Autotest News

Engaging with the Community

David — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:40:06 +0000

All of us are part of the community and whatever happens in it affects us. That is why Epsom General Hospital is important. Charity car boot sales in aid of Epsom Medical Equipment Fund aim to raise money to purchase medical equipment for the hospital. This will benefit everyone who lives or works in the Mid Surrey Area.

Because we care about our community, Autotest is encouraging others to support this worthwhile cause. The last car boot sales of the year will take place on Sunday the 17th of October and Sunday the 31st of October from 8.00 am to 12.30 pm in the hospital car park.

More information about the vehicle boot sales, including how to participate, is available from organiser Bess Harding MBE, Tel 020 8337 8181 or email: bess.harding@ntlworld.com
It’s not enough to wave a flag of support, so we’re doing our bit too.

Doing our bit to help

Autotest reception area now has badges available for those choosing to donate to the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund.

As sponsors of the fund, look out for our Autotest poster on the hospital notice board.
Autotest also will be sponsoring a permanent banner for the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund. You can see it outside the hospital – as well as watch for it in our next newsletter.

Every little helps.

First Impressions

David — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:43:26 +0000

Making a good first impression is important. But following it up by earning long term trust proves even more valuable. That’s true of garages as well as people. When you visit Autotest or our website, initially you’ll notice our emblems. They show that we live up to Bosch Services standards, working to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Approved Code of practice. When you use our services, you’ll find out how we merit this recognition of our performance.

Then too, there is another first impression as noted by Raymond Peck of Epsom on the front page. His comment about the clean and tidy reception area reflects Autotest as a whole. We strive to do things better to give you the best possible service for you and your car.

Inspection & Maintenance

David — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:38:31 +0000

Brake tips from the Bosch experts

Braking systems are subject to considerable stress and as a result require frequent inspection and routine maintenance. A brake service should also check the brake fluid: if it contains too much water, the function of the Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) will be impaired. It is recommended to have your brake fluid changed every two years regardless of the vehicle age.

Haunting Thoughts

David — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:37:21 +0000

Recently in Sutton, the council investigated a query regarding a parking lot. A driver asked whether the lot was haunted as, after shopping, she found her car parked in a different bay.
Camera footage revealed all. The car had rolled into a different parking space. However, this was because the driver had not applied her handbrake properly.
This incident raises other thoughts as drivers need to realise the importance of their handbrake in addition to the primary braking system. The main use of the handbrake is to hold your car still after it has stopped. Operating on two wheels only, it is mechanically operated. That means sometimes you can tell that the handbrake needs adjusting if the lever travel is very high.
Yet it is best to have regular checks as only a qualified mechanic should make adjustments. Since this secondary braking system also serves for emergencies, it‘s a reassuring thought that Autotest can check and guarantee you reliable brake systems.

An Auto Thought……….

David — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:35:02 +0000

Aside from their homes, did you know that a car is the most valuable possession owned by most people? Autotest appreciates this fact and strives to offer an appropriate service when working on your car.

Wider Choice for New Car Owners

David — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:34:23 +0000

It’s the news we all welcome, wider choice and lower costs. That’s because the European Commission (EC) has ruled that mandatory links between dealerships and manufacturers to preserve warranties should be cut off.
In other words, your new car warranty will now allow you more choice in choosing servicing and repairs. This means you can turn to Autotest where you are assured of a highly competent service and better value.

Bonfires & Brake Maintenance

David — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:33:35 +0000

Admittedly, some aspects of autumn prove more enjoyable than others. Most of us like the roaring bonfires, fireworks and possibly the last barbeque of the year. But other realities crop up too. There’s definitely the need to start getting the woollies out again.

Falling autumn leaves and wet weather also present driving challenges. When a road is wet, the average stopping distance for a five passenger car is twice as much as on a dry road. Driving your car for example at 50 mph in dry conditions, you would average a braking distance of about 125 feet. On the same road when wet, driving 50 mph, you would require an average braking distance of 250 feet.

To give you peace of mind, Autotest offers a free winter check. This no obligation inspection entails both visual checks and solution testing. Be in touch to arrange your free winter check in advance. It’s a bit like getting the woollies out again – you’ll be much more comfortable and at ease.

Then there are considerations for trouble free motoring. With the autumn days upon us, it’s important to think ahead to colder seasons and what that means for your car. Considerations will include anti-freeze properties, brake maintenance and tyre treads as well as the car engine itself.Falling autumn leaves and wet weather also present driving challenges. When a road is wet, the average stopping distance for a five passenger car is twice as much as on a dry road. Driving your car for example at 50 mph in dry conditions, you would average a braking distance of about 125 feet. On the same road when wet, driving 50 mph, you would require an average braking distance of 250 feet.To give you peace of mind, Autotest offers a free winter check. This no obligation inspection entails both visual checks and solution testing. Be in touch to arrange your free winter check in advance. It’s a bit like getting the woollies out again – you’ll be much more comfortable and at ease.

More fuel tips

David — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:30:48 +0000

Some other tips to save fuel – don’t drive around with a roof rack or empty roof box if you don’t need to, keep your tyres at the right pressure, turn off the air conditioning when you don’t need it, drive smoothly and don’t use your car as a place to keep bric a brac – every bit of extra weight will use fuel.

Has your Winter gone to pot?

Support — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:51:53 +0000

After that seemingly interminable winter, Spring is here at last – well, nearly. After a winter with those extremes, your car will have been subjected to very cold temperatures and salt from the roads (yes, they did spread salt on the roads from time to time). This will have been potentially very bad and could affect your bodywork (as salt is hugely corrosive), brakes and mechanicals. In addition, you will doubtless have encountered some of the thousands of potholes that have resulted from the freezing weather.

If you have, it’s well worth having your car examined. A sudden bump such as when hitting a pothole, can damage your tyres, knock your wheel alignment out and affect your steering geometry. This could cause undue wear on your tyres and other components and affect your car’s handling. If you are in any doubt, please get in touch and arrange for us to ensure your car is safe.

If you do have damage caused by a pothole, you may be able to claim the cost of the damage back from the council. Our view is that you pay enough in road and fuel tax and that you should not have to spend more because the council or the Highways Agency has not maintained the roads properly (potholes happen when water gets into cracks in the road surface, freezes and expands, so are caused by poor road surfaces).

For information on how to get your money back for pothole damage, see www.potholes.co.uk

Toyota safety recalls

Support — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:41:33 +0000

You will no doubt have read about the reported problems with sticky accelerators on a number of Toyotas and a braking issue on the Prius. You can find out if your Toyota is affected by going to their website which gives comprehensive information on the issues and which cars are affected. See www.toyota.co.uk/recall for more information, but Toyota will contact you if your vehicle needs attention. They will be able to get your details from the DVLA, even if you bought the car second hand.

Should the worst happen, and you find yourself in a car with a stuck accelerator, our advice would be not to turn the engine off to try to stop the car. If you turn the engine off, you will lose power assistance to your steering and brakes, making an expensive problem into a potentially very dangerous one. Better to put the car into neutral – yes the engine may rev a bit, but at least you’ll be in control of the car.

In reality, vehicle recalls are not uncommon and affect a high proportion of the vehicles sold in the UK. Of course not all of them get the publicity that the Toyota problem has received, but if you want to check if your car has been the subject of a recall, the VOSA website lists them all on its website and you can search by make, model and age of car. You can find out about your car at: http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp