Women's Car DIY

As a teenager, Caroline Lake was more likely to be found reading What Car? than Smash Hits and she could quote 0–60mph times galore. For her 16th birthday she was given a Triumph Dolomite as a minor restoration project and with her father’s help and a Haynes manual she managed to get it on the road. She went into the garage trade, became a qualified MoT tester and in 2006 opened Caroline’s Cars in Norwich, offering servicing, repairs and MoTs, along with a training school where she teaches women (and men) car care and maintenance.

Know your car: overview of a car, explaining all elements. Tools and equipment: what you really need, along with health/safety considerations. Routine checks and maintenance: oil level, tyre condition/pressures, wiper blades, bulbs. Servicing schedules explained: changing filters (oil, air, pollen, fuel); information on plugs, cam belt, coolant, brake fluid, wheel bolts. MoT test: what happens in the test and preparing for it - including driveshaft boots, seatbelts, doors, windscreen chips, exhaust, handbrake, brakes, wheel bearings, rust. Problems: warning lights, noises, fluid leaks, starting problems, smoke, smells, changing wheels, accidents and breakdowns. Cleaning: interior, exterior, scratches and chips. Paperwork and admin: insurance, MoT, car tax, log book, service record, buying and selling a car.