FAQs

The life of your battery depends on many different factors. A healthy battery in a healthy car should last around 5 years. Factors such as the type of battery, frequency of longer trips, weather conditions, and the condition of electrical systems in your car, can all impact the life span of your battery.

If you are worried your battery may let you down – pop in we will test your battery for free!

A new battery should show 12.6V while the engine is off. When you turn your engine on the number should go up to around 14V. A resting battery showing a voltage lower than 12V is discharged and needs to be charged as soon as possible.

If your battery shows less than 13V while the engine is running, this may indicate an issue with the charging system. If you have checked your values and they do not seem correct – feel free to pop in for a free battery condition check.

Brake discs or drums make up a vital part of your braking system. It is essential to check their condition on regular basis. Generally, you should expect your discs and drums to last a lot longer than your pads or brake shoes. On some occasions, due to extreme temperatures, your discs can warp, which may manifest itself in juddering or shaking under braking. If you are experiencing these symptoms it is vital to inspect your brakes.

We offer brake system servicing and repairs – give us a call to book your health check today.

All parts of your braking system are important. Brake fluid is no exception. With time, brake fluid degrades as it absorbs moisture from the air. This decreases the brake’s effectiveness and the strength of your stopping power. Depending on the source, manufacturers suggest fluid should be changed no less than every 50,000 miles. At Urban Auto, we recommend a fluid test be done every year.

In short, yes, you do. Engine braking allows you to slow your vehicle down without using brakes. This not only prolongs the life of your brake system components but also lowers your fuel consumption if you drive a car with fuel injection. As with all driving skills, engine braking needs to be carried out carefully. It is always best to learn how to engine brake on an open road, while there are no other road users around.

As with most car-related questions, there are many answers. The easiest way of assessing the health of your exhaust system is by monitoring its sound.

If your car is getting progressively louder, it probably means you have a hole in your exhaust. Rattles and bangs coming from underneath your vehicle are often a good indication that parts of your exhaust system are falling apart. If you notice a loss of power or revs fluctuating while stationary, this may also mean there is a problem with your exhaust system.

There may be issues that are not visible, which do not affect the sound of your vehicle, such as cracks and damage to the catalytic converter. Although these may not affect the running of your car, a faulty catalytic converter or a hairline crack in the system may affect your emissions. This may cause your car to fail its MOT test and these emissions are harmful to humans and the environment at large.

We suggest you check your exhaust system no less than once a year. To arrange for your system to be tested, give us a call.

A catalytic converter is a part of the exhaust system that helps reduce harmful emissions escaping into the environment.

Yes. Not only that, cars produced from 2012 have a legal requirement to have a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. If the system is disabled or malfunctioning, your car may fail the MOT test. Remember, the MOT test is designed to determine if a car is roadworthy; there will be many areas that the tester will look at. Some of these are listed below:

• Registration (Number) Plates
• Front and Rear Lights
• Steering and Suspension
• Wipers and Washer Bottle
• Windscreen
• Horn
• Operation of Seatbelts
• Seats
• Fuel System
• Emissions
• Bodywork
• Mirrors
• Wheels and Tyres
• Brakes

The DVLA will not notify you when your first MOT is due. It is your responsibility to check when your vehicle is due its first test.

No. Furthermore, many insurance companies state that driving without a valid MOT certificate will deem your insurance policy invalid.

Yes. We will reset this as a part of the service. The same goes for the low oil light which should go off after the oil has been changed or topped up.

The quote depends on the amount of oil needed and the type of service you require. From Engine service (oil filter and oil) to full service (oil filter, oil, air filter, fuel filter, cabin filter, spark plugs if applicable) prices mainly depend on the cost of required parts. We use quality consumables but if you have any special requirements – please let us know before the service as this may affect its cost.

As long as the puncture can be repaired, the cost is £20 per tyre.

Yes. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology can flag vehicles driving without MOT certification. Drivers driving on public roads without a current MOT certificate can face fines up to £2500, as well as points on their licence.