If you can fix a bicycle, you can repair your car…

According to the Royal Navy’s current recruitment drive: If you can fix a bicycle, you can repair a car. And if you can repair a car you can learn to maintain a helicopter. The trouble is that so few of us now repair our own bicycles, let alone cars, that the idea of dismantling and then rebuilding an aircraft engine seems impossible to all but a few.

repair your car

Colin Furze is a part-time inventor who proves how much is possible with enthusiasm and a few basic tools. His projects include a DIY gas turbine engine made from a loo roll holder. “Amazing to think that something made from bad materials in such a crude manner with little attention paid to the specialized maths required to make these engines work, actually works. Some may argue its not going to produce much thrust, but the point was could it run at all and it ticked that box totally” explains Colin.

Repair your car

Cars today are more complex than ever, but some of the causes of breakdown are possible to tackle at the roadside with only basic skills. Analysis of data from more one million breakdown cover policies by the ETA reveals the most common reasons for having to make a claim on your breakdown cover.

Position Symptom Percentage

1

Dead on key

30.27%

2

Engine cut out, won’t start

8.11%

3

Flat tyre – no spare

7.50%

4

Engine turning over, not firing

7.48%

5

Loss of power

3.49%

6

Engine management light on

3.32%

7

Clutch fault

2.55%

8

Gearbox/clutch fault

2.49%

9

Overheating

1.85%

10

Flat tyre – spare, no jack

1.49%

How to avoid breakdowns

Vehicle breakdowns can occur for a wide number of reasons and can be expected at any point during the natural lifetime of a vehicle. The best way to avoid them is through regular maintenance and servicing.

Even the most well-maintained car, van or motorcycle can break down and that’s where good breakdown cover is essential. ETA Breakdown Cover gives you the assurance of friendly and efficient help – within 40 minutes – if you are unfortunate enough to suffer vehicle breakdown.

In many cases, the problem can be solved by having a skilled mechanic on hand. ETA Breakdown Cover guarantees you up to an hour of free roadside assistance to try and get you moving again. If the problem is more serious, we guarantee to transport your vehicle to a suitable garage, even if this means taking you home first and then arranging a next-day recovery free of charge – unlike many of our competitors.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

 

Comments

  1. Jim Clark

    Reply

    When I first started riding a bike in the 1950s we carried a tool kit and puncture outfit in a small wallet strapped to the saddle. Most boys at any rate could mend a flatty on the road and we did most of our maintenance ourselves including replacing spokes, bearings etc. there were handy booklets and I think the scouts did one.
    When I started driving in the 60s you carried a spare set of points, a spare set of plugs, a fan belt and some tools. I once had a fuel pump go in a remote area of southern Scotland, Took the pump off, hitch hiked and walked to the nearest big Town about 40 miles away (Carlisle) with the pump, got a fuel pump like the one I had removed and hitch hiked and walked back fitted the fuel pump and drove home all in a day. Now engines are so tight fitting and have so many bits and pieces I wouldn’t know where to start and to get anything done you have to book your car in to a garage and they want it for a couple of days.

  2. Regina Peterson

    Reply

    Well, I can fix my bike kind of, but only the simple stuff. After reading this I’m not sure if i can fix my car problems, but I will try. This video and article really made me inspired to learn. Thanks! http://www.superiorpaint.com

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