Toyota RAV 4 Poor Acceleration Problems

Toyota RAV 4 Poor Problems? Caused by the “Suction Control Valve” (SCV)

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Toyota RAV 4 Poor Acceleration Problems

Toyota RAV 4 problem just happened overnight

So, as I have said before, one of the great things about owning a garage. Importantly, is the diversity of jobs that we can encounter. Hence in any busy working week. This past week was no exception. One of our lady customers called it with her car, a Toyota RAV 4 !

Toyota RAV 4 Poor Acceleration Problems
The Toyota RAV 4 ready for the engine work to be carried out.

Alarmingly, the reason was that the car was performing badly when trying to overtake. Especially, when she put her foot down the car was very slow to respond.

She had a new Duel Mass Flywheel fitted about six months ago ! Interestingly,  she had wondered if this could have anything to do with the cars recent problem?

The Toyota RAV 4 was fitted with the 2.0D-4 D engine. Importantly, she had not experienced many engine problems in the past. In fact apart from the clutch the car had been trouble free.

Ryan road tests the car !

When Ryan our workshop manager took the car out for a test drive. So, he noticed that the engine warning light was also illuminated . So on his return he plugged the car into our diagnostics machine. Finding that the code PO627 came up. When we looked the code fault up on our diagnostic site. Then it stated that the problem could be a couple of things.

  1. That the internal fuel was below the target fuel pressure that it should be, despite the engine ECU opens the Suction Control Valve (SCV)
  2. Fuel blockage.

Toyota RAV 42.0 D Engines are fitted with a Denso electronic high-pressure fuel pump.  Controlling, the fuel rail pressure and the volume of fuel and are both replaceable items. Denso also make the Fuel Pressure Regulator (we call it the SCV) that can cause the lack of power problems with the Toyota RAV4

Toyota RAV 4
Arrow pointing at the position of the diesel pump

Problems.

Ryan suspected it to be the SCV and this was confirmed by a quick phone call to a friend of ours that specialises in diesel engines and fuel pumps. He told us that the SCV Valves had given most him most problems with this particular RAV 4 engine fault and so we took onto ourselves to tackle this particular problem.

New SCV ordered for the Toyota RAV 4

We contacted the customer with a price. Reluctantly, she gave us the go ahead to carry out the necessary work on the car’s engine. We could only buy the SCV parts from the Toyota dealership. Unfortunately, they were not available from any of the local parts factors.

The first part of the job was to remove the two bolts that fasten the radiator expansion tank to the car. Allowing you more room to work. Importantly, you can see this in the picture the arrow is pointing to ! Where the fuel pump is located. Down near the yellow dipstick top. Ryan then had to remove the remove the air intake/inter-cooler pipe.

The only difficult thing that Ryan could see was the location of the pump, that the SCV’s were located; they were located at the back of the pump, making the job a little fiddly.

When the new Toyota RAV 4 valves arrived. Hence they were both coloured differently. So,one was green and the other red. It was important that the new ones had to fit where the old ones had come from.

Toyota RAV 4 Poor Acceleration Problems
Image showing the SCV valves in position ready to be changed, note the red and green colours and the Allen key type bolts that can be difficult to remove.

Hence the colour coding.

The valves are held into the pump by two heavy duty Allen screws each and were eventually freed by using an heavy duty Allen key type bit that fitted into an impact wrench set, with an extension tube to give him some leverage. This did the trick and the screws finally gave in to the pressure.

An important thing to watch out for is that the valve seats have two O-rings. These O-rings must be replaced and refitted into the valve seats; Ryan lubricated them when fitting them back, before the new valves were fitted back onto the pump.

Possible loss of fuel !

Another observation is that you will lose a small amount of fuel when doing this job, so protect the immediate area of the pump with some old cloth to soak up the diesel that comes out and you will not make a mess on the rest of the engine or the garage floor. We also thought it would be worth fitting a new fuel filter, and so we did.

When Ryan completed the work, he then re-set the Toyota RAV 4 engine diagnostic trouble codes , with our engine diagnostic machine and it then only took a couple of attempts to re start the engine, because there would have been a little trapped air in the system from when the valves were removed. If you are doing this job at home on your own one of these vehicles, we do recommend that you keep everything as clean as possible and do not let any dirt or other contamination onto the new valves.

The job only took about an hour

Including the ordering of the parts. Later the car was road tested and found to be cured of the problem. Happily, our lady customer picked up the Toyota RAV 4 paid us and went on her way a happy customer.

This problem can also be found on the following Toyota models

Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D (CDT220) 1999>2003,Toyota Avensis Verso 2.0D-4D (CLM20) 2001>2005,Toyota Corolla 2.0 D-4D (CDE110) 2000>2001,Toyota Corolla Verso 2.0 D-4D (CDE120) 001>2004,Toyota Corolla 2.0 D-4D (CDE120) 2001>2007 (90bhp & 109bhp),Toyota Previa 2.0 D-4D (CLR30) 2001>2007. This information is from Blue Print.

Peugeot 406 Lights

VW Polo Performance Problem-Calls in with bad Performance Problems?

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A VW Polo day?

So, after the school summer holidays have finished. Fortunately, then we start to get busier in the garage repair side of the business. Happily, the tyre side starts to pick up nearer November, with the approach winter.

VW Polo with clutch and engine problems
VW Polo with clutch and engine problems

Like many other garages we try to plan our work schedules. Booking the various car repair jobs in accordingly.

One particular day last week when we were fully booked up and very busy. Subsequently, a breakdown truck turned up on the forecourt with a black VW Passat on the back. Firstly, the car looked to have had a small front end shunt. Because, the front wheel was sticking out at an angle. The VW Passat was a 2009 TDi and the car had been bumped when parked up in the local supermarket.

We pulled the VW off the trailer and pushed it onto a ramp. We soon discovered that the front wheel had been hit and had completely bent the steering arm. This had totally disabled the car from being driven. The remedy was easy; a new steering arm was fitted and the car was given a Laser Wheel Alignment to correct and re-set the steering. The owner picked up his car and went home happy.

Next car with a engine problem

We were not so lucky with the next car that was booked in for the engine shuddering and banging. The car was a VW Polo 1.4 TDi 2002. It belonged to a friend of the family’s son, who had just passed his driving test.

The VW Polo had been left with us and we took the car out for a road test to try find out what the problem was. The first thing that we noticed was that the clutch had gone, but there was other things going on at the same time, it was a mix-match of problems. We were well trusted by the customer and so decided that we had to fix the clutch first. We removed the clutch housing and found that the clutch had indeed gone.

After replacing the clutch the VW Polo did go a little better, but the engine was definitely not right, it was shuddering and juddering.

VW Polo, Passat with its bent steering arm
VW Passat with its bent steering arm

VW Polo Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) had to be checked out.

The MAF sensor is the instrument that checks the temperature and the weight of the air that is entering the VW Polo engine. This information is then sent to the on-board computer, which calculates the correct amount of fuel that the engine requires to operate at.

The sensor works by measuring the current that is required to check the temperature while the air blows past. The MAF will start to clog up with dirt and other particles over time and this blockage is the thing that can cause your engine to have problems. The symptoms are exactly what was related to this problem. Poor starting, the engine would not run properly and would not accelerate, especially up hills.

Clean MAF sensor

Some people say that if you can clean the MAF sensor at regular periods then these problems would not arise, but we have always found that we have had to replace the part. Importantly, we also fitted a new air filter and the VW Polo was a different car. It was road tested and the change of the MAF sensor revitalised the car, back to normal engine functions.

We also noticed that the steering had got a knocking noise and a vibration and on inspection found that the car also needed a Front Arm rear bush. We fitted this new bush and adjusted the wheel alignment. Here at Pellonautocentre we can repair all makes and types of cars.

It was an expensive day for the customer, but you would be surprised how many of our customers drive their car until it drops to pieces, nothing new there?

VW Polo,VW Passat with the steering arm how it should be
VW Passat with the steering arm how it should be

Just a few problems that we can get: in a busy garage.

Also sell Pirelli Car Tyres online from our website.

Nail in your Sidewall

Pirelli Run Flat Tyres Can We Repair Them?

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When the run flat tyre first came on to the market

Firstly, I was not so sure what to think? These tyres were developed together with the car manufacturers  Consequently, were designed to specifically fit the cars on which they were to be fitted for safety reasons.

bmw runflat tyres
The customers BMW with the run flat tyre problem

So, the whole concept surrounding these tyres is based on safety. Both for their car and more importantly the driver. Another factor was that these cars could do without a spare wheel, thus reducing the weight of the car. This has contributed to the “green” credentials of the cars that they were fitted to.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) have to be used with run flat tyres

Pirelli Run Flat tyres were specifically developed to be based on the specifications of the cars on which they are to be fitted. This means that, Run Flat tyres may only be mounted on vehicles that are specifically made to have the Run Flat tyres. This was one of my first bones of contention, when my young apprentice tyre fitter snapped the TPMS valve where it was located on the inside of the wheel where the  normal tubeless valve would normally be fitted. (cost me £80 to replace)

New tyre fitting machine

I also had purchase one of the new style tyre fitting machines. Because of the difficulties that we encountered when trying to remove and re-fit the tyre from the wheel. The new type machines were equipped with special tyre hold down tools that held the tyre in place so that the fitter could use both hands when removing and fitting these difficult  tyres. After a while we were used to fitting these tyres and also learned about the TPMS systems that accompanied these tyres fitted to the car.

The Pirelli P7 Cinturato run flat tyres was also developed as a more environmentally product.

Because Pirelli had also taken the time to not only make the tyre into a run flat. But also make the tyre into a high performance design tyre. Of course, with lower fuel consumption and reduced road noise. They were also able to use a more eco-friendly compound to the tread area, giving this tyre more stability in the footprint area. The development of this tyre brought together many improvements making it a highly safe product that would complement medium and high powered vehicle such as the BMW range including the BMW Mini models.

When a loss of pressure arises in a run flat tyre then you must only continue at 50mph

The high volume of cars that are now fitted with the run flats. So, have helped me in thinking that these tyres have become a success story. At first I wasn’t sure I thought that they were just a passing fad that would go as quickly as the appeared. But I was wrong, because I have listened to some of the stories from my customers, of how they prevented them from having an accident and also of how they were able to carry on with their journey

run flat tyres
Pirelli run flat tyre showing the extent of the damage

The truth is that if your tyre suddenly loses pressure . Frighteningly, when you are doing 70 mph. Say on a busy motorway, then you will have a better chance of getting out of a sticky situation. Of course, than you would have with normal radial tyres.

Car remains stable after a blowout

Your car will remain stable and not deviate and possibly cause a crash. Even in busy traffic, as happened to a friend of mine recently. His tyre blew out and he hit the central reservation. So, causing the car to swerve and have an accident. Although he was badly injured he is now fully recovered.  But I am sure that of he had run flats fitted to his car.  Then the car would have kept the line and not crashed  into the barrier. Throwing it into the path of the traffic in the other lane.

Also if you do lose tyre pressure and it will tell you on your TPMS instrument. Located on the dash of your car. After this, then you must only drive at 50 mph. At 50 mph you can drive the car 50 miles. This is usually enough distance to enable the driver to reach the safety of a garage. Including the nearest tyre centre and have the tyre attended to.

Pirelli recommend that we should not repair run flat tyres

As the heading suggests Pirelli. Are one of the manufacturers that do not recommend that we repair run flat tyres. We at Pellon Tyres here in Halifax have been known to repair these tyres. But only if knew that there was a screw in the tyre and the tyre had not deflated. Including the fact that the TPMS light had not come on. We have since stopped this procedure altogether. Now and only fit a new tyre. Because we just do not know what damage was done, when the tyre was de-flatted.

This reminds me of a recent case in mind. One of our lady driver customers. Owning a very nice BMW, had noticed her TPMS light was warning her of a problem. Consequently, with her near side front tyre, which had a pressure loss. The BMW was fitted with Pirelli tyre as original equipment size 225/45×18 P7 Cinturato.

Heading for the M62

She was heading from the M62 motorway, back to Halifax when the incident happened and was not too sure what the light coming on meant. She carried on driving and then decided to pull in and give us a ring for advice. Because the car was fitted with a TPMS system we knew that the car would be on run flat tyres and so we recommended that she drove the car carefully to our depot in Halifax, a distance of about 5 miles well within the 50 mile recommended by Pirelli.

run flat tyres

When she arrived, the inside of the side wall of the flat tyre was completely coming away and so we had to fit the lady a new tyre. The customer worked in a high up position for the local council, but because we had a tyre in stock she was able to attend her meeting. If she had normal radial tyres fitted then she would have been delayed until someone came out to change her wheel, so everybody was happy…more reading… Pirelli run-flats

Pirelli Runflat tyres

Pellon Tyres offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. Selling Pirelli Run Flat Tyres online from our website www.pellonautocentre.com by using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size.

Dangerous Part-Worn Tyres

Driving on Bad Tyres-Motorists are Still Risking Their Lives,

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Driving on Bad Tyres

Do our foreign visitors know about Driving on Bad Tyres, and our tyre laws?

So, this is a question that I often ask myself ! Of course as the owner of a tyre business here in Halifax UK . Responsibly, have we as an industry educated the public. Enough about the dangers and safety aspects of having bald or other dangerous thing wrong with the tyres on their cars.

Driving on Bad Tyres
Driving on Bad Tyres like the two out of the four tyres presented for the MOT test

Just as in every other walks of life in this world. So, we have different types of tyre buying consumers. Significantly, we have rich and poor, people of different races and colours who all drive cars on our roads. Of course the majority who uphold ton the laws of our country. Including motoring laws ! So, to make it a safer place for us all to drive about.

We find that different cultures. Who come to our countries from different back grounds and cultures. Naturally, are able to drive a car as soon as the arrive here in the UK. According to the VOSA web site” You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence for 12 months from when you became resident”

This is a good thing in my opinion.

Enabling a person from another country to drive about. Of course, to look for say a job or look for accommodation. We have all seen the cars driving about from all over the world. Generally, I think that this is a good thing. I love to visit other countries in my car. Significantly, it is one of the pleasures in life that I have always enjoyed. But I always check important driving laws of the country that I am visiting. Before I embark on my journey.

The point that I am making is do we educate drivers enough about the facts about better road safety and the general upkeep of our cars. It seems to me, that as a nation we should be hammering home the safety aspects of driving and looking after your car so that it is also safe to other road users. This also includes immigrants and other foreign visitors including foreign students.

We should perhaps give them a copy of our highway code in their own language, whether or not they will look at it is up to them, but it would be a step forward. In a student website it recommends that if you are going to drive here in the UK then you should buy a copy of the Highway Code available from most bookstores at £2.50. More reading…”Help for International Student Drivers “

Mixture of foreign visitors that have good knowledge about their tyres

Here in Halifax UK. We have a large mixture of people from other countries and continents. All of them are welcome as our customers. It is an interesting subject to study the different attitude that people have towards road safety.

Driving on Bad Tyres
Closer look at the sidewall cracking, how they drove Driving on Bad Tyres on this car i will never know?

This includes ALL of our customers, and not just visitors. I think that we should make everybody more aware of the laws and rules that we have to stick to make the UK a better place to drive in.

I have been lucky enough to visit many countries in my life. So, like most tyre guys I always end up looking at the tyres on the cars. Usually in some car park.

It is no surprise to me that the poor countries. Such as Egypt that I recently visited. Think nothing about driving their cars  Driving on Bad Tyres. Driving on Bad Tyres  is simply a matter of economics. The richer countries that I have visited. In Europe or the USA all have high standards. Because they are richer and can usually afford  to have better tyres fitted to their vehicles.

Education a must for all drivers

I think that the problem that we have in the better off countries. Importantly, are having the crossover of different  backgrounds. In my opinion we should all re-educate the public. Keeping the high standards that we now enjoy. Some sort of campaign would remind the car driving public about the safety aspects. Of driving around in cars with tyres that are within the law.

One of the best moves that the British government have made was the introduction of the MOT test, and this model has also now been adapted in many other countries. The MOT test is carried out on the car a does not take into account where the drivers are from or the ethics of the drivers when it comes to road safety. The cars are tested and the failures must be rectified before the car can be driven on the road again.

MOT Test catch out bald tyres

Many of the worse tyres that we see have been picked up on the MOT Test Requirements and thank goodness for that? We are now finding many more cars that are coming to us with bald or faulty tyres fitted to them, and the tyres have to be changed before the car is road worthy or not.

Here at Pellon Tyres in Halifax we also fit tyres from other garages that carry out MOT tests. One of these garages rang up the other day to ask us to collect four wheels and tyres from an MOT that he had just failed. Jim the other garage owner had asked me to take a look at the condition of these tyres, as he was both amazed and amused at the state of three of the tyres.

Shocking tyres

Adam one of my drivers picked up the wheels and asked me to take a look. I could not believe that this car had been driving on our roads. Dangerously, with his tyres in such bad condition. So, you can see the state of them in the pictures that we took. Many of the tyre problems that we are coming up with, are stemming from the rise in the sale of part worn tyres and I believe that this covers my whole article, I believe that our standards are being eroded by a lack of education across the whole of the driving public and this should be tackled before the situation gets any worse.

One of the organisations that are supporting the battle against Driving on Bad Tyres are www.tyresafe.org and you can see some of their excellent work by visiting their website.

Eric Roberts

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. Tyres are available online at discount prices 

Drivers Avoid Car Servicing

Car Owners Ripped Off-Are they Really Getting Ripped off by Garages?

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Car Owners Ripped Off

Garages are becoming more transparent towards Car Owners

There are many recent reports about Servicing a Car and independent repair garages are ripping their customers off. I am not sure what these reports actually cover? Is it the one man band

Car Owners Ripped Off
It is very important to meet and greet your Car Owners customers

operations, the larger independent garages or the main franchise dealers? Or are we all being “tarred with the same brush”.

I must admit though, no matter how you try in any trade, you will not please all of your customers and it depends how loud the disgruntled person is to how it may affect your garage. We can all try our best, but we are all going to get the “wrong customer at the wrong time”. I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing much you can do about these people, they probably have other issues that are affecting their personal lives and you are the one that they are taking it out of.

Garages should be aware of social media

Ten years ago we would have hit “a brick wall” with the customer that you just are not going to please whatever you do. I regard myself as a very calm person but when I have confronted some of these “raging” customers, then my blood has reached boiling point, and my blood pressure has hit the roof. I have built my garage and Business Plan on trust and have enjoyed customer loyalty beyond my wildest dreams. Over the years we have had whole families returning time and time again for their cars servicing and repairing.

Although it sounds like that we have many bad tempered and grumpy car owners, they are indeed far and few between, but when they come they can really hurt you. The big threat at the moment is to “expose “us on social media, especially on Facebook. This has happened once or twice now, but we just tell them to go ahead, we can defend ourselves and our reputation and I am sure that other people who know them will be familiar with how they behave.

Car Owners
A happy smiling face in the reception always helps when greeting the Car Owners

How good is the training ?

Although some of auto press appear to be concerned about the level of training that our mechanics or technicians receive, (whatever we like to call them), then I am not so sure. I think that the whole education of young people has been watered down in recent years here in the UK and this includes the colleges where our young mechanics start off. Some like to think that this is progress and a new way of education, but looking back over the years I do not think that the levels of quality, have not dropped very much, if any.

The difference is that our apprentices now receive on the job training and assessments

In my own experience I think this works. I find that my staff will do the course work at home in their own time. Without much prompting. I remember when I was an apprentice (in the dark ages) I had to go to night school classes and hated it, now everything is more relaxed, providing the youngster does do the work that we ask of them.

This brings me back to having to raging customer. Consequently, facing the customer who may be out to get us. I firmly believe that part of all of staff training should be in customer care. These days the standards for caring for the customer and their cars have risen.

For young people who are just starting out in the garage trade. Perhaps and are starting their own business for perhaps the first time. Therefore should take this into consideration. Even if you are just a one man band or a mobile mechanic. So, you should look at some of my advice that I offer. Of course, as a successful garage owner of Pellonautocentre for twenty five years.

What garages can do to cushion the aggression?

1: One of the most important things. Of course, is that you and the members of your staff should be trained. Especially in the skill of “meet and greet”. This is the first thing we teach any of our staff. Believe me people have to be taught this skill. Just a basic “yes sir/Madam, how can help you” will be just fine. Even if you have got a hangover or just argued with your wife. This is the very basic polite response that your customer deserves and of course a smile. This also applies to answering the telephone, never let the phone ring out, train your staff to answer it politely, until a senior member of staff can take the call.

2: Escort the customer

To your reception/manager or whatever system your garage operates in. This is passing the customer onto the expert. Who will help the customer with any advice or problem that they may have. Too many businesses do not take any time out to perform these basic tasks. So they fly about with the customer in close pursuit trying to explain that they have a problem with their brakes. For my UK readers, (a good example of what not to do can be seen in the garage that Kevin owns in Coronation Street). No time sorry too busy attitude, will not build you a successful garage business.

3: Then you are prepared for that monster customer, with his huge problem.

I know that some of the larger garages. Such as main dealerships are trained to cope with these types of situations. But in general the small rage has to cope ! Whoever the unlucky member of staff is who has to deal with the matter. If you do not have a person who is trained to cope with these things. Of course, then you should take a deep breath. Asking the disgruntled customer to step somewhere out of the way, (this may upset other customers, who may be waiting for your attention).

4: Keep calm

may by do not take it personally. You must try to put yourself in the shoes of the customer, has he got a genuine reason to be annoyed with your garage.

Car Owners Ripped Off
Staying calm is one of the best pieces of advice when dealing with irate Car Owners
Is the thing that is causing a dispute with your garage reasonable?

We have been accused of scratching a car on a couple of occasions, we know we didn’t do it but have come to some sort of compromise and kept the customer’s business try to keep in a conversation and not a “slagging match”. Resolving the dispute with the Car Owners is your ultimate goal.

5: perhaps finally,

If you feel that you are getting nowhere then “hit a brick wall “. Of course you must let the customer go away and think about what you may have offered them, or not. At this stage you may have lost the person as a customer anyway. But if you have been seen to try and resolve the situation, and then you have tried your best and move on to the rest of your day.

6: As the owner of the garage business

I have learned over the years that you should not interfere in the reconciliation process and try find which member of your staff has got the correct attitude and presence of mind to deal with this type of dispute, I usually find that your manager is best capable to handle this, even if you have to give them some form of advice and training.

I also hope that nay advice that I give will help young and future garage owners to enjoy and succeed in their future Car Garage business. more reading…http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/unhappy-customers.htm

Best Tyres Revisited

AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER- From the 1960,s to Today-Avon tyres are Still Supporting Motorsport

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AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER

AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER?

AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER
Old sixties Garage with a vintage Avon tyres advertising sign.

In my long career in the tyre industry, (too long), it is fair to say that there has been many changes that have taken place in the tyre industry, some were good and others bad. The large tyre manufacturers bought out the small niche manufacturer, for example Goodyear Tyres took over Kelly and Lee tyres and a few others on the way, Continental Tyres bought out

AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER
Avon tyres ZR5 slick racing tyre on an F3 car

Semperit tyres and a few others, (the names of who slip my mind at the moment), and so on and so forth.

We also remember the fight to take over control of the tyre retail chains, starting off in the sixties and the seventies. Michelin took over British retailer ATS, Dunlop formed the National Tyres chain, by merging some acquisitions, including the very large retailer Marsham tyres. Pirelli formed the Central tyre group, and the list goes on and on.

I worked for a small tyre company in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, UK

But we were swallowed up into the National tyre group and became primarily Dunlop and India tyre retailers. This was the main aim, to sell the products of the mother company. To be true full, I really enjoyed what was going on, and it all became a learning curb to me for the future. Times in the sixties were great for me as a teenager; it really was the “swinging sixties”.

I clearly remember that the working man had more disposable income, and they were beginning to buy more cars, these cars needed puncture repairs and new tyres, things started to get busy. We had a very mixed type of business community, in the area where we were living, from large textile mills to farming on the outskirts of the towns. We also had all off the service industry that comes with a large populated area, such as hauliers, builders, bus companies and the smaller types of business like the solicitors and local banks and building societies all of who used cars and trucks and therefor had to buy tyres.

In the sixties we had to be “jack of all trades”.

Where as in today’s tyre market we generally stick to one thing, such as we in Halifax only service cars and other companies specialise in truck or earth mover tyres. We never knew what would come into us next; it could be a puncture repair on a tractor rear from a farmer to a small cart wheel from a mill basket on wheels. We also had a mix of different cars, from the rich mill owners with their Rolls Royce’s to a bus conductor with his Mini.

One of the things that stand out in my mind is that we used a large amount of inner tubes in those days and also wheel balancing was relatively new thing, most wheels were balanced with

AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER
Shaving a tyre at the Snetterton race track, this removes the small stones and grit that have penetrated the tyres outer layer

a simple bubble balancer and wheel alignment was not a word in our vocabulary in the sixties. Radial tyres were replacing X ply’s and more and more cars were coming out on radial tubeless tyres.

Avon Tyres come into the story

Some of the cars that were coming in for tyres would include the new Rover 2000. I remember this car because apart from the fact that it was very different in style and size the car came out on 165×14 Pirelli Cinturato tyres, but I believe that it was my first introduction to Avon tyres, who also made 165×14 radial tyres for this model. The new Rover became very popular with the new “middle management” customers and in 1966 a TC version was released which made the car capable of over 100 mph.

Avon tyres were better known for their motor-cycle tyres, but started to push into the car tyre market. We were also witnessing new tyre sizes to fit the newer types of cars that were competing for the new wealth that was emanating from then new business confidence that was giving the UK a “buzz”. Cars like the E-Type Jaguar were getting more popular as second hand versions became available, from their start off at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961.

Jaguar cars were getting more popular amongst the wealthy mill owners who would by one for the wife and kids, but they came out mainly on Dunlop tyres who had formed a good relationship with the Jaguar company, although I do remember that Dunlop had balancing problems with some of the  tyres. It was in the 1980’s that Avon tyres were fitted to some Jaguars, the tyre that was used was the Avon tyres Turbo-Steel radial and was fitted to the XK model.

Bringing out many different tyre designs and patterns over the years, but one of the things that have impressed me is that they have always had a strong involvement in “motorsport”. This developed from the motor-cycle side of the business. But back in the sixties and seventies the car manufacturers started to race and rally sporty versions of their models. Such cars as Minis, MGB’s and Ford Cortina’s were developed into track and rally cars. Avon tyres are one of the few companies that have kept up the

AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER
Avon tyres historic racing tyre

tradition right up to the present day, and can offer tyres that are just as good and competitive as they were in the original racing days.

Avon tyres still make tyres from the 450×17 vintage car tyre to the textile radials that have a special cling rubber tread compound that is used in making the Avon textile radial. The Avon Historic All Weather tread patterned tyres are designed to give excellent road holding in all-weather applications while keeping the period look of the historic range of racing cars. It is FIA approved for different historic racing series throughout the world. The textile radial is a “V” rated tyre so is capable of speeds of up to 150mph, ideal for vintage racing.

AVON TYRES AROUND FOREVER-Avon tyres ACB9

This tyre was developed as a formula Ford 1600 tyre and is used for the pre 1974 historic car championships. The tyre is also used for the pre 1965 1000cc formula 3 races and small bore vintage cars such as the MG Midgets and Frog Eyed Sprites. It is a great attribute to Avon to continue making these tyres an all sorts of sizes for this different array of cars.

The list of tyres that Avon make goes on and on and I will be covering some of them in different articles. From my early youth to the present day I have always been a huge fan of the Avon Company and we still buy their tyres to this day. We were sad when Avon were taken over by Cooper tyres but the old name has survived, and we can look forward to many years of this excellent tyre product.

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

Car Finance Check-Should you buy a car with outstanding finance?

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Car Finance Check

Car Finance Check

Car Finance Check

While it’s not uncommon for an automobile to have outstanding financing. So, we suggest that you only purchase a car once the outstanding finance is cleared.

It would help if you recognized a vehicle’s finance standing before purchasing. If you don’t know how to check the finance of the car! Please visit the link. In the case when a vehicle is having outstanding finance. Including, the individual in charge of the debt defaults on their financing. After you’ve acquired the vehicle, the finance provider can look to repossess it from you. Although you cannot acquire the loan of the borrower. hence, you would run the risk of going to the failure of the money spent on the car.

Dealers will typically not offer automobiles without they check if a vehicle are financed. Yet this cannot be guaranteed in all situations. Consequently, whether you are purchasing from a personal vendor or a dealership. Thus, it is essential to inspect a vehicle’s finance status.

If you find that while verifying if this car is on finance that the vehicle is still based on a financing contract, we advise that the seller works out the finance completely before you consent to buy the vehicle. Sometimes the seller may try to offer the vehicle to pay the outstanding financing. Yet, it is essential to note here that until the debt is resolved, the ownership of the automobile stays with the financing supplier as well as is not moved to you. Unless you understand as well as rely on the seller, it’s a high-risk procedure to accept to buy a car with finance outstanding.

What is outstanding money?

Outstanding money takes place when the previous proprietor still has money for paying on the vehicle but markets it out. In doing so, they fraudulently are offering the vehicle to another person and not declaring it on any documents or communications. If you are thinking about can you check if a car is on finance, don’t fret; you definitely can visit the given link.

How to inform if there is outstanding money on an automobile?

Before you buy a used vehicle, you ought to carry out a finance check, which will inform you if any cash is owed on the vehicle, as well as if it has ever been associated with a crash or if it’s stolen.

If you’re buying from a dealership, you can ask them that can you check if a car is on finance. The Car History Inspect checks the history of a vehicle as well as is hence a reliable way to prevent purchasing an auto with outstanding financing.

What to do if there is outstanding financing on a car?

  • Before buying an automobile:

So, if you uncover outstanding money as well as you have not yet purchased the automobile. Of course, you must consult the provided finance firm to comprehend whether the account has been resolved or if payments are due. Naturally, if money is still owed, you must ask the owner to fix the account before continuing with the sale. If you don’t know how to check finance on the car, you can visit the link.

  • After acquiring a car:

If you find out while checking is this car on finance that there is outstanding financing owed after acquiring the car, it will be more difficult to verify you have a lawful right to possessing the car. You will have to persuade the money business you are an innocent customer, which can be difficult. If unsuccessful, they can reclaim the vehicle.

Getting a check that is this car on finance is quick to do online with the Car Analytics Automobile History Check will provide a couple of details regarding the vehicle you intend to buy.

I’ve purchased an auto with outstanding financing; what should I know?

  • What does outstand money suggest?

While doing a finance check, you find if a pre-owned car has outstanding financing, it means that the finance company still owns the vehicle. The buyer has a hire purchase agreement in place that has not yet finished.

  • What is a Hire Purchase Agreement?

A Hire Purchase Arrangement allows the vehicle owner to pay either nothing or a fairly lower down payment to buy the car. After that, they will continue to pay the money as a fixed fee on a regular monthly basis until the hire purchase arrangement finishes.

When this occurs, the vehicle driver usually gets the option to trade the vehicle and start a new hire acquisition contract or purchase the present auto outright.

  • Why do I need to understand about Hire Purchase Agreements?

Until the hire purchase agreement expires, the motorist is properly selling out the auto. They have not bought it; the money business possesses it, which implies that the buyer has no authority to market it. If you are as lucky as to acquire a car in this circumstance, you do not own the vehicle you’ve spent for, even if you are provided documentation seemingly verifying that you do.

It will not take too much time before the financing business is notified as well as they act to impound the automobile or need that you pay off the outstanding money to stop them impounding it.

  • Is there outstanding financing on my auto?

If you’re uncertain, it’s better to know immediately. Inspecting if a car has outstanding financing is easy. Even if you have currently purchased the vehicle, as well as you’re concerned your vehicle has outstanding money on it, it remains in your interest to run a quick check.

If the car does have outstanding financing on it, it’s better to learn the terms than with a knock on the door from the cops. After being notified your auto has outstanding finance, you ought to contact an experienced lawyer right away.

So, before buying a car, please check for outstanding finance on the vehicle.

Vauxhall Insignia Brakes

Fibreglass Coil Springs-Made from Fibreglass could they Replace Steel Coil Springs?

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Fibreglass Coil Springs

Wow ! I could not believe it when I first heard about the new development in automotive coil springs.

coil springs
The Ford KA showing the broken steel coil spring

So, Coil springs have always been one of the most likely components to fail the British MOT test. Because, they are stuck beneath our cars. Subsequently, are open to everything that the elements and the roads have to throw at them. After all that they are expected to help take the strain off the car. Of course, when going over bad bumpy roads and also cornering and generally helping our cars give the owners a comfortable ride.

The springs are open to rusting and at the same time cope with the horrendous roads, full of potholes and generally in bad condition. The coil springs usually meet their end when the car does drive over a pothole and one of the coil springs breaks. Some rattle and bang but some break off at the top or bottom and are not detected until the dreaded MOT test or they are sometimes spotted on a service.

Coil springs have been around ever since I can remember and much longer

But now there is a new kid on the block, a coil spring made out of glass fibre and epoxy resin (FRP). These new springs are everything that the old steel versions are not. They are weather proof, this means that they will not rust and they are chemical proof and almost unbreakable. The other added bonus is that they weigh a lot less than the conventional steel counterparts. The FRP springs also consume much less energy than their steel cousins.

This new technology has been developed by the Sogefi Group who are very well known for their innovations and new developments in the Auto industry and have now come out with this excellent coil spring product that I am sure will sweep the world and replace the steel counterparts. The Sogefi group have specifically set out to create a replacement product of  the steel coil spring and come out with something that is half the weight, which along with other lighter materials will help cars to become more Eco-friendly, with less fuel  consumption than when fitted with the conventional steel coil springs. Another plus point for the FRP coil springs will be the fact that they can be mass produced.

I am not sure that it will be a good thing for our garage businesses

As replacing the coil springs one of the main Suspension Parts, is part of our bread and butter income, but if this helps the consumer, which I am sure it will then I am all for progress and moving forward . I must admit I have noticed that the steel made coil

coil spring
Image shows a fiberglass coil spring next to a steel coil spring
coil spring
Job done with a new spring fitted and good to go.

springs seem to have being getting thinner in stature and not as robust as the ones that we have been replacing and so it might be time for a change and who knows if they do break on impact . Because they made of glass fibre and epoxy resin, then they may just be repairable. This material has been around for some time now and is very flexible and repairable. I was also wondering if we would still have to use our Coil Spring Compressors. So, to remove and fit a replacement spring? probably. I also wonder if our replacement spring suppliers will have to keep both types of  Springs Manufacturer products in stock and will one replace the other?

Ford KA in for suspected broken coil springs.

This leads me onto my next little snippet. About a car that was left with us the other day . So, with a knocking noise coming from the front of his car. The car was an old style Ford KA 1.3, 2006 with a petrol engine. The noise wasn’t easy to find ! Happily, we found that a broken spring was the culprit. When I have read about the new style FRP Replacement Coil Springs. I cannot find where it tells us about their strength. Hence or whether or not they will outperform the steel ones. But changing the steel spring has certainly become good business for us. So only time will tell.

We got permission to change the broken spring from our customer and the job was done, the KA was picked up later that day and our customer went home a happy man.

UCCC-Good News for Unipart Car Care Centres in the UK

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Resigned from Unipart Car Care Centres 

So, I became a Unipart car care Centre” UCCC” about 5 years ago. Unfortunately, in that time then I could not see any advantages for our customers. So I decided to pull out of this failing organization!

So, generally, then I have always been a fan of becoming a member of an organization (not now since the corvid 19 pandemic). Because it can give a small local garage like us a nationwide coverage (this never worked in practice). Importantly, when it comes to helping out our customers (did not help a single customer). Of course who may get into trouble when traveling to other parts of the country ( this never happened because of the good quality of our workmanship).

Nationwide coverage was not effective !

So, if we say carry out a service or a repair job to your car. Before you visit your long lost aunt in Brighton ! Then your car will be covered by this warranty. Should a part fail or go faulty. Then we can arrange for the car to be repaired in that area. So, by contacting the closest UCCC centre. By contacting us here in Halifax and we will arrange for your car fixing. So that you can have a safe journey home (this never worked and indeed was never required).

Such as the quality of the replacement parts that we supply ( we will still offer the best quality parts). These parts are up to the manufacturers specifications for quality (this still applies to the parts that we supply). So can be used on a car that is still covered by the car manufacturer’s warranty. Of course, without affecting that warranty, which is great news for us small independent garages. Here at Pellonautocentre in Halifax we have always prided ourselves for giving excellent service.

Horror when Unipart went into administration on 23rd July 2014.

You can imagine my disappointment when I heard that Unipart had gone into administration,( last week). We would have certainly survived but it could have made things a little more difficult, especially regarding outstanding warranties. The Unipart Company are now in the hands of the administrators KPMG. But to my surprise I found out that the Unipart Group are a separate company to Unipart Automotive who control UCCC, of which we are members.

This is a recent e-mail to all the UCCC members from Stuart McHale…

“We were saddened by the news about Unipart Automotive, but it is important to note that Unipart Group continues to be a financially strong, growing company in

manufacturing, global logistics; consultancy and International automotive aftermarket operations

Express Factors, KiS users and Unipart Car Care Centres throughout the UK will understandably have immediate concerns for their future, so I wanted to update you on the current arrangements.

Unipart Group and Andrew Page have moved as quickly as possible to work in partnership to provide new services and Andrew Page will now become a national stockists and distributor of Unipart products. For those KiS and UCCC’s previously supplied by a Unipart Automotive branch. Please contact your local Andrew Page branch (now closed) to agree service and supply arrangements.

Unipart Group is working to make new arrangements with a number of software and programme suppliers to provide systems functionality and support services and intends to make the Unipart brand available to UCCC who meet minimum standards”

Finally as a 2020 update, then we are not part of any trade organization. Benefiting our customers by buying parts from the supplier with the best quality parts at the best possible price.

Independent Garage

Yokohama Racing Tyres-GOOD DAY OUT AT SNETTERTON 300 CIRCUIT.

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Yokohama Racing Tyres AT SNETTERTON 300 CIRCUIT.

To be truthful I am not a mad follower of motor racing ! Probably something to do with the fact that in the whole of West Yorkshire we do not have a race circuit. The nearest one is Croft in North Yorkshire and I have visited this track a few times in the recent past.

Yokohama Racing Tyres
Yokohama Racing Tyres slick tyre removed

Of course, in North Yorkshire and I have visited this track a few times in the recent past. So to see various motor racing events. The last one was a British BMW championship meeting through Kumho tyres.

It came to me with great pleasure ! So when I was invited to a race meeting in Snetterton, Norfolk, UK. The race meeting was a good four hour drive from my beloved Yorkshire. But never the less I decided to do the round trip in the day and set off at 5.30 in the morning. The day was going to be red hot ! You could just tell and I was looking forward to watching the cars perform. Especially, on the Yokohama Racing Tyres, that we sell in Halifax to our customers.

I arrived early because the roads were quiet due to the fact that it was Sunday morning

I met the Yokohama Racing Tyres UK guy Paul Cox. Paul was to be my guide ! Shyly, as I have said I know little about the motorsport circuit. Although I love the atmosphere that these events can generate. I took my camera to take some shots of the cars. Especially with the Yokohama racing tyres fitted. This is always the sign of a good tyre company, the research and development that these companies gain is invaluable when it comes to developing tyres for the regular cars that we use in every day usage.

Paul turned out to be a very knowledgeable guide having competed in motorsport racing himself for a good many years and now helping to coach his son to become a race car driver at the age of seventeen. The racing today was to be the British F3 and GT championships and when I arrived it was a lovely sunny day and the crowds were already building up.

British F3 has always been one of the proving grounds for future F1 drivers including the 2009 World champion Jenson Button. Some of the drivers competing on that day are expected to become future F1 stars and included Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Riciardo, so watch out for those names.

The weekends racing also included the BRDC Formula 4 Championships

Yokohama Racing Tyres
Yokohama Racing Tyres F4 tyres

Including up and coming stars on show, I could not Waite.  These cars run on 2 litre Ford Duratec engines and develop 175 Brake horse power BHP. They are supplied with a Cosworth engine management system and are operated with a 6 speed Sadev transmission system that works from a paddle shift. Yokohama Racing Tyres are the suppliers of the wet and slick compound tyres, the main purpose of my visit.

Paul was really enthusiastic about showing me round. So, I was very impressed with the politeness of the drivers. Including the guys in the pits ! Allowing me to take pictures at will. He also knew many of the drivers. Introducing me to a couple of them in between their busy schedules. One of the drivers was Jon Minshaw the owner of the famous Demon Tweeks motor parts stores. Consequently, taking time out between changing driver’s mid-way through a race.

Yokohama tyres fitting area was most impressive.

Paul also introduced me to the YOKOHAMA TYRES UK tyre fitting team fully equipped with fitting machines and wheel balance’s all ready for the action, in fact when we were there they had already fitted in excess of  a hundred slick tyres due to the hot sunny weather the slick tyres give a better grip, than tyres with a tread on them.

One of the other drivers that I saw was Sir Chris How who has only recently changed from cycling to the British GT Championships and is said to be a “natural” at motorsport, making 2014 his debut year in the Nissan Academy Team known as RJN. Also in his year of racing was Rick Parfett Jnr, son of his famous namesake from the band, Status Quo, who incidentally I saw live at Leeds First direct Arena, last December, with my wife Michelle. Rick the elder often watches his son race but was not there on this day.

Yokohama Racing Tyres
Yokohama Racing Tyres advan F4 tyres

After watching a great days racing and talked to many of the pit guys I thanked Paul for a great day out and headed for my long drive back to Yorkshire, looking forward to my next race meeting later this year.