EYES PEELED
You could write off your car by not making simple check before you even turn it on – it will cost thousands to repair
The two easy steps you can take to avoid costly repairs
DRIVERS have been warned that they could write off their cars and cost themselves thousands by skipping a simple check before turning it on.
Mobile mechanic Lara, who runs Marvellous Cars, took to YouTube to urge Brits to carry out some easy DIY maintenance or risk hefty repair bills.
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In his video, Lara, from Watford, Hertfordshire, revealed how a simple oversight could leave you stranded on the road.
Using a customer's Fiat 500 to demonstrate, he explained that he was only called out for a battery replacement but discovered a serious misfire and dead throttle.
As Lara and his team investigated, it became clear that the issue was much deeper.
He explained: "We have found something else.
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"There's all that melted plastic.
"She overheated and she just kept on running the car until it stalled.
"Now it's misfiring.
"Smoke is coming from the head gasket... That is no good."
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CAR ENGINE COOLANT
Lara explained that the overheating was likely caused by a lack of coolant in the engine.
He emphasised how important it is to check all your fluid levels regularly.
Surprisingly common oil problem can be fixed for less than £10… but do it before costly engine blowout
You should be making sure your fluids (engine oil, brake fluid, coolant etc) are topped up at least twice a month (ideally once a week if needed) and that you have them changed at the intervals recommended in your owner's manual.
If you do spot that you are low on a particular fluid, simply top it up or take it to a local garage for a small fee.
However, if the fluid keeps draining rapidly, this could be a sign of a leak which will need urgent repairs.
Sadly for Lara's customer, the damage had already been done.
He revealed that the car had to be written off as it required a full engine replacement at the cost of thousands of pounds.
He added: "This will either be a complete engine rebuild or a second-hand engine.
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"It's always important to check your car's fluid levels before even turning it on to prevent this from happening."
It comes after drivers were urged to "take five minutes" to check a vital DVLA detail on their car or face a £1,000 fine.
Ten things YOU should know as a car owner
To help you feel more confident as a car owner, here are ten things you should be familiar with about your vehicle:
- When is your MOT due? Find out here
- When is your car tax due? Find out here
- Is it illegal to drive barefoot?
- How many units can you drink and drive?
- What do dashboard warning lights mean?
- Is it illegal to drive without road tax?
- Can you be fined for breaking the highway code?
- How to change the address on your driving licence
- What does MOT stand for?
- Is it illegal to park across someone's driveway?