Pro Installer October 2020 - Issue 91 | Seite 38

Motoring
38 | OCTOBER 2020

Motoring

Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk

MOST EXPENSIVE CAR REPAIRS

Taking good care of vehicles and maintaining them properly can prevent some hefty repair bills , but not all – many vehicle components simply deteriorate over time and there ’ s not much that can be done to stop it .
Car experts from LeaseCar . co . uk have researched and revealed the mechanical problems that could most leave motorists out of pocket and explained what to watch out for to ensure defects are caught early on .
1 . Catalytic converter
Symptoms of this issue to look out for include increased fuel consumption and emissions , vehicles not accelerating as well as usual , or engines cutting out or running rough . If your car fails its emissions test , this can also be a sign . Catalytic converter parts are likely to cost anything from £ 150- £ 850 , so when you factor in the cost of the labour , you could be looking at a repair bill around £ 1000 .
2 . Clutch
If your vehicle ’ s clutch pedal feels spongy to press down and has an increasingly high biting point , you have difficulty changing gears , or there ’ s a burning smell whilst driving , chances are the clutch may need replacing . This process is a pretty big job and takes a number of hours to do , costing around £ 450 on average .
3 . Alternator
The alternator keeps your car ’ s battery charged . If your car ’ s alternator is faulty , your car might be difficult or slow to start , there may be a smell of rubber burning , or whirring and squealing noises could be coming from the engine . Depending on the vehicle , it costs between £ 150- £ 300 to repair or replace a broken car alternator .
4 . Head gasket
Head gasket repairs can be extremely expensive and difficult to resolve , but catching the problem early can prevent huge repair fees . Signs of a faulty head gasket can include the temperature gauge being higher than normal , cars chugging or suffering a loss of power , engine oil being thicker than usual , or a lot of white smoke being emitted from the exhaust or liquid dripping from the same place . The average cost of a head gasket repair in the UK is around £ 550- £ 600 .
5 . Timing belt
The timing belt – also known as the cambelt – synchronises the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft , regulating the way your engine works . If it cracks , tears , or snaps , it can cause a whole heap of damage that doesn ’ t come cheap . Replacing it can take several hours ’ work and the bill can vary from around £ 200 to over £ 1,000 .
6 . Radiator
Replacing a car radiator can set you back between £ 250- £ 750 but ignoring a radiator leak can lead to even costlier problems . Stay on top of radiator maintenance by looking for pools of coolant that have leaked under your car , a frequently overheating engine , or coolant levels which drop rapidly .

SIX POTENTIAL OUTCOMES OF BEING PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE

Motorists have been warned about the potential consequences of driving illegally on the road and being pulled over . Motoring experts from LeaseVan . co . uk have revealed exactly what could happen if drivers are caught breaking the law .
1 . Pull over
If you see a police car pulling up behind you and indicating , make sure you pull over when it ’ s safe to do so . If the police car comes in front of you , follow them to the safe zone ,
otherwise pull over at a refuge space , never on the hard shoulder . As Rule 107 of the highway code states , it is an offence not to comply with directions .
2 . Licenses
The police can then ask to see your driving licence , insurance certificate and / or MOT certificate . If you don ’ t have these in the vehicle with you , you have seven days to take them to a police station . You ’ re breaking the law if you take any longer than the week given to hand them over .
3 . Fixed Penalty Notices
If the reason you ’ ve been pulled over is due to a minor motoring offence , the police could hand you a FPN ( Fixed Penalty Notice ). This could be for careless or inconsiderate driving , using a mobile phone , not wearing a seat belt or being too close to another vehicle . You could be fined up to £ 200 and get points on your license for any of these offences . They could also , however , just issue a warning .

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pull over when it ’ s safe to do so

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4 . Breath test
It ’ s perfectly legal for a member of the police to pull over any vehicle at any time to breathalyse the driver if they think you ’ ve been drinking , you ’ ve committed a traffic offence and / or you ’ ve been involved in a road traffic accident . If you refuse to take this without giving a ‘ reasonable excuse ’ then you may be arrested .
If you pass the test then you will be able to go on your way , however if the test is failed and you have too much alcohol in your system , you will be taken to a police station .
5 . Vehicle faults
If your vehicle is faulty , for example one of the brake lights is broken , the police can hand you a ‘ vehicle defect rectification notice ’. You have 14 days to get your vehicle fixed and provide proof that this has happened .
6 . Seize your vehicle
If the vehicle is being used for careless or inconsiderate driving , it could be seized . It could also be seized if it ’ s being driven by someone without a proper license or insurance , is dangerously , illegally or obstructively parked , or if it ’ s been abandoned .
There is a £ 200 release fee to be paid in order to get the vehicle back , plus £ 20 for every day it ’ s been stored .