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MOT Test Fee-How “LOW” can “MOT TEST FEES GET” ?

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MOT Test Fee In recent times the price of an MOT Test Fee has dropped.

So, enabling garages to try and attract the cash strapped motorists. All sorts of deals have been advertised. Incredibly, even “FREE”, testing. Which is allowed under the “DVLA MOT Rules” signs outside garages.

So, as the owner of an MOT test centre in Halifax. I am amazed at the number of garages giving away “cheap MOT tests” . Of course, the official mot test fee should be £54.85 (no vat). As stated on the www.gov.uk web-site.

Not mandatory, this MOT Test Fee is only a recommended charge to be used by garages. So, based on the time and equipment that it should take to carry out the mot test according to VOSA the Government test agency here in the UK.

Significantly, the Government totally regulate our testing stations.

Including visits by their inspectors ? Consequently, who also make sure that we have the correct equipment and that all our paperwork is in order. Naturally, we have regular updates for testing procedures .

Such as any mechanical updates or different specifications that may have to changed during a test. Our testers are also checked by the ministry guys. Making, sure that they are carrying out the correct testing procedures. We have to provide a suitable reception and viewing room for the customers, and also use VOSA’s own computer system to register the test results and store all the other information about my garage and the cars that are entered into the system.

In other words in my opinion we are controlled by the Government !

Ensuring that the testing procedure is carried out correctly and within the law. If we stray form the correct procedures we are subject to all sorts of penalties. Which would ultimately result in the closure of your MOT station. I am not moaning about all this, to the contrary. I think that the system is a very good system and is the envy of many countries. Of course, it is not perfect but then again nothing is in the World of garages.

The average hourly rate that we charge for mechanical work in the independent garage sector. Is said to be around the £40 per hour mark ! In my opinion is a very fair price to charge. The Government maintain that because we here in the UK use the private sector to test cars. Then the MOT Test Fee is only a recommended fee and garages could charge what they want. So, the problem is that when they visit, they ask you what you charge in your garage. Subsequently, they don’t seam to like it if you discount the MOT Test Fee,(that’s the impression that I get). But surly they are the ones that think the pricing should be controlled by the private sector.

mot test prices have dropped “big style”

In recent times the price of an MOT Test Fee has dropped. Enabling garages to attract the cash strapped motorists. All sorts of deals have been advertised. Even “FREE”, testing that is allowed under the DVLA MOT Rules. Can be  seen up and down the country. Obviously this is a move to attract the motorist into you garage ! Hoping that you may get some mechanical work from a test failure! Nothing wrong with that ! you may say.

The problem is that we have all huge investments in these mot test stations.

Meaning that the price we are getting is far lower than the investment in staff and machinery. I understand that we all have to take the good with the bad ! But I now feel that it is time that the Government stepped in. They could do two things in my opinion. They could have a minimum priced paid for a test, based on the average hourly rate, say perhaps £40, or make the £54.85 in to a mandatory MOT Test Fee to all motorists, and not just a recommendation.

It will be interesting for some feedback from other garage owners with mot test stations here in the UK. So, since this article first appeared. Computerization has made significant changes to the DVLA garage procedures. In fact testers have now to be examined t more regular intervals that previously. In my opinion this is a good thing ! 

Also, testing procedures are now adjusted more often.

Because of the regular changes to emission testing procedures emanating from the of requirements of the European Union strict emission laws. Of course to bring down the nations “carbon foot print” So, reducing the C02 emissions. Naturally, this has affected diesel cars the most.

We all know about the diesel car scandal ? Most car manufacturers were falsifying the C02 figures of their diesel models. Of course this brought a clampdown from the regulators. Significantly turning round the theory that the diesel cars were better for the climate that the petrol cars. Responding to this the EU came out with much stricter emission rules. So resulting in stricter MOT emission testing in the EU member countries.

However, I have recently learned that  VW have been selling the older diesel cars to countries like Albania, at highly discounted prices ! So much for emission standards ! There are rules for some and rules for others ! Many diesel cars can now be treated to clean the internal workings of the engine. Significantly, improving the cars chances of passing the MOT test.

We offer an engine carbon cleaning service for this purpose.

car air conditioning

Check Your CAR AIR CON – to Cool You In British heat Wave that is expected?

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Car air con

Firstly, I know that we have all seen and heard these  false weather warning ! So, in the past and nothing ever comes of them. Especially from the “Daily Express” newspaper group. This warning from the “Daily Mirror” is of a heat wave that may last up to two weeks; nice if it happens.

I did think though that it was about time I did an article about your air conditioning system. In my opinion, it is always a good thing to remind our customers. That it is important to have your air con system checked out and serviced.

Car air con in winter

Many drivers make the mistake of turning their car air con off in winter. I appreciate that with it on the car uses slightly more fuel. But the truth is that when it is switched off. Then the parts of the car air con system are not being used and will eventually deteriorate. Up to the present time, most of the parts and hoses are often made of rubber and plastic. Because it is a sealed system. You are likely to get a loss of pressure.

Of course, due to leakage and this leads to the system failing. In due time, with the car air conditioning system not working and probably leading to a more expensive repair. Some of our customers think that the heating system will not work. Hence with the air con switched on. But this is not so, the car will be hot or cold with the air con in winter and summer.

How does your air con work?

Basically, all car air con systems work in a similar fashion. It operates by taking a gas known as R134a refrigerant and pressurize it in a sealed system using a compressor. As the system is pressurized it heats up by absorbing the air around it. The hot gas is then passed through a series of tubes, similar to a car radiator which dissipated the heat.

The gas loses its heat and gets really cold by turning into a liquid. Consequently, this is the stage when the cold air is blow into the cars cabin! Cooling you down.

Some of your cars air con component parts

At the very heart of your air con system is the compressor. The compressor is the part that takes the R134a refrigerant gas and pressurizes it  to cool the air. The compressor is operated by an engine belt. But has also had an electric clutch system that controls the demand for colder air. In other words, the compressor will turn on and off as you demand colder air in the cars cabin.

Importantly, the next part to explain about is the Condenser. The condenser is mounted at the front of the car next to the main car radiator. For this reason and is usually smaller in size. This is the part that converts the gas into a liquid as it becomes cooler. Just like the radiator cools the water down that comes red hot from the engine, a similar principal.

The next part is like a small radiator and is called the Evaporator. The evaporator does exactly opposite to the condenser and super-cools the liquid as it passes through the tubes. At this stage air is forced through and into the cars cab. Thus, super cooling the cars interior to the delight of the occupants on a hot sunny day. As the gas cools down again it is turned back into a liquid and the cycle starts over again.

Another important part of your car air con is called the thermal expansion valve.

The expansion valve controls the flow of the super-cooled refrigerant to the evaporator; Without delay, this equipment helps to regulate the cold air that ends up in your cabin. The next part of the car air con system to mention is the accumulator also known as the “drier”. The drier protects the compressor from damage that may be caused by any liquid that makes its way back and could damage the compressor. It does this by a chemical process that absorbs any moisture to the system, it also acts as a filter catching any small pieces of rubbish that may have made its way into the system.

That just about covers the general idea of how your car air con system works without trying to get too complicated. Cars have all got different variants and are fitted with sensors to pick up temperature and differences in pressure, but most Old Cars work off a similar system. Toyota Cars have a different system to say BMW cars.

We at Pellon Auto centre here in use a Duel gas air con machine to service the cars with and what it does is to recirculate the gas and add more if required and then re-pressurizes the system. Many cars loose pressure because they have not had their air con switched on in winter and the system has lost pressure, but most servicing machines can find a fault and we use a special spray to find any possible leaks in the cars system.  

Hope this air con advice  was of use to you

 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 tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk

 

Important Notice

Because of air pollution then we now have to use a new type of gas on new car models. Importantly, we will notify our customers as to which type they have on there vehicles. So, new style gasses cost twice the amount as the old type gasses. We are sorry about this and charge as fairly as possible ?

   

   

tyres online Safe and cheap way of shopping: online with discount codes

Tyres Online Halifax- Most Local Tyre Companies now Sell Online-So Check Us out

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Eric Roberts‘s insight:

Tyres Online Internet companies tyre prices are leveling out as local tyre shops catch up with prices (Tyres Online Halifax)

 Prices in the biggest internet tyre companies are now leveling out. One of the reasons for this in my opinion is the fact that local tyre companies are now competing online with the big boys.

So, we at Tyres Online Halifax UK can now offer  online products. Challenging, at the same or even cheaper tyre prices as the well known internet sellers. Importantly, the customer also has the added knowledge that not only is he getting a very competitive price. But there local tyre depot can give them certain re-assurance that if a problem arises (and they often do). Of course, then the problem will be resolved at a local level.

Hence, without having to battle it out with e-mails. Because half these companies are not even on the phone. So, leaving e-mails as the only way to contact them. Of course should a problem arise. In the short time that it has been since writing this post. Then things have changed. in fact things concerning buying your Tyres Online Halifax are speeding up, so to say? I am referring back to the local tyre company theme and “what comes round Goes round”.

It is not rocket science that the only winner in this online tyre war is the consumer. The internet has cut the cake up into many small pieces. Sadly, lowering the margins of most companies that sell tyres for a living. Of course, using the traditional methods.

A few years ago a similar thing happened 

But that time it was the tyre wholesalers that cut the price up and selling cheap car tyres to any Tom,Dick and Harry and lowering our profits once again. Well this time it is the giant internet companies who have now being joined by the likes of supermarket chain ASDA under the name of ASDA Tyres.

Luckily for the smaller independent tyre retailer the cost of running your own priced up website has come down considerably and we can now all compete with the big companies that trade online. This is where we all are today and God only knows what the future will bring, but at least we can now compete and service our customers at a local level once again, only time will tell. 

  So when you are thinking of buying car tyres Online Halifax look for a “LOCAL” tyre company who will sell the same product as the big boys at the same price or less.

As an update Blackcircles have been bought out by Michelin tyres and tyre wholesalers are buying up retail tyre depots, to try keep their market share.

New tyre labelling continental tyres

Continental tyres Class-Why They Are One of the Worlds Premium Brand of Tyres

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Continental tyres Class

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Continental tyres Class

Eric Roberts‘s insight:

Continental tyres

Top Award-winners in the Tyre World
So, Continental  are always taking the top award places . Especially, in independent tyre sectors . That look at the  performances of their tyre products. Of course, that take them over and above the EU tyre label. Hence, ever since 2007. We have come tops in well over 80% of all the individual tyre tests . Of course, that were carried out throughout Europe. Continental have also won ‘Tyre Manufacturer of the Year’. Which recognizes Continental tyres Class product range . Especially, contribution to their environmental efforts .Helping create a sustainable future.

Great Brakes performance
Continental  are the top brand tyre that will give you quality handling and a  responsive braking performance. Of course, in all types of weather conditions. So, all of our Continental tyres Class tyre products are  developed using their one and only  braking testing facility. Consequently, this machine  sets the industry standards for tyre braking supremacy. We check well over 700 million testing  miles a year, Significantly, also testing over 200 different rubber compounds on a  daily basis. So when it comes to braking performance Continental tyres Class are second to none.

Car makers choose Conti


Continental are based in Germany and this is the home of top car manufacturers ,such as BMW and Mercedes, not forgetting Audi and VW. These companies all get together to help produce the best tyre combinations for their particular model of cars.  In fact one in three new cars made in Europe is fitted with Continentals . For their Continental tyres Class products to be fitted as original equipment, their products must have gone through the required levels and high standard set by the car manufacturer, Their tyre products must pass  over 100 strictly monitored tests to become an important part of the cars equipment.

Continental tyres Class

They are always amongst the leaders with joint technical ventures with Germany’s leading car makers such as BMW and VW/AUDI not forgetting MERCEDES.

Their tyre size range is huge and covers most of the Worlds car fitments, giving the luxury end of the car market  with fantastic grip and cornering at high speeds, truly a fantastic tyre company and one that I am proud to support along with their sister company UNIROYAL TYRES.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles.  Selling Continental Tyres Online in Yorkshire from our website. 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. We are also an official MOT testing station.

See on www.rezulteo-tyres.co.uk

wheel alignment

Wheel Alignment Problems-When and Why Do You Need a Wheel Alignment?

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Wheel Alignment Problems

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Wheel Alignment Problems, is your car pulling to the left or right?

The words wheel alignment  will be heard thousands of times a year by any member of the motoring fraternity. One of the most common first signs that your wheel alignment is out, will be that your steering wheel will be out of line and not feel to in a straight line, hence when you are cruising along your car feels to be pulling to one side or the other.

If you should happen notice that your vehicle pulls significantly . Either, to the left or right . Especially, when you are driving along in your car . On  a straight, flat road. hence with not much wind about. Then you will probably having  Alignment Problems. Another bad sign is when you notice that your  tyres are wearing off. Especially at the edges of the tread area. Then this means that your alignment will need adjusting . Of course,, to correct your  Alignment Problems . As a result, you should take your car to a local tyre dealer or a good  garage. Especially, in your local area to have its wheel alignment checked. of course, this is an easy job for your tyre guy to perform. Especially. if your vehicle’s wheels are not properly aligned. Therefore, it will cause abnormal and premature wearing of your tyres.

When this happens it is best to take to your car  it into the local  Service centre or Tyre shop, to have your (wheel alignment or sometimes known as tracking) adjusted.

This can usually be done while you wait or when you have new tyres fitted. Incidentally, we now have a brand new 4 wheel alignment centre installed. Of course we are now able to offer a much better alignment service. Because of  this we are able to offer a much more “four wheel” alignment service. Of course we can also keep down the price of the regular front wheel alignment service. So, having your alignment carried out on a modern alignment centre that operates by laser beams. Should only be charged between £30 and £40 for the job doing. Of course, the  more expensive machines can also give you a print out to keep after the work is done.

Wheel Alignment Problems

  Some cars require a 4 wheel alignment, but you will find this out by asking you Auto centre to check this out in the cars manual or their Autodata computer data-base…

brakes pads only posts

Mazda 5 crawls in with Brakes Problem making a bad Grinding noise?

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Mazda 5

Mazda 5 brakes make grinding noise

One of the benefits of been an independent garage is the huge diversity of cars that pass through our doors, and our ability to service and fix most of them. I say most of them, because we do have some problems with electrical faults, that can’t be detected without specialists equipment and so in that case we have a couple of different guys who are mobile  electrical specialists. Otherwise we can cope with most car problems.

One popular car to run about Halifax UK, is the Mazda 5. The most popular ones being the different Mazda sports cars, that in my opinion were a similarity to our own beloved MGB sport cars, they all look very much alike.

Mazda’s have come a long way since the 1960’s, when they were inspired by the development of the NSU and the Wankel engine. I remember this little car very well; a mechanic friend bought one and showed me the strange engine that was belt driven. The car was also very fast once it got going and the guy used to frighten me to death: eventually the engine blew up and the car was scrapped.

Mazda were very interested in the German technology

So the Japanese car company formed a business alliance. Of course, with the German car company NSU. In 1967 Mazda started to make a limited production model called the Cosmo Sport and eventually became the sole makers of the Wankel engine, this was only because all the other car companies had given up making the rotary engine.

The Mazda car company was beginning to get a good reputation and started exporting their cars from Japan, both the rotary engine and the standard type piston engine layout, all over the World. These cars were primarily the rotary engine cars, especially the RX models, the RX 2, 3 and 4, were the biggest sellers.

In recent years many other very reputable models were introduced to the UK car market and this brings me onto the Mazda 5 that came into us with brake problems. The customer

originally rang us up for a Brake Replacement Cost, but we explained that we could not tell what the problem was until we removed all the wheels and inspected the Car Brakes including the Car Brake Pads, to see what the problem was.

The customer was a lady with a couple of children and we promised to do the best price for her. This Mazda 5 is a very fuel efficient car with great style and with the performance is a very desirable people carrier and so is very popular as a family car.

The Mazda was left with us for the day with a promise to call the lady with a Brake Repair Cost, as soon as the problem was assessed.

We pulled the car onto the car-ramp and removed all the wheels for a brake inspection

The original problem on the Mazda 5 was that the car brakes were making a terrible grinding noise and we soon found out why? The front brake caliper’s was half seized up. This means that only one of the front Brake Pads were actually working. The one pad that was doing the work wore out quicker than the other pad. Until it went down to the bare metal. Hence,this is what had made the terrible grinding noise. From the front of the car.

The other front Disc Brakes were also in need of replacing and so we gave the lady an estimate and we were given the go ahead to do the work on the Mazda 5. Luckily the brake caliper could be freed off, using a little heat and did not need replacing. All the other parts, the discs and pads were replaced. The rear brakes were in good condition and only required a clean-up and the drums replacing.

This type of problem is a common fault with brake discs. Thus, is one of the reasons that you should have your car and your brakes serviced. Of course, here in the PellonAutocentre Halifax area we service car brakes on most car makes and models. In a service one of the things that we do is to clean and grease the caliper’s. So that they do not seize up and frighten the customer to death. Especially, when they hear the dreaded grinding noise of metal on metal. Naturally, when their brake pads wear out.

The job was completed and the happy customer picked up her car in the evening.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer Mazda 5 car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. Also selling 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.

new wheel alignment machine

Four Wheel Alignment Adjusted+ Can Also be known as (Tracking)here in Halifax Yorkshire UK.

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Four Wheel Alignment Adjusted

Four Wheel Alignment Adjusted

 

Eric Roberts‘s insight:

Wheel Alignment is very important

If you are going to have a new set of tyres fitted. Then it will pay you to have the four wheel alignment checked. Of course, if it is out then adjusted to the correct settings. Ensuring that you your new tyres will have the best start possible. What I mean is that when your steering geometry is set correctly. Then your car will perform to its maximum, and the steering will feel correct and

the steering wheel will be straight.

We all know the feeling when the car steering wheel is off centre and when you try to straighten the wheel the car veers to the left or right, not very comfortable at all, this what wheel alignment equipment does for you, it will correct that and the car will steer and drive perfectly. There are many types of alignment machines on the market place and in my opinion they all do the same job, they correct your cars alignment. The one featured in this article from the back of a van, will do just the same job as an all whistling £20000 machine that sits on its own car lift and gives you a computer printout at the end it. They all do the same final job and read the state of your cars Wheel Alignment Halifax

Four Wheel Alignment Adjusted

W.heel alignment will affect the amount of wear  that your tyres have to withstand. The  alignment settings on most cars is designed to minim wear and tear and keep a high level of driver and passenger control and comfort.y carrying out the correct four wheel alignment you will reduce wear on the tread rubber of your tyres, this will give you a comfortable increase in their life and performance, the correct alignment will also  improve your cars fuel economy.  It will also keep high standards for the cars  handling and driving safety by minimizing your cars  steering and stability problems.

Misalignment can be caused by hitting a kerb or driving over a pothole, it can also be thrown out in more severe cases like a collision or other forms of accidents, which could easily knock your cars suspension out of alignment. Misalignment can usually happen as your cars suspension and steering parts wear out or when they are replaced. When your cars wheel alignment is incorrect, then rapid tyre wear will happen especially on either of the tyres edges, where the tread and the sidewall meet each other, and vehicles handling will be badly affected. It is usually the case that you will have to replace your damaged tyres sooner than expected.

To update we have now invested in a new Hofmann four wheel alignment machine.

solar panels

Solar Power-Used for use With Battery Charging and night battery storage

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Solar Power

Waka-Waka bring out new SOLAR POWER battery charger

A Dutch company who have invented many types of Solar power battery chargers and light, mainly for the developing countries, who do not have a stable electric power system, has come up with a great product now named as the Waka-Waka-power .

The WWP (WAKA-WAKA-POWER) has been designed with a joint venture from a team of micro chip makers to make the WWP much slimmer and more lighter than its predecessor the WAKA-WAKA-LIGHT.

More Reading…

“Place Waka Waka Power in direct sunlight for a whole day and you will notice that the batteries will be completely full, even if you live in New York or Seattle (where the intensity of the sun is far less than in Texas). The capacity of the battery is large enough to fully operate most mobile phone from completely depleted, to practically full. On top of this, you will have 10 or more hours of excellent reading light as well. If you don’t charge your phone or tablet, as said before, you can have more than 40 hours of light.”… http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wakawakalight/wakawaka-power-the-best-compact-solar-power-statio

New technology used in developing countries.

So, in my opinion this is a great breakthrough for solar energy. Both in the developing countries and to contribute towards the rest of the Worlds green energy and storage problems . At the present time, the combined saving in energy costs must be phenomenal. Hence, if people used this charging device to charge up their mobile phones. Including the new type phones from this sun powered WWP  solar charging machine.

This is truly a great invention by this Dutch company. So, in my opinion the way forward and will also eliminate the use kerosene. Give these points, that is the liquid fuel used by so many African families for their lighting on a night time and causes so many burning accidents to the users.

 Solar Power More Reading…

“ You live in a place near the equator. The climate is nice and your bananas grow well, but due the latitude it gets dark at around 6pm/18.00 hrs. And pretty fast as well,

there is hardly any twilight as many people that live at higher latitudes know it. Here, it is like a light-switch has been turned off: within a few minutes it is dark. Pitch dark”… http://flexiwaysolar.com/kerosene-lamps-the-problem/

The WWP company brought out the WWK Light to try eliminate the use of kerosene fluid for lighting. This new invention has taken to the next stage the power of the equipment to use solar power to help these people and now the rest of the World in the quest for greener and safer energy.

car air conditioning

Air-Con Service-Service your cars AIR-CON the weathers getting hotter ?

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Air-Con Service

Air-Con Service Summer may be here at last ?

Our weather here in the UK is forecast to get get hotter this Summer. The weather companies including the BBC have said that a high pressure system is due to start building.

 Although motorists are feeling the pinch.With the economy and the price of fuel. It could be a nightmare stuck in your car with the kids screaming in the back.Just because they are too hot. We all know the feeling. Especially on roads like the A14 and M11, busy holiday destinations. Where there are always traffic jams whatever time of day. You can be guaranteed of getting caught up in a huge snarl up.

If this happens and the temperature reaches 30 degrees. Thus, you will definitely need your cars Air-Con working. Also now is time to have your Air-Con serviced. It is no good leaving it until you are on your journey. If you are driving on the Continent and your AC fails. It could cost you up to 10 times the price as it does here in the UK. In France. A friend of mine , (who lives there). Always waits until he visits the UK to have his Air-Con Service. Also buys tyres and batteries, because of the price difference.Especially, between here and the other European countries.

Just out of interest.The first air con- system for a car was invented back in 1939 by Packard, in America and was the first to be fitted in the factory in 1940. The first refrigerant originally used was highly damaging to the atmosphere, and a safer gas was later used in the 1960s.

Air-Con Service

Here at Pellonautocentre in Halifax GB. We have many customers that have an annual Air-Con service. This ensures that their car performs properly all the year round.It ensures that  their  system works without a hitch. This will clean out all the dirt and germs that have built up in the course of time. It will also recharge the gas as necessary. The other option would be to leave yours on until there is a drop in the  temperature and performance.

This way will leave a risk of leaving yours on  until there is a problem, the problem may arise with the result in a bigger repair and service bill. Either way, in between summers, you do still need to think about your air conditioning system, we recommend that you leave yours on all through the autumn and winter, this stops the gas pressure from falling. Most of the public do not know that you should leave the Air-Con on all year round, but I do understand that the cars now coming out with smaller and greener engines will use more fuel with the Air-Con Service in cooler weather. Any bad smells coming from your air- con system should be checked at your nearest Autocentre for a Car Service, if you do not know of one in your area look online for your nearest Unipart Car Care Centre, where you will get free advice on what to do with your car  Air-Con System.


In the Halifax area of West Yorkshire, you can have your Air-Con Service done by experts, and should be looking to pay around £45 for a complete Air-Con service.

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. Selling  tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk . Using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. Consequently, we offer courtesy cars to local motorists. So, who need to go to work and leave their car with us for work doing. We are also an official MOT testing station.

car air conditioning

Air Con Problems for the owner of this VW Golf ?

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Air Con

4-year-old VW Golf has Air Con Problems

As I have said many times this is the time of year that we can be busy rectifying air con problems on our customer’s cars. This year we are enjoying a nice warm sunny summer. So, because many of the new model cars have been fitted with air con as standard. Of course, then the need for the air con to work and cool the car interior has never been more important. Many of our customers also travel to continental Europe for their holidays. So a good cold air con system is imperative for a good and comfortable journey.

There are many reasons why your cars air con can fail you. By and large, the commonest being that the customer switches it off in the winter time. Importantly, when summer comes expects their  air con to work normally. But in over half the cases their system will need a re-gas. After the re-gas is when other problems occur. The main problem is that if the air con system is not used then the system does not get lubricated. Consequently this will dry out causing common problems such as failed “O” rings and rubber hoses, due to the drying out process.

Sometimes we may get a customer in who says that the car is blowing cool air into the cab, but not cold air. This is usually when the air con is set at high with the fans on high but the car is still only blowing in the cool air, we have all been there, you just can’t get the car cold enough?

What we do in this case is first to check that the cooling fans are running

On the Refrigeration Condenser (the thing that looks like a radiator usually at the front of the car’s engine) when the air con system is switched on. Naturally, checking out the condenser for any debris such as dead leaves, dust or insects that may be clogging the condenser up, you would be surprised what we find clogging the Air Conditioning Condenser Unit up?

We also check out the Pollen Filter or cabin filter as it is sometimes known as, if it clogged up then we will replace it. We then check the pressures of the air con system to see if they confirm what they should be set at in the user’s manual. The condenser is a very important part of the air con system.

It works the opposite way to the radiator (evaporator), it sits at the front of the car and air is blown over the condenser, but the air soaks up the heat and then cools the refrigerant inside the air con system. All this is done under high pressure, the air carries the heat out of your car and the refrigerant converts it back to a liquid. The liquid is then sent back to the evaporator (a low-pressure area) and the taking place of the system moving from a high-pressure area to low-pressure area forces the refrigerants temperature to perform a rapid drop and the cycle starts all over again, super cooling the cab of your vehicle (simple?).

VW Golf had an air con cooling problem

On a day last week, we had a car presented to us with this exact problem, we carry out all repairs and other work on car  air con systems here at Pellon Autocentre in Halifax UK. Subsequently, the air was coming out in the cab cool but not super cool. The car was a 2010 VW Golf (only 4 years old). The

the customer left the car with us and we proceeded to connect up our air con machine and re-gas the cars cooling system. The problem was spotted straight away because the car started to leak out the liquid from the condenser at the front of the car. After an examination of the condenser, we found out that car had recently had a minor bump at the front end, and consequently damaged the air con condenser. In earlier times this is what happened to car radiators nowadays this is where the air con condenser sits and so takes the brunt of any damage from stones or small accidents.

However this was one of our easier jobs to do and we replaced the condenser with a new one, re-gassed the system and the customer and his VW Golf went on their way, with a nice cold cabin their car.