🛒 Shop
Free Guides By Make Fault Codes Articles MOT Checker Shop YouTube

UK Car Articles

Long-form articles from a working UK mechanic and MOT tester. Plain English, real UK prices, no fluff. Every piece written from the workshop, not a blog template.

A library of in-depth articles covering the questions UK drivers actually ask: MOT failures, brake pad wear, cambelt versus chain, DPF problems, tyre safety, electric handbrakes, OBD codes, and more. Each piece is written by Mr Auto Fixer from real workshop jobs — not summarised from a manufacturer manual or generated by AI. Use these as a primer before tackling a job, or as a sanity check before paying a quote you are not sure about.

Brakes
How To Know When Your Brake Pads Need Replacing

Wear indicators, warning signs, MOT rules, and real UK costs. From a professional mechanic.

10 min read · Updated May 2026
MOT
What Actually Fails An MOT In The UK (And How To Avoid It)

The real top failure categories — from a DVSA-approved MOT tester. Pre-MOT checks you can do at home.

11 min read · Updated May 2026
Engine
Cambelt vs Chain — What UK Drivers Need To Know

How to find out which your car has, when it needs changing, real UK costs, and what happens if it snaps.

11 min read · Updated May 2026
Buying
How To Buy A Used Car In The UK Without Getting Ripped Off

HPI checks, mechanical inspection, red flags, and how to use faults to negotiate the price down.

12 min read · Updated May 2026
Dashboard
Understanding Your Car's Warning Lights — Complete UK Guide

Every dashboard warning light explained. When to stop driving immediately. When it can safely wait.

11 min read · Updated May 2026
Diesel
DPF Problems — What UK Diesel Drivers Need To Know

Blocked DPFs, regeneration myths, real replacement costs, and why removal is illegal.

12 min read · Updated May 2026
Servicing
How Much Should Car Servicing Cost In The UK? (2026)

Interim vs full vs major. What's actually included. Dealer vs independent. How to spot overcharging.

10 min read · Updated May 2026
Tyres & MOT
Tyre Safety In The UK — Legal Limits, Wear, And When To Replace

1.6mm tread minimum, age limits, illegal tyres, fines, and how to check wear yourself.

12 min read · Updated May 2026
Ford Transit Custom
Ford Transit Custom — The Complete Owner's Maintenance Guide

Service intervals, the wet belt issue, EGR failures, year-by-year known problems and running costs.

12 min read · Updated May 2026
Diagnostics
How To Read OBD Fault Codes Yourself

Which scanner to buy, how to read and clear codes, what P-codes mean, and when DIY won't cut it.

10 min read · Updated May 2026
Suspension
Coilovers, Shocks & Springs — When Do UK Cars Need New Suspension?

Bounce test, MOT rules, handling symptoms, and real 2026 replacement costs at UK garages.

11 min read · Updated May 2026
Brakes
Electric Handbrake Cars — What UK Mechanics Know That Drivers Don't

Why you can't wind back the piston, which tool you need, common faults and what UK drivers need to know.

10 min read · Updated May 2026