How to avoid unforeseen car repair costs: the most common mistakes made by British drivers

A car, just like a person, needs attention. Regular maintenance helps to avoid many unforeseen breakdowns that lead to costs that you did not plan for. Timely maintenance prevents premature wear and tear of parts and components, helps you save money on repairs (as any breakdown is detected in time), allows you to save money on fuel, and it is also a guarantee that you will not have a failure of a vital part for the functioning of the car while driving. Today we will talk about the most common failures that car owners ignore.

The most common mistake #1: Ignoring worn brake pads
Let me give you an example from my own life. In the autumn, my friend Alex went on a road trip in his Range Rover Evoque through the beautiful countryside of Cornwall. However, he didn’t get to enjoy the journey to the full. On the second day of his journey down the slopes, he noticed that the brakes were acting strangely: they began to squeak and the car started to brake jerkily. However, my friend didn’t go straight to the car service. He continued his journey. On one of the steep bends, the car failed to brake sharply. Alex could hardly keep the car on the road, and had to stop it with the parking brake. Naturally, the journey had to be stopped and he had to go to the car service. Since Alex is not from around here, he went to the first car repair shop. It was small and they rarely dealt with modern SUVs. However, the master examined the car and saw that the brake pads on the driver’s side were completely out of order. Naturally, they had to be replaced. All this took a lot of time and since the repair was urgent, a lot of money had to be spent on it. According to my friend, the reason for this breakdown was that he did not go to the car service at the first signs of malfunction. It turns out that the car began to ‘drive’ a little bit a week before the trip.

In order to avoid this format of the problem it is necessary to pay attention to the ‘signs’ that the car gives, namely:

1. Always pay attention to the squeak and squeal when braking. This is one of the main signs of brake pad wear.
2. Do not delay with the repair if you find that the braking distance has increased.
3. Another sign is a beating and vibration when braking.
4. You should also be concerned if the brake pedal becomes ‘stiff’.
5. The last sign that can indicate pad wear is a drop in the brake fluid level.

Most common mistake #2: Ignoring dashboard signals
How many times have you ignored and put off checking systems that are signalled by dashboard lights? It’s probably happened more than once. However, is it okay to do so? It is safe to say that it is not. So why is it important to respond to the indicators? They signal the status of vital systems in the car. We are talking about the condition of the engine, brakes, battery, oil level, tyre pressure and the state of the cooling system. It’s important to realise that the indicators signal when a problem is easy enough to fix. But, the longer it is ignored, the more likely it is to become critical and lead, at best, to costly repairs and, at worst, to a car accident. Remember, first and foremost, never ignore red lights. They only signal serious vehicle breakdowns. In addition, the most dangerous indicators are low oil pressure and low brake fluid level. If you see them, leave the car alone and take it to a service centre.

Most common mistake #3: Failing to check your vehicle before a long journey
What’s important to check before a long drive? First, look under the car to see if there are any leaks. It’s especially important that there aren’t any on the engine side. In any case, if you find fluid on the floor or tarmac (e.g. oil or antifreeze) – go to a service centre before you drive. Pay attention to whether the lighting equipment is working well. Headlights, high beam, fog lights are all key to safe travelling at night. Be sure to check the condition of the braking system. Pay attention to the parking brake and its function and the condition of the brake fluid. Look at the condition of the tyres: are there no damage, do they have sufficient pressure? If there are any problems with any of these items, be sure to fix them before travelling. All of this will help you avoid unexpected costs, as well as keep you out of situations that could lead to an accident.

According to statistics provided by the National Highway Service about 40 percent of drivers plan to travel a lot in the winter. However, they also claim that the number of winter breakdowns on motorways and A-roads has increased by as much as 22 per cent in the last five years.

A few conclusions:
Apart from everything we have listed earlier, it is very important to use only certified auto parts during repairs. This is not something you can save money on. However, in order to avoid serious breakdowns that will cost you dearly financially, you need to get a complete maintenance done on time and on a regular basis. In addition, never ignore the signals that your car gives you. More often than not, before a serious breakdown, the car will ‘softly hint’ at you for some time with warning lights or foreign sounds/smells.

Sources of information:
More about Range Rover Evoque brake pads – Buycarparts
Annual TRIP campaign helps prepare drivers for winter