Author: InspireTeam

Rusts – Not only are they ugly, they also result into take a toll on a lot more than your car’s appearance. From an ominous brown color stain on the fender or at the edges of your car, they can lowers the value of your car by eating away at the structure, ruining its functionality and costing you some money.

This unsightly ugly color unfortunately forms much more quickly than they are removed: with oxygen, water and road salt combining at the surface of any aspect of your car, they form, signifying the breakdown of iron-based materials on such a surface.

There are several kinds of rust that can develop on your car’s edges and surfaces. Surface rusts are likely to form when your car is constantly exposed to the Sun’s UV rays. Such exposure has the tendency to break down your car’s paint over time. Damages such as scratches, scrapes, dents and even bird droppings can make your car rust. In this instance, surface rust are removed using high-grade sandpaper or an abrasive wheel to grind it down until the paint and rust are gone, and shiny metal is exposed

However, when this rust is left untreated, it begins to expand and continues going deeper, creating “scales” and exposing the metal underneath and leaving holes in your car. Unfortunately, at this point, every option for correcting the problem won’t have an effective result. In most cases, you’ll need to have the entire panel replaced or have the corroded areas cut out and have patch panels welded into place. If the frame of your car is rusted, this will damage its structural integrity, making it unsafe to drive.

But, rusts can be largely avoidable. All you have to do is know how to prevent it effectively so you don’t waste money, time or get frustrated. Below are the precautionary steps that can help prevent rust in your car:

1.   Wash your car regularly                                                   

This is like the simplest and general way of preventing rust. Although it might sounds simple, this step can make a huge difference in preventing rust. Washing your car once a week will help remove salt buildup and dirt on your car surface. This will reduce wear and tear by protecting the coat and paint layers from damages that might makes it easier for rust to sneak its way in. Therefore, ensure you regularly wash the exterior of your car and also the undercarriage of the car, including the wheel wells and bumpers.

2.  Always keep an eye on the paint coatings.

As a car owner, it’s important to know that won’t stay in the same condition as the day you drove it from the dealer. Its beauty will deteriorate with time and the paints will get damaged over time. Once your car is open to water, to be specific – and rust can begin to form. However, by keeping an eye on the paint job or small spots of rust, you can quickly ensure timely care and proper maintenance which will keep its overall appearance intact.  Pay close attention to the condition of drain holes, water channels, and seals because once moisture collects here, rust can start to form unseen.

3.  Regular Waxing Habits                                                                                                                                                                                     Ensure you wax your car at least twice a year. This is beneficial as it keep your car in the best possible condition such that your paint becomes new while your car gets an additional layer of protective barrier against harmful UV rays.                                   
4.   Mop as it spills                                                                                                                                                                                                    You may be guilty of neglecting spills on the carper of your car. However, the longer you neglect it, the more detrimental it becomes to your car. Spills often sink into the metals of your car thereby causing a rust. You may not realize on time but the damage would have been done. So when next you spill a drink onto the floor of your car, make sure you clean it up immediately!                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
5. Protect Your Car from the Elements                                                                                                                                                                Another way to avoid rust is to prevent constant exposure of your car to sun or rain rather, ensure you park it under cover; more like a shade or garage. This cover will also protect it from bird drippings, which have certain chemicals that destroy the paint job and leave scratches for the rust to set in.

Other tips

–          Avoid parking your car close to other cars in a car park

–          Avoid placing heavy stuff on the roof of your car

–          Try as much as possible to prevent driving over potholes and roads that are under construction.

–          Avoid parking over gutters or areas where water is gathered as water can get to the car bottom and causes rust, weakening it from the outside)

Rust can turn out to be a serious issue and this is why it’s so important to learn how to prevent car rust. . Luckily, you can keep your vehicle rust-free with ease with these outlined tips. Do remember to periodically inspect your car for rust regardless of its brand or cost of purchase.   Once you notice a possible sign of rust, it’s important not to let it go.

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You are running late or heading for that important meeting; getting into your car and turning the ignition, your car makes that dreadful “clicking” noise, but you are not giving up on it yet. So you try again and again at bringing the car to life but to no avail.

Having a dead battery is a terrible way of starting a day; worse, getting stranded with such in an unfamiliar place or the middle of NOWHERE can be immensely dangerous.

Unlike your phone and other gadgets, you can’t quite know how much battery you have left in your vehicle until your car begins to malfunction. Usually, a charged battery is supposed to last you through at least three to four years; however, several factors can drain your battery before the expected end of its service life.

Thankfully, before they fail, batteries usually give out a few warning signs to get a replacement battery as soon as you can. These signs are not limited to just the electrical system but can cause various drivability problems. In this post, we’ll cover the most common telltale signs your battery shows when it’s failing so you can act fast or wait until you “get caught out in the cold.”

• Dim Headlight

Your car battery is a vital source of power for every component of your car. It powers your vehicle’s electrical parts and accessories, from your car’s computer, ignition system, lights, radio, and more; thus, when it fails to generate power because of its weak/dead state, these accessories won’t be able to draw enough energy to function anymore. Take, for instance, your car headlight; if you notice that such lights are going dim or even flickering more frequently than usual, it’s a sign that your battery may be suffering from lack of power.

• Hard Start 

Similar to your engines, your battery is the lifeblood of your vehicle. A battery is integral in powering all of the electrical components in your ride; it is also needed for starting your engine. We often assume that starting a car is as easy as only turning a key or pressing a button, but it goes way beyond that – it involves your battery doing all the heavy lifting. When you turn on the key, the ignition sends a signal to the battery that kicks off a chemical reaction under the hood of your car. Such response turns into electrical energy that gets the engine cranking and the starter motor running. Without a fully-functioning battery, you’ll be heading nowhere with no lights and nothing playing on the radio. So on a good day, your car usually starts as you turn on the car key in the ignition. However, if the battery is failing, it wouldn’t be able to completely energize the start, which will fail to start the engine. In such cases, a heavy and challenging clicking noise would be heard, confirming the difficulty in charging up.

Note: in such scenarios, most people often jumpstart their cars to bring a dead battery back to life, but only for a short term. It is a tip you can apply when you’re stuck somewhere with a dead battery, but it isn’t a long-term fix and shouldn’t be relied upon for too long!

The battery indicator is lit on your dashboard.

The battery indicator light can mean almost anything, including a signal of your battery’s poor health. You can also visit your car’s manual for insight into your car’s warning light.

More Issues behind the hood:

• Your battery connectors are corroded

When your battery fails, there’s every likelihood it will be visible. One such sign is the ashy substance on the battery metals, which is a sure sign of corrosion.

• A rotten smell

The smell in the car could mean a wide range of issues, one of which is a dead battery; as soon as you pop the hood of your car, the smell of rotten eggs is more likely to ooze out.

• Swollen case

If your battery isn’t rectangular, there’s a problem. When your battery case swells and cracks, chances are high that it isn’t working correctly.

Ideally, when you see these signs, it is recommended that the best time to replace such a battery is at that period before it finally packs up. Why not stop by the nearest QuickLane NG to get a new battery or have your battery tested to see if it’s working at total capacity.

The first thing that comes to your mind when you buy a new car is probably the model, brand specifications, features, and capacity, among others. No doubt, these details are significant markers of a car, but other significant markers are often overlooked. These include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), also known as the Chassis Number of your car, and the Engine Number.

These details, which are equally relevant, if not more, might seem unimportant while purchasing a new or a used car. However, these elements are like the DNA of your car, shedding light on the manufacturing and registration details of a car. Not only do they play a critical role during its purchase or sale, but they also aid in buying online car insurance or locating the motor insurance particulars of your car. Since these numbers aren’t in the limelight, they seem pretty challenging to locate and, thus, be ignored.

The VIN is like a unique 17-digit alphanumeric identifier for your car, more like the vehicular equivalent of a thumbprint, exclusively allotted to your car by the manufacturer. These codes distinguish your car from other models and are used by registration authorities to register your car. This code can also be utilized to track your car if it gets stolen.

Your car chassis number reveals essential information about the vehicle, including its year, country of manufacture, its make, engine type, etc. Each number of your car’s 17-digits VIN signifies a critical detail about the vehicle, some of which have been listed below.

•       The first number of the VIN is the car’s production location
•       The second and third numbers are the particulars of the car’s producer;
•       The fourth number is the vehicle’s category, namely car, bike, etc.;
•       The tenth number is the year in which the car was manufactured;
•       The last six digits of the VIN: the car’s unique serial number.

Where can the VIN code be found?

There are several parts of your car on which the VIN code is imprinted, and these parts include:

•       The dashboard on the driver’s side;
•       Under the hood of the car near the engine;
•       Beneath the spare wheel in the car’s boot;
•       Under the front grille of the car;
•       The driver’s side door.

Keep in mind that different car manufacturing companies often opt for different car parts to imprint the code upon. Thus, you can find your car’s VIN on its body and also find it on the car’s registration certificate as well as the car insurance policy.

Bonus:

Alongside your VIN code is the engine number of your car, which is equally important. Usually, your car Engine Number is found printed on the outer covering or engine casing of the vehicle’s engine. Like the car’s chassis number, the engine number is used for identification purposes, but they are not the same, i.e., they are two different but unique numbers. Often, car manufacturers ensure that the number is visible and easy to locate when you open the hood.

In addition to the engine’s casing, your car’s engine number can be found in the following manner:

•       The registration certificate of your car
•       The insurance policy for your car
•       The car owner’s manual
•       Contact your car dealership

As a car owner, one of the ‘never-good’ signs that your car may exhibit is a small puddle of oil underneath your vehicle when it is parked. It indicates many things, one of which is a gear oil leak. Usually, it forms a grease stain on your garage floor or driveway, but most importantly, this leakage can cost you a lot of money if nothing is done about it.

A gear oil leak isn’t the same as an engine oil leak from your car engine. Leakages from the gearbox are often caused by a lot of things ranging from

1. A bad seal or gasket, loose/missing bolts or nuts,
2. A crack in the case somewhere, or

a couple of other reasons, of which you need to ascertain which one is prevailing in your scenario. Moreover, as oil continues to flow from the gearbox, it contributes to maintenance costs and the environment due to the obvious safety risks involved with exposing everyone to the gear oil. 

Thus, the first thing to do is find the leak and determine the cause before coming up with a quick fix or deciding on a repair like a complete replacement.

There are temporary options that can mitigate such leaks, all thanks to technological advancement in the industry. These solutions aren’t proper fixes but simple patches that can reduce the damage of such leaks. What is needed to stop such a leak is to take down the machine and repair it. However, you can implement these solutions below until the gearbox is taken out of service and properly repaired.

One of such quick fixes for gear oil leakage is adding compound matter to the gear oil. This act aids to “Band-Aid” such leakages. Similar to the radiator sealant, these compounds form deposits at the point of leakage when introduced to the oil. However, it would be best if you did this only after careful consideration and testing to ensure that there will be no ill effects on the oil or gear itself. Alongside the compound deposits are fluids and pastes known as seal enhancers, which are produced with synthetic bases, causing the seal material to swell. With such swells, the leakage reduces. Another quick solution for gearbox leakages is grease filling, filling the gearbox with grease. By doing this, the gears get lubricated effectively.

Note that after adding anything to a component other than the appropriate lubricant, it should be removed and the interior surfaces flushed to eliminate all risks of cross-compatibility. When the machine can be taken out of service, the seal should be replaced and the gearbox flushed to remove any traces of the sealing compound that has been introduced. All seals should also be replaced to reduce future leakage.

It’s always advisable to speak with a professional technician about issues surrounding gear oil leakage to avoid any household injuries from unaided exploration of your car engines!

Our lives are governed by our ability to have in-depth knowledge about every aspect of life itself – from our health, safety, and investments; we make findings to gain a background understanding, so we aren’t left at risk. This explains that research is paramount in every aspect of our lives – your car inclusively.

Just like everything else, your car has its secrets, and if you don’t know where to find the truth, they can cause you a lot of grief. Thus, studying your vehicle history reports provides you with a wealth of data about your car, from its damage history to its maintenance records. This information provides you with knowledge and insights to guide you when purchasing such a vehicle, so you enjoy more years of reliable and safe transportation.

A Vehicle Health Report is a visual inspection of every aspect of your car, i.e., the tires, brakes, wheels, exhaust, steering, wiper blades, as well as crucial fluid levels. This report provides diagnostic, maintenance, and recall information so you can stay on top of your vehicle’s requirements and be alert of possible problems. This way, it becomes easier for you to make an informed decision about any potential issues that might occur in the future.

What does the Vehicle Health Check cover?

•       Lights / Electrics Checks: Mandatory lights (external); Horn/wipers / washers
•       External / Internal Checks: This includes Brake noise / feel, Seat belts – security & operation, Clutch / transmission operation, Glass / mirrors / wiper blades, Engine noise / smoke
•       Under Bonnet Checks: Fluid levels (oil, water, coolant, screenwash), Fluid leaks (oil, water), Battery condition/drive belts
•       Brakes / Hubs Checks: Brake fluid condition / temperature, Master cylinder / servo, Linings – pads / shoes, Discs / drums, Hoses / pipes / cables / wheel bearings
•       Underside Checks: Exhaust system/catalyst, Steering/suspension, Driveshafts/gaiters, Oil leaks
•       Wheels / Tyres Checks: Nearside front, Offside front, Nearside rear, Offside rear, Spare, Tire pressures
•       Fluid Checks: Coolant, Brake fluid, Screenwash, Engine oil

The VHC information also aids buyers of used cars to make informed purchasing decisions. This is because the report contains some of the information listed below:

Airbag deployments: This shows lingering issues with the vehicle, especially if it was involved in a severe accident in the past. Information details the condition of the frame, drivetrain, or electronics, i.e., if these parts, especially the airbags, were repaired and re-inspected properly.