A fixed-jet carburettor mixes air and fuel by means of several jets . The jets are small holes which allow precisely controlled amounts of fuel or air to flow through them. The amounts are governed by the diameter, length and shape of the jets. Read more

When fitting new contact-breaker points in the distributor , the normal way of checking the gap between them is with a feeler gauge . Read more

The high-tension (HT) or secondary circuit carries high-voltage electricity. It runs from the secondary winding of the coil through the distributor to the plugs. Any of these can break down and cause ignition failure. Read more

If the starter does not turn the engine although the car battery is in good condition, the fault may be a simple mechanical one or it may be an electrical one in the starter-motor circuit . Read more

Separate the outer ball joint from the steering arm (See Replacing track-rod-end ball joints ). Read more

Speedometer failure is likely to be caused by a fault in the cable that runs from the gearbox to the back of the speedometer gauge. Read more

Almost all joints and pivots in a modern suspension system have rubber or plastic bushes, with the possible exception of steering swivel joints . Read more

Extra risks face motorists wherever roads meet and diverge, whether at crossroads, T-junctions, roundabouts or forks, but by using the techniques of advanced driving and applying a systematic approach, junctions can be dealt with as safely as any other part of the road system. Accidents do not 'just happen' of their own accord — they are caused by bad driving. While you should always take extra care at junctions, you must recognise that they present an ideal opportunity for other road users to cause trouble. We have all seen other drivers adopt their own odd ways of approaching junctions and navigating their way through them. Be on your guard, therefore, for what a road safety expert might describe as 'an accident waiting to happen'. Read more

While fog occurs most frequently during the winter, it should be treated as a hazard which can be encountered at any time of year. The weather can be misty even in summer, and sea fog is always a possibility on a coastal road. The simple answer to the problem of driving in fog is don't, but there will always be occasions, for example if a journey is essential or you are caught on the road, when you have to drive on. However, if fog is really dense, bear in mind that an unscheduled stop in a hotel is infinitely preferable to a spell in hospital. Read more

Twenty-five years ago it was considered quite adventurous for a British driver to take his car on holiday on the continent, but nowadays over a third of Britain's motorists have experienced the pleasures of driving abroad. If you keep off the busy trunk roads, autoroutes, autostradas and autobahns, you can follow quiet highways which carry much less traffic than you usually find on our crowded island. There is no reason why a competent driver should not feel perfectly confident when driving in an unfamiliar country, on the wrong side of the road. Even busy cities such as Paris and Rome — with their reputation for devil-may-care traffic — should hold no fears as long as you follow the basic rules of advanced driving. Read more