Battery faults are the most common cause of breakdown. Batteries can die at any time of year but it’s more likely in winter when cold temperatures hit car batteries with a triple-whammy:

*power output drops
*ability to accept a charge drops, so the battery doesn’t recharge as quickly when you’re driving
*load increases – lights, blowers, wipers, heated seats, rear-screen heater etc. are all used more

Battery problems can be avoided.When we service your car we check that clamps and connections to the battery are secure and free from corrosion, but there are a few simple tips you can follow to reduce the chance of your battery letting you down in the depths of winter;

Age
If the battery is more than five years old and there’s any sign of it struggling to start the car, get it replaced. Some will struggle on for a bit but many won’t. It’s much better done at your convenience than as a roadside emergency.

Charge
If you mostly do short journeys or leave the car standing for days at a time, invest in a modern battery conditioner/intelligent charger (We sell these) These can be left connected to the battery indefinitely and can prolong its life without overcharging it.

Load
Check that everything electrical is turned off when you park up – even an interior light, boot light, or radio left on overnight can kill a battery when it’s cold.

Give the battery a chance
Switch off everything electrical and dip the clutch to reduce the load on the battery when you start a cold car.

Need a new battery?
Pop in for a visit and we can test and if necessary replace your old battery – at a time convenient for you. If it turns out that your battery just needs charging then we can offer an overnight charge.

 

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Windscreen wiper blades don’t get the respect they deserve. They remove rain, snow and sometimes even ice and dirt from the windscreen of your car and they do it quickly and smoothly, at the push of a button. They endure extremes of temperature, winter weather to scorching sunshine. They may have to operate for hours at a time. And yet they’re made out of thin, flexible rubber — not exactly the sort of material that can take this kind of abuse indefinitely.

This makes windscreen wiper blades one of the hardest working — yet least durable — parts of your car. Over time, they’ll crack, become misshapen or lose their flexibility. Even if you were to live in a sunny dry climate without much rain — Southern California, for instance — Don’t think that your wiper blades will last longer. In fact, the heat and lack of moisture can damage the blades even if you never turn them on. Similarly, extremely cold weather can make the blades stiff and easily fractured.

Most experts say that wiper blades need to be changed every six to 12 months, though this depends both on weather conditions and on what make and what the blades are made out of.

You’ll know when your wiper blades need to be replaced because you’ll see streaking as they wipe the moisture from the windshield or even large gaps where no water is being removed. They may start making squeaking or chattering sounds (though this can also happen if you run the wipers when the windscreen is mostly dry). If left unchanged for too long, the material of the blade can shred and break loose from the arm. This can actually cause damage to your windscreen, as the metal or hard plastic of the arm scrapes across the glass. You don’t want this to happen.

We stock a wide range of Wipers. Just give us a call or pop in. We fit them FREE of charge.

 

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AIR CONventIts 4 PM on a stinking hot summers day. Your on your way home from the office. Looking outside, your air conditioned car never felt so good. The cool air rushing over your face in stark contrast to the obviously increasing heat on the other side of your windows.
Then the smell hits you … it’s musty and foul.
A car’s air conditioning system can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, microorganisms, mould and fungi. This generally results in an unpleasant odour, but can be a serious a health concern, especially for sufferers of asthma and allergies. A modern car’s air conditioning system is very conducive the growth of bacteria. Because of condensation that gathers on the evaporator coil design. .
Once the bacteria has grown, the air passes over the evaporator picking up particles of this waste before entering the car’s cabin through the air conditioning vents. As mentioned above, you’ll smell it before you see it.
The smell is generally strongest after a period of resting the system and can seem to lessen after a few minutes of use. You should be aware this is generally due to the occupants sense of smell acclimatising, not the smell subduing. The bacteria would still very much be in the air.
So next time you notice an unpleasant odour coming from your air conditioning, don’t reach for the air freshener, let a professional check it out for you.
Get rid of those horrible smells now and get a healthier A/C system! . It will leave your vehicle smelling minty, clean and fresh!,Make an appointment to see us today

AIR FRESH