eCarService · Driver Academy
Learn what a warning light or worrying symptom may mean, what you can check safely and when you should stop driving.
Knowledge base
89
guides to help you prepare for a conversation with a workshop.
Understand first
Learn the possible cause of a symptom
Then decide
Know what to ask during your visit
Choose a location
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Latest guides
Learn about the possible causes first. Choose a location once you are ready to book a visit.
An engine that still starts does not prove that the battery is in good condition. Have it tested before the first frosts, especially if you mainly drive short distances or the starter turns the engine more slowly than before.
A reading above the maximum can be caused by overfilling, but fuel may also be diluting the oil. Check the level as instructed and find out when it is safer to stop using the car.
After a battery replacement the car may change behaviour due to loss of adaptations and lack of battery registration. What to check before a workshop visit and when to stop driving.
False braking, failure to detect vehicles or intermittent ACC often relate to the camera, radar or ADAS module calibration. What to check yourself and how professional diagnostics look.
A practical step-by-step guide on what to check before putting a car away for a week, a month or longer. Protect fuel, battery, fluid systems, tyres, brakes, air conditioning and bodywork, plus a checklist for after storage.
Metal flakes in oil can be normal wear or a sign of a serious fault. The article explains causes, when to stop driving and how workshop diagnostics proceed.
A drop in oil level can come from external leaks, oil burning inside the engine, problems with the crankcase ventilation (PCV) system or the turbo. We explain how to assess the scale of the problem and when to go to a workshop.
The colour of exhaust smoke helps narrow down the causes: burning oil, burning coolant or excess fuel. The article explains what to observe and what tests a workshop will perform.
A brake pad wear warning light or a 'service brakes' message usually does not indicate an immediate failure, but signals that the braking system is approaching a service threshold. In practice it is most often worn pads, sometimes a wear sensor, and in some cars a different issue with fluid level, hoses or the warning electronics.
If the handbrake won't hold, sticks or the EPB warning light is on, don't assume a single fault. On cars with an electric parking brake the issue can be the switch, power supply or control unit, or calipers, actuators at the wheels, or the mechanical condition of the brakes.
If the brake pedal has become soft, has a longer travel, or requires noticeably more force than usual, don’t assume a single fault straight away. The symptom can be related to vacuum assistance, but also to air in the hydraulic system, a brake fluid leak, a faulty brake servo (booster) or a vacuum pump.
After replacing the front windscreen ADAS calibration may be needed even if no warning light is shown on the dash. The camera behind the rear‑view mirror works through the glass, so its position, mount, field of view and the glass meeting the vehicle's requirements all matter. It's safest not to guess, but to check…
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