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All Car Repair Articles
All Car Repair Articles
of course car repairs are what we call a “bread and butter” job. Hence, i thought that i would show a video to demonstrate the things that our technicians have to do when repairing a car.
We often have our customers ringing us. Significantly, they ask the question, “how can i tell if my car needs repairing”. Therefore, I usually answer with the same explanation. You’ll know when the vehicle requires attention! So, when a car eventually arrives in the workshop. We treat it with extreme care and attention.
This article reminded me of the number of customers that come to my garage here in Halifax with the same problem. Hence, their steering wheel is not straight.
or many of them say that when the steering wheel is straight then their car pulls to the left or the right. It really does make driving uncomfortable when this is the problem.
Modern cars now have much more refined steering and suspension systems. Steering Wheel Not Straight
This makes wheel alignment even more important than ever.
Correct alignment also ensures that your tyres do not wear out prematurely. Another problem after this long, wet, and snowy winter is the large number of potholes that are appearing everywhere.
As a result, many cars steering has been knocked out of alignment. Many cars will show this by pulling to one side. Thus making driving more difficult and not a pleasurable experience.
This also wears your tyres out prematurely. Steering Wheel Not Straight
You would be surprised at the number of cars that come to us for new tyres with one of the sidewalls worn out. As a result, sometimes it comes down to the steel cords of the sidewalls. Of course, this is the best time to set your alignment up correctly. So, when you buy some new tyres. many of our customers actually do this. Enabling your tyres to get off to a good start. Many tyres now, especially SUVs, are very expensive.
Therefore, the tyres really do need to be looked after correctly. Steering Wheel Not Straight
We do balance your wheels when we fit new tyres, but wheel alignment is a separate job altogether. When we fit a customer’s tyres, we do inform them if we suspect the alignment is out. We do a free check and charge from £34.90 upwards for the alignment to be corrected.
Eric Roberts
If you have a car, then this is a very important thing that you should do. So the thing is to check the Wheel Alignment. Because this can save you many important things.
So, many steering wheel problems are generally caused by your car being out of alignment!
When our customers are having a service to their car, there are certain things that we will report to them. Thus, when their cars service is complete. What we do which is what most garages do!
So, nowadays, is to take a contact number of the person who’s car it is having a service. Before mobile phones this would have been more difficult to do. But now most of our customers have some sort of mobile phone or other.
The things we report on are such things as tyres or worn steering parts. So, these can be changed later on in the day if the customer is contacted . Of course, and we will have time to carry out the repairs. One important thing though is the Timing or cam belt. The Timing Belt Kits come in two types. The chain type, which as the word say’s is very similar to a motor bike chain. More commonly, the rubber looking belt! Consequently, that looks very similar to a fan belt. Including looking like the belt that drives your washing machine or spin dryer.
This is made out of very strong material, similar to the materials that tyres are made from.
The importance of the timing belt cannot be overstressed. If the belt breaks in use then the engine can be damaged beyond repair. When we carry out a service we always check in the Autodata online manual. Naturally, for the exact time for the belt to be changed. Sometimes it will state a Timing Belt Intervals and other times it may state a time period. However, usually it will be between 60000miles and 100000 miles when the new belt should be fitted.
This is also important to know if you buy a second hand car. I have known customers who have had a car for a couple of months and their timing belt has snapped leaving them with a
blown up engine and no redress from the person that they bought the Old Cars from, so if you buy a second hand car you must only buy one with a history record and the knowledge of the timing belt, otherwise you could be caught out with a huge repair bill, always ask about the timing belt?
A simple explanation of what this important part does is as follows; the timing belt is used to turn the camshaft at exactly half the speed of the crankshaft. Your camshaft controls the opening and closing of the valves in time to the pistons going up and down the engines cylinders. The camshaft belt runs on pulleys at the end of each important part and very often also drives the water pump. Should the belt break; then all these other parts simply smash into each, other causing major damage to the car’s engine.
The timing belt is spinning at tremendous speed and generates much heat,
So the belt is subject to many pressures and eventually starts to break up and cracking starts to appear, once again very similar to tyres. Perhaps you can see now why it is so important to change the belt at the correct time. Importantly, we also recommend that you change the water pump at the same time. The water pump runs on a bearing and the bearings tend to wear out at the same time. If the water pump is not changed and goes at a later date, then the garage will have all the same work to carry out all over again.
Many different companies makes of timing belt but we prefer to use leading brand belts. Because, our customers are covered under a warranty should anything go wrong with the part or the fitting of your new belt. You will be covered across the whole of the mainland UK, under the terms of the warranty a great protection to have.
So to finalise,
If your garage warns you that the timing belt is due for a change, get it done as soon as you can afford to, before the thing breaks and causes much more damage to the car and to your wallet or purse. Timing belt replacement times should be checked at your cars servicing intervals.
https://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/timing-belt-assembly.jpg405607Eric Robertshttps://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/pellon-tyres-logo-509x321.jpgEric Roberts2024-06-27 19:39:272024-06-28 12:25:07Timing Belt Needs Changing Sir
Certainly! A dual-mass flywheel, also referred to as a DMF, is a type of flywheel that is frequently present in contemporary vehicles, particularly those with diesel engines or high-torque engines. Its position between the engine and the transmission makes it an important link between the two components of the vehicle.
In contrast to a single-mass flywheel (SMF),
Of course, it is also known as a simple, solid disc that rotates in unison with the engine. A dual-mass flywheel (DMF) is made up of two flywheels. They are physically separated from one another by a number of springs and dampers.
The crankshaft of the engine is connected to one of the flywheels, while the input shaft of the transmission is connected to the other flywheel. The two flywheels are able to move independently of each other thanks to the springs and dampers, which contributes to a reduction in the amount of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) produced by the drivetrain.
When the engine and transmission rotate at different speeds, the springs and dampers in a DMF work by soaking up and releasing the energy that is created as a result of this difference. Because of this, the experience of driving is made more comfortable and less noisy, particularly at low speeds and when shifting gears.
However, DMFs are more difficult to construct, which makes them more expensive, and they are also susceptible to wear and tear over time. Failure of a Duel Mass Flywheel can result in a number of issues with the vehicle’s ability to be driven, including vibrations, rattling noises, and other problems. The removal of the transmission is typically required in order to replace a DMF, which is a repair that can be both time consuming and expensive.
duel mass flywheel
In a nutshell, a dual-mass flywheel is a component
that, when installed in modern automobiles with high-torque engines, contributes to the reduction of both noise and vibration. Even though it makes for a more pleasant driving experience, replacing it may be more expensive than the installation of a single mass flywheel.
The driver of this Ford Focus presented his car to us. He explained that he could hear a slight change in the engine’s noise, then a sort of ticking noise.
When asked when the noise occurred he said that it was when started to press the clutch down, to about halfway. Then after the halfway point the noise clears up? The same happens when the clutch is released.
When the car engine is idling, or when you are just driving along, then there is no noise. Then when your foot is off the clutch (either in neutral or driving in gear) there is no noise.
He said that he noticed for the first time, about a month ago. Ryan my service manager thought straight away that the problems pointed to the clutch and perhaps the Ford Focus Duel Mass Flywheel.
The Ford Focus Duel Mass Flywheel is made of many small components and clicking or ticking sounds point towards the DMF (duel mass flywheel). The car radio muffled the noise, which was only slight.
Alex tackles Ford Focus clutch job !
At first we recommended that the guy should leave well alone and to see if anything else would develop. He agreed with us and went on his way.
We never saw the car again until a month later? This time the noise became a little louder.
Ryan still suspected the Ford Focus Duel Mass Flywheel as being the problem. We took the car in and split the gearbox from the Focus engine to inspect the DMF and clutch. The clutch release bearing and slave cylinder were examined and found to be OK.
Some reasons for the diagnosis of a problem with your Duel mass Flywheel are as follows:-
1) If you have a slipping clutch; if the car revs higher but its speed does not increase; or if it feels like you are riding the clutch when driving along or changing gear. Or sometimes you can smell the pungent smell of the overheated, burning clutch.
2) Strange unfamiliar metallic noises (sounds like a rattling chain or bag of knife and forks being shook about). This noise will stop when the clutch is depressed then return of release.
3) If your dual mass flywheel has been wearing for a while then your starter motor may start to slip/spin, when you are starting the car.
The driver with the Ford Focus Duel Mass Flywheel problems came to us in good time. The DMF had started to break up and was replaced, along with a new clutch plate. So if you do hear these noises take it along to your local garage to be examined.
British motorists forked out hundreds of pounds last year repairing whining engines, wonky wheels and patching up scrapes and dents, according to a recent…
EricRoberts‘s insight:
British drivers have put off performing routine maintenance on their cars.
So, in this good article,. hence the “countrywide independent garage scheme” . They carried out a straw poll of 100 UK motorists. Consequently, they found that many of them had car repair bills of up to £500! In fact, 64% of them, to be precise. Of course, this is no surprise to me . I believe that many UK motorists have failed to have their cars serviced in the past two years.
This neglect will lead to all kinds of problems affecting their cars and the cars performance. We see the effects of this all the time, but I think that the most common problem is the brakes. If the cars brakes are checked on a service, then the usual things that need replacing are the pads, this together with a good brake cleaning is usually all that is required. The problem then is that if the car is not serviced, then the Brake pads wear even further down before getting down to the metal plate. This then affects the brakes especially the Disc Brakes.
New Brake Discs and Car Brake pads are fitted- Unexpected car repair costs
then becomes metal on metal then the discs get damaged and they may need replacing. Other problems include the brake cylinders overheating and leaking and the problems can go on and on, always leading to a bigger repair bill for the UK motorists.
This is also a problem with the modern engines. The engines these days are controlled by a computer system in the car and if the filters and oil are not changed then the parts that are part of the engine management system can start to fail and the engine light will illuminate in the cars dashboard, often causing panic amongst the drivers who come into us garages to have the problem checked out. Sometimes the problem is a simple one and the car only requires an oil and filter change and other times it could be more complicated, but in the main most of the causes are due to the car not having a service and general neglect.
Although we are not members of the country wide garage scheme, we are not now a member of the Unipart Car Care Centres (UCCC), but we all share the same thoughts and know what the problems are likely to be if the car is not serviced.
Mot will find any mechanical problems- Unexpected car repair costs
Another slightly worrying trend amongst car drivers is the concept of using the annual MOT Testas a gauge for the condition of their car. The MOT test is not the same as having a regular service, and although the test is fairly strict it is not the same as having a good service say once a year. The UK motorists can then keep an eye out on such things as your oil levels and tyre pressures and check your own light bulbs.
We all understand that money is tight, but in my opinion, the failure to service your car will lead to UK motorists having bigger problems and bigger repair bills.
Fast forward to 2024, and prices are still rising. Oil prices have risen to new highs . Different car models now require different oils. Hence, retailers have to keep larger stocks to satisfy the needs of their customers.
Why Are Oil Prices So High Now? Advice for Garages and Vehicle Owners
Anyone who has recently looked at the news or entered a garage may have noticed the dramatic increase in oil prices. This increase in oil costs has been perplexing and expensive for a lot of drivers and companies, particularly neighbourhood garages like Pellon Autocentre in Halifax. What, then, is the true cause of this sharp increase in expenses?
An Overview of the World Oil Market Comprehending the intricate network of worldwide components that impact oil prices can aid in clarifying the reasons behind the increased cost of motor oil or filling up your car. In general, several factors influence oil prices:
Dynamics of Supply and Demand: The fundamental economic idea of supply and demand lies at the core of oil pricing. Oil prices typically increase when output declines as a result of choices made by OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) or geopolitical concerns. Prices, on the other hand, typically decrease when there is an excess. Recently, prices have increased as a result of production reductions and a recovery in post-pandemic travel.
Geopolitical Tensions: Political upheaval frequently occurs in areas with significant oil deposits, which has the potential to interrupt oil supplies. For instance, developments in the Middle East may have an instant impact on world oil prices.
Economic Sanctions and Policies: Sanctions imposed on significant oil-producing nations, such as Iran and Russia, have the potential to limit their oil exports, so reducing world supply and driving up prices.
Currency fluctuations: Because oil is traded in US dollars, shifts in the dollar’s value may have an impact on oil prices. When the value of oil declines relative to other currencies, demand and prices rise.
Effect on Local Auto Repair Shops and Drivers- Unexpected car repair costs
Rising oil prices have two effects on neighbourhood garages like Pellon Autocentre, which is located in Halifax’s historic centre. First, as motor oils and lubricants become more expensive, service providers’ profit margins are squeezed. Second, increased costs may cause consumers to spend less on auto maintenance, which could have an impact on the industry.
It’s not all bad news, either. Garages can seize this challenge by doing the following:
Educating Customers: Take advantage of the price increase to inform consumers about the advantages of routine auto maintenance for maximum fuel economy. This aids in long-term cost savings and boosts customer loyalty and trust.
Encouraging High-Quality Products: Stressing the value of utilising premium oils, which may initially cost more but end up being more cost-effective over time because of their longer change intervals and improved engine protection.
Diversifying Services: Providing a selection of services, such as air filter changes or tyre checks that can increase fuel efficiency, to assist clients in managing their vehicles more cost-effectively.
A nod to Halifax’s heritage with a local touch- Unexpected car repair costs
A little amount of local character is added, and it’s interesting to see how important effective transportation used to be to some of Halifax’s old businesses, like the wool trade. Similar to how horses and waggons needed to be well-maintained to ensure smooth cargo transportation, modern car owners and garages need to adjust to fluctuations in oil prices in order to retain vehicles in optimal operating condition. It carries on Halifax’s long-standing tradition of resilience and adaptability.
Last Words The sudden spike in oil prices serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of international markets and the interdependence of local economy and world events. Navigating these turbulent waters can be made easier for drivers in Halifax, Pellon Autocentre, and garages by being aware of the bigger picture of the economy, being proactive with auto maintenance, and remaining educated. The town’s drivers and companies need to change along with it over the years.
Being on top of things is crucial to preventing the impact of rising prices on your pocketbook, whether it’s monitoring world events that influence the supply of oil or just selecting the proper oil for your car.
TOYOTA AURIS TD comes in for a Clutch Vibration Problem
So, for some unknown reason. Christmas time brings in a few cars that are having Clutch Vibration problems. Hence, these are the normal problems. So, such as the driver cannot get the gears. Or the gears grind. Thus, when trying to drive the car and so on.
The Toyota Auris was a slightly different clutch pedal vibration and noise problem. As a result, the car was sort of vibrating and rattling. Consequently, as it was been driven along. When speaking to the customer. Ryan Linton my workshop manager. Discovered that the car had only had a new clutch fitted about two years ago. So the customer found it highly unlikely. Hence, that the clutch could be causing the clutch vibration in first gear problem. Especially, when driving the car along.
Ryan explained that the only way to tell is to check the clutch pedal vibration when engaging problem for the Clutch Vibration vibration when letting off clutch, by stripping the housing off and taking a look. The customer agreed and he took one of our courtesy cars while we explored his car to see what the problem was.
The other clutches that were done this week were standard sort of jobs,
taking two or three hours to do, but we always check with our Auto-data computer system, for the times it takes to do these jobs and this Toyota was shown to take seven hours, this included the Duel mass Flywheelhaving to be changed, but at this stage we did not exactly know what was wrong with the car.
Clutch Vibration Problem
Clutch Vibration Problem
Ryan, tripped down the Auris clutch housing and assembly. Only to find that the system was a Duel Mass Flywheel. To clarify, the car had only had the clutch fitted two years ago and nothing had been done to the Dual Mass Flywheel. This action had
caused the pressure plate and the Dual Mass Flywheel to wear prematurely. Causing the DMF to have more play in it. Therefore causing the Clutch Vibration.
We did not fit the first clutch.
However the customer said that he would not go back there again. The cost was estimated at about the £1000.00 mark. Of course, customer gave us the go ahead to do the job. The time given by Auto-Data was pretty accurate and it took Ryan near enough six hours to complete the job. We always fit LUK clutches and DMFs because they were the company who originally developed the products along with BMW in Germany and to date we have never had any warranty problems with the LUK products in the past.
While everyone can benefit from car safety tips,. You will have to admit that women are more likely to need these tips. Of course, to help them out during unexpected and unfamiliar situations. While it would be great if woman were well versed and equipped to handle wonky Disc Brakesor out-of-aligned tyres, that isn’t usually the case. Find below some great car safety tips to help you out and manage the unforeseen when you are driving.
When your car’s brakes fail
Before all else, check if your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes or just regular ones. Knowing this important bit of information. Naturally, will help you determine how to manage when your brakes fail. To know this, when a light goes on with the logo ABS when you start your car,. Then you have anti-lock brakes. If no light goes on, then you have regular brakes.If your brakes fail, you need to downshift to a lower gear first. Next, pump your brakes three to four times to build up the brake fluid pressure.
If this does not work,. So your next option would be to use the parking brake. Do this gradually, not abruptly, and be ready for the car to skid. With anti-lock brakes, practice your sudden stops in a safe street situation. Of course, to get a feel of how they should perform,.When you press the brake all the way down, you should feel a strong vibration at the pedal, which will let you know the ABS system is working the way it should.
Car Safety Tips
When car isn’t driving straight
If your car is veering to the left or right even when your steering wheel is straight,. Chances are, your wheels may need to be aligned. But before you head off to have them aligned, make sure to check off other possibilities that may cause your car to tend towards another direction when the steering wheel is straight.
Are your tyres properly inflated?
Make sure they are inflated to the recommended pressure, which you ought to find on the label attached to the driver’s side door. What about the wear pattern? Are your tyres round or are they out of shape? Are there missing pieces or lumps along the side-wall? Also, make sure that all your tyres are of the same type. Having several kinds on one car can make for an unstable ride.
Once you have determined that there is nothing physically wrong with your vehicle, you should bring in for proper and professional wheel alignment to keep it running properlyand safely.
Unstable steering, clanking and banging sounds while driving, and vibrations while driving
This could indicate a problem with your suspension. The suspension system of a vehicle takes the heaviest wear from the road and it is an important part in keeping your car stable while driving and ensures the driver and passenger’s safety.If you go over a hump and the car continues to bounce up and down, chances are your shock absorbers are worn and may need
replacing. Clanking and banging sounds may indicate that your shocks are getting caught and not bouncing back. Vibrations while driving on smooth surfaces should clue you in to having your shocks and suspension checked because they are not supposed to occur on a smooth road.
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It is better to maintain your car properly and routinely in order to avoid any major mishaps. Most Car Safety Tips are useful, but you need to make sure to take your vehicle to a reputable andprofessional garage that will ensure outstanding results and keep your car humming for a long time.
We will help you keep your auto in excellent condition
so it will always be road worthy and safe for anyone to drive, male or female. And as an accredited Independent Car Care Centre garage, you are assured that our standards are up to par with theirs.
•An open and honest approach with the customers
•A high standard of work and excellent value for money
• At least 12-month guarantee on parts and labour
•An open invitation to inspect, review and rate the garages of your choice to make the best informed decision for your needs
For the car repair garages to survive they must have modern facilities for their customers.
Of course, this is a point I have been making for the past twenty years, at least. American tyre repair companies were the first to supply their customers with a reception. Including a decent waiting room. First, Scottish businessman Tom Farmer replicated this concept.When he visited American Auto centres,. So, on his return home, he decided that this was the way forward. Implementing the new style reception areas into his early Kwik-fit empire.
Successfully, other Car Repair Garages and tyre centres all over the UK began to copy his style of operation. But many of the Auto Repair Services and car repair garages were too small . Subsequently, half of them were just back street dirty places. As a business model . These smaller operations would not have warranted money spending on them.
Generally though things began to improve
Altogether, it was a huge improvement and many tyre depots and Car Repair Garages were brought into the twentieth century and were fit for motorists to sit in while their car was being repaired or their tyres were being fitted.
As time went on, more and more ladies were taking up driving, and the move to step up the facilities in the car repair garages was imminent. The customers wanted a better experience when visiting the garage or tyre depot for work doing on their cars. The main dealer garages started to introduce courtesycars to loan to their customers while work was being carried out on their cars—a good idea!
The courtesy car idea became a little tarnished when some of the garages started to charge for their use, or for insurance. I thought this was a negative affect and was not in the spirit of the idea. We at Pellon Tyres and Autocentre in Halifax UK provide courtesy cars for our customers, mainly because we are about two miles out of the town centre, and it allows our customers to go shopping or to work, while their car is been repaired.
Coffee machines and TV sets were added to receptions
Many of the switched on Car Service Garages offer their clients a free coffee machine in their reception. As well as a TV and up-to-date magazines for their entertainment. While they are waiting for a Car Repairs or an MOT or a tyre fitting. In my opinion this is what today’s modern consumer wants, this coupled with the fact that as I have said earlier, many of our customers are now ladies and they do not want to turn up to a dirty old Car repair garages in their nice clean clothes.
So this standard is the way forward and any garage or tyre fitting station that does not have customer facilities will fall behind and eventually perish.
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