Advice
Advice from the workshop
Straight answers from our mechanics on Dolly Lane: what the MOT checks, what a warning light means, when a tyre is illegal and when a repair can wait.
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Every article is written from the workshop and checked against GOV.UK and DVSA guidance. If your question is not answered here, get in touch or call 0113 244 3544.
Air conCar air con not blowing cold? What a regas involves and when it is something else
Why car air con slowly stops blowing cold, what a proper regas involves, R134a vs R1234yf, and how to tell a leak from a compressor fault. Regas in Leeds.
MOTClass 4 or Class 7 MOT: which one does my van need?
Plain-English guide to Class 4 and Class 7 MOTs: the 3,000kg design gross weight line, where to find it on your van, and which test to book in Leeds.
DiagnosticsDashboard warning lights explained: which ones mean stop, and which mean book it in
What the common dashboard warning lights mean, which ones mean pull over, which fail an MOT, and why a fault code is the start of a diagnosis, not the fix.
DPFDPF warning light: what it means and what to do about it
What a diesel particulate filter does, why short trips block it, what the DPF light means, how regeneration works and when cleaning is needed.
MOTHow to check when your MOT is due (and never miss it again)
Find your MOT expiry date in seconds, see your car's full MOT history and set a free GOV.UK reminder so you never drive without a valid MOT.
ServicingMOT and service together: why it makes sense to book both
Why booking your MOT and service in one visit saves a second trip, what each covers, and how faults found at the service get fixed before the test.
MOTMOT checklist: how to prepare your car in 15 minutes
A 15-minute pre-MOT checklist for Leeds drivers: lights, tyres, wipers, horn, plates, seatbelts and warning lights, plus the faults DVSA says fail most.
WeldingMOT welding and corrosion: what fails and what can be repaired
Rust and the MOT explained: the DVSA 30cm rule around mounting points, where cars rot, what a passing welded repair looks like and why filler fails.
BrakesSigns your brakes need checking: noises, pedal feel, pulling and the warning light
Squealing, grinding, a pulsing or spongy pedal, pulling to one side, the warning light: what each means, how the MOT tests brakes, why fluid goes off.
TyresTyre tread depth law: the 1.6 mm rule and when to replace your tyres
UK tyre tread law for Leeds drivers: the 1.6 mm minimum, the fine and points for defective tyres, checking tread, pressures, wear patterns and tyre age.- MOT
What happens if your car fails its MOT?
Failed your MOT? Here is what dangerous, major and minor defects mean, when you can still drive, how retests work and how to appeal a result.
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