Mechanics Blog What causes the highest number of Vehicle breakdowns and how to avoid them.

Today I am going to talk about a few of the most common causes of vehicle breakdowns, this comes from my own experience as a Mechanic but also includes statistics from a couple of major players in the Roadside Assistance world.

When I say Breakdowns, I am mainly talking about Cars and Vans and a breakdown can be a none starter at home or a cut out on the Motorway and everything in between. 

I am a good Battery, I will work hard and try my best to not let you down, can you please Help by allowing me to sleep while your Car is resting

Batteries: I guess its not hard to believe that Batteries are way up there when it comes to None Starters, and although the highest numbers come from the first start of the day, they can also cause problems at any time.

You would not believe the amount of times I have attended Breakdowns (none starter)  to find a Flat Battery, and the real cause of the problem started the previous night or an hour before when the owner left something switched on or didn’t close a door properly causing a Battery drain from an interior light.

I am a handy little Gadget and you don’t need a degree in Engineering to use me

So the easy solution here is just being a bit more vigilant, the same as making sure your vehicle is ok to drive away you also need to make sure all is ok once its parked up. 

Tyres & Wheels:  Lets face it at sometime in life we are bound to get a puncture or experience a soft or flat tyre, and although in the grand scheme of things it may seem an easy fix, this is not always the case when its pouring down with rain and you are stopped in a dangerous  spot at the roadside.

There are a couple of things that you must do to help prevent Flat tyres, firstly just keep an eye on the condition of your Tyres, a worn or damaged tyre is definitely easier to puncture simply because there is less rubber to protect it.

I may just look flat on the bottom but don’t be fooled, I am totally out of breath.

Secondly check your Tyre pressures on a regular basis,  the fact is if you drive around with a soft tyre it has a massive effect on safe driving and burns more fuel, top this off with additional damage to the tyre itself.

Spare Wheel & Tyre: Well folks what can I say except adding to the above statements, please make sure you have a spare wheel that is fit for purpose, meaning it does have a good tyre and is not already punctured or flat.

I may look ugly but i’m here for you so please look after me.

Many Cars now have space savers, these may look a bit naff but can save you a lot of hassle , other vehicles may not even carry a spare not even from the Factory if this is the case then its either buy a Spare wheel with Tyre if there’s somewhere to put it or rely on your Breakdown service provider.

Fuel, Petrol & Diesel: I guess I better state the obvious here and just say please don’t drive about with a near empty tank, sods law says you will run out in the worst possible place.

The Wrong fuel, in other words putting Petrol in Diesel and vice versa.  Petrol in a Diesel is very common for a couple of reasons, firstly the petrol filler nozzle will easily fit into the Diesel tank filler neck,  and a modern Diesel engine runs almost as quietly as a Petrol engine. If you add on the factor that lots of households run 2 or more cars so there may be Petrol and Diesel Cars parked on the drive. 

The best solution for all of the above is to just be mindful in what you are doing, its better to take a few seconds more at the Pump than end up with a cut out engine and a hefty bill to follow.

Mechanical Problems:   Of course Mechanical components will fail and cause a breakdown, however they are certainly not the main cause of breakdowns as all of the above rank higher.

I am very important because i’m the Engine but smaller parts keep an eye on me and keep me happy.

Modern Cars are more reliable but not immune to breakdowns and new technology can bring its own problems, there are sensors, relays and switches, wired and wireless systems all tied together by magic boxes we all call Computers.

So what can you do to about the Mechanical stuff, well keep an eye on  things, regular servicing and preventative maintenance will certainly help, go with your instincts, if something doesn’t seem right then it probably isn’t and may be about to let you down. 

All of the rest include Electrical Failure, Locked out of Vehicle, Cooling Systems, Clutches and the list goes on.

For now I think that is enough from me, please checkout our “Prevent-breakdowns” page for more tips and advise.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it Helps in some way,  George.