The most common car breakdown reasons

Having your car breakdown on you is never a pleasant experience. Breaking down on the roadside can be caused by several things. In this article we aim to explore common problems with your car that may cause you to breakdown.

It is always a good idea to have your vehicle serviced on a regular basis to ensure it is running in tip top condition. If you are setting out for a long journey, make sure you check the following things:

– Fluid levels are optimal
– Brakes are all working
– Tyre pressure is good
– Tyre tread is of legal limit
– Oil levels are optimal
– Battery Working
The most common repairs in Melbourne for vehicles breaking down include a dead battery, brakes failing, Flat tyre, Faulty electrics or low oil levels and fluids.

Oil Levels

Your car normally needs an oil change every 3,000 to 10,000 miles depending on the way you drive, the age and condition of the vehicle’s engine, motorway driving versus local driving and a few other variables. To prevent your vehicle from breaking down due to oil problems, it is best you get your oil replaced or topped every 5,000 miles. This value will be higher if you are doing more motorway miles, however, it is a good average marker for most drivers whether they are doing local or motorway driving.

Brakes

The brakes in your car are a vital function for your safety and need to be well maintained to have them work at their best. The brake caliper and brake pads are the key components in your vehicles braking system. Generally, brake pads need to be replaced after about 50,000 miles whiles some only 25,000 or some even 70,000. The wear and tear depend on a number of factors including:

Your Driving Habits

How hard you push the brake pedal can affect the longevity of your braking system. If you find yourself riding the brake and stopping abruptly, you will severely affect the lifespan of your brakes. You should try gently brake and coast to a stop. This will increase the lifespan of your brakes. You have to of course brake abruptly if safety calls for it.

The Environment

The location you are driving at has a drastic effect on your brakes. If you are driving in the city, there is a lot of stop and start traffic due to traffic lights. This will cause the brakes to wear down faster than if you were to be driving on the motorway or long straight roads in the country.

Battery

Car batteries have a limited lifespan, whilst some can last 5 years or so, some more heavy duty batteries can last longer than this. Some newer vehicles have a recharging capability such as when breaking the vehicle’s momentum is used to recharge the battery. There are several reasons why a vehicle’s battery may fail, these include:

Dead Battery

All batteries will eventually fail and die whether it is due to the lifespan or wear and tear. It is important you also check the starter and alternator regularly to not end up stuck on the side of the road with a dead battery.

Car Lights Left On

This issue is less common now with newer smarter vehicle technology, however, it still occurs with older vehicles. If your car’s lights do not turn off automatically, then they will stay on unless you physically turn them off. Even though the engine isn’t running, they will drain the power straight from the battery.

Door Not Closed Fully

If the door is not fully closed, many of the vehicles internal lights remain on. These lights draw their power from the battery even with the engine off.

Dead Alternator

The alternator is responsible for producing electricity while the engine is on and provides all the power needed for your engine, accessories and to recharge the battery. If the alternator dies, the battery will no longer be charged and will be completely drained and eventually leaving you stranded.

If you ever breakdown on the roadside, you will me likely breakdown for the above reasons. Make sure you follow the tips in the article to avoid breaking down.