Questions
The questions people ask before they buy: will it work with my car, is it legal, is it safe, is it worth it. Each answer starts with the short version and lists its sources.
Browse by problem: Wipers and visibility · Battery and jump starting · Dash cams · Phones and charging · Seats, covers and mats · Boot and roof.
Why are my wipers smearing? Causes and fixes in order
Smears in both directions, in one direction, or only after rain: what each one points to, the free checks to do first, and when to replace the blades.
Read the answer →Why do my wipers judder or squeak? The four causes
Juddering, chattering or squeaking wipers: dirty glass, hardened rubber, the blade angle and a loose connector, with the order to check them.
Read the answer →Rear wiper blade sizes for 45 UK cars, and how they differ from the fronts
Rear wiper blades are shorter than the fronts and often use a different fitting. Rear sizes for 45 popular UK cars, with the ones where sources disagree.
Read the answer →Wiper blade connector types: hook, push button, pinch tab, side pin
How to tell a hook, push button, pinch tab, side pin or top lock wiper arm apart, and why the connector matters as much as the length.
Read the answer →LED bulb flickering or bulb failure warning after fitting LEDs: why and the fix
Why cars that check their bulbs report an LED as blown, flicker or hyper-flash, and the fixes: CANbus bulbs, load resistors, or going back to the original bulb.
Read the answer →How tall is my car with a roof box? Work it out before the car park barrier
Add your car's roof height, the roof bar feet and the box's height off the bar. Typical box heights, a worked example and the car park and garage checks.
Read the answer →Why do my roof bars whistle? How to stop roof bar wind noise
Most roof bar whistling comes from an empty T-track slot, missing end caps or loose feet. The free checks, then aero bars and position.
Read the answer →Why does my dash cam not record when parked? Parking mode explained
Parking mode needs permanent power. Why a dash cam on a 12V plug stops when you lock the car, and what Nextbase says you need for parking mode.
Read the answer →Dash cam SD card error or 'please format card': causes and fixes
Loop recording wears SD cards out. Why dash cams ask you to format the card, how often Nextbase recommends formatting, and when to replace the card.
Read the answer →Car 12V socket (cigarette lighter) not working? Check these four things
A dead 12V socket is usually a blown fuse, often after a coin or a faulty charger. How to check the socket, the fuse and the charger, safely.
Read the answer →Why is my car charger charging my phone slowly?
Shared power between ports, the wrong port, a slow cable or an old charger: the reasons a phone charges slowly in the car, and what fixes each one.
Read the answer →Car won't start and just clicks: what the click tells you
Rapid clicking usually means a flat battery; a single loud click points to the starter. What to check, when to jump start, and when to call for help.
Read the answer →How long can a car sit before the battery goes flat?
Typically two to four weeks, less in cold weather or with an old battery. What the RAC advises, and how to keep a car that is not used starting.
Read the answer →What to keep in your car for a breakdown (UK, and driving to France)
A UK breakdown kit: warning triangle, hi-vis vest, torch, jump starter, tyre inflator and more, the Highway Code rule on triangles, and what France requires.
Read the answer →Car floor mats slipping under the pedals: why it matters and how to stop it
Carmakers warn that a loose driver's mat can jam the pedals. Use the car's retaining clips, never stack mats, and buy mats made for your model.
Read the answer →Which interior bulbs does my car take? W5W, festoon and BA9s explained
The three interior bulb types in UK cars, how to identify yours, festoon lengths, CANbus and the white number plate rule.
Read the answer →Which roof bars fit my car? Roof types and a UK fit table
Bare roofs, fixing points, flush and raised rails: how to tell them apart, what roof load includes, and the roof type of 19 UK cars by version.
Read the answer →Which wiper blades do I need? Size chart for 45 UK cars
Driver, passenger and rear sizes for the current generation of 45 UK cars, with where the sources disagree and how to check your own.
Read the answer →What size memory card does a dash cam need?
How many hours 64, 128 and 256GB cards hold, how to read the maker's hours figure, and why rear cameras and card endurance matter.
Read the answer →Is a rear dash cam worth it?
When a rear camera earns its place: rear-end shunts, how an insurer uses footage, the extra wiring and the halved card time.
Read the answer →Does a 12V socket work with the engine off?
Switched, permanent and timed 12V sockets, with owner's manual examples and a simple test for your own car.
Read the answer →Can a car charger drain your car battery?
A plug-in charger only drains the battery from a socket that stays live. Manual warnings and the dash cam parking-mode exception.
Read the answer →How to hardwire a dash cam (and when not to)
Switched or permanent fuse, fuse taps, earthing, low-voltage cut-off, curtain airbags, and when to book an installer.
Read the answer →Jump starter or jump leads: which should you carry?
Leads need a donor car, a jump starter works alone but must stay charged. Comparison table and the safe connection order.
Read the answer →How long does a jump starter hold its charge?
What makers actually state about standby and recharge intervals, why heat and cold matter, and a simple storage routine.
Read the answer →Are seat covers safe with side airbags?
Seat side airbags burst through a backrest seam. Spot the label, what car makers say, and why universal covers are a risk.
Read the answer →Do seat covers work with ISOFIX?
Covers and protectors can hide ISOFIX points or let a child seat shift. What child seat makers say, and a fit test.
Read the answer →Aero vs conventional wiper blades: which to buy?
Flat aero blades vs framed blades: how each presses on the glass, what Bosch claims, and why fit depends on your exact car.
Read the answer →Should you cover your car in winter?
When a breathable, snug cover helps a car parked outside, when damp, wind or a dirty car make it worse, and frost-guard alternatives.
Read the answer →Indoor vs outdoor car covers: what's the difference?
Indoor covers keep dust off in a garage; outdoor covers must handle rain and wind. Why both must breathe, and how to size one.
Read the answer →Why does my phone holder keep falling off the vent?
Slat shape, phone weight, clip type, plate position or heat: diagnose why a vent holder slips, fix it, or switch mount type.
Read the answer →Is a windscreen phone mount legal in the UK?
Yes if you never hold the phone and it does not block your view: the 2022 hand-held rules, Highway Code 149 and 150, and the MOT swept area.
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