SD Vehicle Maintenance

08/09/2026

A round up of the last couple of weeks, back from a few days away and first job was replacing the EGR valve on a Navara followed by a wetbelt on a Fiesta. The rest of the week was servicing, ranging between manufacturers, annual and full services. Last week started with another full service on a Qashqai, then had a Mégane in with the engine management light on. This had several faults, one of which was all the glow plugs had failed so they were all replaced, and a motorised flap in the exhaust was seized so that was taken off and freed up. Later that week was brakes, all round on a BMW and then rears on a Mini.
Lastly, had a Land Rover Discovery in to replace the piston oil cooler solenoid and thermostat.

Only a couple of spaces left in September, so get in touch for a quote and get booked in.

Don't forget your air conditioning, this is useful in the winter months too, to keep those screens clear. I can carry out testing and regassing.

19/08/2026

It's been fairly busy this past week and a half, forgot to take pictures of some of the jobs I've had in! Those I did take include a couple of wetbelts, one transit and one on a Citroen C3. Had a Transit Connect in with air con not working, carried out a pressure test and found a corroded pipe behind the bumper which meant it all had to come off to replace the pipe. This week had a Peugeot 208 with ABS light on, traced fault to a faulty sensor so a new one was fitted to fix the fault. Lastly was a Transit with a horrible noise while the engine was running, found the fault was a failing crankshaft pulley, swapped it out for a new one along with new drive belts and all was quiet again. In between all those jobs I refitted an engine I rebuilt that has piston rings replaced to cure poor oil consumption.

I'm away now for a few days r&r, please do message for any work required, I'll get back to you when I return on August 25th. 🙂

07/08/2026

Some of the jobs completed in the workshop over the last couple of weeks, a little Peugeot for a service and MOT repairs which included replacing all the brakes. Next up was a Tiguan, on a recent service I identified coolant leak from the water pump and an oil leak from a crankshaft seal. A new cambelt and water pump was fitted along with a new crank seal and oil pump belt. Customer also said that their passenger door wasn't locking, turns out the motor was faulty so a new one was ordered and fitted. Last job that week was a timing belt on an EcoBoost.
This week was a little slower, had a transit in for wetbelt replacement, followed by a couple of services, one on a mini and then Vauxhall Vivaro.

Booking now being taken for September, get in touch for a quote and get booked in.

🙂

02/08/2026

25/07/2026

Had another busy couple of weeks here at the workshop 🥵 Had a Mercedes presented with loss of power and an EML on, found a lower boost hose split so a new one was ordered and fitted. Next up, another transit wetbelt followed by replacing brakes on a Juke with some uprated items.
A little Fiesta was brought in for a new starter motor, then a Peugeot van for a new heater fan which as you can see, had seen better days!
A service was carried out on a Focus before replacing the clutch on an Aygo. Customer was complaining of juddering when pulling away and the broken springs on the clutch cover were the cause of that.
Bear with me, there's more 🤣
Had a Polo dropped in to check a noise when braking, the rear pads had parted ways with the backing so were banging around when braking so replacement pads and discs were fitted and the customer could stop safely again.
Swapped out a front wheel hub on a BMW that another garage had cross threaded a wheel bolt in, then diagnosed an air con leak on a Fiesta. That was from a hose that had rubbed through on the fan housing so a new one was ordered and fitted, system regassed and the air con was working perfectly again.
I also replaced the headgasket on an Insignia but completely forgot to get some pics of that job 🤦

Some spaces left in August so get in touch for a quote and get booked in.

Full air con pressure testing and regassing available ❄️

Thanks for reading if you got this far 🙂

13/07/2026

New service here at SD Vehicle Maintenance, I am now able to do air con regassing. Currently only able to regas, and basic fault check but full pressure test facilities will be with me soon. Both R134a and 1234yf gasses available, feel free to contact me via WhatsApp, messenger or phone for a quote. Stay cool people 😎

11/07/2026

It's been a few weeks since my last update, had a week off to do some DIY at home in the sweltering heat 🥵 Straight back into an engine change on a Transporter T5, customer said the engine was smoking so another engine was sourced and fitted. Next up was a timing belt on a Vauxhall Corsa, part of my wetbelt package on these is to drop the sump to check the oil pick up strainer, and just as well I did with the amount of belt debris that had accumulated in it.
Last week started off with a transit in for a wetbelt, followed by a Hyundai for a cambelt. Ended the week with a clutch on a VW Polo.
This month is pretty much full up but spaces available in August, get in touch for a quote and get booked in.

03/07/2026

If anyone's at a loose end tomorrow, and likes looking at old Fords then pop up to Castle Coombe for RSCoombe, lots of cars to look at, trade stands, some track action and of course my car on the Bristol RS Owners club stand 🙂 Looks like being a nice day so bring your sun cream ☀️

19/06/2026

More timing belts this week, 1 on a Fiesta diesel and then a Ford EcoSport. EcoSport belt was showing signs of degrading, and oil pick up had some debris in it. Everything was cleaned out, new belts fitted along with fresh oil & filter and it was good to go again.
I have a couple of spaces left for July, and taking bookings for August. Get in touch via WhatsApp, messenger or phone for a quote and get booked in.

🙂

12/06/2026

It's been cambelt crazy these last couple of weeks, from a straightforward Peugeot 1.4 up to the more time consuming Ford EcoBoost. And a couple of extra jobs thrown in for good measure including a replacement rocker cover gasket on a Renault Clio and a water pump on a Toyota Auris.
Plenty more cambelts coming up in the next few weeks, and spaces for more in July. If in doubt if yours is due, or in need of a quote, don't hesitate to get in touch and get booked in.

Simon