Craggs automotive repair and service

Craggs automotive repair and service Based in Washington, Tyne and Wear. We treat each car as if it were our own.

From full car servicing and brakes, clutch and suspension repairs, to diagnostics, welding, tyres, and number plates - we deliver a reliable, honest and trustworthy service.

09/09/2026

Just bought a second-hand car?

Even if it drives perfectly, it’s worth getting it checked over and/or booked in for a service, particularly if you’re unsure of its maintenance history.

A fresh MOT doesn’t tell you when the oil, filters, spark plugs, brake fluid or timing belt were last changed and it doesn’t mean everything on the vehicle has recently been serviced.

Starting with a proper check gives you a baseline for your new car, helps identify anything that needs attention and means you know where you stand with future maintenance.

A little peace of mind after a big purchase can go a long way.

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:
www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

09/09/2026

Catching rust earlier can mean a much smaller repair. Leave it long enough and there may be a lot more hiding underneath than you think!

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:
www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

09/09/2026

Is your clutch trying to tell you something?

Your clutch connects the engine to the gearbox, allowing you to smoothly change gears and control how power is transferred to the wheels.

Common signs of a worn clutch include slipping under acceleration, difficulty changing gear, a high biting point, juddering when pulling away, unusual noises, or the engine revving without the car accelerating as it should.

There’s no set mileage for clutch replacement. Things like driving style, vehicle type and usage all make a difference. Some last well over 100,000 miles, while others wear much sooner, particularly with lots of stop-start driving, towing or heavy loads.

If the clutch starts showing symptoms, it’s worth getting it checked before you're left unable to drive the car at all.

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:
www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

A track rod end forms part of your steering system, helping transfer the movement from your steering to the wheels so th...
09/09/2026

A track rod end forms part of your steering system, helping transfer the movement from your steering to the wheels so they turn where you tell them to.

Like many components underneath a vehicle, they can wear over time. The joint can develop excessive play, the protective rubber boot can split and allow dirt and moisture in, or components can be affected by impacts and general wear.

Symptoms can include knocking, vague or loose steering, uneven tyre wear and alignment problems.

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:
www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

08/09/2026

Sunday morning phone call: “Any chance you can come up and help us with the caravan?”

Of course there is because apparently that’s what family are for. 😂

With Lindisfarne Festival traffic everywhere, getting there, sorting the caravan and getting it safely attached to the car (took 2 mins) - then getting back again - managed to take up most of our Sunday.

If you're going away in your caravan - make sure you know how to use it 😅

For those who don't have a caravan and want to know what a Jockey Wheel is: It's the small wheel at the front of a caravan that supports the caravan’s A-frame when it isn’t hitched to the car. It allows you to raise or lower the front of the caravan so you can line the hitch up correctly with the tow ball. It also makes it easier to manoeuvre the caravan short distances by hand when positioning it. Once the caravan is hitched securely, the jockey wheel is raised and secured out of the way before travelling.

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:
www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

A little bit of rust or an MOT failure waiting to happen? Rust on an older car, van or camper doesn't automatically mean...
08/09/2026

A little bit of rust or an MOT failure waiting to happen?

Rust on an older car, van or camper doesn't automatically mean it will fail its MOT. But when corrosion becomes severe enough in certain structural or safety-critical areas, it becomes much more than a cosmetic problem, and sometimes you don't appreciate quite how much metal has deteriorated until you start removing the loose corrosion.

An MOT failure for corrosion isn't necessarily a case of simply putting a small patch over the rusty bit you can see. The damaged material needs to be exposed so we can establish where sound metal actually begins, determine the extent of the repair and carry out the welding properly.

For private owners, particularly anyone running an older vehicle or camper, catching corrosion earlier can mean dealing with a much smaller problem.

For businesses and fleets running older vans, the same principle applies: waiting until corrosion becomes an MOT failure can mean unexpected repair costs and a vehicle sitting off the road when it should be working.

🤓 Sometimes what looks like “a bit of rust” from the outside is only the beginning of the story underneath.

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:
www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

Four-legged customers are always welcome too! 🐶If you’re popping in with your pet, there’s no need to leave them waiting...
04/09/2026

Four-legged customers are always welcome too! 🐶

If you’re popping in with your pet, there’s no need to leave them waiting in the car. They’re more than welcome to come into our waiting room and keep you company while we work on your vehicle.

Today’s little visitor certainly made themselves at home! 😂🐾

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:
www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

04/09/2026

Do you know where your locking wheel nut key is?

Today’s car has arrived needing work that involves removing the wheel but there’s one small problem. No locking wheel nut key.

Locking wheel nuts are designed to help prevent your alloy wheels being stolen. Instead of having four normal wheel nuts/bolts, some cars have one locking nut or bolt on each wheel, which needs its own specially shaped key to remove it.

Think of it like your front door key 🔑 Just because somebody else has a Ford or even the same model Ford, doesn’t mean their locking wheel nut key will necessarily fit yours.

Not every car has locking wheel nuts. Some simply have standard wheel nuts or wheel bolts all the way around, which can be removed with the correct size socket.

But if yours DOES have locking wheel nuts, keep that little key somewhere safe and accessible, ideally in the car and make sure you know where it is before your car goes into a garage.

Without it, we may have to remove the locking nuts another way, which means extra time and additional cost 🫣

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:

www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

03/09/2026

Did you know brake fluid is hygroscopic?

7 year old Vauxhall Astra came in for a routine service and we discovered the brake fluid appears to have never been changed despite brake fluid needing replacing around every 2 years.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic which means it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere over time.

As the water content increases, the fluid's boiling point drops. Under heavy braking, that moisture can boil and create vapour in the system potentially leaving you with a soft brake pedal and dramatically reduced braking performance just when you need it most.

Regular servicing is important but so is knowing what has and hasn't actually been serviced.

Need Craggsy to have a look at your car? Get in touch:

www.craggsautomotive.co.uk
14 Donkin Rd, Armstrong, Washington, NE37 1PF
0191 338 5383

Address

14 Donkin Road Armstrong Industrial Estate
Washington
NE371PF

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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