Car Care Guides for Dubai drivers
Plain English answers to the questions our customers ask every week: what a warning sign means, what a repair should cost, how to keep a car healthy in Dubai heat and what to check before you buy a used car.
NewestHow to read a diagnostic report
Steering6 common steering problems
BuyingPre-purchase inspection
Three guides every driver should read
If you only read three, read these. They will save you money on every car you own.
MaintenanceCar maintenance scheduleWhat to check, how often and why it matters more in Dubai's heat, dust and traffic.See the schedule →
Buying a carPre-purchase inspection guideWhat a proper inspection covers before you pay.Read the guide →
Repairs and costsHow to read a diagnostic reportWhat fault codes do and do not tell you.Read the guide →
Warning signs and symptoms
Noises, lights, judders and smells, what they usually mean and how urgent they are.
Why it matters: a warning sign caught early is usually a small repair, ignored it often becomes a big one.
AC coolingAC compressor cycling rapidlyNormal switching, possible faults and useful checks before booking.Read the guide
BrakesWhy the ABS light is onThe usual causes and how it is fixed.Read →
SuspensionAir suspension warning signsReplace it before it collapses.Read →
BrakesBrake caliper stickingSigns, risks and the fix.Read →
CoolingRadiator fan not workingWhat to check first.Read →
SteeringSix common steering problemsWhat Dubai drivers notice most.Read →
Fuel systemBad fuel pressure regulatorThe symptoms to spot early.Read →
DrivetrainSigns of a bad flywheelHow to tell it apart from the clutch.Read →
EngineCar shuts off while drivingWhy it happens and what to do.Read →
ElectricalKey stuck in the ignitionThe causes and the fix.Read →
EngineCar jerks when acceleratingEngine, fuel or gearbox?Read →
BrakesSigns of worn brake padsWhen to replace them.Read →
DrivetrainSigns of a bad clutchAnd how it can be fixed.Read →
GearboxCar will not go into gearCommon causes and solutions.Read →
BatteryBattery terminals corrodingFix it before it spreads.Read →
Repairs and costs
What a repair involves, what drives the price and how to compare quotes.
Why it matters: knowing what a job involves is the best way to tell a fair quote from an inflated one.
GlassCracked windshield in the UAEWhen to replace it.Read →
GlassWindow scratch repairTips and costs.Read →
ElectricalWhat an ECU doesThe engine's computer explained.Read →
ACCar AC parts explainedWhat each part does and what fails.Read →
Case studyMercedes G500 case studyInspection and a cooling system repair.Read →
Maintenance
The small, regular jobs that stop big bills, with Dubai's heat and dust in mind.
Why it matters: a filter, fluid or tyre check costs little and protects the parts that cost a lot.
Tyres
Cooling
Buying a car
What to look for, which models make sense in the UAE and what to check before you pay.
Why it matters: a check before you buy costs far less than the faults a seller does not mention.
Used cars
Imports
Looks and protection
Paint, wraps, tint, detailing and styling, and how to protect them from the Dubai sun.
Why it matters: a car that looks after its paint and cabin keeps more of its value when you sell.
Paint
Paint
Paint
Brand guides
Owning and servicing specific makes in Dubai. For every brand we repair, use the brand finder on our homepage.
Why it matters: every make has its own weak spots, and knowing them tells you what to check first.No guide matches that yet. Ask our technicians on WhatsApp and we will answer.
Ask a technician instead
A guide can only go so far. Send us what your car is doing, with a photo or a short video if you can, and we tell you what it is likely to be and whether it is urgent. The inspection at our Al Quoz workshop is free.