Knowing why your car might break down will give you an excellent opportunity to ensure it never does. In this guide, we’re going to give you a complete heads-up on some of the biggest causes of vehicle breakdown out there – let’s take a look at everything you need to know.Flat batteriesBattery faults are more common than you think. It only takes a moment to forget you have left your lights on, of course, but many other factors come into play when it comes to your vehicle battery. For example, if your car doesn’t make many long journeys, the battery never gets the chance to charge itself. A big bump can cause a loose connection, too. And the cold weather can be a massive issue for car batteries, so make sure you are keeping your vehicle going throughout the winter months if you want to avoid breakdowns.Wheel and tyre damageTyre tread wear is not only dangerous, but it can also be illegal. Make sure that you are checking your tyres as regularly as possible, and check that they are roadworthy. It’s also important to understand that uneven tyre wear could be a sign of wheel damage. You might have bumped your wheel and caused some form of misalignment, so bring your car into to a specialist to make sure you are driving safely. Driving with heavy loads is also a significant factor in causing accidents. Check your owner’s manual to make sure your tyres are pumped up to the correct tyre pressure for a full load.Clutch cablesThe clutch cable is one of the most used – and abused – parts in your car. And because of this, it is often under a lot of strain. Get to know how your clutch feels, and if there are any changes – no matter how minor – bring the car in and get it checked by a specialist. If it ends up breaking you could be in a lot of trouble and face an expensive repair bill, and you will be unable to drive your vehicle at all. Not only will your repairs cost a significant amount of your clutch brakes, but you will also need a roadworthy certificate. If the worst happens and your clutch goes while driving, pull over to the nearest safe spot and call a breakdown service.Fuel issuesNobody thinks they will be silly enough to put the wrong kind of fuel in the tank, but it happens a lot more often than you might think. In fact, it’s incredibly common, and there is a statistical likelihood that you will end up doing it at some point, particularly if you drive more two cars that use different fuels. If it does happen to you, never start your engine – and always call for help. It will be an expensive and frustrating bill, but starting a diesel engine with unleaded will almost always result in a dead car and an even bigger bill.Starter motors and spark plugsFinally, starter motors can work for a surprisingly long time, but they will almost always fail in the long-term. However, as long as you are servicing your car on a regular basis, your mechanic should be able to pick up any problems at an early stage. It’s the same for spark plugs, which need replacing every now and again. The good news is that these are relatively easy – and cheap – fixes.
