Over the years, fleet parts begin to wear out and break down. As a business owner, the last thing you want is to encounter any major issues when dealing with the multiple vehicles you own which are required for your business. To ensure the downtime of your vehicles are minimized, it is wise to be aware of some of the most common fleet maintenance problems which you may encounter.

Wheel Alignment Problems

If your tyres are not properly aligned, the chances of wandering on a level and straight road are high. Having to move the steering wheel every now and then to keep the car travelling straight is not only dangerous but can also be frustrating. Yet, this is not the only problem which wheel alignment problems can cause:

– Uneven or fat tyre wear can result in a bumpy ride

– Poorly aligned wheels can cause your car to swerve dangerously.

– Wrongly aligned wheels can cause tyres to slide on the pavement resulting in premature tyre wear.

Some of the causes of wheel alignment problems may be road hazards, worn out parts, and height modification.

Over the years as a vehicle ages, the suspension rings wear out making the car sag. These worn out parts can change the way in which the suspension affects the position of the tyres as it travels down a road. Therefore, it is important for the suspension to be looked at.

Fleet Hydraulic Problems

A vehicle\’s hydraulic system consists of shock absorbers and brakes. Issues related to the brakes are caused by a few things – hard brake pedals, low brake fluid, or spongy or soft brake pedals.

– Low brake fluid

This results from a leak in the brake system. If this issue is not addressed then brake failure can occur. The moment low brake fluid is suspected, you must inspect your vehicle\’s wheel clinders, calipers, brake hoses, and master cylinder.

If a leak is spotted, the brakes must be replaced straight away in order to avaoid any further damage to any other parts of the car.

– Spongy of soft brake pedal

This occurs when air is present in the brake system. The main cause of spongy or soft brake pedals is improper bleeding. There is only one solution to this problem, which is to completely bleed the brakes as stated in the vehicle manual. It is important to use the manual as different cars have different instructions. If you are not comfortable in doing this, it is recommended to ask a professional fleet maintenance service provider to do the job for you.

– Hard brake pedals

Hard brake pedals tend to occur when there is a faulty check valve, a leaky vacuum host, a low engine vacuum, or a defective booster. To diagnose the problem, start the engine to allow the vacuum to build up. After a while, turn the engine off and then proceed to wait for five minutes. Check for power assist by slowly applying the brakes. When there is no power assist, this tells you that the valve needs to be replaced.

However, the problem might not be valve and therefore a professional fleet service provider should again be contacted.

If you feel that your vehicle jumps up too much even on smooth roads, it is recommended to check your car\’s shock absorbers. If you suspect the shock absorbers to have worn out, it is paramount to replace them immediately.

Fleet Engine Problems

There are numerous reasons as to why an engine may not work as it should, such as:

– Bad fuel mix

This can be the result of impurities in the fuel or because the system is unable to provide the correct amount of fuel to the mix.

– Lack of compression

A lack of compression tends to be the result of an improper sealing of the exhaust and intake valves.

– Overheating

A faulty cooling system can be the result of a leak in the cooling system or worn out fan belts

To close, as a fleet owner you must ensure that you regularly run inspections on your vehicles. Hiring a professional fleet service provider is recommended to take care of all the fleet maintenance needs that are required.

For more information on mobile car servicing, visit fleet maintenance. For more articles by Steve Shaw and permission to reproduce these articles on your own website, visit: Free Articles.

For more information on mobile car servicing visit http://www.fleetmaintenanceuk.co.uk. For more articles by Steve Shaw and permission to reproduce these articles on your own website, visit: http://www.sbwebconsulting.co.uk/free-stuff/free-content

Author Bio: For more information on mobile car servicing, visit fleet maintenance. For more articles by Steve Shaw and permission to reproduce these articles on your own website, visit: Free Articles.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: fleet maintenance,car,vehicle,