MOTRIO BLOG
Car suspension is a critical part of your vehicle, ensuring that your tires remain in contact with the road and your wheels stay aligned. The primary goal of car suspension is to provide a smooth and safe ride.
That is why it is extremely important to know the symptoms of car suspension problems, how they can be resolved, and how they can be prevented. In this article, we will explore all these topics so you will always be prepared if your car suspension suddenly fails you.
Symptoms of Bad Suspension
There are several telltale signs when diagnosing car suspension problems. One of the most common bad suspension symptoms, for example, is realising that one corner of tour car seems to be a lot lower than the other.
Another common bad suspension symptom that might go unnoticed is if your shock absorbers are extremely greasy or oily. If by looking at you shock absorbers, you see that they look too oily then there is a good probability that they are leaking fluid and therefore will not work optimally.
Car Suspension Creaking
A squeaking car suspension can be a warning sing that something is wrong with your vehicle. This could be caused by worn out components that are rubbing together due to insufficient lubrication or deteriorated parts. If a car suspension is creaking it is crucial that you address the issue immediately. Ignoring these sounds can potentially lead to more problems such as uneven tire wear and a failure of the entire suspension system.
Excessive Bouncing or Swerving
The most obvious sign that there are suspension problems is the unnecessary swerving of your vehicle. If you notice that your car pulls from one side to the other when driving, then there probably is a car suspension problem.
Also, since one of the main roles of the suspension is to ensure a smooth ride, if you start to feel more and more bumps, that is a clear sign that your car suspension needs to be checked.
What Causes Car Suspension Problems
Knowing what is causing your car suspension problems is crucial to take preventative measures against this issue. Apart for the regular wear and tear of car suspensions, which can’t be avoided, many of what causes car suspension problems can easily be solved by being more careful and mindful. For example, a common reason for car suspension breakdown is simply neglecting regular maintenance. Often drivers do not remember or do feel that regular maintenance is necessary and that is when car suspension problems they could be prevented occur.
Another instance of an avoidable problem is driving habits. Driving habits have a very serious impact on possible car suspension problems, aggressive driving for example can affect the overall integrity of the car. Driving too fast, speeding over bumps or suddenly braking can accelerate the wear and tear of a car and ultimately lead to car suspension problems.
Solutions for Car Suspension Problems
Since your car suspension is an essential part of what keeps you and others safe on the road, it is crucial to know what to do when you encounter car suspension problems. Driving with a worn suspension can cause serious damage to your car and present significant safety risks.
If any part of your suspension fails or if you start noticing bad suspension symptoms, you need to take immediate action. The first step is to take your car to a service centre, where it can be diagnosed, and the necessary components can be determined for replacement or repair. Once a licensed expert has evaluated the problem and fixed it, it is important to take preventive action, as discussed in the previous paragraph, to ensure the problem does not happen again.
Has a warning light lit up on the dashboard of your car, and you have no idea what it means? Don’t panic! Here is a handy and comprehensive guide to recognising car warning lights and icons.
New cars are keeping up to pace with technology, and today warning lights feature more and more new functions to warn us not only that the vehicle is working as intended but also that something is not working as it should. This is why it is crucial to have at least a basic knowledge of the type of warning lights installed in the vehicle’s ignition system.
A warning light should never be underestimated, but it should not be a cause for fright; they can help us to immediately detect and solve a possible problem, avoiding more serious damage.
So, here’s how to recognise car warning lights and icons.
CONTENTS
How to recognise car warning lights and icons: colours
- Red lights
- Yellow or amber lights
- Green lights
- Blue lights
Car warning lights: the colours of the individual light.
How to recognise car warning lights and icons: colours
The warning lights in our car’s dashboard are visual indicators that help us to check if certain components are working as intended (whether the lights come on correctly or how much fuel is in the vehicle), and are therefore extremely helpful. Warning lights vary in colour (red, yellow or amber, green, and blue) according to how serious the reported status is.
Red lights
Red warning lights are definitely the indicators most dreaded by all drivers: they report an imminent danger to the car and warn the driver to stop the vehicle immediately. They are usually followed by an acoustic signal to indicate a serious problem.
Yellow or amber lights
Yellow or amber warning lights indicate that there are critical issues requiring attention, but they are less serious than red ones. They normally signal an anomaly or vehicle malfunction, for example, that the car is low on fuel or that the tyre pressure is incorrect .
Green lights
When a green light comes on, there is no need to panic: this colour indicates that something is on and working as intended. Some classic information indicated by these warning lights refers to the switching on of the dipped headlights or the turn indicators.
Blue lights
Blue warning lights are not nearly as common as other indicators and are generally found in cars to indicate that the full-beam headlights are on. More rarely, in some car models, the warning light may indicate that the engine temperature is too low.
The most common car warning lights and their specific meaning
Stop warning light: if the word STOP appears in red while driving, it indicates that you need to stop the vehicle immediately and seek assistance.
Coolant temperature warning light: if it comes on while driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the coolant level.
Front seat belt warning light: it turns on if the driver or passenger are not buckled in.
Battery charge warning light: if it comes on while driving, it indicates that the battery is low or, instead, that the system is overcharged.
Hand brake warning light: it indicates that the parking brake is engaged.
Open doors warning light: it comes on if one or more doors are open.
Low fuel warning light: when it turns on, it indicates that the fuel is running out.
Engine failure or anti-pollution system warning light: should it start flashing, the engine speed must be reduced, and assistance must be contacted.
ABS warning light: indicates a fault in the wheel anti-lock braking device.
Preheating warning light: found in diesel cars, it comes on to indicate that the glow plugs are warming up and then goes out within a few seconds.
Airbag warning light: if it comes on, it indicates that there is an airbag malfunction and that you need to seek assistance.
Stability control warning light: it indicates that stability control is activated due to a sudden loss of steering control.
Parking lights warning light: it indicates that the parking lights are on.
Dipped headlights warning light: it indicates that the dipped headlights are on.
Front fog lights warning light: it indicates that the fog lights are on.
Rear fog lights warning light: it indicates that the fog lights are on.
Indicator warning lights: they indicate that the 4-way flashers or the right or left indicator lights are on.
ECO mode warning light: it comes on only when the ECO mode is activated. The colour may vary depending on the car manufacturer.
Full-beam headlights warning light: it indicates that the full-beam headlights are on.
Engine temperature warning light: the engine temperature is low. High revs and stresses must be avoided.
Identifying car warning lights and icons, and thus faults and malfunctions in time is of paramount importance for driver and passenger safety.
For this to be possible, the car’s electrical system must be working as intended: otherwise, some warning lights might not indicate anomalies that need to be checked, making the car – and the driving experience – unsafe.
MOTRIO TIPS & TRICKS
ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSIS
Nowadays, electronics are involved in many aspects of a car’s operation. In fact, you may have seen yellow or red warning lights and icons appearing on your car’s dashboard.
Electronic diagnosis is a key aspect of car maintenance; indeed, computerised analysis will allow the mechanic to accurately detect malfunctions on electrical and electronic parts of your vehicle and assess their condition and safety.
With this analysis, several operations can be carried out, such as programming and mapping the control unit to optimise consumption, checking fuel consumption, and checking that warning lights and sensors are working as intended.
OUR ADVICE
We recommend doing a check-up at least once every two years.
Some indications of a malfunction might be:
· Warning lights that come on randomly
· Sensor malfunction
· Inconsistent values in the car’s self-diagnosis
If you think your car needs an electronic diagnosis, make an appointment at the nearest MOTRIO Service Centre all it takes is a few clicks!
Fogged windows, snow, dirty headlights, flooded roads: there are many problems that we might be faced with while driving our car. Knowing how to behave under certain conditions, what tricks and stratagems to use, even knowing some interesting facts on cars, can often really make a difference.
So, here are tricks, interesting facts on cars and some clever and little-known tips to help minimise stress, reduce expenses and make your driving experience more enjoyable.
CONTENTS
Interesting facts on cars: snow and ice: what to do?
Interesting facts on cars: floods, how do you deal with them?
Little-known tips: dishwashing liquid on car windows…
... and toothpaste on headlights!
Interesting facts on cars: how to remove scratches or cracks on the windscreen by yourself
Tricks and fun facts on cars that perhaps you did not know
Interesting facts on cars that every true motorist should know: snow and ice: what to do?
Hail, rain, wind and snow can be dangerous even for the most experienced motorist: you need to know how to deal with these pitfalls, to avert the risk of problems and potential accidents.
The first step is undoubtedly to check the condition of the brakes and electrical system, but there is another little trick to preserve the functionality of windscreen wipers: just keep them lifted when the car is parked, so as to prevent snow or ice from accumulating on them, thereby freezing and hardening the rubber. It would also be advisable to avoid operating the windscreen wipers if covered with snow before cleaning them well. The spray nozzles should also be adjusted.
Plus, if the temperature drops below freezing, it is advisable to use antifreeze to prevent the water used to clean the windshield, contained in tubes and pans, from freezing.
A little fun fact about the world of cars to keep well in mind in these cases: it is useful to always park the car with the front facing east, so that as the sun rises, it heats the car windshield and the snow melts sooner.
Finally, there are invaluable accessories that every driver should always have in the car, for example: thermal gloves to fit snow chains on, a scraper to remove ice from the windscreen, a small shovel to free the road from snowdrifts, if needed.
Interesting facts on cars: floods, how do you deal with them?
When speaking of interesting facts about cars, climate change plays an important role: in recent years, it has caused increasingly significant meteorological instability, especially when it comes to rain. The risk of floods, especially in certain places, has become increasingly tangible. While driving, it is therefore essential in these cases to put into practice some small precautions for our own safety and that of those travelling with us.
First of all, if the road is submerged by water, the first thing to do is to turn back. If that’s not possible, you must stop the car and go somewhere safe.
It is also important to keep the car radio always tuned into traffic information, avoid bridges and underpasses, slow down and avoid sudden braking and aquaplaning phenomena. If the water level should rise even more, it is useful to unlock the doors and open the windows, so that you can get out of the car easily if necessary.
Having a fogged windscreen can also be very dangerous, because it prevents you from seeing the road clearly. For this “annoyance”, there is a very simple trick: just fill an old sock with plenty of clean cat litter (yes, you got that right!) and tie it with a knot; then place the bundle into another sock, and tie that one too. Now, place the sock on the dashboard, where it does not get in the way while you are driving, and the windscreen will no longer mist over.
Dishwashing liquid on car windows…
One of the little-known tips is this: dishwashing liquid is very useful for softening and removing the dirt caked on the windows and windshield. Well, yes: just wipe it where necessary with a cloth and warm water, rinse and apply the normal anti-halo products.
... and toothpaste on headlights!
Furthermore, if you do not have specific products available and your headlights are particularly dirty (especially due to fat deposits and flies), you can safely clean them with affordable toothpaste. How? By applying it on the surface with a soft brush, leaving it on for a few minutes and then rinsing with plenty of water.
Interesting facts on cars: how to remove scratches or cracks on the windscreen by yourself
If you notice a crack in the windshield, it should be repaired before it gets bigger: even a blow or a pothole might shatter the glass completely. The advice is obviously to contact an expert but if the crack is tiny there are two small do-it-yourself tricks: if the scratch is small and thin, you can use toothpaste (again!) to remove or at least dab the scratch;
however, if the scratch is a bit bigger, you can use transparent nail enamel: after cleaning the windscreen and allowing it to dry, just apply the nail enamel along the crack. Once dry, take a bit of fine sandpaper and polish any excess.
Tricks and fun facts on cars that perhaps you did not know
One particularly useful trick among interesting facts about the car world concerns deodorising the passenger compartment: if you do not wish to use the classic air fresheners, which are often too heady and sometimes even irritating, just place scented wipes in the air conditioning nozzles before turning it on.
A fresh scent will waft through your car in minutes.
One last, particularly interesting fact about cars: in the event of extreme cold, a car left outdoors at night is likely to be covered in a thin layer of ice in the morning.
This becomes a problem if the ice blocks doors and the remote controlled central locking mechanism: a far from unlikely occurrence below a given temperature.
A solution would be to unlock the doors by inserting the key, but this operation might be difficult, if the mechanism has frozen as well. In these cases, there is a simple trick: spray some alcohol or disinfectant into the lock and on the key. Alcohol – which is also contained in disinfecting sprays and gels – has the ability of melting ice within seconds.
Make an appointment at the nearest MOTRIO Service Centre, all it takes is a few clicks!
Travelling by car can always be potentially dangerous: risks are constantly around the corner; one therefore needs to be cautious and pay the utmost attention at all times. Of course, sometimes that’s not enough: avoiding to get involved in road accidents is perhaps impossible. However, you can drastically reduce their number. How? By following a few, simple rules and above all, by knowing the most frequent causes of car accidents.
CONTENTS
The most frequent causes of car accidents
- Using a smartphone while driving
- Fall asleep suddenly
- Alcohol and drugs
- High speed
- Weather conditions
- Unsafe car
The most frequent causes of car accidents
What are the most frequent situations that may lead to being involved in road accidents? We have listed some of the most common ones, so that you can recognise risky behaviour and prevent any car accidents.
Using a smartphone while driving
Did you know that looking at your smartphone for three seconds while driving at 130 km per hour on the motorway is equivalent to doing one hundred metres with your eyes closed?
But that’s exactly true! The main cause of car accidents, it seems almost obvious to say, is using a smartphone. Indeed, it is all too common to see drivers distracted by the mobile phone: looking at the screen rather than at the road, holding the device with one hand, definitely not really focused on driving. Unfortunately, the temptation to look at your mobile phone, to check messages perhaps,or answering a phone call with no ear phones, is one of the most frequent causes of accidents at the wheel (but often of heavy fines, and consequently losing points from the driving licence). To get an idea of how dangerous this habit is, the following example is enough:
Fall asleep suddenly
One of the most deceitful enemies of the motorist is precisely sleep driving, an event that strikes suddenly and with often very serious consequences. Many people choose to get behind the wheel without having rested enough, or perhaps after a particularly heavy meal: this causes a high number of car accidents every day. The advice is obviously to always drive with a high level of alertness, and rest before setting off. Plus, especially during long journeys, take breaks to freshen up and in any case always stop, where possible, at the first signs of heavy eyelids and drowsiness.
Alcohol and drugs
The use – and overuse – of alcohol or narcotic drugs is still one of the most frequent causes of car accidents: both can indeed impair the clear-headedness of the driver, even significantly. That is why, in recent years, checks have been intensified and fines have become much more severe for those driving under the influence. In spite of that, alcohol and narcotic drugs continue being one of the main causes of road accidents, including extremely serious ones.
High speed
Driving at high speed, exceeding the limits set by law, leads to an increase in braking distances and, consequently, makes it much more difficult to keep your car under control. What is more, by driving at high speed, you risk not having the time needed to avoid any obstacles. The harm, in these cases, also affects your wallet: fines can indeed be hefty.
Weather conditions
Oftentimes, the weather is not a motorist’s friend, but rather a pitfall, that causes serious car accidents. For this reason, some clever maintenance tricks can be useful. Fog, rain, high wind, snow and icy roads are potentially dangerous for those travelling in a car. These conditions call for the utmost prudence, and may even require you to stop when necessary: indeed, visibility might be seriously impaired under adverse weather conditions, moreover, braking spaces and times change, and it might be difficult to have complete control of the car.
Unsafe car
Car accidents are also often caused by the car being in less than optimal conditions. Worn tyres, worn brakes, undetected malfunctions may turn out to be a huge problem, as well as a great hazard. That is why one should always comply with the routine maintenance deadlines, and contact a specialist for an in-depth check-up as soon as any doubts arise on proper operation of one’s car.
MOTRIO TIPS & TRICKS
Regular maintenance of your car is always recommended, in this way, in addition to being sure of having a perfectly efficient and safe car, you can extend the service life of the car over time.
MOTRIO Cervice Centres carry out maintenance on 100% of the car stock on the roads. At our MOTRIO Service Center you will also find MOTRIO branded oil for small cars and light commercial vehicles, for the latest generation of diesel and petrol engines, including those fitted with particulate filters and cars with direct or indirect injection system.
Make an appointment at the nearest MOTRIO Service Centre, all it takes is a few clicks!