Vaal Autonostics

25/05/2020

To all our muslim clients and families - Eid Mubarak!

May Allah bring you joy, happiness, peace and prosperity on this blessed occasion. Wishing you and your family on this happy occasion of Eid! Eid Mubarak!" "May Allah flood your life with happiness on this occasion, your heart with love, your soul with spiritual dedication and your mind with wisdom, wishing you a very Happy Eid

12/02/2020

Thanks to everyone for the likes and kind support. God bless!

12/02/2020

Timing Belt

12/02/2020

Timing belt: problems, tensioner, what happens if it breaks, when to replace

A timing belt is a toothed belt that connects the engine crankshaft to the camshaft or camshafts and when it snaps can result in very costly repairs due to damage caused to the engine. The timing belt synchronizes the camshaft to the crankshaft position, so the valves will open and close at the proper timing in relation to the position of the pistons.

The camshafts rotate at exactly 1/2 speed of the crankshaft; meaning two revolutions of the crankshaft are equal to one revolution of the camshaft.

In some engines a timing belt can also drive additional components such as a water pump, balance shaft, intermediate shaft, injection pump and an oil pump. A balance shaft, an intermediate shaft and an injection pump must also be synchronized with a crankshaft.

To work properly a timing belt needs to be under certain tension that is controlled by a timing belt tensioner. Some older cars have an adjustable timing belt tensioner that must be re-adjusted if the timing belt gets loose.

Newer cars have an automatic timing belt tensioner that doesn't need any adjustment. If the timing belt gets loose, it may skip a tooth and the proper timing will be lost - resulting in damage.

When a timing belt is replaced, it's very important to set the timing properly. Before a new timing belt is installed, the crankshaft, the camshaft and other components synchronized with a crankshaft must be aligned in a certain way. At Vaal Autonostics we have the knowledge skill and tools to set the timing properly. Improperly set timing will cause a variety of problems such as lack of power, Check Engine light, vibration, misfiring, damage to misaligned valves, etc.

Timing belt or timing chain?
Not all cars have a timing belt - many newer cars use a timing chain instead of a belt. A timing belt wears out over time and needs to be replaced at a certain mileage. A timing chain can last as long as the engine itself and doesn't need to be replaced unless there is a problem with it.

If you don't know if your vehicle has a timing belt or a chain, you can check your owner's manual. If you don't have an owner's manual, you can also call Vaal Autonostics at 016 100 2220 and ask your mechanic - we have this information.

06/01/2020

Vaal Autonostics wish all our clients a very prosperous 2020! Thank you for your kind support through 2019. We are here for you if your car needs care! We are adding new services - ie car detailing (intense cleaning inside out, removing minor scratches - putting the shine back into your car! We also offer key programming for all manufacturers and models.

12/11/2019

Key coding, key shell replacement, immobiliser reset, all car diagnostics

31/10/2019

Car Service

It's important to regularly service your car, even if the service light isn't on. ... If you drive with little to no oil in your car for an extended period of time, you can severely damage the head gasket or the pistons, and when these break, the repairs can cost a small fortune.

Each type of service builds on the previous level, so a basic service will typically include an oil and filter change and a visual inspection, but there will usually be a top up of all the key fluids in the engine (washer fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze and steering fluid) and a check of up to 35 key components
A full service usually includes everything apart for any parts specified as requiring replacement in your vehicles servicing schedule, such as fuel filters, spark plugs etc. These can be added as chargeable extras or, some garages refer to it as a major service and will charge accordingly.

The service required light is mainly used to remind drivers when it is time to change the oil and filter, but could be used for other fluids or components. In the past, this light was similar to the check engine light and could mean that a fault has been detected by the system.

13/10/2019

How Do You Prepare Your Car For A Long Trip in 2019?

It’s bad enough when you have car trouble in your local neighborhood – or even in your own driveway. However, nothing could be worse or potentially scarier than having your car break down hundreds of miles from home. Vacations are supposed to be a time for fun and relaxation, but the difference between pleasure and misery often lies in whether or not you took the proper steps to get your car ready for that long trip.
Before you leave home, there are several simple steps you can take to protect your vehicle, your trip and your loves ones.
First, in case anything does go wrong with your vehicle, make sure you give a trip plan to someone trustworthy. Now, you can focus on that car of yours.
• Change oil and filter
• Begin your trip with a clean car, both inside and out.
• Try not to put luggage over the car. It creates air friction and slows you down – increasing fuel consumption. If it is unavoidable, cover with strong sheet and tie them very well.
• Keep a small garbage bag(s) inside the car.
• Change air filter.
• Cover headlights and front of the car with a protective sheet to prevent bug clogs or other damage.
• Get an extra set of car belts.
• Change spark plugs.
• Make certain your wheel spanner and jack are in the car.
• Check your spare tyre.
• Pack a fire extinguisher.
• Bring towels for cleaning dirty windshields, spills, etc.
• Get a spare key for the car and keep it in your wallet or elsewhere on your person in case you lock your keys in the car.
• Fix sun protectors for side windows and front windshield.
• Make sure you have your podcast downloaded (You may lose service), music library up to date. Or your favorite CD’s if you’re old fashioned.
• Don’t forget any of those necessary cables; Car charger for your phone, auxiliary cable if applicable, USB cables, camera chargers, etc.
• If you’re taking photographs or videos, don’t forget those tiny, yet vitally important memory cards
• Sunglasses
• Bring a plastic funnel to add water or other fluids. Bring a water bucket in case you need to use a river or lake for emergency coolant.
• Always fill your gas tank when it is half full. Don’t wait too long.
• Make sure your owner’s manual is handy.
In addition, you should make a checklist of items to pack in a car survival kit. These can include:
• A chain or thick towing rope
• Jumper cables
• Flashlight (make sure batteries are charged)
• Screw drivers and wrenches of different sizes
• Pliers
• Hammer
Before pack up, make one final check of the following:
• Check tyre tread and look for signs of strain, bulges, or other damage.
• Tyre pressure, don’t over inflate.
• Wipers and wiper fluid. When the rain falls, you don’t want to discover your wipers are useless. In addition, bug hits can really mess a windshield, so you’ll need a full fluid reservoir.
• Coolant.
• Flush radiator, if you haven’t done so in a while.
• Fuses and Horn.
• High and low beam headlights.
• Oil, power steering, and brake fluid.

• Know your limits and plan your trip around them. If the longest drive you have ever taken is 300 miles in a day, don’t plan a trip with a string of endless 500-mile days. Whether you are capable of riding 500 miles per day, or 1,000, the ability to make miles tends to decrease as the length of the trip increases.
• Forget about high speeds. A steady driver can book more miles, enjoy more mountain vistas and drive more twisty miles than someone bent on making the best times across a mountain pass. You’ll also save on gas over the long haul.
• Leave the Red Bull and coffee at home. If you get tired, pull over and rest. If it’s midway through the day, try a nap of about 30 minutes. If it’s getting dark, hole up in a motel. It’s not worth risking your safety if your body is telling you it needs rest.
• Learn to avoid boredom. Long drives usually mean moving across areas that you might not consider prime spots, which have no views or excitement to them. For times like these, having your favorite podcast, stand-up comedy, audio book, or up-beat music can really prove to be invaluable, by making those long miles go by a little faster.
• Finally, stay away from trucks on the open road. Truck drivers hate having anyone follow them. When you are behind a truck, you become a liability to them. Never tailgate. Instead of paying attention to the road, a trucker will start worrying about the people on their tailgate. After that, it doesn’t take much for disaster to follow.

With proper preparation before a trip, and a good attitude during a journey, you can make sure you not only survive a long trip – but also enjoy it.

If you need our assistance on getting your car checked and roadworthy, give us a call 016 100 2220.

Be safe on the road!

01/09/2019

The Importance of Brakes on your Car
BRAKES…The most important SAFETY feature of your vehicle. Routine checks & maintenance will not only save you costly repairs, but brake sensors may save your life. Worn discs will issue a grating, metal to metal squeal when pressure is applied to the brakes. At Vaal Autonostics we will inspect your brakes and perform preventative services - before your car’s brakes become a safety issue. ELECTRONIC SENSORS will illuminate a warning light on your dash when a brake pad wears to a point that causes the sensor to make contact with the brake rotor, alerting you of an impending failure. Vaal Autonostics cares for your safety and that of your passengers, and will only install high quality brake components. It is more important how quickly your car will be able to stop, than how fast it can accelerate! Do not gamble with your safety on the road, call us on 016 100 2220 and make an appointment to have your brakes checked.

02/08/2019

Synthetic Oil vs. Conventional Oil
“Why should I pay more for synthetic oil?” The confusion over synthetic oil vs. conventional oil is understandable.
The mechanic has looked over your car. Then, he said something about engine sludge, oil filters, and asks when you last changed your oil. Even though you may not know the exact date, you remember seeing low prices on plastic banners. Now, the world of oil changes feels like snake oil sales. Synthetic oil? It’s not an oil alternative. It’s a man-made oil. Ecologically, it produces fewer emissions. It is more expensive at six to ten times the price. But, it is also a better oil.

So, why choose synthetic over conventional oil?
Is Synthetic oil worth the higher cost versus conventional oil?
What is Synthetic Oil?
Synthetic oil is nonetheless oil, though it is somewhat man-made. Synthetic oil is made from a base oil, powder additives, and a carrier oil that enforces an even distribution of the additives.
Refinement processes and ingredients also result in scientific control over molecular size and purity. That can lower friction, reduce engine sludge, and increase performance.

Synthetic oil technological advantages include:
• Uniform molecular size means less friction
• Refinement and engineering reduce deposits
• Additives boost protection and can clean engines
• Better function in cold and extreme weather
• Cleaner oil with fewer impurities
Full Synthetic vs. Synthetic Blend
Full synthetic oils are better understood as a grade of motor oil. Semi-refined--also called synthetic blend--oils are less refined than full synthetic oil. Semi-synthetic oil blends traditional oil with the more technologically advanced oils. You get the advantage of additives and more refinement. But, the impurities and inconsistent molecular size of conventional motor oil are still in the blend at lower degrees.
The benefit of synthetic blends is largely a cost-vs-benefit decision. Synthetic blends are cheaper than full synthetic motor oil but higher performance than conventional oil.
Oil change Intervals
Because synthetic oil is better on your engine and has fewer impurities, it can go longer than conventional oils or synthetic blends.
Schedule regular intervals. For conventional oil, twice a year is suggested as a safe way of keeping track. If you want to keep better track, every 12,000 kilometers is suggested for average cars. You should also change your oil filter every oil change. But, especially if using synthetic oil, every other oil change is sufficient if you don't regularly push your car hard or endure extreme conditions.
Check your owner's manual. Newer cars may be able to go 16,000 kilometers or only need an oil change once a year. Turbo engines and older cars may still require oil changes every 4,800 to 8,000 kilometers.
Synthetic oil change intervals range 16,000-24,000 kilometers or once a year (whatever comes first). Extended performance synthetic motor oil is on the upper top of that range. That extra 8,000 kilometers may be worth the investment.
Synthetic Oil vs. Conventional Oil
Visually, you cannot tell the difference between new synthetic and conventional oil. There are two major differences, however. First, how they are made is a distinction. We've explained that synthetic oil is far more refined than conventional oil.
Second, the way they run in your car is worlds apart. Used motor oil shows a lot thicker and sludgy in conventional oil vs. synthetic oil, given the same amount of wear. Synthetic oil is by far better for performance. It protects the engine due to lower levels of friction. Additives help clean the engine of deposits. And, fewer impurities mean it burns cleaner, thickens far more slowly, and has fewer deposits to start.
"According to industry tests, synthetic oil engines perform 47% better than engines using conventional motor oil." - AAA

The benefits of synthetic oil vs conventional oil:
• Fewer emissions
• Better fuel and oil economy
• Increased engine protection and wear from lower friction
• Longer intervals between oil changes
• Reduced engine drag from greater resistance to thickening
• Oil effectiveness/quality is more predictable and uniform
• Better all-weather protection
• Quicker engine start time
• Helps clean engine sludge and deposits
Synthetic oil is generally considered the best oil. It is designed for performance. However, that same manufacturing process makes it more expensive.
The real deal of synthetic oil vs. traditional oil:
• Better gas mileage won’t be an obvious difference to your short-term budget
• The added engine protection may save costs overall
• Synthetic oil is 6x – 10x the cost of traditional oil
• Switching to synthetics can clean deposits that are plugging leaks (You really shouldn’t have bad seals in the first place)
• You can switch back and forth between synthetic and traditional oil without consequence
• All cars benefit from the additives in synthetic oils
How to Choose the Best Motor Oil for Your Car
If you can afford it, choose a full synthetic oil. It is the best oil for any engine. Synthetic oil cuts down the hassles or oversights related to more frequent oil changes and deposits.
If synthetic oil is too expensive, go with a blend or rotate between a full synthetic and non-full synthetic every other oil change. Changing car oil will not damage your vehicle. Keep a record to remember the mileage, next oil change date, and type of oil.

Refer to your owner’s manual or look up the:
1. Viscosity grade
2. Oil specification
At Vaal Autonostics we will provide advice on the best oil for your specifications.

27/07/2019

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Here are the symptoms of bad shock absorbers and struts and how to check them yourself. How to check if shocks or struts are bad ````````````````````````````...

17/07/2019

CAR REPAIR SERVICES
Why you must service your car?
Regular servicing helps you to protect your vehicle against costly wear and tear and maintain a good resale value.
Most of the components of your car are built to last 100 000kms and more. However materials such as oil, filters, fluids and other various parts are designed to protect expensive items such as your engine and gearbox from damage. In order to ensure that your vehicle runs with optimum efficiency and minimal wear and tear, it is vital that you service your car regularly. Servicing by qualified technicians will help you to identify potential problems and repair them before they become expensive.

Vaal Autonostics services your car according to manufacturer specifications at affordable prices.