DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2017

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 2017.

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 filling up this time of the year. So don’t delay.

Workshop hours over the holiday break are as follows:

Friday 22 December last day – normal hours 8am – 6pm

Monday 08 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

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.

Travel safe and we look forward to being of service again in 2018.

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

From the team at Balmoral Auto Repairs

NOVEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

Its November and the Christmas holidays are coming up fast, and we would like to remind you that December is generally our busiest month of the year.

We really hate having to turn loyal customers away. So if you are planning to head away over the summer break it pays to have your vehicle in good 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. So let us service/check it out if required so you can have a trouble-free trip.

So give us a call and get it sorted early before the silly season starts. Also don’t forget those trailers/boats etc as they maybe also due for a WOF at this time of the year.

On a different track – Remember to check out our website regularly in case we are running a special (do currently have one)! Also please tell all your friends and family about the great service we give, as this is our best kind of advertising and is greatly appreciated. Plus if you wish to send us a quick reference we would be more than happy to add it to our website or facebook page.

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

Safe motoring.

 From the team at Balmoral Auto Repairs.

OLD VERSUS NEW

AA Directions magazine winter 2017 edition had an article comparing old versus new in a crash test. So for those of you that are not members and receive the free magazine I’d like to share the results.

The test vehicles were a 1998 Toyota Corolla against a younger 2015 model. The concept was to demonstrate safety features of a modern car. Scenario is a head on impact at a speed of 64km with crash test dummies.

Results:

1998 Toyota – Scored 0.4 out of 16

2015 Toyota – Scored 12.93 out of 16

Conclusion

The 1998 vehicle only registered a percentage of chest protection, it did not even have airbags which at a minimum would have protected the head and torso. If this had been a real accident it was potentially not survivable.

Where as the 2015 vehicle registered perfect scores for head, chest, upper legs but driver possibly could have had a broken leg but would have been alive.

So what the test clearly shows is higher protection provided to occupants inside the cabin of a newer car. A lot of people still believe an older vehicle is more solid because newer cars seem to look worse after accidents. Newer vehicles are designed to crumple in key places so that the cabin stays in tact as much as possible with end result meaning protection/safety for the occupants.

In New Zealand we have about 3 million cars on the road with an average age of 14 years. About 40% of those cars were built before 2000 and involved in 57% of fatalities. With cars built between 2010-2015 accounting for 17% and involved in only 10% of the fatalities.

The results are very alarming. So if you own an older vehicle it maybe time to look to upgrade at least a few years.

Minimum features you should look for are:

Driver and passenger airbags

ABS brakes

Obviously the newer you go and the more money you spend the better the safety features will be. The video is available to be viewed on you tube but its not pretty.

SPRING SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

Spring has sprung with lots of rain so far but here’s hoping that won’t last long. But springs a good time to think about cleaning & that should include your car’s inside, outside and its engine. If you service your vehicle annually not only will you save on fuel by making it perform more efficiently it will also run cleaner so will be better for the environment.

We recommend you service your vehicle once a year or every 10 000km’s.

If your planning on heading away these next school holidays (last day of term 3 is Friday 29 September) and you are not too sure when the vehicle was last serviced, just check for a current service label on the windscreen to make sure your vehicle is up to date so you can have a trouble free trip. If it does need a service just give us a call.

With this thought in mind remember December is always the busiest month of the year for us so doing it a little earlier will mean you get total flexibility with dates so if not soon think November.

Safe motoring.

From the Team at Balmoral Auto Repairs

JULY NEWSLETTER

Welcome to our July newsletter. We are now fully into winter with the cold and wet weather upon us. So some things to consider and helpful hints for fuel savings.

• Are your windscreen wipers doing their job properly?
• When were your brakes last checked?
• Does your ABS work correctly? Do you know how it works?
• Do your tyres have plenty of tread on them for safer braking distance in the wet?
• Air conditioning is essential to assist clearing frosty/foggy windscreens quickly and efficiently.
• Batteries – if they are going to play up or are on their way out it tends to rear its head in winter (statistically proven). Could be time to replace before you get “caught out in the rain”. We carry a large range of AA Batteries starting from $200 fitted.

TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR FUEL CONSUMPTION

• Service and tune your vehicle regularly as this could increase fuel economy up to 4%
• To maximise fuel economy use the recommended grade of fuel and oil as listed in the owners handbook.
• Properly inflate tyres. Check pressures monthly and before long trips. Under inflated tyres are a significant contributor to increased fuel consumption (note your are also shortening the life expectancy of your tyre having it under or over flatted).
• Avoid rush hour and combine trips – stop and go and starting up an engine from cold burns more fuel.
• Slow down – fuel consumption increases about 6% for each 10km/h faster your go over 90km/h. So think about the actual speed limit.

Visit us on facebook. We are trying to make regular posts with interesting or helpful details. Travel safe and stay tuned.

Thanks

The Team at Balmoral Auto Repairs

Battery Issues?

If its going to start causing issues its generally in winter. Is your vehicle harder to start lately? Don’t get caught out in the rain. Maybe it could be about time for a new one?

The average life expectancy is 4-5 years. You should have a date sticker on them so you should be able to review its age.

We stock and can fit an AA Motoring Battery. A brand we all know and can trust. We have an extensive range available. These are sourced from world renown  manufacturers, are highly competitively priced and come with warranties.

Installed starting from $200.

If you are having starting issues this could be food for thought.

May Newsletter

Welcome to our May newsletter. The weather has now changed and we have had a few chilly starts of late. So its time to think about safety with winter approaching.

Things to consider:

• Are your windscreen wipers doing there job properly?
• 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?
• Do you park your vehicle outside perhaps under a tree? If so please lift the bonnet regularly to clear out leaf litter especially at this time of the year. See the picture for an example, this unlucky customer ended up blocking drains and water overflowed and caused electrical damage.

So if you haven’t had a service for awhile we suggest you book it in (we will even clean your leaf litter for you).

We now have our facebook page up and running & are trying to make regular posts with interesting or helpful details. So like us if you wish and stay tuned.

From the Team at Balmoral Auto Repairs.

Flood Affected Vehicles

Due to recent storms across the country many flood affected vehicles are coming to market. These vehicles have generally been written off by insurers and then auction houses on sell. Most should end up as spare parts however in the past some have shown up for sale after being thoroughly cleaned.

Be aware, check and review the NZ Transport Agency website

www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/choosing-the-right-vehicle/recalls-and-damaged-vehicles/flood-and-fire-damaged-vehicles/

On the website if you put in the vehicles identification number (VIN) which can generally be located under the bonnet or in the door frame, list your make and model you can check to see if the vehicle has had issues. If you see the damage code W or WS warning bells need to go off.

Ensure you get a thorough pre purchase check.

Warning Lights On Your Dashboard

Don’t ignore warning lights they are for a reason. Get them looked at immediately especially it is ABS or Air Bags as these are your safety features. Plus also if its oil or temperature lights.

Did you know that orange warning lights mean kindly do something soon about me. However if its red you need to do something immediately.

If it is an oil light firstly check as it may only require just a little top up. If its temperature please take care and wait for the vehicle to cool. Firstly check the overflow to ensure levels of adequate height but also do physically open and check the radiator as blockages can occur.

Cabin Air Filters

Many vehicle owners are unaware that they even have a cabin air filter and what it does or the benefits of properly maintaining this essential component.

Let me explain. They are designed to filter out contaminants, trap dust and allergens. Some filters are also designed to neutralise exhaust gases (carbon activated and Ryco MicroSheild). A dirty, clogged or damp filter can cause musty odours and impair airflow to the cabin and essential components.

It is recommended to check annually which is our standard practise. With regular change not only will your air be fresher in the vehicle but it will also help with the air conditioning to clear the windscreen in winter and cool the vehicle in summer.

The photo is of a brand new (white) and used (charcoal colour) filter. So do ensure you get them changed regularly.