Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital of Wales and also its largest city. It’s also the 11th largest city in the UK and has an estimated population of 360,000.

A significant tourist destination, Cardiff has over 21million visitors a year and is host to landmarks such as the Principality Stadium, the Welsh National Museum, Cardiff Castle, the National History Museum at St Fagans, City Hall, the Welsh National War Memorial and many more.

Cardiff has a significant nightlife, seeing visitors flock to its many bars, pubs and clubs. Most are situated in the city centre around St Mary Street, Cardiff Bay, The Brewery Quarter and Charles Street.

The most popular cars in Cardiff

The UK’s best selling car, the Ford Fiesta, is estimated to be the most popular car in Cardiff, according to data provided between 2012 to 2018 by ownership and postcode.

Close on its heels—and in order of popularity—are the Mercedes A-Class, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai and the Kia Sportage.

Vehicle numbers in Cardiff

There are approximately 180,000 licensed vehicles in the Newham area, with some of the most popular models including the Mini, Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Focus.

Find a Fixter garage in Cardiff today

There are a total of 26 Fixter garages in the Cardiff area, all ready and waiting to provide you with a fantastic quote for your car service, MOT and a wide range of vehicle repairs.

Fixter garages service the following postcodes and more, in and around the Cardiff area:

• CF1: Splott & Butetown, Cardiff, Wales
• CF10 & CF11: Grangetown & Riverside, Cardiff, Wales
• CF14: Llanishen, Whitchurch & Tongwynlais, Cardiff, Wales
• CF2: Adamsdown, Cyncoed & Splott, Cardiff, Wales
• CF23: Penylan, Plasnewydd & Trowbridge, Cardiff, Wales

- CF24: Cathays, Cardiff, Wales

What does a clutch do? And what is a clutch kit?

The clutch is a solid metal disc that couples the crankshaft and flywheel to the gearbox’s clutch shaft. The clutch is located between the engine and transmission to temporarily disconnect the engine drive from the gearbox.

A clutch kit usually contains all the elements to replace and rejuvenate your clutch and its performance: usually a clutch disc, pressure plate, flywheel and a throw race or release bearings. A clutch kit will contain the correct parts for a particular make and model of car and is often cheaper than buying the components individually.

How often should a clutch need replacing?

There isn’t a typical time or set mileage suggested to replace a clutch kit, as it can depend on both the car and your driving style. Most clutches are designed to last approximately 60k miles, yet they can have a healthy life covering mileages anywhere between 30k and 100k.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

A damaged or broken clutch will affect your car’s driving ability to the point where it could fail its MOT. Testing doesn’t include an examination of the engine, clutch or gearbox, so if it appears to be working adequately, then it shouldn’t affect the test result.

What happens when we replace your clutch kit?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will test your clutch for damage and function.
• Wherever necessary your clutch will be replaced and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated issues arising from the process.
• You will also be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.
• Once the clutch kit has been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure its correct operation and make any adjustments required for premium performance.

What causes a clutch to stop working correctly?

A clutch will wear out over time through continual use. The disc thickness reduces, which affects the amount of force the pressure plate can apply to the clutch disc against the flywheel. Incorrect use over extended periods will impact the lifespan and cause unnecessary problems. Slippage can also be caused by reduced tension in the pressure plate’s springs.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning clutch

The clutch slips while driving

If you feel a loss or inappropriate delivery of power when using the accelerator, it could be due to a damaged or worn clutch.

Changing gears is a problem

If you can’t change gears or it feels like there is unusual grinding and friction when trying, your clutch isn’t separating the engine drive from the gearbox sufficiently.

The car doesn’t move

If there is no delivery of power to the engine from the accelerator, then your clutch could be the problem.

Your gearbox makes unusual and unhealthy noises

If the transmission makes unhealthy grinding noises when you try to use the clutch to engage or disengage the engine, there’s a strong chance that your clutch isn’t operating as it should.