KNOW YOUR CAR – Part 1

Get to know your car, so that when something isn’t quite right you will be able to recognise that it needs a visit to a mechanic!

99% of problems start from lack of servicing. Rule of thumb is annually or everyone 10 000 km. This is really important for reliability, resale value, longevity, less likely to face large repair bills and safety. Plus the added bonuses of saving dollars on fuel since its running more efficiently and cleaner so better for our environment.

Cars are getting more technical by the day with on board computers running most systems.   When you have a warning light on your dash dont be complacent and hope it goes away. There is a reason for it. Sometimes it is just a minor & easily fixed with a quick diagnostic scan update. Or if its an oil can just an oil top up, light bulb just replacing the failed bulb, sometimes its even your windscreen wiper fluid needing a top up. So get to know your car. Either by its manual (hopefully still in the glove box) or google (that wonderful invention).

But remember so lights on the dash are major and important safety features like your airbags (SRS) or ABS (brakes) of your vehicle. Please get it addressed asap or at least call for some advice. We are the experts and deal with this all day, use our expertise too ensure you are motoring safely.

Cooling System:

Engines create a lot of heat so if you notice your temperature gauge showing a high reading. Maybe its under heavy load or you have been driving for a long time or up a steep hill. Suggestions are take a break, check there isn’t any fluid leaking or steam under the bonnet. Seals and hoses do require replacing sometimes. Coolant/water solution regularly needs replacing or topping up. Worse case scenario is a new radiator. But you can check the overflow and ensure it has water in it. If you do check the radiator cap ensure the car has been stopped for quite a time so its not hot. Another option is putting the heater on maximum and fan to full as this disperses heat from the engine (not ideal in summer obviously).  If all this fails & the temperature gauge doesn’t return to normal our suggestion is don’t drive it as you will only do more damage.

Belts:

Belts keep many major moving parts of the engine working. You have a few and on servicing they are inspected (not a wof inspection). They wear out and do need replacing. Especially a cambelt which generally needs replacing every 100 000 km’s or with age. If this isn’t addressed and it fails it will result in significant damage and costs. Other components run with the cambelt so generally a water pump and pulleys needs replacing at the same time. If it fails your engine will stop immediately.

Air Conditioning:

Most cars have this wonderful option now days. You push that button and it cools your car. But do you know if you use it in winter as well it will clear that windscreen even quicker so always keep that A/C button engaged. Its also recommended to run it regularly to keep the light mineral oil in the refrigerant contained in the compressor to ensure properly lubricated. The biggest problem that arises with air conditioning is usually no cool air or insufficient cool air. Most of the time its just recharging the refrigerant but this job is up to us.

Automatic Transmissions:

Have a lubricating fluid and filter in them. These like engine oil get dirty and worn out so need replacing. So need replacing about 30 000 km. But on servicing they are checked and fluid is topped up if necessary and its not time to change.

We recommend you get your vehicle serviced as we dont want to see you stuck on the side of the road. This is part 1 of our education to you stay tuned for later in the month for part 2. We dont want to overload you too much.

Support your local small businesses. Keep warm, dry and safe and we look forward to being of service to you, family and friends.

We ask that if you are happy with our service that you recommend us or even give us a nice review on google 🙂

WINTER DRIVING

Its now arrived and we need to be aware of winter driving safety.

Tyres:

– Are your tyres up for it?

See the image to give you a guide on wet weather driving at speed. When we do a WOF or service we will always list the applicable tyre levels on your invoice & of course advise if they are low and recommend replacement time frames. 1.5 mm tread is actually a legal pass, However as the image proves in winter you will have virtually no grip. Therefore it would be our recommendation that at 2mm you seriously consider new tyres for your and others safety.

Wipers:

– Are yours clearing that screen?

Wiper blades should be replaced every six months to a year or as soon as you notice a difference in driving visibility. When wiper blades no longer make proper contact with the windshield surface, they can begin to squeak, chatter, skip, smear or streak reducing driving visibility. Wipers are checked on WOF inspection and also routine servicing.

Battery:

– Is that vehicle a bit slow/sluggish to start?

Post lock down we are seeing many vehicles requiring new batteries. Average length of life for a car battery is 3- 4 years and if vehicles weren’t started regularly or driven much ones nearing end of life will probably fail. We have a battery tester on site so can review in only a few minutes. We will do FREE battery testing if pre booked between 10am – 2pm weekdays.

So dont get caught out in the rain! We are a stockist of quality AA Batteries with a 24 – 36 month warranty.

Workshop Update:

A big thanks to everyone for there patience since re opening. Things have been pretty busy. Playing back log catch up plus we have had some delays with getting parts. This has caused a hold up and knock on effect for some job completions.

On this front sorry to say its not likely to get any better anytime soon it could actually get worse. Its about availability with parts and coming into the country. Sea freight is the best option currently so its taking time plus freight costs have risen dramatically. We will of course do our utmost to source new and even second hand  to get the best price for you our valued customers.

With regards to the WOF extension of dates validity can we recommend you do try and keep these up to date for peace of mind & safety.

On a positive note we have invested in a software upgrade on our diagnostic tools which means we can now move from 2018 to 2020 vehicles. Not that we see many brand new 🙁

Once again we are on a staff hunt to find another qualified technician with 5 + years experience. So if any one knows of anyone looking please get them to forward a CV and cover letter to info@balmoralautorepairs.co.nz. Great package for the right person!

Stay happy, healthy & travel safe.

AUTOMOTIVE STAFF WANTED

Automotive staff wanted for Balmoral Auto Repairs.We are looking for a New Zealand fully qualified automotive technician to join our small busy Mt Eden workshop.

We service & repair all makes and models old and new. So you will get lots of variety. We have the latest diagnostic equipment (scopes and scan tools).

If you want to work as part of a small friendly team weekdays 8am – 5pm only, not have the city traffic hassle or parking problems. Why not come and join us.

You will need the following skills and attributes:

5 year plus experience

Current, full clean New Zealand drivers licence

Honesty

Reliability

Enthusiasm

Motivation

Excellent English written & verbal

Good communication and customer service skills

Ability to work independent and to deadlines

Attention to detail

High standard of workmanship

Tidy personal presentation

WOF certification (not essential but preferred)

Could this be your dream job?

Permanent/full time 40 hours – additional hours maybe available if/when required.

Great hourly rate for the right person, on going training available.

Applicants need to have New Zealand residency or a valid New Zealand work visa.

Please apply in writing with CV & cover letter to email – info@balmoralautorepairs.co.nz. We will respond to your application as soon as we’ve reviewed your details. Things are pretty busy so hoping to get someone asap.

Balmoral Auto Repairs

385 Dominion Road

Mt Eden

PH: 09 6387866

https://www.balmoralautorepairs.co.nz/mechanic-balmoral-mt-eden/

Autumn to Winter Motoring

The next change in season is fast approaching. Are you ready for autumn to winter motoring? You need to start thinking about safety.

Things to consider:
– Are your windscreen wipers doing their job properly?
– Is your washer fluid filled up? Suggest you use regularly as this helps keep that screen clean.
– Is your air conditioning working well? It will clear that screen so quickly if it is so use it.
– When were your brakes last checked?
– Does your ABS work correctly?
– Do your tyres have plenty of tread on them for increased braking distance in the wet?
– Also don’t forget to check under the bonnet for leaf litter (see our picture).

We see many customers who have huge amounts of leaf litter under the bonnet. Sadly we  have had a few unlucky ones who have managed to block the drains. So water has overflowed into the car cabin and caused damage to the electric’s. So please remember to lift that bonnet for a look at this time of the year, especially if the vehicle is parked outside.

With all the things to consider if you haven’t had a service for awhile we suggest you book it in so we can ensure everything is good (we will even clean your leaf litter for you).

Friendly reminder also is that we have all the latest diagnostic scan/scope tools to service late model vehicles. So you don’t need to go back to the dealership, come and support your local team. We are handy, friendly and also have more competitive hourly rates.

SAFETY CHECKS DURING LOCK DOWN

Whilst in lockdown NZTA & the government have agreed to temporarily extend:

• WoFs and CoFs, driver licences that expired on or after 1 January 2020.

Dates on how long this extension will stand for are still unknown. So please remember that drivers and vehicle owners are responsible for ensuring vehicle compliance if driving on the road.

It is still a requirement that vehicles must be safe to operate on a public road. At a minimum, vehicle owners need to self-inspect their vehicles using the TWIRL procedure (tyres, windscreen, wipers, mirrors, indicators, rust and lights) to assess their vehicle’s safety.

If your vehicle is unsafe, either don’t drive it or arrange for a WoF or CoF.

TWIRL

Safety checks during lock down.

Tyres

• Check the tread depth. Minimum legal depth is 1.5mm, but the more tread you have the better the grip and the safer you’ll be.
• Check the tyre pressure – correct levels can usually be found on the inside door frame.
• Look for cracks or bubbles in the sides.
• Look for sharp objects stuck in the tyres.

Windscreen, wipers and mirrors

• Check your wiper blades for wear and tear.
• Clean your mirrors and windscreen inside and out.
• Get your windscreen fixed if it’s chipped or cracked.
• Check your windscreen washer fluid is full and the spray is working.

Indicators

• Turn your hazard lights on and walk around the car – check all indicators are flashing.

Rust

• Look for obvious areas of corrosion that can weaken the car’s structure.

Lights

• Check lenses are clean and not cracked or hazy.
• Check your headlights, reversing lights and brake lights are working. Check your back lights by reversing close to a wall so you can see the reflection in your rear view mirror.

Things you can check when driving

These things can be serious, so make sure you take your car to an expert if you notice them or anything else unusual.

Brakes

You could have a problem with your brakes if:

• • the brake pedal feels spongy
  • there’s a squealing noise when braking
  • the steering pulls to one side when you brake
  • there are vibrations or pulsing through the brake pedal when braking.

Exhaust

If it’s smoky or sounding unusual, it could be a sign that there’s a problem.

Suspension and steering

You could have a problem with shock absorbers, which directly affect steering if:

• the steering wheel shakes a lot after you hit a bump or pothole
• your car seems unstable on rough or unsealed roads
• your car continues to rock after coming to a standstill.

Noises

Listen for unusual noises, they usually indicate something is wrong.

We are open for business so happy to perform your WOF. Give us a call TODAY to book!

https://www.balmoralautorepairs.co.nz/vehicle-services/wof/

10 Reasons To Service Your Car

10 Reasons to service your car. We would recommend annually or every 10 000km because you will:

Save on fuel

Less emissions

Extend engine life

Safety – we check and adjust brakes

Avoid wear and tear – all parts lubricated

Lights checked and adjusted/bulbs replaced for legal and safe operation

Tyres checked for tread and inflated to correct pressure (so they last longer)

Leaking oil or other fluids are costly and can cause a major breakdown or accident

Prevent engine failure and damage by regular check of engine belts

Steering and suspension components should be checked to extend their life

So check out that service sticker on your dash for date and kilometres & if the vehicle is in need of a service give us a call 09 6387866 TODAY to book.

For details on our costs of servicing click on the link below.

https://www.balmoralautorepairs.co.nz/vehicle-services/car-servicing-2

WARRANT OF FITNESS FAILURES

Drivers should to be doing more to monitor the safety of their car. See below for the most common faults. We recommend you should check – lights, brakes, suspension and tyres at least every six months.

The message should be that any necessary repairs should be done straight away – for the safety of everyone on the road.

End of year WOF figures show four in every 10 vehicles aren’t roadworthy enough to pass their first inspection.

More than 1.8 million vehicles had warrant of fitness failures inspections last year. So what does this mean for you, family & friends safety on our roads?

Historic yearly WOF fail rates provided by MTA:

2013: 35%
2014: 36%
2015: 36%
2016: 37%
2017: 37%
2018: 38%
2019: 41%

The 41 per cent fail rate should ring alarm bells for all road users.

Motor Trade Association (MTA) advocacy and strategy manager Greig Epps reckons people simply aren’t paying attention to their vehicles: “We reached this record high failure rate in the middle of last year and it continued through the rest of 2019. “It shows that many car owners still rely on the Warrant of Fitness (WOF) inspection to discover any problems. Epps says that won’t do when the checks are a year apart.

The most common culprits for warrant of fitness failures:

LIGHTS

Perhaps lights top the list because you can’t actually see them when you’re driving. Problems only become obvious when there’s complete failure.

Get a friend to stand outside the car and check that all bulbs are working, daytime running lights are operational and indicators are clicking in the way they’re supposed to.

Especially have a look at the high-stop brake light, which is often one of the first things to go.

Unless you’re very handy, it’s likely that’ll have to get professional help to rectify lighting problems. A pain, but if it has to be done – better before the WoF test, right?

TYRES

The rubber that keeps you on the road is often neglected. Keeping tyres correctly inflated at all times will go a long way towards preventing problems generally – as well as preserving the health of steering and suspension.

But some specifics you can check to ease the WoF pain: the most obvious one is tread, which must be 1.5mm deep (preferably more). Insert a 20-cent coin into the gap with the number at the bottom: if the “20” can be read in its entirety there’s likely less than 2mm tread remaining.

Also, check the sidewalls for bulges and general damage. Getting close to the kerbs can cause damage and also put alignments out.

SUSPENSION

Assuming your tyres are correctly inflated and the wheels aligned, stiff steering or the car pulling to one side may indicate problems with your suspension. Keep an ear out for strange noises as well.

Changing power steering fluid in accordance with your vehicle’s service schedule will also help extend the life of the rack: it’s often subject to high temperatures and debris can contaminate the fluid, especially on older vehicles.

BRAKES

Noises, strange vibration or a change in pedal feel can all indicate brake problems.

Brakes might seem a bit specialised, but when in doubt, a quick visual check of major components including hoses and connections can’t hurt. Also remember that corrosion within 150mm of a brake mounting point will cause a WoF fail.

If you have a manual handbrake, make sure it’s properly adjusted. It’s an easy and inexpensive thing to have fixed at a garage. But so often overlooked until you get the bad news at test-time.

WIPERS

The wiper systems must be fully functional, including the washer bottle (so make sure it’s full for the test!).

Check that your side mirrors are securely attached and the glass undamaged.

 If you can’t maintain your car yourself, take it to a professional regularly.

Head to our website to book in with our friendly mechanic or call us TODAY on 09 6387866

SUMMER MOTORING – SUNSCREEN DAMAGE

Hoping everyone’s having a great summer and many of you managed to get away for a well deserved break.

The weathers been pretty warm so I’m sure that car air conditioning has been getting regular use! Also ensure that windscreen is clean inside and out so you can see clearly when sun strike hits!

Did you know that sunscreen is very problematic for paintwork so do your best not to touch your vehicle with your hands or spray close by. It will leave marks and a clean wont get it off.  Even a cut and polish will only fade it a little briefly. Generally a complete repaint is required. So take extreme care.

Now with all that summer motoring  you may have clocked up a few kilometres so we may need to see you? Or some funny noises after some gravel roads. Note the general rule of thumb for a service is annually or every 10 000 km. So perhaps a quick check of that windscreen lube sticker and your kilometres wont go astray.

If you do need to come for a visit just give us a call to book in. Its always best to keep your vehicle in tip top shape and safe.

Did you know WOF failure rates average around 38% with the most common reasons being – tyres, brakes & steering. All important components for safety of a vehicle. Bulbs & wipers are also common failure reasons but at least aren’t generally as expensive to replace/repair.

You can get your warrant of fitness (wof) upto 14 days in advance of expiry date and dont loose any days. So something to think about so you don’t have a big panic on.

Looking forward to being of service to you in 2020.

Its December already and the Christmas holidays are coming up fast, and we would like to thank you, our loyal customers for your patronage in 2019.

Just a friendly reminder that it pays to have your vehicle safe and in good condition before your holiday, so you can have a trouble-free trip. So if your vehicle is due for a service or you need something checked I suggest you make an appointment soon as we are fully booked until Monday 16th so far. So don’t delay.

Workshop hours over the Christmas holiday break are as follows:
Friday 20 December last day – normal hours 8am – 6pm
Monday 06 January reopening – normal hours 8am – 6pm

Helpful Hints:
Don’t forget to take some time to do some basic safety checks before you leave home.

• Check headlights, indicators and brake lights
• Check all fluid levels
•  Tyre pressures when fueling up

Ensure you keep a safe distance between the car in front, allow for extra weight with all your gear & if towing remember an increased stopping distance is required. Always check in your rear view mirror and if traffic is building up behind you be courteous and pull over when its safe to do so and allow it to pass. Lots of slow vehicle bays now!

Coastal roads can be narrow. So take care if your too left into the gravel at speed braking time is increased. One lane bridges are another one to pay attention at as to who gives way, always check that road sign.

Travel safe, have a fantastic Christmas holiday break. We look forward to being of service again in 2020.

All the best

Ross & Debs

Is your car service due or is your vehicle making any sort of funny noise? We recommend you get it looked at immediately. Also check that service sticker on your windscreen for time and kilometres for your car service due details. If it is about time or kilometres you need to look to get it booked in asap.

Its already mid November and the holiday season is coming up fast, so we need to remind you that December is our busiest month of the year.  We will full up very quickly. We don’t want to disappoint or turn loyal customers away. But we can only fix so many cars within the time frames.!

So if you are planning to head away over the summer break it pays to have your vehicle in the best condition before your holiday. You really don’t want to be breaking down & then finding you cant get repairs for days because workshops & parts suppliers are closed. As a result you may have to use a repairer that you have not dealt with in the past. Above all most importantly we want your to have a trouble-free trip.

So give us a call now and get it sorted soon. Plus don’t forget those trailers/boats etc as quite frequently they are  due for a WOF at this time of the year as well.

Training update

Ross recently completed a EV Customer Initiation Course. He gained knowledge and experience in:
– Simple science, what makes an EV economical
– What battery state of health and stage of charge means
– How to best look after the battery health of an EV
– The effects of maintenance items on the SOH and SOC
– What items are to be serviced regularly on EV’s
– Identifying what can be done by the owner and what is specialist technicians work.

He will continue to do further EV courses so don’t hesitate in bringing your EV to us.

Don’t forget to like us on facebook and see our regular updates with interesting facts & tips.

Safe motoring.

From the team at Balmoral Auto Repairs.