Tag Archives: replacement turbos

Drivers looking into replacement turbos for their motors and potentially considering investing in a new second-hand car have been warned to check vehicles over to make sure they’re not flood damaged.

AA Insurance is now advising people that the used car market could well be inundated with vehicles that have been affected by the recent terrible weather and floods that have hit the UK.

Tips from the company for spotting a flood-damaged car include feeling the carpets to see if they’re damp, serious condensation on the windows, checking beneath the cap of the oil filler to see if there’s a whitish deposit beneath and seeing if there is any water trapped in the car light clusters. You can do this by rocking the car – if there is water there, you’ll see it moving in the red rear filter.

“Catalytic converter and exhaust system life can be seriously reduced, wheel bearings could seize, brakes can be affected and alternator and starter motors could fail. In addition, water can seriously affect electrical and electronic systems including the airbags, which might go off unexpectedly – or not deploy when they should,” director of AA Insurance Michael Lloyd said.

When buying any used car, make sure you budget carefully, check car tax rates and get insurance quotes before you sign anything. Always check price guides and look at similar cars so you’re familiar with the value of different vehicles to prevent yourself from being overcharged. In addition, always view the car during the day when the weather is fine so you can see dents, scratches and other issues.

Once you’ve got your reconditioned turbo fitted on your BMW or Mercedes, make sure you familiarise yourself with the different speed limits that are in place on UK roads. According to new research, 38 per cent of people do not know what the national limit is on single carriageway roads.

Figures from The Co-operative Insurance show that 25 per cent of people believe this to be 50mph, while ten per cent think it’s 70mph or higher. In fact, it’s 60mph. On a dual carriageway, the speed limit is 70mph, but only 36 per cent of those questioned in the survey were able to give the correct answer.

Steve Kerrigan, head of telematics with The Co-operative Insurance, said: “The impact of not being aware of speed limits on the roads can’t be underestimated; speeds are set for a reason and driving without knowing speed can have harmful consequences to other road users and pedestrians, especially if you are travelling too fast.”

You should note as well that the speed limit can differ depending on what kind of vehicle you’re driving. On single carriageways, for example, if you’re in a car, van or dual-purpose vehicle and are towing a trailer or caravan the speed limit is 50mph.

Remember as well that local authorities can set their own speed limits for certain areas, such as a 20mph zone near schools or a 50mph limit on roads that have lots of sharp bends. These should be clearly signed, so make sure you keep an eye out for any speed limit changes while on the road.