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Keeping Safe on the Road: A Simple Guide to Tyre Maintenance

Your tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. Despite this, they are often one of the most overlooked parts of car maintenance until an MOT is due or a warning light flashes on the dashboard.At Corbridge Road Garage in Consett, we believe that a little preventative care goes a long way. Keeping an eye on your tyres between regular services helps protect your safety, improves fuel efficiency, and prevents unexpected problems on our local roads.Why Tyre Health Matters...

Making Garage Visits Work Around a Busy Routine in Consett

Fitting an MOT, service, or repair into a busy working week is a common challenge for many motorists. Between professional commitments, family life, and daily errands, finding the time to drop a car off and arrange alternative transport can feel like an inconvenience.At Corbridge Road Garage in Consett, we understand that juggling vehicle maintenance around a packed schedule isn't always straightforward. While local collection and delivery can sometimes be arranged depending on workshop availabi...

Servicing Your New Car Without Voiding Your Warranty: Your Rights Explained

Buying a brand-new car is an exciting milestone. Naturally, you want to protect your investment, keep it running smoothly, and ensure it holds its value. However, a persistent motoring myth often causes unnecessary expense: the belief that you must take a new vehicle back to a main dealership for servicing to keep the manufacturer's warranty valid.At Corbridge Road Garage, we regularly speak with drivers who are surprised to learn they have a choice. Understanding your consumer rights can save y...

Understanding Diagnostic Warning Lights

Few things test a driver's nerves quite like an unexpected dashboard warning light illuminating mid-journey. Whether it is a glowing amber engine symbol or an unfamiliar icon flickering on the console, the immediate reaction is often a mix of anxiety and uncertainty.At Corbridge Road Garage, we regularly speak with motorists who face this exact dilemma. Do you pull over immediately, or is it safe to drive home? Understanding what these signals mean—and why addressing them early matters—can s...

More Than Just a Flat Battery: A Tale of Two Vehicles

At Corbridge Road Garage, we often see customers only when a vehicle has completely broken down. However, a recent visit from a local mother and daughter served as a perfect reminder that your battery often gives you warning signs long before it leaves you stranded.The Range Rover: A Clear WarningOne of our regular customers contacted us when her Range Rover Evoque failed to start. After we advised her to jump-start the vehicle and bring it to the workshop, our diagnostics confirmed what we susp...

Christmas Opening Hours

We'd like to wish all our staff, customers and suppliers a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year....

Don't Be Fooled: Why 'Fake Always Breaks' and Why Your Garage Matters

For us, your safety on the road is our absolute priority. That’s why we want to bring your attention to a vital safety warning, shared locally by Durham County Council, which echoes the national campaign message: 'Fake Always Breaks.' We know that saving money on car maintenance can be tempting, but when it comes to vehicle parts, choosing a cheap, unverified component could have life-threatening consequences. The Hidden Dangers of Counterfeit Car Parts This national safety camp...

Timing Belt: Knowing When to Replace It to Protect Your Engine

A timing belt is an essential component of your engine that ensures precise synchronization of piston movement and valve opening. However, like anything, it has a lifespan and can become worn down over time. If a timing belt breaks, your engine can fail, causing expensive repairs. So when should you replace it?Recommended Replacement Period.Generally, a timing belt needs to be replaced every 60,000 to 105,000 miles, according to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. It’s important to ...

Preparing your Vehicle for the Winter

We are currently offering a FREE multi point health check of your vehicle to get it ready for the winter months.If we find anything that requires attention we will inform you so you can decide if you'd like us to carry out any repairs. CONTACT US to make an appointment....

Wet Belt Change

A recent wet belt change we carried out on a Ford Fiesta EcoBoost 2019. As you can see in the photographs the wet belt had started to delaminate leaving debris nearly blocking the oil strainer. If left any longer this would have had a catastrophic effect on the engine. All genuine ford parts were used for this wet belt change....

Ford 1.0 EcoBoost

If you own one of the ford ecoboost engined fiesta or focus from 2012 and Transit 2.0 eco blue, your timing belt (wet belt) may be due. Ford state the change interval is 10 years or 120 thousand miles, this is often not carried out due to the cost in labour and we are now seeing failures way earlier than this, even 2017 vehicles.One of the main issues is that because the timing belt (Wet Belt) is submersed and runs in the engine oil we are seeing the belt de laminate and debris from this blocks ...

Job Vacancy: Vehicle Technician

We have a vacancy for a qualified Vehicle Technician to start work at our busy garage in April.Job DescriptionPosition: Vehicle Technician. Qualified MOT tester is a bonus but not essential as training and qualification will be given.Full Time: 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 30 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks.Salary: Open to discussion, subject to experience and qualifications.Start Date: April 2024To apply, please send your CV to Jacqui Winter at jacquiwinter@btinternet.com...

FREE Summer Health Check

As part of our continued support to our customers and community we are offering FREE Summer health check appointments to ensure your car is tip top for the months ahead. We will check; • Wiper Blades • Battery • Lights • Tyres • Oil • Fluids Call us on 01207 560274 to make an appointment....

Job Vacancy

Job Vacancy at Corbridge Road Garage We have a vacancy for an Automotive Apprentice to start work at our busy garage and work towards their L3 Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician (Light Vehicle) qualification. Hours: 8.30am to 5.30pm with a 30 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks. Days: 4 days at Corbridge Road Garage and one day at Newcastle College. Duration: 36 Months Start date: ImmediateThe applicant will preferably hold a full UK driving license.For more information see the d...

How to change a wheel in ten steps

Advice & Tips Taken from the automyze.theaa.com If you get stopped in your tracks by a tyre puncture or buckled wheel you can always call your roadside assist technician to help you.  However with the right tools and equipment it is something you can do yourself. What you will need Manufacturer’s handbookLocking wheel nutWheel braceVehicle jackReplacement wheel What you should do Ensure your vehicle is not on a main road, but in a safe, flat level location.Apply the handbrake an...

Why getting your car serviced is so important

Car Service advice from AA Automize Regularly servicing your car can make the difference between it running smoothly and fuel efficiently, and the risk of it breaking down and incurring an expensive and unexpected repair. It can be a false economy to avoid regular car servicing, since expected wear and tear requiring minor maintenance, can fast become a costly major repair or replacement. The service schedule for your vehicle will depend on the manufacturer and also depend on the car’s mileage...

MOT Guidelines during Covid-19

Your MOT certificate will be extended by 6 months if it was due to expire on or after 30 March 2020 and your vehicle is a: carmotorcyclelight vanother light vehicle How the 6-month extension works Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will be automatically extended by 6 months if it’s eligible. This will be done about 7 days before it’s due to expire. This means that: your vehicle will still have a valid MOT certificate for an extra 6 monthsyou can still tax your vehicle - you might need to wait ...

MOT Checklist – don’t fail your MOT

Taken from the AA Garage Guide Did you know, most cars fail their MOT due to minor issues that can be easily avoided by doing a few simple checks before your car goes in? Just follow our simple ten point checklist to ensure your vehicle has the best chance of passing. Headlights and indicators Are they all working? Check your headlights, sidelights, rear lights, hazard lights, indicators and number plates. If one of the bulbs are out head down to Corbridge Road Garage or...

When Does A New Car Need Its First MOT?

When driving your new car off the forecourt, its road-worthiness isn’t (and shouldn’t be) at the forefront of your mind. We all assume a new car’s safety – it’s a good reason to buy a new car.Your car is obliged to have its first MOT after three years. Before then, there is no legal obligation to undergo testing. Check when your vehicle was registered for the exact date you’ll be due a test. If your car is imported and you therefore don’t know the registration date, you’ll have t...

FREE Tyre Safety Checks

When the winter weather arrives, you know you will be dealing with ice, sleet and snow.  Winter tyres can be perfect for you when you live in a place that sees a lot of snow and cold. They are designed to give you better grip and braking when the temperatures are really low. While not made specifically to get you through the snow, they do give you better braking and let you handle your vehicle better in the ice and snow, which can be a big plus for you. FREE Tyre Safety Check Get your tyres...

Autumn Driving Tips

Autumn’s not just about blackberries and pretty coloured leaves – it brings changes to the roads, too. Watch out for Glare Glare when the sun’s low in the sky is more likely to be a problem at this time of year. To improve vision: Clean your windscreen, inside and out, removing the hazy film that builds up.Sort out glass scratches and chips – they can intensify the sun's glare.Replace your wiper blades if they’re worn, damaged, or more than a couple of years old.Use a screen ...

How to change your car wiper blades

Taken from the AA Garage Guide Wiper blades are fairly inexpensive items, but have a big effect on visibility and safety so it is advised that you replace them once a year for optimum performance. Before you start it is always best to consult your manufacturers handbook for any specialist tools or equipment required. There are two main types of wiper blades. The early ridged type wiper blade and the modern flexible type wiper blade. How to change a rigid wiper blade Lift the arm into t...

How To Jump Start Your Car

Taken from automyze.theaa.com If your car is turning over, but simply will not start it could mean your battery is flat. If you have a charged power pack to hand you can jump start your car on your own. However if you don’t, you will need another vehicle to feed the power from. Before you jump start your vehicle, consult the manufacturer’s handbook, as each vehicle will have its own unique procedure. Before jump starting Make sure all electrics and lights are switched off and ...

DIY Car Maintenance Tips

Regular maintenance checks are a great way to keep your car in sound working order and can stop minor wear and tear turning into a much bigger and more costly repair. You don’t have to be a trained mechanic to carry out some basic car maintenance. We have outlined some simple steps you can follow below, and if you notice any warning signs you can always contact us for further investigation. Engine Oil Find the dipstick, which is usually a bright coloured circular piece of plasti...

How MOT Requirements For New Cars Could Change In 2018

Taken from the AA Garage Guide You know the drill. Your annual MOT test is coming up and that feeling of dread has hit the pit of your stomach. Will your motor make it through first time? Fingers crossed. You drop your motor off, and hope for the best. But prepare yourself for a shake-up, as the latest announcement from the Department for Transport has dropped a couple of potentially significant game changers in the nerve-wracking world of the MOT. Read on to find out how you might be affected&h...