All posts by Diana Todd

Tips for reducing the running costs of having a car

January 29, 2016UncategorizedDiana Todd

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Avoid any reckless and erratic driving which can cause more wear and tear on the car.
Clean your car regularly by washing and polishing the outside at least twice a year and vacuuming the interior to keep it in top condition.
Get fuel on days when it is the cheapest and fill your tank to capacity.
Check your tyre pressure every month. Having the right tyre pressure can save you on fuel use.
Service your car regularly. The frequency should be as stated in your owner’s manual. For older cars every six months or 10,000km the oil and filter should be changed. During a service your technician will check all the different parts of your car that needs to be changed at different time intervals, and they will also check the overall safety of your car. Therefore servicing your car regularly keeps the car safe to drive, reliable, increases the resale value, makes the car more fuel efficient and helps avoid any large bills when you bring it in for a future service or repair.
Use a reputable and qualified company or technician to service your car and stick with them,
Limit the number of trips that you do. Try to combine errands so that you do not need to make multiple trip. You can always ride a bike or walk for short trips.
Try to drive during off-peak times where possible.
Check your insurance policy and see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. Increasing your excess can also help cut the cost of your insurance premium.

Signs you need new brakes

January 22, 2016UncategorizedDiana Todd

The brakes are one of the most important parts of your vehicle so any signs that there may be a problem need to be looked at as soon as possible. Especially if you regularly drive on roads that are hilly, we recommend that you have your brakes checked every few months. Driving with worn out brake pads can have very dangerous consequences.

Every vehicle is different, so it is very important to know your vehicle and what pressure and time you need to stop and the distance. If your brake pads are wearing thin, the time and distance of when you need to start braking can be greatly affected.

Here are some of the signs to watch out for that may indicate that you need a brake change:

When you go to brake and you hear a noise like a screeching, squealing or grinding. Chances are that your brake pads are wearing thin and need to be replaced before further damage is done to your existing rotors.
When you feel a vibration or pulsation in the steering wheel or the brake pedal, you should get your brakes inspected as soon as possible.
When you find that you need to press on the brake pedal for longer or farther, this is a good sign of brake pad wear.
When your brake warning light comes on in your car, it is a good time to schedule a brake inspection.
When you smell a strong burning smell near your tires, you must get them inspected as soon as possible as this is not normal and requires urgent attention.

Visit the QuickStop Brake and Clutch Centre or call us on (08) 9345 4722 to schedule your free brake and clutch check today!

Checking tyre pressure

January 14, 2016UncategorizedDiana Todd

Checking tyre pressure regularly is one of the simplest and more important things to do for your car that is all too often overlooked by drivers.

How does a tyre loses its pressure? Everyday our vehicle tyre loses pressure through a process called permeation. Being on the road and driving over bumps and potholes contributes to the reduction of tyre pressure. If there is a puncture in the tyre, often by a small object the air pressure can be released slowly, making it hard to detect.

What does it mean when the tyre pressure is low? When a tyre is under-inflated there is greater contact of tread with the road surface which means greater wear on the shoulders, thus reducing the tyre life. More energy is also needed to turn the wheel which results in increased fuel use. The risk of tyre failure or a ‘blow-out’ is also greater when a tyre is under-inflated. Therefore the benefits you get from making sure you have the correct air pressure in your tyres are huge – improved safety and comfort, better handling of your cars and fuel efficiency.

How to check tyre pressure

We recommend that you check your vehicle’s tyre pressure when the tyres are ‘cold’ and have not been driven for even one kilometre. If you are going to a service station to inflate your tyres, try to go to one nearby. The reason for this is that once the vehicle is being driven the tyre temperature and air pressure increases, but when the tyre is cool the tyre may be under inflated. Once at the service station, inflate your tyres to a level that is equal to the recommended cold pressure. You can often find this information on the tyre information plate found attached to your vehicles fuel filler door, glove box door or door edge. Don’t forget to replace your valve caps once you are done to keep out moisture and dirt.