Our Blog - Pellon Tyres And Auto Centre Halifax

Motorcycle Battery season is almost here for you Bikers?

17th October 2019/in All Battery Information /by Eric

Motorcycle Battery choice could be very important

When it comes into February, I know that certain groups of people, start to think about the spring arriving and in fact start to prepare for the new year ahead. These include people who are gardeners, golfers and other outdoor pursuers which include the motorcyclists.

I know that we often see the motor bike guys during winter time, riding their bikes, but most are fair weather riders who tend to park their bikes away until the better weather arrives in spring. I do not intend any insults when I say fair weather riders, but who wants to ride about in ice and snow on a motor bike, as I say they usually wait for the better weather, before they think about getting their bikes and their motorcycle battery out.

First thing to check is your motorcycle battery

This is the start of the busy season for outdoor pursuit batteries. UPS batteries and lawnmower batteries, as well as motorcycle and related machines, such as jet skis and quads. All the users of these types of machines start to look at their batteries, to check the condition after the winter break.

I normally recommend a straight replacement battery but I have been impressed by the quality and safety aspects of the Odyssey batteries. These batteries are just the thing for the modern high powered bikes and a new battery often makes the riding life much easier.

I am not going to harp on about the care of your

Motorcycle Battery

through the winter time; this article is aimed at the person who will need to replace their battery, either through the age of the old battery, or the simple fact that your old battery has just had it and a new one is required.

Odyssey

Motorcycle Battery

are not your run of the mill battery. They are often used in racing and rally cars, because of their high power and sealed safety issue. They are made to higher and stronger standards that the normal lead acid bike battery and therefor can take bigger knocks and vibrations.

AGM batteries are fast becoming the battery used in many modern applications. One of the latest uses for the AGM battery is on the Start-Stop cars, where high power is needed and a deeper cycling mode for the battery. This is where Odyssey come in, they are in fact sealed AGM batteries, and will not require any topping up in the life time of the battery. I am not going into the details of how they are made, but you only have to feel the weight to realise how well packed the battery is with its cells.

These batteries can be installed on their sides or in rally and race cars inside the cabs, because the battery will not spill out any acid if tipped over, because it is completely sealed. An Odyssey Motorcycle Battery will fit straight onto the bike, but some may require a clamping kit which is available.

Charging the Odyssey battery is very similar to the standard lead acid battery, but requires a faster charge rate to keep the battery fully charged at all times, this is not a problem as your charger will take care of that or your bike if you go on long distances, but for local short trips then you should always use a charger for any battery that you choose for you motor bike. All charging information is available on the Odyssey battery web site.

Make sure that your terminals are clean with no broken cables

Replacement motorcycle battery tips.

Because of stricter recycling laws, it is always best practice to return your old battery to the place of purchase, if you buy the battery online, then you can take it to your local council waste site where they have special area set aside for your old lead acid battery.

Always check your battery terminals and cables for acid damage and replace them where necessary.

Make sure that your Motorcycle Battery hold down where you fix the battery to the bike is secure, if not them please make it secure before using your bike.

Make sure that the terminals and any other nuts and bolts are correctly tightened when fitting your new battery.

Finally we sell many types and makes of batteries at www.batteriesontheweb.co.uk and we recommend Odyssey batteries as a safer alternative to the normal lead acid Motorcycle Battery.

Please note these are the words and opinion of the author (Eric Roberts) only. Neither the author nor the website can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. You should seek professional assistance if in doubt about your choice of battery. The article may contain a link to Batteriesontheweb where you can buy battery products online.

Mitsubishi Shogun with smell problems? Brakes blamed but were not the Culprit?

17th October 2019/in Brake Servicing Halifax /by Eric

Mitsubishi Shogun with smell problems

The smell problem that came into my garage was on a 1997 Mitsubishi Shogun 3500 petrol model. The owner said that he could smell odours that he thought were coming from the outside. We went out on a test run but typically we could not smell anything that was until the end of the test drive. We could smell a burning brake pad sort of smell.

Leaking fuel pipe

This vehicle is made in Japan and is classed as a full sized SUV. The Shogun comes in all sorts of names depending on which country you are from, in our case the British version is known as the Mitsubishi Shogun. In other countries it is known as the Pajero or Montero. In fact the Pajero is now a common import into the UK market. The Mitsubishi Shogun began life back in 1982, when it was produced in a shorter version, with the full sized version coming out in 1999.

This car is a very robust and trustworthy vehicle and can be used on or off road and is a popular vehicle here in the UK for towing the larger caravans, because of its power and strength. The Mitsubishi Shogun can be prone to some problems that are well listed on the internet, but these are not the case on the vehicle that we are looking at today.

Mitsubishi Shogun with smell problems, first the brakes.

The first thing we did was to have a sniff in the front brake area, to check for burning smells and sure enough, we could smell something wrong with the driver’s side front Disc Brakes . To anyone who owns a Mitsubishi Shogun they will know that the brakes are not the easiest to do and we had to strip the hub to get at the brake units.

Sure enough we found that the driver’s side brake caliper was seized up and we proceeded to strip down that side for further investigation. The brake caliper was in fact seized up and the pads had worn unevenly and needed to be replaced the discs were worn but OK to refit. After we freed off the caliper we ordered a set of new pads and built the brakes back up.

Mitsubishi Shogun with smell problems, next a fuel leak

When we lifted the ramp to remove the axle stands we noticed another smell of petrol. This The smell problem that came into my garage was on a 1997 Mitsubishi Shogun 3500 petrol model. The owner said that he could smell odours that he thought were coming from the outside had two smell problems at the same time. The owner had not noticed any fuel dripping

Shogun leaking fuel sender

in the place where he parked the vehicle. Garage owners will only be too familiar with such double barrel problems, you fix one thing only to find another problem, this was the case with this Shogun, and one smell had masked the other. The customer called in to look and accepted our explanation and gave us permission to deal with the fuel leak.

The first thing that we could see wrong was that the fuel pipes were rotten and leaking slightly, but the worst leak was coming from the fuel pump. We priced the job up and a new pump was going to cast more that the guy could afford. Debbie our depot manageress then tried the internet and found a breakers yard in Sheffield that had one in stock. We contacted our customer and he gave us the go ahead to carry on with the work.

Apparently second hand sender pumps are like the proverbial “rocking horse s..t” and so the guy was lucky. After finishing the work off the car went out with the smells both cured.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. We are members of Unipart Car Care centres and give a nationwide guarantee for all our work and parts. We also sell Michelin Tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk by using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. We offer courtesy cars to local motorists who need to go to work and leave their car with us for work doing. We are also an official MOT testing station and are members of Motor-codes, who carry out checks for high standard of equipment and workmanship.

Dunlop Tyres Declining-A Brief History of one of the tyre companies that I worked for !

17th October 2019/in All Dunlop Tyres Stuff /by Eric

Dunlop Tyres Declining

Dunlop Tyres

Bicycles the first for Dunlop

So, In the days of Queen Victoria! Britain was going full steam ahead in the industrialized nation that we had become. Inventions were arising thick and fast.

In the year of 1889 cam a patent from John B Dunlop. His company was founded in Dublin. Subsequently, was called the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd. Dunlops company manufactures his very own patent! Called the Pneumatic tyre. Importantly, in those days just for the bicycle.

So, the bike was getting very popular in those days. Well informed people were starting to form clubs for racing. Strikingly, a famous racer in those days was called Willie Hume .Winning seven races on the new Dunlop tyres. Word soon spread, and full production started in 1890 in Belfast Northern Ireland.

Dunlop were able to open up similar businesses in Europe and North America and opened a factory in Australia.They then began having financial difficulties and indeed had to sell off the overseas operations. Furthermore, to this day The company had to split and in Australia they have been a separate company, both making different brands using the same name.

Dunlop UK then opened a large factory in Birmingham the UK. In a short time they started the production of car tyres. Importantly, the Birmingham plant became known as “Fort Dunlop” . Of course, a very famous part of the Birmingham Brummy landscape. I visited the fort many times in the past! Importantly, I was always made to feel very welcome. Consequently, they became a very rich company. Having had Worldwide operations in distribution. Manufacturing included owning their rubber plantations in Ceylon and Malaya.

In the 1930s Dunlop went into making other products

In the 1930s Dunlop Began diversifying into other rubber products, these were latex, golf balls, and other sporting equipment. They also started making rubber boots and “O” rings. In 1950 they then started making and supplying tyres for Formula 1 cars.

In 1971 Dunlop merged with Italian tyre giants Pirelli to form the biggest companies in the world. By 1984 they once again started with financial difficulties and the company was sold to Sumitomo Rubber Industries of Japan. The tyre brand name was split up over three groups and also all the other products that Dunlop made such as sports goods were sold off to various other companies. That just about brings us up to date, Dunlop and Goodyear now trade under the same brand names with the same parent company and made in different factories around the World.

Moving forward to 2019 ! Dunlop tyres are in decline. In my opinion Dunlop are certainly not the force they once were. Of course like anything else new tyre companies have moved ahead. Stealing the older tyre companies business with new ideas an enthusiasm. Of course , I am a keen follower of the Dunlop brand and in fact sell many Dunlop Tyres from my Halifax retail depot.

About Eric Roberts

Hi, I would like to introduce myself. Working in the Garage and tyre industry now for 40 years. Happily, I used to work for a couple of national tyre companies before starting my first business. Now owning a company here in the UK called Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre, and I am a keen blogger about anything to do with cars and their related products that will help my business.

Dunlop Tyres-Dunlop were a major contributor to the motor racing scene

Peugeot 307 ABSABS Problems a common fault

16th October 2019/4 Comments/in Brake Servicing Halifax /by Eric

As I have stated in other Peugeot 307 related posts that I have written, then the garages that are scattered around a main dealer will inevitably get spin off work, when the cars become over two years old and out of the care of the main dealer. We hear in Halifax are no different and the Peugeot is one of our main supplies of business.

I am not complaining and I happen to like Peugeot as cars. They can have many problems but I like the way that the French car company change their models around and make them interesting to their followers who buy them. One of the commonest problems that we come across on the 307 is brake problems, especially with the ABS warning lights. The other day we had the pleasure of two Peugeot 307 with the same problem.

ABS warning lights are now an MOT test failure.

The first 307 that we looked at were in fact in for an MOT test and was in good condition except for a well-worn tyre and the fact that the ABS brake warning light was on? We contacted the lady customer, who said, “that she wondered what the light was, but just thought it would go out on its own”

The lady gave us permission to see to her car. When the ABS light is on it means of course that the anti-lock function is not working and one of the most common causes is the ABS sensor or dirty wiring connections, which can include a break in the wiring. These wires are after all hanging in all the dirt and slush and can easily perish and/or break.

We start off by plugging the car into our Solus Pro diagnostic code reader. This will give us a code error, which will usually lead us to the problem. This code came up that we had a problem with an open circuit on the off side rear. We then carried out a hard test with a ohms meter and found a fault on the wiring.

In fact the wiring was broke where it goes to the Peugeot 307 ABS sensor, before the wiring loom. This was a relatively easy thing to repair ad also a low cost repair for the customer, who was very pleased that it was not something more serious. We plugged the car back into our fault reader and re-set the code to clear the fault light and the car passed the MOT test having also a new tyre fitted.

Aaron inspecting 307 ABS system

The second Peugeot 307 with an ABS fault was more complicated

The second Peugeot 307 ABS was also left with us to solve an ABS warning light problem, but turned out to be a little more complicated. Once again the car belonged to a lady customer, who had complained about her brakes juddering through her brake pedal, combined with a noise from underneath the bonnet. She was not one of our regular customers, because we always check the past history of a car on our customer data base.

She said that the car went into a famous fast-fit centre, who recommended that she had all the discs and pads replaced, which would cost around the £500.00 mark. She wanted us to look at the car because she just did not have that kind of money?

We do often get this, but we grit our teeth and just get on with diagnosing the job and telling the driver the truth, whether good news or bad news. This Peugeot 307 car was to have a different ABS problem to the other one. We plugged in the code reader and it and it came up with, “Rear air gap too large” and a fault code. Fortunately we have come across this one before proceeded to check the area at the rear where the Peugeot 307 ABS sensor bolts were connected to the hub.

The hub area corrodes, thickening the steel, which pushes the sensor away from the magnetic ring, and therefore not making a proper contact which stops a reading. To rectify this all we do is to clean the whole thing up removing any rust and the jobs a good one. We then reset the code with our code reader and cleared the ABS fault light. The lady was over the moon and we hope will become another of our loyal customers in the future.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer, Peugeot 307 car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. We are members of Unipart Car Care centres and give a nationwide guarantee for all our work and parts. We also sell General Tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk by using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. We offer courtesy cars to local motorists who need to go to work and leave their car with us for work doing. We are also an official MOT testing station and are members of Motor-codes, who carry out checks for high standard of equipment and workmanship.

Illegal Car Tyre Re-cutting-What next? this is extremely dangerous?

16th October 2019/in All Part Worn Tyres Stuff /by Eric

Illegal Car Tyre Re-cutting

Re-cutting Car Tyres-is it common practice in some countries?

So,when I first saw the video at the bottom of this post! Incredibly, I was truly shocked and amazed at the same time . At first I was outraged at what was going on and so was the writer of the original article. But I began to realise that this practice does actually go on in other countries around the world.

This tyre was a part worn that had a massive repair done to the sidewall and only lasted for two days, before letting the lady customer down in a town centre.

The video has been filmed with a sense of pride. Of course, by the guy who is doing the actual tyre re-cutting. Unfortunately, it reminds me of the time when I used to re-cut truck tyres. Re-cutting tyres was carried out when I worked for a national company years ago. I know that we can re-cut truck tyres ! Of course, as long as we stick to the rules and regulations. Set out for us to follow. But the practice of re-cutting car tyres, has up to now been unheard of.Unless somebody can point out where this is a legal thing to do?

Bad tyre repair cases are now cropping up now on the part worn tyres

I am sure that many of you tyre professionals out there have come across some pretty bad examples of things that are related to part worn tyres. There seems to be little care or thought towards the safety or the law where the part worn market is concerned.

Only last Saturday we had customer in that bought two part worn tyres fitted about two weeks before. Only to find that they had completely fitted the wrong size, they were not even a legal match, they were far too small. When the customer was questioned as to why he had allowed this he said that the guy told him that it was perfectly alright and he also said that he felt a little threatened by the guys attitude, when he was questioning him about the wrong size.

This sort of thing is just the tip of the iceberg

The worst ones are the bad repairs that have been carried out by these people. We have seen some horrific cases. Where the tyre has only lasted a few days before blowing out. Of course, in some cases these tyres never keep their pressure. Unfortunately, the customer brings them into us for sorting out.

The thing that I cannot understand though. Is that I have never met one customer. Who wants to go back where they bought the dodgy tyres, to complain. Perhaps some drivers are so hard up financially. That they have no choice but to buy these things. So, when problems arise they dare not go back in fear of been intimidated by these people.

This tyre had a clear side-wall failure, that was fitted to the inside.we picked up the problem when the customer said that he had a bad wheel wobble?.

Dodgy tyre dealers must know that they are breaking the law. When they sell the public these things. So do you have to be a special type of person sell them in the first place. Looking at the state of some of the premises, it is a wonder that people go there in the first place! But as I say people can and must be desperate to keep their cars on the road. Including buying part worn tyres for their cars.

To go back to this video; I cannot recognize the language of the people that who are Car Tyre Tread Grooves Re-cutting ? But it could even be here in the UK.

I only hope that these do not make their way to our shores !

but nothing surprises me to what lengths these people will go to, to make money. As I have said on many occasions I see nothing wrong with selling Illegal Car Tyre Re-cutting ,part worn tyres as long as they were processed and sold within the law of our land.

Another fact that has come to my attention came to me from Serge Dejeen…In ETRTO recommendations it’s clear re-grooving of passenger car tyres is not permitted.
Extract of ETRTO “Re-grooving or re-cutting: Re-grooving or re-cutting consists of cutting a pattern in the base of the tread, deeper than the original pattern, to prolong mileage performance. Re-grooving or re-cutting of passenger car tyres is not permitted.
Note should be taken of national legislation.”
ETRTO= European Tyre and Rym Technical Organisation, is a professional organisation of standardization (as well as JATMA and TRA).

Please take a look at this video and let me know what you think??

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. We are members of Unipart Car Care centres and give a nationwide guarantee for all our work and parts. Selling tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk . So by using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. Of course we offer courtesy cars to local motorists. Needing to go to work and leave their car with us for work doing. Also an official MOT testing station and are members of Trading Standards. Finally, who carry out checks for high standard of equipment and workmanship

Breakdown Cover Important-Car and Van Drivers are running around without any?

16th October 2019/in All Car Repair Articles /by Eric

Breakdown Cover Important

Car Drivers are Driving without any Breakdown Cover

This is the sort of thing that never crosses your mind as a problem? I actually thought that breakdown cover was nothing much to do with me and that the general motorist would be sensible enough to take cover out, especially when considering a long journey.

However I have now changed my mind, primarily because of the advent of cars that are now without spare wheels. Today’s cars come with all sorts of mismatch spare wheel systems and some of my customers did not even know this and have been driving around without a spare for ages, not knowing that they could get stuck anywhere they traveled, especially without the breakdown cover insurance to protect them.

Mass air flow sensors are now a common problem for cars breaking down

Fortunately for ourselves we are finding that many of the tyres that we are getting in for puncture repairs are just too damaged to repair and require a new tyre and in some case’s a new wheel. This is because they have had to run their car with a flat tyre and they called a relation or friend up to change the wheel, because they do not have a spare.

Breakdown organisations attending more tyre relates incidents

We have noticed that in the past couple of years that the motoring organizations such as the AA or RAC here in the UK, are attending more and more call outs to motorists with tyre related problems. A few years ago the driver would just stop and fit his spare wheel, until he could get the tyre repaired; now many of the cars on our roads do not carry a spare wheel.

So the real issue would be to join one of the breakdown schemes that are available, to me it is the sensible thing to do, but according to a recent report for the Halifax Bank. One in seven motorists do not have any breakdown cover and so risk getting stranded this winter.

Another problem that is more prevalent on our modern cars. Of course, is the computer systems. Consequently, that now control our emissions are breaking down. Practically all cars now have these computers (known as ECU’s) and they are creating their own problems for the motorists. Not a week now goes by without a car with that is having electrical engine problems coming in to the garage with a problem.

If the car is stranded in Halifax then we can attend to it with one of our own breakdown vans, but it when the car is away that the customer will get stuck if they do not have sufficient breakdown cover, the survey also says that almost a ¼ of the drivers questioned say that they have been unable to get to work because of car problems, and in my opinion this figure will rise unless more drivers take out breakdown cover.

Young drivers are more likely NOT to take out breakdown cover

As with most things that are driving related it is young drivers that fail to take out any breakdown cover. It is the same as most car related things, the young drivers are also more likely to buy a part worn tyre and skip on car servicing.

Breaking down in winter time is not a pleasant thing so consider breakdown cover insurance.

Hence, it appears that the car is not one of their priorities in life.So, they would rather look good and have a good night out than spend money on their car. The figure for young drivers was 23% of 18-24 year old’s did not have breakdown cover for their cars! No surprise their then!

Jeremy Ward, spokesman for Halifax, said: “Many motorists could find themselves left out in the cold this winter as they fail to carry essential items on long journeys, or check their car is roadworthy. We’d recommend drivers ensure they have an adequate level of breakdown cover in place, and also make some monthly maintenance checks such as tyre pressure and tread depth to stay safe.”

The breakdown cover issue was not the worst thing that drivers came with.

Over a third of drivers said that they last checked their tyres over a month ago and more that I in ten had not checked them for over six months. This is why I am always harping on about tyre safety, these drivers are a danger to themselves and other road users.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. Solid members of Unipart Car Care centres. Who give a nationwide guarantee for all our work and parts.Also sell Michelin car Tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk. So, by using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. Offering courtesy cars to local motorists. Importantly, who need to go to work and leave their car with us for work doing. Also an official MOT testing station and are members of Trading Standards. Lastly,who carry out checks for high standard of equipment and workmanship.

Eric Roberts

Peugeot 206 Misfiring-Including pulling problem-Fuel Injector problems?

15th October 2019/in All Car Manufacturer Articles /by Eric

Peugeot 206 Misfiring

Peugeot 206 with engine problem

So, when you own a garage in the same town as a main dealer. You are more likely to get second and third hand cars in with problems. Of course, rather than the customer taking their car back to the usually more expensive main dealer. And why not! In most cases we have just as good equipment and knowledgeable staff, as the main dealers anyway. If we get stuck with a technical problem. Importantly, we have also got a network of people who specialise in the make of car. So from where the problem has arose. So, we can always rely on their help if such an occurrence arises.

Scanner showing the injector fault

The problems that can happen are usually electrical and although we have an array of scanners and computers, they don’t always get down to the problem and we have to seek help from friend who is a specialist in that field. This however did not apply to one of the jobs that a customer left with us the other week.

Peugeot 206 started OK but did not pull on hills.

The car was a Peugeot 206 2001 model and had started up on a morning, with no problems. At first the car drove along OK, but after about ½ an hour, the car started to lose power. The Peugeot 206 was still drive-able but he did notice a lack of power?

The car was also able to accelerate away when required, but his foot was down to the floor. He said that he thought that the car was asking for more fuel and had to keep it into a lower gear, say third instead of fourth. He said that a few years ago the 206 had a catalytic converter failure and the symptoms felt very similar.

The guy left the Peugeot 206 with us and Ryan decided the best plan was to plug the car into our scanner and see if anything showed up there. We often get similar problems with these

Peugeot 206 new injector to be fitted

Sometimes the owner says that the engine feels like it is misfiring

Such as a guy who recently called in with his 206 Gt. This one ended up having an injector problem and we fixed it accordingly.

The scanner we used was a Solus Pro from Sun equipment. Subsequently, came up with a fault code R0270 Injector cylinder 4 circuit. This was a very clear indication what the problem was .

Peugeot 206 with faulty broken injector

So, we contacted the customer with a price so that we could go ahead with the job. One important thing to remember about these injectors. Significantly, is that on French cars such as the Peugeot 206 they are changed as follows. Firstly, the number 1 injector is at the gearbox end. Secondly, the number 4 is at the driver’s side. Importantly, it is easy to replace the wrong one.

It has been known that the wrong injector has been changed? Say number 2 could be mixed up with number 3. This would mean that you may have changed the injector, but would still end up with the same engine problem and this has probably happened hundreds of times, by DIY car repairers.

After we were given the go ahead by our customer, Ryan ordered the new part and fitted it on its arrival. The code error then cleared and the Peugeot 206 was back to normal and collected by its happy owner.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles.

Winter Tyres Insurance-Could fitting them Affect Your Car Insurance?

15th October 2019/2 Comments/in Winter Tyre Articles /by Eric

Winter Tyres Insurance

So, I always find it strange to hear my customers say “will my car be insured if I fit winter tyres”. I used to think that they were joking at first. But for some reason, they were very serious. Apparently it was something that they had read in a national newspaper. When I checked this out, it said that if you modify or change your car from the original specs. So, then you should inform your insurance company. Subsequently, or you could not be insured in case that you had an accident.

Kumho winter tyres are very popular.

I suspect that this covers thousands of motorists. Importantly, driving about today,“with what they would consider minor adjustments” to their cars.Of course, such as fitting winter tyres, or a “go faster stripe “down the side.

There is no doubt that winter tyres do affect your cars performance. However, only for the better! By making the car drive with better control and brake better. Especially, in winter weather from rain to ice and snow. As long as you stick to the same size and the advised load rating for your car. Then you should be fine and proud to fit the winter tyres.

Insurance companies should give you “discount” for fitting winter tyres

Even this year our customers have asked about the affect winter tyres can have on their insurance. So I thought that I would look into a little deeper and write an article about the subject. In my opinion I think that you should get a rebate from your insurance company. Of course, if you make your car safer by fitting winters to it. In fact the big debate to me is “are cars with illegal part worn tyres insured” and the answer is NO. But I will look at that in a future article.

The problem has also become an issue with the insurers themselves. Consequently, after a deluge of inquiries from worried car owners. Strangely, thinking that they would not be insured if they fitted these tyres to their car. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) the problem has been taken up with its members. So, now over 90% have agreed that they will not increase premiums. Happily, for their customers that fit the correct winter tyres to their vehicles.

Winter tyres much safer

They also agreed that fitting winters to their car. So, made for better road safety over the winter period. In fact many of the other European countries make it a law to fit winters between November and March of the following year, so why should the British motorists be penalized.

A statement from the ABI says; “often motor insurers will not charge an additional premium when their insured customers use winter tyres, provided that they meet, and are fitted in accordance with, the vehicle manufacturers’ specifications and are in a roadworthy condition”

If you are unsure about your own insurance company as regarding their stance on the matter, then you can either ring them up or go to the ABI website where insurers are listed, who comply with “good to fit winter tyres “ruling. The web address is… “ABI a guide to winter tyres“.

Winter tyres will not incur extra insurance costs

Scenes like this will soon be upon us,so prepare your car for the worse to come.

Have I have stated earlier in this article. So, the insurance companies often increased the costs of your insurance if you modified your car in any way and did not inform them, things like an upgraded modified engine spring to mind. They regarded you as been more likely to have an accident, if you had modified your car and also your car may have become a bigger target to car thieves, so an extra premium would have been charged.

At first when winter tyres became more popular the insurance companies gave out mixed messages, but the ABI can now confirm that winter tyres are a safety issue and are a great improvement when fitted to your car through the winter period.

My own advice would be to inform your insurance company that you are fitting winter tyres. You will, not have to pay any extra premiums. Some companies do require you to inform than a list can be found on the ABI web-site. Nick Starling, ABI’s director of general insurance, said: “Insurers do not want to penalize motorists who take steps, like fitting winter tyres, to improve their safety on dangerous winter roads. Last year cold weather came early and there was some uncertainty for customers about the insurance implications of fitting winter tyres. This commitment clarifies the position for motorists.”

Always fit the same size or a size recommended by your tyre dealer if a direct replacement cannot be found.

Good tyre retailers will have a web site for converting the sizes over legally. Importantly, and should be accepted by the insurance companies. Some insurance companies such as Tesco and The Co-operative insurance company state that you are alright to fit winters but you should not oversize them. Over sizing any tyres is not a good thing anyway?

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. Members of Unipart Car Care centres and give a nationwide guarantee for all our work and parts.

Pirelli make an excellent winter tyre.

We also sell General Winter Tyres Online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk . Using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. Offering courtesy cars to local motorists who need to go to work and leave their car with us for work doing. Also an official MOT testing station and are members of Trading Standards. Carrying out checks for high standard of equipment and workmanship.

Vauxhall Corsa Fails MOT Test- Because of Worn Out Front Suspension.

15th October 2019/in All Car Servicing /by Eric

Vauxhall Corsa Fails MOT Test

New Lambda sensor fitted after the emissions test failure.

The Vauxhall Corsa is indeed a very popular little car,

Especially with female drivers. The little car also makes a good city car, with very little problem when getting around town and parking. The Corsa is well known for its light steering;

Vauxhall Corsa for Mot repairs

(power steering) which makes the little car easy to maneuver and along with its good rear end visibility makes the car easy to park and is a favorite with the lady drivers.

The car was launched by Vauxhall in 1993 and has proved to be a very successful model for the giant car company. The car has also remained cheap to buy, both new and second hand. We recently purchased a Vauxhall Corsa from one of our lady customers, to be used as one of our courtesy cars, and it has proven to be a little gem and popular with our lady drivers, who use the car when leaving their own car for servicing or repairs.

The Corsa has a few drawbacks

Size wise this car is not for the taller person. Also, the car is very cramped when driving with four adults, (two fronts and two rears). Additionally, they are also not very suitable for the out of town open road driving. Significantly, noisy due to road and engine noise. Also, they do not corner very well. Especially with a full car of adults.

However despite this the little super mini is very popular amongst younger people. As this is the first car than many first time drivers can usually afford , Corsa’s can be found at bargain prices and as I have said earlier the lady drivers love to drive them around town and they are easy to park.

The running costs of these little cars are one of its assets, the little 1.0 litre cars can do as many as 50 mpg and the diesel versions can come up figures of 60 mpg, making the car a good

Vauxhall Corsa new and old broken spring

choice for the economically minded driver. The insurance is also very low, most normal sized engine cars come into the lowest insurance groups possible. The Corsa is also cheap to service, making the car as I have said earlier cheap and economical to run, favouring the money conscious lady drivers and the young first time car buyers.

Vauxhall Corsa cars have had several factory recalls

These little cars are usually trouble free when it comes mechanical problems apart from the usual wear and tear items such as tyres, exhausts and suspension and brake parts, but there has been a few recall problems with cars between 2000 and 2006.

The following problems included, air bag problem due to faulty software, faulty seat adjustment catches and spring, causing the seat to move or not lock, steering wheel problems, the centre nut that holds the steering wheel in place was not tightened correctly causing the steering wheel to wobble. The early Corsa had also cam-belt problems, they should be changed every 40,000 miles promptly, or a damaged engine could follow,

One of our long standing lady customers dropped off her car for a service and an MOT test. She said that the car was in excellent condition and should walk the test. Dale Linton tested the car and found that all sorts of things were wrong. The steering and suspension had lots of play in them, the car also had a broken spring and also failed the emissions test.

We always phone our customers before working on their car and we always save the old parts for them to look at.

The Vauxhall Corsa Fails MOT Test. Requiring new front control arms (known as wishbones to some people). Including a new spring and a new lambda sensor. The lady said that she could hear some knocking coming from the front of the Vauxhall Corsa. When she drove over speed bumps, but did not think much about it. She gave us permission to complete the work. So, new control arms were fitted.

Vauxhall Corsa new and old worn out front control arms before refitting

We know that you can fit new control arm bushes. But this takes much longer and by the time you have removed the old bushes and fitted new ones. Of course, we can fit a complete new arm. The costs work out about the same because of the labour factor.

We fitted a new lambda sensor and a new spring. So, before re-testing the Vauxhall Corsa and then servicing it. The car is now a far better ride than when she brought it in and the lady customer noticed this and thanked us for our great service.

Eric Roberts

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and car steering repairs to all makes of vehicles.

Anti-Lock Brake Systems- ABS- have been around for 20 years or more

15th October 2019/in Brake Servicing Halifax /by Eric

Anti-Lock Brake Systems

Anti-Lock braking systems -problems are now a common thing

So, one of the things that I am most proud about. Of course, been a garage owner ! Is when a customer contacts my garage for a brake problem sorting out? Subsequently, it appears not be the price that the person is worried about. Because they know how important it is to have good brakes on their car.

These discs are on a BMW who were one of the first companies to fit Anti-Lock Braking Systems as standard on their production cars

Before we remove the wheels to examine the brakes. So, generally we have a blank canvas to work from. We know that most cars that get to the stage of having practically no brakes! Then the braking system will be in pretty bad shape. Believe me they usually are.

Back in the old days! Then the cars brakes were a much simpler affair to diagnose and repair. Of course, with only the upper end of the market cars. Having any type of electrical modifications in order to aid better braking. As in almost all the car developments. So, brakes were originally tested and tried on motorsport vehicles. Long time before been tried and tested on the average road cars. Including the beginning of the ABS braking systems! Importantly, that are in common use today.

At first Anti-lock braking systems only came out on the prestige cars such as BMW and Mercedes

but many drivers had not heard of them before, in fact we still get customers in today that do not know what it means when their ABS warning light comes on and has to be investigated. Twenty years ago many vehicles owners were given the option of having ABS brakes or not, similar sort of thing to fitting alloy wheels or steel wheels, they were an optional extra.

Anti-Lock braking systems work differently to a standard braking system

ABS brakes do act differently to a normal braking system. The main two advantages are that; when you are braking on a wet slippery road surface, or say on ice, then your car will stop quicker, this also applies to normal roads of course. Also the car will handle much better when the driver has to brake and steer at the same time, once again say in bad weather conditions, the car will handle much better that when using a conventional braking system.

In any normal driving situations such as stopping at traffic lights or at a road junction, then the Anti-Lock Braking Systems does not activate, but if you need to brake sharply and suddenly then the Anti-Lock Braking Systems will be activated and assist you in braking more safely.

The Anti-Lock Braking Systems sends out pulses of pressure instead of the single pressure that is asserted when braking a normal car. You can actually feel the pulses coming through the brake pedal when you have to assert pressure on to the brake pedal in an emergency stop. It is also important to note that if you do come across a bad situation caused by say snow or a non-tarmac road, then you will still have to slow down, your ABS system will not help you in such situations.

The main gaining point of Anti-Lock Braking Systems is that the driver has full control when braking and steering at the same time and can help the driver to steer away from danger; they prevent the wheel from locking, in certain conditions.

With and Without anti-lock brakes

Practice your ABS brake system

In my experience it has always been a good idea to take your car and have a practice with the brakes if you are driving a car fitted with ABS brakes for the first time and get used to the different feel of the brakes when going straight and when steering.

The in cab ABS warning light may come on if there is a fault with the ABS system or the normal braking system. If the warning light comes on then you should have the brakes looked at as soon as possible. In our experience it is usually something simple such as a faulty electrical connection or even that the car needs a set of new pads. You can also find problems with Anti Lock Brake Sensors and other Anti Lock Brake Parts. Once the problem has been found and rectified the ABS warning light can be re-set with a computer.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. Importantly, members of Unipart Car Care centres. Giving a nationwide guarantee for all our work and parts. Also sell Firestone Tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk. By using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. We offer courtesy cars to local motorists who need to go to work. So,leaving their car with us for work doing. Also an official MOT testing station and are members of Trading Standards. Lastly, who carry out checks for high standard of equipment and workmanship.