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As we set off on a bank holiday trip, the last thing we want is to have a breakdown. Over half of car breakdowns can be avoided with a little preparation before starting your journey. Here are 10 simple checks you can do yourself which could be the difference between getting to your destination as planned or sitting by the roadside waiting for recovery. 1. Check your coolant levels Coolant keeps your engine healthy by regulating the temperature of the cooling system. This makes it essential for avoiding breakdowns on a hot day. 2. Fuel Level Check you have plenty of fuel in your tank for the journey ahead, this not only could save you time on the journey but knowing you have a full tank, gives you peace of mind knowing you won’t need to drive around in an unfamiliar location hunting for a fuel station. 3. Oil Level Oil is vital in keeping your car engine running smoothly. Without oil you could end up stranded while causing costly damage to your vehicle. If your car doesn’t automatically alert you when the oil is low use your dipstick to check it hasn’t gone below the minimum level. 4. Refill your screen wash bottle It is essential to keep your screen wash reservoir topped up. Driving with a dirty or smeared windscreen can be dangerous. Also look out or any chips or cracks in your windscreen, if you have one get this fixed as soon as possible. 5. Check your tyre pressure on all tyres, including the spare Checking the tyre pressure is essential to make sure your car can brake, grip and steer properly. It can also prolong the life of the tyres ensuring you and your family stay safe on the road. Most modern vehicles come with tyre pressure monitoring systems but if not, you can also use a tyre pressure gauge at your local fuel station. 6. Check your tyre tread for wear When checking the tyre pressure, make sure to also check the tread depth on all tyres to make sure they meet the legal requirement. The law requires car tyres to have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three quarters of the tyre. To help you judge how much tread you have on your car tyres, manufacturers often mould thread bars at roughly 1.6mm. If your tread is between 1.6mm and 3mm, consider replacing your tyres before your trip. 7. Make sure all your lights are working properly Lights are essential for safe travel, not only so you can see clearly but so other road users can see and know your intentions. Before a long journey check each light (headlights, indicators and taillights) and replace any bulbs if needed. Tip: Consider keeping spare bulbs in the car for the future. 8. Turn on windscreen wipers and check wiper blades You can’t trust the weather so it is a good idea to check your wiper blades for wear and replace them if needed to ensure you can see the road clearly. Check the rubber for any splits that could prevent the wiper from clearing water or leave streaks in your line of view. 9. Switch on the air con Traveling without functional air con can make the journey unpleasant in hot temperatures. Testing your air con before any long trip is a good idea as it’s not unusual for the air con system to develop faults. 10. Remember important documents Remember your driving licence, car insurance details and to keep the number for breakdown services handy. If you’re planning a trip to the continent you’ll need an insurance green card. Tip: Pack anything that may be useful in an emergency if you were to breakdown. We recommend having warning triangle in order to alert other drivers of your presence, a torch, warm clothing, a reflective jacket and a first aid kit! FOLLOW US ON: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn

Why is car maintenance important in the autumn? Autumn has arrived and the clocks will soon be going back to mark the start of the winter season. This is the perfect opportunity to get your car ready for the season ahead. It’s a good idea to give your car a thorough once-over now before the cold weather and dark evenings take hold. Check now and save problems later! 1. Wipers and windscreen As the weather gets worse, the chances of driving in the rain are more frequent which can lead to poor visibility. A priority for your safety is to ensure you can see clearly out of your windscreen. If your windscreen wipers aren’t working, they will leave a streaky mess over the windshield and ‘bounce’ over the glass, it’s time to replace your wipers. Invest in a good de-icer and ice scraper so you are prepared for the first icy morning. 2. Ventilation Ensure your heater system in the car is working properly as this will help to demist and defrost the windows, while also keeping you warm. Check that the heater is blowing warm air at different settings. If little or no air comes out of the vent this may be a sign of something wrong with the motor. Get this checked now before it gets worse in the winter. 3. Brakes With Grip levels lower in autumn due to the rainy weather and potentially icy conditions, drivers must ensure their braking performance is as strong as possible. Brakes are crucial for driving safely and the cold weather heightens brake problems. Listen for unusual noises that may suggest an issue with brakes, get your brakes checked by a mechanic for extra peace of mind. 4. Tyre checks Winter season is when your tyres need to be at their best, check them now to ensure they have the proper tread, no cracks and they’re inflated to the recommended level. The Legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, so replace them straight away if they are below the limit. Remember that the cold weather causes tyres to lose air more quickly. 5. Lights Shorter periods of daylight means you are more likely to be driving in the dark. It is extremely important that your lights are working as they should be. Drivers should check the bulbs frequently. The driver’s handbook should show you how to change the bulbs but some may require a visit to a garage. 6. Check fluid levels It is important to replace your car’s fluid levels. This includes washer, transmission, coolant, brake and power steering fluids. These are very important to ensure your car runs smoothly. Washer fluid is important for maintaining visibility. Transmission fluid is important for cooling. Coolant regulates the engine’s temperature, while brake fluid serves as a lubricant, preventing corrosion. Power steering fluid is crucial for operating the vehicle. 7. Battery check According to breakdown recovery organisations, batteries are the most common cause of breakdowns. In autumn and winter, there is an extra strain on your car battery. Cold weather means more power from the battery is needed to get the car started. Batteries typically last about 4-5 years but can fail without warning. If you’re not sure how to check your battery take your car to a professional to make sure it is charging properly. 8. Prepare for the Cold Weather Getting stranded on the side of the road any time of the year is not fun. As the weather turns cooler, you especially need to be prepared for a roadside emergency. Be prepared if a situation like this were to occur. Stock your vehicle with the following items: Gloves Ice scraper Blanket First aid kit Jumper cables Flashlight It’s not a huge list of items, but these 8 tips could help prepare you and your car for colder months, a short commute can quickly become difficult when your vehicle isn’t prepared to handle the colder temperatures. FOLLOW US ON: FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedin

Reducing Your Vehicle’s Impact on the Environment Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage people to take action to protect our planet. One of the biggest contributors to environmental damage is transportation, particularly the use of personal vehicles. In this blog, we will discuss how to minimise the environmental impact of using your vehicle and contribute to a cleaner and healthier planet. Firstly though, it’s useful to understand the impact your vehicle is having on the environment. To find out more about your car’s emissions, try these steps: How to check your car's emissions Check you car's owners manual. The owner's manual typically contacins information on your car's emissions, including its emission standards and ratings. Visit Which’s website: Which.co.uk provides emissions data for various makes and models. You can search for your specific car model and year to find its emissions information. Use an emissions calculator: Several online emissions calculators are available that allow you to enter details about your car, such as its make, model, year, and mileage, to estimate its emissions. These calculators typically provide an estimate of your car's greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Have your car emissions tested: Some countries require emissions testing for cars as part of their vehicle inspection program. You can take your car to a certified emissions testing station to have it tested for its emissions levels. Contact your car manufacturer: You can contact your car manufacturer directly to inquire about your car's emissions. They may be able to provide you with specific information about your car's emissions based on its make, model, and year. Reducing your car's emissions can help combat climate change and air pollution. You can take steps such as regular vehicle maintenance, driving less, carpooling, and using public transportation or alternative modes of transportation to reduce your car's emissions and lessen your environmental impact. Reducing Your Car's Emissions Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle: When purchasing a new vehicle, choose one with high fuel efficiency. Electric and hybrid vehicles are excellent choices, as they emit fewer pollutants than traditional gasoline vehicles. Also, the use of alternative fuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel, can also reduce emissions. Regular maintenance: Ensure your vehicle runs efficiently and emits fewer pollutants. Properly inflated tires, clean air filters, and regular tune-ups are simple ways to reduce your vehicle’s environmental impact. Avoid idling: Idling, or leaving your vehicle’s engine running while stationary, releases unnecessary pollutants into the air. Instead, turn off your engine when you are waiting for someone or parked. Plan your trips: By planning your trips ahead of time, you can reduce the number of miles you travel and the time you spend on the road. Consider consolidating multiple errands into one trip and avoiding unnecessary travel. Slow down and drive smoothly: Driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly increases fuel consumption and emissions. By driving at a steady speed and accelerating slowly, you can reduce your vehicle’s environmental impact. Reduce weight: The more weight your vehicle carries, the more fuel it requires to operate. Remove any unnecessary items from your vehicle and reduce the weight it carries. Use air conditioning wisely: Using your vehicle’s air conditioning requires additional energy, increasing fuel consumption and emissions. Use your air conditioning wisely by turning it off when it is not needed, using the lowest setting possible, and rolling down your windows when driving at low speeds. Switch off electronics: Electronics, such as headlights, stereos, and GPS devices, require energy to operate. By turning off these devices when they are not needed, you can reduce your vehicle’s energy consumption. Consider alternative transportation: One of the simplest ways to reduce your environmental impact is to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. If you live in an area with accessible public transportation, consider using it instead of driving your own vehicle. Alternatively, if you know someone who works in the same area as you, you can carpool together, reducing the number of cars on the road and minimising emissions. Walking and cycling are also great options that reduce emissions and contribute to a cleaner environment. Here, at Traynors, we have led the way with vehicle recycling for more than 40 years. We are the biggest Authorised treatment Facility for End-of-Life Vehicles in Northern Ireland. Our Vehicles are recycled in an environmentally friendly way. Every vehicle that arrives at our two branches (Armagh and Mallusk) is de-polluted before it is scrapped. We also comply with the 95% ELV recovery rates as set by the Environment Agency. Reducing the environmental impact of personal vehicles is an important step in protecting our planet and one we take seriously here at Traynors. By using public transportation or carpooling, choosing fuel-efficient vehicles, maintaining your vehicle, avoiding idling, planning your trips, driving smoothly, reducing weight, using air conditioning wisely, and switching off electronics, we can all contribute to a cleaner and healthier planet. This Earth Day, let’s all take action to reduce our carbon footprint and protect our planet for future generations.