cars have no dipstick, and the oil level is shown in the instrument cluster instead. The owner's manual tells you which applies to your car.
- Coolant. The level should be between the minimum and maximum marks on the reservoir. Only check it when the engine is cold, and do not open the cap while the engine is warm, because the system is under pressure.
Warning lights and changes while driving
In most cars a red warning light means you should stop in a safe place and find the cause before driving on. A yellow or orange light signals a fault that needs to be checked soon. The owner's manual tells you what each symbol means in your car.
Also pay attention to changes: a new noise, a vibration, a smell or a patch of fluid left under the car in your parking space. They are often the first sign of a fault. Brake noises have an article of their own: why brakes judder or make noise.
When the car needs servicing
You can also have servicing and repairs done with us, on our own premises:
- Basic service: oil, filters and checks
- Scheduled service following the manufacturer's service schedule
- Repairs for all makes
- Pre-inspection repairs
- Oil change and Filter replacement (air, cabin air and fuel filters)
- replacing wiper blades and blown bulbs
Servicing and repairs are priced by quote and cannot be booked online. Call 010 508 9300 or send a message from our contact page, and tell us the car's make and model and what you have noticed.
Ask for a service quote
Servicing and repairs by quote. Tell us the car's make and model and what needs doing.