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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

nissan almera on e10 fuel
Mechanical

Is it safe to run a 2006 Nissan Almera on E10 fuel?

We are receiving a lot of questions about the E10 petrol that’s been on sale since the start of September 2021 so it’s worth clearing up any misconceptions. First let’s…

By James Foxall30th September 202116th November 2021
micro hybrid
Mechanical

What is the micro hybrid that car makers keep going on about?

Many car makers are now using what’s known as micro hybrid technology. But what is it? And does it differ from the other kinds of hybrid technology? We reveal all.…

By James Foxall21st September 202110th February 2022
grinding brakes
Mechanical

I bought a car 11 months ago and have done 7,000 miles. It now has grinding brakes will my warranty cover it?

This strikes us as a double problem. The first is what is causing the grinding brakes noise. The second is whether the terms of the warranty might cover it. And…

By James Foxall26th August 20217th September 2021
timing belt
Mechanical

I’ve bought a 2014 Volvo V40 D5 should I check if the timing belt needs changing?

The timing belt is a vital part of the engine and you shouldn’t ignore it. One of the first things we’d advise used car buyers to do is check when…

By James Foxall12th August 202126th August 2021
air con compressor
Mechanical

How much will cost to fit a new air con compressor to a Hyundai i10?

The air conditioning compressor is a vital part of the cabin cooling system on a car. Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to how much replacing an air con compressor will…

By James Foxall20th July 202130th July 2021
e10 petrol
Featured posts, Mechanical

Will my car work with the new E10 petrol coming this September?

This September the fuel that UK forecourts sell will change. New E10 petrol will replace the current E5 fuel. However, motoring associations are warning that up to 600,000 cars currently…

By James Foxall29th June 202122nd October 2021
Mechanical

How much will it cost to fix my leaking air con? I want it working for summer

Air conditioning is fantastic when it works. The trouble is it’s prone to packing up, frequently through no fault of the system. Why might air conditioning stop working? Leaks are…

By James Foxall20th May 20213rd June 2021
car platforms
Mechanical

I keep reading about car platforms. What are they? Do all cars have them?

Car platforms are a term the motor industry uses a lot. It’s a simple concept designed to save money and improve quality. What are car platforms? A platform is the…

By James Foxall27th April 202111th May 2021
massage seats
Mechanical

I’m looking at a used car that has massage seats. How do they work and do they really massage you?

Massage seats in cars have been an option for more than a decade now. They use a system of air pockets that fill and deflate depending on the settings. And…

By James Foxall30th March 202111th May 2021
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 20214th March 2021

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