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Category: Mechanical

Find out how your car works – in plain English. We reveal all those tricky technical things that might have baffled you about your car

Latest posts, Mechanical

I’m trying to decide between different cars, one uses horsepower, the other kilowatts. What’s the difference?

To judge how fast a car will be and how effortless it feels when you accelerate, you need to know the engine or electric motor’s power output. We measure this…

By James Foxall18th February 202112th February 2021
led bulbs
Mechanical

I want to replace the halogen headlights on my Skoda Octavia with LED bulbs. Can you recommend the best make?

LED lighting is the go-to for new cars. And unsurprisingly, drivers of existing models want a slice of the action with brighter lights and greater visibility. But adding LED bulbs…

By James Foxall26th January 20215th February 2021
turbocharger
Mechanical

I’ve just bought a car that apparently has a turbocharger. What is that?

Turbocharging engines has become increasingly popular over the past 40 years. A turbocharger is an ingenious piece of kit that uses exhaust gases to force more air into an internal…

By James Foxall5th January 202122nd January 2021
engine power loss
Mechanical

Why is my car suffering an engine power loss when I accelerate?

There are multiple reasons for any engine power loss. The modern car engine is a hugely complex thing as the image above shows. But chances are, any power loss is…

By James Foxall17th December 202015th January 2021
climate control
Featured posts, Mechanical

A car I’m considering has climate control, another has air conditioning. What’s the difference?

An increasing number of cars these days feature climate control. This includes air conditioning but has crucial differences to it. Read on to find out what those differences are and…

By James Foxall26th November 202015th January 2021
run a new car in
Mechanical

Do I need to run a new car in?

Back in the day, running a car in was one of the most important things you could do when you took delivery of a new car. The technology in cars,…

By James Foxall17th November 202026th November 2020
car rust
Mechanical

Why don’t you see car rust like you did 20 or 30 years ago?

Back in the 1970s, Italian, Czech and even British cars were renowned for rusting after they were just a couple of years old. Then Japanese motors picked up the mantel…

By James Foxall29th October 20206th November 2020
diagnostic tool
Mechanical

What is the best diagnostic tool for my car?

No modern motoring enthusiast’s garage is complete without a diagnostic tool. But there are a lot out there. Here we look at what the best ones are and explain what…

By James Foxall8th October 202023rd October 2020
clocking
Buying + selling, Mechanical

Is clocking replacement instruments in my car illegal?

You contacted us because a problem with the instruments on your car leads to you needing new dials. However, that means you need to adjust the mileage on the new…

By James Foxall10th September 202023rd September 2020
clutch problem
Buying + selling, Mechanical

The used car I bought has a clutch problem that the dealer is reluctant to fix. What are my rights?

The car with the clutch problem is a five-year old Volkswagen Golf. The dealer is more than 40 miles from the owner’s home and says the buyer may have to…

By James Foxall8th September 202023rd September 2020

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Latest Posts

nissan qashqai

Is the Nissan Qashqai any good as a used car?

February 25, 2021

manufacturer warranty

Do I have to take my Astra to a Vauxhall dealer to preserve the manufacturer warranty?

February 23, 2021

I’m trying to decide between different cars, one uses horsepower, the other kilowatts. What’s the difference?

February 18, 2021

used diesel volvo v60

I’m thinking of buying a used diesel Volvo V60. Will emissions laws affect it and is a post-2014 V60 likely to face any bans?

February 16, 2021

tyre repair

I had a puncture recently and the breakdown man did a tyre repair from the outside. Is this legal?

February 11, 2021

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Recent Posts

  • Is the Nissan Qashqai any good as a used car?
  • Do I have to take my Astra to a Vauxhall dealer to preserve the manufacturer warranty?
  • I’m trying to decide between different cars, one uses horsepower, the other kilowatts. What’s the difference?
  • I’m thinking of buying a used diesel Volvo V60. Will emissions laws affect it and is a post-2014 V60 likely to face any bans?
  • I had a puncture recently and the breakdown man did a tyre repair from the outside. Is this legal?
  • Is there any battery maintenance I can do to keep my car battery in the best possible shape?
  • Can I reject a car after owning it for 10 months?
  • My mother is finding movement difficult. How can I get a blue badge for my car?
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