Things to Do If your Car Will Not Start

It is very frustrating when the engine of your car won’t start. But, the best advice is to try to think logically. Before calling for help, run through the following 5 checks, just in case you can fix the problem yourself.

Immobiliser

Make sure you know how it works and make sure that you follow the correct starting procedure, as it may seem like a ‘dead’ engine. Also make sure that the battery of the remote control is fresh.

Automatic Transmission

With an automatic transmission the engine will not start unless the gear selector lever is either in the ‘N’ or ‘P’ position. This is a safety measure and is not a fault. The best option is always to start the engine in the ‘P’ position.

No Starter Noise

Every car has a familiar starter noise (or just a clicking sound) when the ignition key is turned. When you turn the key and there is no noise, the starter motor may be faulty, or the battery may be flat - in either case, you should phone for mechanical assistance.

No Fuel

The car could be out of fuel. Remember, faulty fuel gauges have been known, even on brand new cars, so do not totally rely on the reading. This can be a possibility - so try to work out when last and how much fuel you bought as well as the distance travelled since.

Fuel Cut-Off Switch

On some petrol engine cars there is a cut-off switch that stops the fuel flow in the event of an accident. But, sometimes this switch can be triggered by a pothole or even a slight bump. Check the cut-off switch and rest it if necessary.

Danie de Villiers - Freelance Writer

Five Herbs and Spices Every Kitchen Should Have

Pepper

Pepper is one of most popular cooking spice in the world. Black pepper is produced from the still-green unripe berries of the pepper plant, while white pepper consists of the seed only – with the skin of the fruit removed. Pepper gets its spicy heat mostly from the piperine compound, which is found both in the outer fruit and in the seed. 

Salt

Salt is an essential cooking spice as just one small pinch has the power to bring out the flavour of the food terrifically. There are a few different types of salt – such as sea salt and table salt. Sea salt is made from evaporating seawater in protected bays and has the purest, freshest flavour, while table salt is mined from rock salt deposits of ancient sea beds and is highly processed with additives. 

Garlic

Garlic, a member of the onion family, is classified as a culinary herb. It has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavour that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking. As a fundamental component in many dishes, a garlic bulb divides into cloves that can be chopped, minced or used whole when cooking.

Thyme

This culinary herb is flavourful but does not overpower, and blends well with other herbs and spices. It is a good source of iron and is used widely in cooking. Depending on the dish you are making the whole sprig may be used, or the leaves removed and the stems discarded. Thyme is slow to release its flavours, so it is usually added early in the cooking process. It is commonly used in fish, chicken and beef dishes to enhance the flavour.

Coriander

Coriander is a culinary herb, but the plant’s dried fruit – known as coriander seeds – is used as a cooking spice. Coriander can be described as warm, nutty, spicy, and orange-flavoured. The herb leaves have a very different taste from the seeds and are rich in vitamins A and B1, calcium, riboflavin and niacin.

By Danie de Villiers - Freelancer