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HELPFUL TIPS
Helpful Vehicle Tips in Wellington to Save You Time and Money
At Driscoll Motors we have a commitment to quality, which extends from our services and products to the advice we offer our customers in Wellington.
To help you save time and money we are happy to provide some helpful vehicle tips. For further information or to get an issue looked at, don’t hesitate to contact us on 04 384 2913.
Manufacturers Hand book Service
If your new vehicle requires maintenance you are not required to use the dealership.Driscoll Motors can perform this service for you, without voiding your warranty.
Our technicians will follow all procedures recommended by your vehicle manufacturer and only use high quality service parts.
Batteries
Signs of battery trouble include:
- Your engine turns over slowlyor irregularly while starting
- Your headlights dim while you are idling
- Your battery loses power quickly in cold weather
We can look at the state of your battery using an electronic battery tester, for an accurate reading.
Tyres
The Driscoll Motors team can assist in recommending and purchasing the besttyres for your vehicle and specific driving needs.
Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is the hydraulic oil in your braking system, used to transfer the pressure you apply to the brake pedal to the brakes on the wheels.
Your brake fluid can attract moisture from the heating and cooling effects of normal use. This moisture can cause corrosion and pitting of internal parts.
Every time you come in for a service we will test the moisture content using a hydrometre. Once the fluid has a certain amount of moisture, we recommend replacing it, typically every two years.
Brakes
if a worn-out brake pad is left on a car for too long your brakes may start to shudderor vibrate. This can be caused by deep scores getting worn into the brake rotors, making them warped.
We will machine the rotors at the same time the disc pads are replaced, so they both efficient and safe. There is a minimum thickness the rotors can be machined to and if the measurement is below that it is considered unsafe and must be replaced.
Shock Absorbers
All vehicles have springs that control their height. These springs are operated by the shock absorbers.
If the shock absorbers are faulty, the spring will have too much bounce. They will also affect the efficiency of the stopping distance. One worn shock absorber can increase the stopping distance by up to two metres at 50kph. This will make the ride soft and cause the tyresto wear out quickly.
At Driscoll Motors, we check your shock absorbers using a hi-tech VTEQ suspension tester, which will evaluate the whole suspension system.
Engine Lights
If your vehicle’s ‘check engine’ warning light comes on, it means the vehicle’s onboard computer system has detected a problem. This could be a momentary hiccup or it could be a failure of a major electronic component.
If you notice the warning light comeon, bring the vehicle into our shop as soon as possible. Your technician will run tests on the systems to determine the nature of the fault.
Cooling Systems
Vehicles’ have a coolant/antifreeze in the engine. This stops the cooling system from freezing in cold weather and prevents corrosion of the internal cooling system components.
If your engine has insufficient coolantit can degrade over time, diminishing its ability to cool and protect the engine. Scale, rust and dirt will buildup, clogging the system and increasing the chances of mechanical failure and serious engine damage.
Our technicians will use a special test strip, which reacts to the alkalinity of the coolant, to indicate if it should be changed. We use state-of-the art equipment to thoroughly clean and revitalise your cooling system, removing old coolant and damaging deposits.Most manufacturers recommend changing the coolant every two years.
Cambelts/timing Belts
The timing belt is a rubber toothed belt that keeps the engine’s valves and pistons in synchronisation.
A failing belt can cause serious damage to the engine, such as valves contacting the pistons. Unfortunately there are typically no warning signs for these failures.
All engine manufacturers have recommended replacement intervals, based on the age of the belt or distance travelled. This is roughly every five years or 100,000kms (whichever occurs first).
Costs for replacing a timing belt vary for each make and model. Other components driven by the cambeltmay also have to be replaced at the same time. This includes belt tensioners, idler pulleys and the water pump. If you have any doubts, have Driscoll Motors check or replace it for you.
