Top 10 Tips For Car Maintenance

In the past you could do a lot yourself to keep your car properly serviced. But with today’s more developed and refined vehicles, things are a little different. That’s why finding a good garage or mechanic to regularly service your vehicle is so much more important. So, here are our top ten tips for car maintenance along with our section sponsors who can help you.

Tyres: sponsored by Emlyn St Tyres

43 Emlyn Street, Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1QS

Telephone No. 01229 877333

Website: http://www.emlynstreettyres.co.uk/

Emlyn Street Tyre Services are the place to go whatever your tyre related needs. Right in the centre of town, they can supply you with tyres, not only for your standard family runabout but for your 4x4, van – large or small, motorhome or caravan, even for your wheelbarrow.

At the family run garage in Barrow-In-Furness, all tyres are fitted by a fully qualified tyre technician with over ten years qualified experience within the motor trade. With recent changes there, they work from bigger and brighter premises and they use state of the art equipment including Super Tracker 4 Wheel Alignment and a Bradbury 2 Poster Lift.

They also use an Alloy Protection Kit to make sure that they take full care of your vehicle whilst undertaking the work. You can leave your car with them while you shop or have a brew in their clean, family friendly waiting area as your vehicle receives the attention it needs.

All the team at Emlyn Street Tyre Services believe in going that extra mile to help their customers to keep their vehicle well maintained. So, if you’re looking for other car services, remember to ask them about the other repairs and servicing that they do. No job is too big or too small for the folks at Emlyn Street Tyre Services.

Brakes: sponsored by Molyneux’s Auto Service

Unit 3A, Park Road Industrial Estate, Park Road, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA14 4EQ

Telephone No. 01229 821308

Not only are these parts essential to the safety of you, your passengers and your vehicle, but driving with dodgy brakes will affect the car's performance. Really, no one should need to be reminded to have their brake wear checked regularly and parts replaced when needed.

Brakes at Molyneux’s Auto Service

Molyneux’s Auto Service is a family run business that has been established for over 40 years. That length of time in business proves the staff know how to deliver a service that their customers like.

The team at Molyneux’s Auto Service work on all types of vehicles, from the 1920’s through to present day. There are a vast range of repairs undertaken in the garage, amongst which are brakes, tyres and wheel issues. Brakes suffer from everyday wear and tear so having them checked over as part of a service makes sense. Another often overlooked important part of the braking system, is the brake fluid, as it absorbs water from the atmosphere and can be affected if your brakes get overly hot.

You can see why it makes sense to have them checked out at Molyneux’s Auto Service. All their work is competitively priced which draws new customers, increasing their already strong, loyal, long term customer base.

Remember, at Molyneux’s Auto Service they are also able to undertake vehicle diagnostics on all makes and models of cars, vans and motorhomes as well as doing MOT testing. So, next time you need a brake service or have a brake problem, give the family run, friendly service at Molyneux’s Auto Services a call.

Suspension: sponsored by Intercars of Carlisle Carleton, London Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 0AA

Telephone No. 01228 599900

Website: https://www.intercarsofcarlisle.co.uk/

Your car's suspension is a vital safety issue for your vehicle. Worn shock absorbers not only reduce driver comfort, but they can also dramatically affect the handling and safety of your car. Worn suspension components may also cause an irritating knocking noise. For more information please contact us via telephone on 01228 599900 or ask@intercarsofcarlisle.co.uk

Batteries: sponsored by Carwhinley

Unit 10, Harker Industrial Estate, Harker, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 4DS

Telephone No. 01228 674002

Website: http://www.carwhinleycars.co.uk/index.php

Carwhinley cars have been retailing used cars in Carlisle for over 15 years, the last ten of those with Tina and Graham Lightfoot at the forefront of the business. As things flourished, so did the premises and necessarily staff numbers.

The grass roots of Carwhinley Cars at Harker remains, with a fantastic new addition to the team there, Chris Campion is our latest staff member, a fully qualified mechanic of some 25 years standing and a qualified MOT tester.

Chris is on site in our newly established workshop to provide regular servicing and after sales work to all our customers both past, present and future. We can provide ongoing service work and MOT’s for any vehicle and particularly we would like to see our own cars back for annual servicing and MOTs.

Our rates are keen and with Chris’s knowledge we can cater to everyone’s needs at a fair and fast pace.

Call in and see us, even if it’s just for a coffee and a crack.

Exhausts: sponsored by Carlisle Auto Repairs

106a London Road, Carlisle, CA1 2PE

Telephone No. 01228 537360

Website: http://www.carlisleautorepairs.co.uk/

At Carlisle Auto Repairs, we pride ourselves on giving a good honest service at a reasonable price; our hourly rate stands at just £22.50, which is still probably the cheapest rate in Carlisle, and our 39 point menu service starts from £49, plus parts, plus VAT and is not to be beaten.

From MOT's, service and repairs to engine diagnostics and general garage services, there is nothing we cannot handle.

We also carry out MOT's and have been authorised to test vehicles since 1981. We are proud to be top-category graded by VOSA, the government body who control the MOT scheme.

Our firm has always moved with the times and we have all the latest diagnostic equipment to deal with engine management, ABS electronic control systems, mechanical and engine based problems. We are also crypton approved technicians.

Clutches: sponsored by Ben Cross Motors

78 Kingstown Broadway, Carlisle CA3 0HA

Telephone No. 01228 598668

Website: http://bencrossmotors.co.uk/

At Ben Cross Motors we offer a complete range of services to help keep your vehicle(s) on the road. Whether it's your pride and joy or you are a business user with a fleet of vehicles, we can maintain your vehicle to the highest of standards.

We service every vehicle to manufacturer standards and use genuine parts to ensure your manufacturers warranty can also be maintained. We use the latest diagnostic equipment to help with those hard to find faults, and with over 15 years experience in VW, Audi, Skoda & Seat we have the know how to get your vehicle back on the road.

Any make & model, although we are a VAG specialist we do regularly service & work on other makes & models.

Air-Con: sponsored by Mowbray’s Auto Service Centre

88 Crellin St, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 1AS

Telephone No. 01229 432244 / 07733 040521

Website: http://www.mowbraysautoservicecentre.co.uk/

Nearly all new vehicles now have air conditioning as standard. It’s easy to forget that this is another mechanical part that needs to be serviced. In fact, there are health issues involved with Air-Con. An anti-bacterial clean is required to keep the germs and bugs away and re-gassing will be needed from time-to-time to keep it running properly.

Experienced Duo at Mowbray’s Auto Service Centre

It is often only during the summer that people think about their air-conditioning system. But having it regularly serviced and cared for is an important part of keeping your vehicle running in good condition and efficiently. It’s something that Mowbray’s Auto Service Centre can help you with.

Working from their recently refurbished garage in Crellin Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Dave Mowbray has over 30 years’ experience in working on vehicles of all makes and models. Now the owner of the garage, both he and his colleague Scott know that keeping the customer happy is a key part to a successful business.

They are able to check over your complete air-con system and re-gas it and repair it as needed. But they offer much more such as MOT repairs, servicing and auto-electrical work. And if you have a fault that you can’t track down, they’ll be able to diagnose that too.

All work is carried out to their high professional standard and they’ll give you a free quote before you agree to any work. And, although they are an independent Vauxhall specialist, they work on all vehicles.

Air-conditioning systems are an important part of a modern day, but they are often the forgotten component when servicing comes around. Give Dave and Scott a call and keep yours in good working order.

Servicing/Seasonal Check-Up: sponsored by Myers & Bowman

Lillyhall, Distington, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 4PE

Telephone No. 01946 832 282

Website: http://myersbowman.toyota.co.uk/

Myers & Bowman are the place to visit in the Cumbria area for all your vehicle servicing needs. They have been a Toyota Dealership for over 40 years now, giving their customers the complete range of Toyota servicing and accessories. They know how to give great customer service.

As a main Toyota dealership, their staff and technicians are fully Toyota trained and they will always use genuine parts to keep your warranty in place. They also have a pick-up drop-off service or you can use one of their courtesy cars to keep you on the move while they work on your vehicle.

The Service Centre is able to undertake a whole range of work to keep your car in tip-top condition and on the road. This includes all the usual servicing and repair work plus, air-conditioning re-gassing and maintenance, fuel-injection cleaning that means your vehicle is always performing at its economical best, 4-wheel alignment to all makes and MOTs up to Class 7. They can also supply both winter and summer tyres.

Their fully equipped workshop is also complimented inside the showroom by The Hub, where you can find out more about Toyota’s history or watch the Media Wall to keep up-to-date with things. And the children aren’t forgotten with the special Kids Area.

So, if you’re looking at Toyota servicing or accessories then contact them today. Currently, extended warranties are available with a 2 years’ warranty for same cost as one offer; and a special offer on insurance with 12 months cover for the price of just 10 months for New Aygos, Auris, C-HR, RAV4 and Yaris until 31st March 2018.

There are also competitive quotes across the full range of used Toyotas. Just ask for more details. Check out their Facebook or Twitter pages too.

MOT: sponsored by Long Lane Garage

Billings Road, Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 0PF

Telephone No. 01229 464497

Unless your car is less than three years old, you need to have it MOT tested. This would include making sure that the car complies with the emissions regulations. Although it can be viewed as the ‘dreaded MOT’, it is a good thing to keep all cars and therefore all road users safer.

MOTs and More at Long Lane Garage

Since the MOT test was first introduce back in the 1959 it has become more and more sophisticated. It is now a very twenty-first century test. But the folks at Long Lane Garage in Dalton-in-Furness will have everything covered for you.

They have been providing the whole range of garage services for over 30 years now. They are fully experienced in keeping you and your car on the road. Back in 1959, the MOT test was only required for cars aged 10 years or older. It is a very thorough test, with exhaust emissions included now to ensure that cars are not polluting the air. Even the humble number plate has to conform to the regulations!

But, if you take your vehicle to Long Lane Garage, you’ll have nothing to fear. They can fully service your vehicle in advance and then put it through the test. With all those years in the business they have an excellent reputation for high quality work, excellent customer service and affordable prices.

You can also visit if you need repairs or servicing undertaken or bodywork repairs. And, if you’re looking to buy a reliable second-hand vehicle, they can help you there too. Definitely MOTs and lots more.

Diagnostic Check: Sponsored by VAG Doctor

Unit 2K Townfoot Industrial Estate, Brampton, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA8 1SW

Telephone No. 01697 73115

Website: https://www.facebook.com/VAGDoctors/

Yes, we’ve gone the extra mile and given you an eleventh tip – remember that all good garages will have a range of diagnostic tools to help you isolate any issue you have and get it fixed. So, don’t put off having that nagging problem checked.

Diagnostic Services at VAG Doctor Ltd - Volkswagen Group Specialists

Dan Hannon at VAG Doctor Ltd - Volkswagen Group Specialists is an expert in diagnostics, maintenance and repair of any Volkswagen Group vehicle. That includes Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In fact, Dan himself completed a Volkswagen Advanced Apprenticeship Program and worked his way up the technical ladder to becoming a Senior Diagnostics Technician.

VAG Doctor Ltd is located in the Brampton’s Townfoot Industrial Estate and has a state-of-the-art building and office facilities with top of the range equipment. It’s all in line with main dealer requirements to ensure your vehicle receives the best possible treatment.

When you visit VAG Doctor Ltd, you know that you will get top quality work. They always use genuine parts which means that your vehicle’s manufacturer’s warranty remains unaffected and you’ll also receive a 2-year Warranty as standard with all new genuine parts fitted.

You’ll always find a listening ear when you visit meaning you’ll get a tailored service that suits your requirements exactly. As well as a focus on fault finding diagnostics, Dan also offers regular vehicle servicing and repairs. So, whether you own a Volkswagen or one of the Volkswagen family of vehicles don’t forget, that Dan’s your man.