by Aaron Hills | Sep 4, 2018 | News
With Finley starting his apprenticeship with us this year, it’s interesting to note that Aaron’s career started with his apprenticeship in 1991 less than a minute around the corner in Able Street at what was Don Pellatt repairs but is now known as Able Auto Repair/Repco Service Penrith. It was under the watchful eye of Steve Kennett-Tribe, that Aaron was shaped into the great mechanic he is. Steve became more than just a boss, he is a mentor and friend of Aaron’s.
Aaron & Steve are still close and collaborate often on car problems and race car setups, Steve has also taken on the role of mentoring Finley, the next generation of mechanics. It’s sad to note that after so many years of operation the business has now closed.
After completing his apprenticeship Aaron worked for various mechanics in Penrith such as Col Parry Automotive and Penrith Brake & Clutch and it was here that Aaron first pursued go-karting. Aaron then progressed to working as a mechanic in a V8 supercar team in the late 90’s. Aaron also worked at Lube Mobile for a short time, where he learned the art of customer service.
Aaron has also been involved as a Mechanic in Aussie Racing Cars and with Conroy Motorsport at the Bathurst 12hr. Fast forward and Aaron’s son Finley pursued go karting for many years. For the past 3 years Aaron & Finley have co-driven Mazda’s in the NSW Production Touring Cars series.
In 2006 Aaron and his wife Claire purchased Angus Mechanical Repairs, in 2013 they changed the name to Angus Car Service and earlier this year took their Son Finley on as an apprentice. It is now solely a family business as they head into their 13th year in this business with Aaron as head Mechanic, Finley as a 1st year apprentice and Claire as Office Manager/Admin and Bookkeeper.
by Aaron Hills | Aug 17, 2017 | News
New Car Servicing
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have recently provided updated information regarding consumer rights and new car servicing under warranty.
There is no requirement under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) for a vehicle to be serviced by an authorised dealer in order for the consumer guarantees to apply.
FAQ’s
What is a warranty?
A warranty is a voluntary promise offered by the person or business who sold the product or service to you. A warranty is in addition to any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Click here for more information on warranties https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights-guarantees/warranties
A dealer told me I’ll void my warranty if they do not service my car, is that right?
There is NO requirement to service your car at a manufacturer’s dealership to preserve:
- Any manufacturer’s warranty (that may apply to your vehicle)
- Any state or territory based statutory warranty (that may apply to your vehicle);or
- Your rights to Consumer Guarantees (formerly known as implied statutory warranties)
Can my preferred repairer stamp my log book?
The logbook in some vehicles includes a box which indicates that it should be stamped by an ‘authorised dealer’. The ACCC have confirmed that even if a logbook is labelled in this way, an independent repairer may sign or stamp the relevant page of your service logbook (once they have completed the service) without it affecting the manufacturer’s warranty, provided all essential requirements are met.
These essential requirements are as follows:
- The repairer must use quality spare parts from reputable suppliers
- Perform the service in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
- Staff must be trained, supervised and suitably qualified
- Fluids and lubricants must meet manufacturer’s specifications
At Angus Car Service we only use quality parts, approved fluids/lubricants, our staff are fully qualified and we follow the manufacturer’s service schedule. We are able to provide all your new car servicing needs.
How long should my Consumer Guarantees apply?
It’s a common misconception that your Consumer Guarantees have a specific time limit. Whilst a manufacturer may choose to put a time limit on their warranty, this cannot replace your Consumer Guarantees. Protection provided under Australian Consumer Law will take into account the purchase price, realistic time expectations of when a failure may occur, any advertising claims and the conditions under which a vehicle should operate. A manufacturer’s warranty is in addition to, not in lieu of your Consumer Guarantees.
What if I have a warranty claim?
If you have a warrantable defect it may be a condition of the warranty that any work to rectify is carried out at the Manufacturers Dealer workshop. Your independent mechanical workshop may also be able to guide you through this process.
Will having my car regularly serviced preserve my resale value?
Evidence of a well maintained car will usually augur well for upholding resale value.
If you have any further questions, give us a call on 47323 676 or you can read more from the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association here https://www.aaaa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NCS-DL-Digital-final.pdf
New Car Servicing
by Aaron Hills | Dec 2, 2016 | News
It’s that time of year when lots of Australians are getting ready to head off on holidays, many of us on a road trip. A long trip is a serious test for your car, even a small problem such as a worn windscreen wiper or an out of balance tyre can cause a lot of trouble. Whether you are driving a short distance or across the country here are some tips to ensure you and your family are prepared for your next adventure.
- About 2 weeks before your trip, either check the basics such as oil, water, battery, tyres, hoses & wiper blades yourself or book in for a check-up with a qualified mechanic. It would also be a good idea to do a quick run up the local freeway to listen for noises, feel for shakes and watch for trouble signs in the gauges. Don’t assume everything is fine because you drive your car every day. Turn off the radio and focus on your car, do you hear grinding or moaning from the wheels? That could be a bad wheel bearing or a worn CV joint.
Does the car pull to one side? Check for alignment problems or worn tyres. Does it shimmy or squeal under braking? Might be warped rotors or worn pads. Does the brake pedal feel soft? Might mean worn pads or bad fluid. Getting new brake pads is fairly inexpensive, but if you wait too long major damage can occur, putting a major dent in your holiday fund.
- Don’t leave a check with your mechanic till the last minute give yourself at least a week before you set off. If you are within 1000 km’s of your next service and you are going on a long trip, get the service done early. A good mechanic will give you sound advice, using quality parts to protect you and your family.
- Save 10% on fuel by changing your air filter. Test results show vehicle air-to-fuel ratios and power output for engines operating with dirty air filters, commonly caused by under servicing, can result in an up to 10% decrease in power and efficiency. So whether it’s up the Pacific Hwy or down the Hume, think about that economy for your next road trip.
- Got kids in the car or allergy suffers? The cabin air filter is a vital component that is hugely responsible for the comfort and health of your passengers. The Ryco premium cabin air filters that we use are designed to trap 98% of harmful airborne particles that can cause headaches, nausea, asthma and other respiratory issues. As an added bonus a new cabin air filter can improve the power and efficiency of your air con.
- Stay charged. Check your battery to make sure it’s strong and has clean terminals. Inspect your tyres for any tears or bulges in the sides, check the tread, for depth (wear indicators) and for any nails or foreign objects. Check your tyre pressures and don’t forget to check your spare.
- Check everything works! Check your 12V outlets work, along with (if using) your GPS, power inverter and phone chargers, you will be relying on these on your trip, so best to make sure they work. Go ahead and push all the buttons, make sure your windscreen washers work, check your lights all work. Check your first aid kit, is everything in date, do you know how to use it? Break out the tool kit that came with the car, does the jack work, do you have everything you need to change a tyre, including air in the spare tyre?
- What ifs? Consider what you would do if you break down, do you have roadside assistance, does it adequately cover you? Is your licence, registration and car insurance up to date? Are you going to a remote area? Do you need extra water/food in case of breakdown, or a satellite phone or two way radio? Do you need any other appropriate safety gear?
- Pack Smart – Check your vehicles load capacity and make sure you aren’t overloading your car. Be aware fuel economy is reduced with extra cargo. Rooftop carriers should only be filled with light bulky items. Heavy loads can make the vehicle more difficult to handle in emergency situations and can increase the risk of a rollover.
- Consider checking off car maintenance items before you leave, because if your car acts up later, it could ruin your whole holiday. Nobody wants to be stranded in the heat on the side of the road or at a grimy service station waiting for a radiator hose to be delivered from Japan! Not to mention the cost of towing and the repair bills. Take time, take care and drive safely.
by Aaron Hills | Aug 26, 2016 | News
Diesel Induction Service
The development of modern diesel engines provides motorists an engine that is more comparable to petrol engines with extended service life, lower emissions and greater on-demand performance. It isn’t surprising that we are seeing more diesel cars in Aussie workshops. Consequentially we are now seeing new performance issues, notably contamination of the air intake system. The common symptoms include loss of power, running rough, bad fuel economy and smoking exhausts. These issues can be resolved by performing a diesel induction service.
So where does the contamination come from? A couple of common causes are the EGR valve and crank ventilation system. The EGR valve recycles hot exhaust gas into the intake manifold, where it mixes with the engine crankcase vapours and hot intake air. This starts the carbon build up cycle.
When you add to this the less than ideal operating conditions, such as frequent short start – stop driving conditions, the contamination process is accelerated. By the time the driver has noticed the symptoms, the intake manifold has already become restricted, the butterfly’s are usually starting to stick and the EGR coolers are starting to block up.
There are a variety of chemical products designed to rectify these problems, but most are unsuccessful at making a significant impact. We have been waiting and have finally found the ideal solution. BG Products from the USA have developed an intake cleaning system specifically for diesel engines which can be carried out with routine maintenance. Through regular maintenance the carbon doesn’t have a chance to restrict the intake and cause the previously mentioned problems.
The BG diesel induction system cleaner will liquefy & remove the most stubborn oil deposits & unburned fuel contaminants formed by the EGR & PCV gasses as they pass through the air intake and intake valves. This contamination is simply burnt off during the normal combustion process leaving the engine functioning as it was meant to, at its peak efficiency.
To book your diesel induction service call us on 47323676
To see the induction servicing click on this link https://youtu.be/6KQEklLG_D0
Diesel Induction Service EGR valve before & after
by Aaron Hills | Aug 17, 2016 | News
Pink slip – What you need to know
Pink slip
Angus Car Service Kirsten Flavell © 2016
There has been a rise in the number of vehicles being detected as unregistered and motorists are confused about the registration process and their rights. Although universally know as a Pink slip it is officially called an E-safety check and is required on vehicles 5 years or older. To confirm whether your vehicle requires a safety check look at your rego papers, it will state under the billing number whether an inspection is required.
Areas checked include tyre quality and tread depth, working electrics such as headlights, blinkers, interior lights and dash lights, vehicle body condition. Along with engine/suspension/driveline assembly integrity, seatbelt condition, engine driveline oil leaks and operation plus a brake efficiency test.
You can now have your Pink slip inspection done up to 6 months in advance, you don’t have to wait until your registration has nearly expired.
The registration check is actually the cheapest part of your rego, being $39 for cars and $24 for bikes (this changes on the 1st of July). You are better off having your inspection done early as it will give you time to rectify any problems that may arise during your inspection. If an initial inspection identifies repairs required you will be issued with a white slip and have 14 days to have the repairs undertaken. The repaired car will then be checked at no additional charge at the same venue and a Pink slip issued.
If your car is unregistered during the registration process, you are allowed to drive the most direct route between your home and the garage where the repairs are being undertaken or the inspection centre.
You have until 4pm on the day your rego is due to renew it. You no longer need to attend the RMS to renew your rego it can be done online, just follow the instructions on your rego papers
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us on 47323 676, Angus Car Service is an Authorised Inspection Station, please ring and book your car in 1 day before you need your inspection done.
TIP: It’s always a good idea to use the online greenslip calculator before you renew your greenslip, we save money every year by checking if there’s a better deal.
