Car Parts and Accessories

Don’t Panic, calm down (a) look after the injured (b) move the vehicles off the road to lessen the chance of further mishaps.

It is worth trying to get the police to come to an accident but, failing that, go to a police station afterwards and make a full report. This, of course, assumes you are not hurt. If you or others are injured, the first priority is to get professional help. (more…)

If the motorist who has just smashed into your car jumps out and says ‘Don’t call the police, I’ll pay for damage’, don’t take the chance. (more…)

Many insurance companies quite reasonably refuse to pay up if the driver they have insured is breaking the law when involved in an accident. (more…)

If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, there are a number of things you are legally obliged to do. It is also important to know what your insurance policy requires you to do in the event of an accident. (more…)

Mechanical Devices

There are countless devices to protect the car and its contents, ranging from steering wheel clamps to steering column locks, electronically coded sound systems, gearlever locks and clamps, bonnet locks, electrical cut-outs, fuel cut-outs, even a removable steering wheel. Many use a mixture of mechanical and electronic components and may be activated (and deactivated) by a key, hidden switch, electronic keypad, remote control switch or combination padlock. Here are some of the more common types. (more…)

Sad to say, the world is not full of people as nice as you and me. Although we have worked hard to buy and maintain our cars, there are malcontents out there who want the same thing for nothing.

Thieves come in three types: joyriders (usually young people who ‘take the car for a burn’), pilferers (who steal luggage or dash-board stereos, often without moving the car) and professionals. None of them are particularly nice but at least with the first and second type you have a chance of getting most of your car back. (more…)

Battery Weakness

Don’t rush off to buy a new battery the first time your car declines to start. Consider the other factors which can cause an apparent battery weakness, such as loose or corroded terminals, a short circuit in the electrical system, moisture, a lack of battery water or poor grounding of the battery, starter motor or engine. (more…)

Also referred to as ‘clutch starting‘, this is a trick which only works with a manual car, and even then only if you have a couple of energetic friends or a convenient hill. (more…)

As every motorist knows, the chances that a car will refuse to start or refuse to keep going are greatest when:

• You are already running late.
• You have just had it serviced.
• It is raining.
• You are wearing your best clothes.
• You are on a Clearway, alone, at the height of summer, in peak hour, with a semi-trailer behind you and a month’s supply of frozen food in the boot. (more…)

You have to be very unlucky or totally irresponsible with maintenance to experience total brake failure. Most modern cars have dual braking circuits which are virtually failsafe and, despite how often brake failure is used as an excuse for accidents, it is very rare. (more…)

Fire and panic often go together but a driver’s first duty is to get the passengers safely out and, if possible, drive the car away from other fire hazards.

Flames in the passenger compartment are not usually dangerous because, in the initial stages at least, they are away from fuel. One danger however comes from fumes given off by melting plastic trim. (more…)

A car failing to travel around a corner correctly may leave the road and end up in a pond or river. This is the fear of many drivers, in spite of the rarity with which it occurs. (more…)

A charity can receive a donated vehicle for internal usage or simply sold on auction which benefits directly from a car donation. The donated cars either were sold by the charity or by auto dealers to raise funds for the charity. In some extreme situation, auto dealer may only offer charity as little money per car.

Law sometimes has limitation on certain charities for the tax deductions from car donations.

Before have cars donated,

• Make sure the charity your car goes for is eligible to receive tax deduction to the price at which the car will be sold;
• Ask for you donation agent for a receipt from your car donation;
• Have a formal acknowledgement from the charity for declaring donor’s tax return requirement;
• Ask third party for documentation or records the value of your car;
• Take pictures and save your bills for your upgrades of your car for verifying your car value;
• Record the figure of the date and mileage, and condition of your car.
• Remember you are obligated to value the car but not the charity and you will be fined for any inaccuracy.

After the car donation,

• If your donated car was sold within 30 days; ask charity for a certification of sale
• If the donated car hasn’t been sold within 30 day; ask for a receipt for sale. (more…)

Choosing the right tools

Building up a kit of tools for routine repairs and to deal with roadside emergencies does not involve a big initial outlay. A basic kit can cost some R50. With this as the starting point, the best way to build up a comprehensive kit is to buy extra tools as they are needed.

The quality of tools varies considerably and buying some of the cheaper ones can, in time, prove to be an expensive economy.

A cheap spanner is a typical example. The jaws will eventually spread under pressure and mutilate a nut rounding off the corners until it is impossible to shift and a nut-splitter may be needed. At the least, a badly fitting spanner can mean bruised knuckles. (more…)

Don’t let a breakdown ruin your holiday

A roadside breakdown can ruin a well-planned holiday—so it is worth taking a little time to check over your vehicle before setting out. It is obviously impossible to foresee every type of breakdown that could occur; but by following the check list you should be able to avoid some of the more common roadside problems.

Brake pads

Remove one of the rear wheels and check the thickness of the brake pads. If the pad is less than 2 mm thick, seek advice. (more…)

Mercedes-Benz is introducing a revolution in clean diesel technology. The World’s Cleanest Diesel Technology: the cleanest and most efficient diesel engines ever built - with the power to turn exhaust into water. A diesel UV can be clean, fuel-efficient, and powerful. Mercedes-Benz revolution technology features an innovative modularly designed exhaust gas treatment system.

The BuleTEC diesel technology not only complies with the very grim reduced exhaust emission regulations of the future, but also offers amazing fuel-efficeint engines and a revolutionary exhaust system that emits 80% fewer smog-causing emissions. (more…)

How to complain about a bad Auto Parts repair

Contact the repairer, agent as soon as possible, recording the name of the person to whom you speak, his designation, the date, the vehicle’s odometer reading and the nature of your complaint. Do not delay; the longer you put off taking action the less credible your complaint becomes. If the matter is not resolved immediately, confirm your complaint in a letter addressed to the manager of the garage/franchise concern, using his name and designation. This should be followed up if necessary on a regular basis. (more…)

Shop around for the best service

During the warranty period a new car has to be taken to a franchise dealer for servicing and repairs. Thereafter you can shop around for the best service at the best price.

Taking your car in for Auto service or Auto repair

When taking your car for repairs or servicing give clear and concise repair instructions, in writing, on the job card, including the odometer reading. Don’t be vague. Instructions such as ‘check and repair for a long trip’ or ‘check and repair fault‘ can involve you in considerable and unexpected expense. If you believe there may be a serious fault, have a competent friend or the AA’s Technical Department diagnose the faults before you take your car to the garage. At worst, you should instruct the repairer to diagnose the fault and then contact you for authority to carry out the repair. Keep notes of the conversation on file for future reference. (more…)

Auto Driver Ability

Poor driving habits can be costly in both vehicle repairs and fuel consumption.

Fast driving is unquestionably a fuel waster, as is rapid acceleration, unnecessary braking (often a result of driving too close to the vehicle in front) and unnecessary use of the gearbox. Never ‘floor’ the accelerator pedal. Change from the lower gears as quickly as circumstances permit and use only the first quarter of throttle movement. If necessary, have your garage fit a second spring to the throttle mechanism to increase tension.

Tests carried out by the AA Technical Department on the Johannesburg- Pretoria highway showed that reducing speed from 90 km / h to 70 km / h reduced fuel consumption by 16 per cent; and reducing speed from 90 km/h to 80 km/h reduced fuel consumed by 11 per cent. (more…)

With the petrol price of fuel ever increasing, it is wise to look for ways and means of cutting this cost to a minimum. There are three main factors involved when it comes to saving fuel:

• Vehicle efficiency;
• Driver ability;
• Vehicle use.

Auto Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

Telltale signs of fuel wastage include:

• a black exhaust pipe or black smoking from the exhaust when accelerating or starting;
• slow warm-ups;
• fluctuating temperature gauge;
• Easy cold starts and normal performance from a cold engine;

• hard starting with a hot engine, which tends to misfire while attempting to do so;
• clear spots on the garage floor under the engine, which could indicate the presence of petrol leaks. (more…)