Five common driving mistakes that are actually ruining your car
Drivers are being told to try and kick five bad habits that could actually be doing damage to their car
Car expert says these five common driving habits are ruining your vehicle (Image: Getty Images)
Car experts have revealed five poor driving habits that could be damaging your car.
The team at Absolute Reg highlighted common mistakes made by drivers that can cause car damage.
Having heavy keyrings or decorations attached to your car keys can put a lot of pressure on the ignition and possibly stop it from working.
Meanwhile, drivers who don’t lift their foot completely off the clutch could find themselves needing more frequent maintenance due to excessive wear, reports the Daily Star.
Experts are warning drivers to watch where they put their hand when in the car (Image: Getty Images)
Resting your hand on the gearstick can also cause gearbox issues, which may result in your car starting to shake or jolt while moving.
Absolute Reg’s director Jake Smith explained: “There are several bad driving habits that motorists would’ve picked up over the years, and some that even new drivers can be guilty of. Anyone who has heavy keys or decorations on their car keys should take them off, as the pressure put on the ignition could cause problems to the engine and damage the delicate components.”
“Resting on the gearstick or riding the clutch are two bad habits which drivers should kick, else risk causing damage to their vehicles without even realising. Drivers should never ignore warning lights on their dashboard, and brush up on their knowledge of their meanings, as serious problems could occur.”
He said: “Another bad habit drivers should stop is driving over potholes – in situations when it is safe to do so, you should drive over the potholes on the road otherwise your wheels, tyres and underneath your car could become damaged.”
Your key could be behind one of the five driving mistakes (Image: Getty Images)
Here are five things drivers are doing that could be messing up their cars without knowing:
Heavy keys can cause ignition problems.
It might seem harmless enough, but attaching lots of decorative keyrings onto your car keys can lead to serious problems. The constant downward pressure from heavy keys can wear out the delicate parts of the ignition, causing issues for your engine and potentially stopping your car from starting.
Resting hand on gearstick.
Keeping your hand idle on the gearstick can inflict unnecessary damage to the gearbox. This can mess up a car’s efficiency, leading to a dodgy drive and shaking or jerking motions.
Riding the clutch.
Foot staying on the clutch after shifting gears? That’s a no-no.
Known as riding the clutch, this habit will likely speed up wear and tear of the part, meaning you’ll need to get it fixed more frequently.
Speeding over potholes
If you can safely avoid potholes, do it. Travelling through these potholes at high speeds can batter the underside of your motor and scrape your wheels – not to mention cut into your tyres.
Ignoring dashboard lights
It might be tempting to just ignore any warning lights on the dashboard, especially if you’re unfamiliar with what they mean. But any lights should be investigated as soon as possible in case a bigger problem arises.
