Author Archives: Aaron Harding

Scared Drivers Avoiding Annual Servicing.

Number of misguided motorists that avoid servicing over cost fears is “alarming”

Half of UK drivers worry about unexpected car bills, survey finds

Millions of motorists are avoiding car maintenance over fears of unexpected problems, with many admitting that they avoid getting their car serviced in case vehicle faults are found.

Around half of UK drivers (47 per cent) worry about having to pay for unexpected car repairs.

The survey of 2,000 motorists also found that a quarter (24 per cent) of those who worry about unexpected problems say this uncertainty is putting them off getting their car serviced.

The research suggests that drivers are paying hundreds of pounds to pass an MOT, with five per cent paying £1,000 or more to get their vehicle through the test.

Further MOT analysis reveals that around 40 per cent of cars fail their MOT at the first attempt.

Lauren French, product manager at RAC MOT Assist, the company behind the research, said: “Clearly, taking a car in for a service or MOT can be a nerve-wracking experience with many drivers concerned about what might be uncovered, and the unpleasant financial consequences that can result.

“But it’s even more alarming that this experience is enough to put some people off getting their car serviced in the future.

“Just how many people are driving vehicles on the UK’s roads that they know have problems?

“The best advice to any driver is to keep on top of servicing and maintenance work – the quicker problems are identified, often the cheaper they are to remedy.”

“Spread your Servicing and MOT costs.”

Here at Aarons Autos we advise our customers to spread their servicing and MOT if cost is an issue, this way they can plan for the up-coming months.

If the car has any advisories on the MOT they can save money and have those carried out with a ‘Service’ six months later, and also if we find anything on the service they can save and have the work done when there MOT is due.

Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info.

Range Rover Rear Hub Bushes.

Range Rover Vogue Rear Hub Spherical Bushes.

This Range Rover came into us after failing its MOT on the rear hub lower spherical bushes having excessive movement.

Once we had removed the wheels and disconnected the lower suspension arms we could get a good look at the bushes and what we had to deal with.

The cir-clip that holds the bushes in place had completely rotted into the hub not allowing us to remove it in the conventional way, which meant we had to improvise!

range rover hub bearing — Cir-Clip rusted into the bush and hub.

As you can see from the above picture we had to grind into the bush until we reached what was left of the Cir-Clip to be able to remove it.

range rover swivel joint — Weaken the bush.

After grinding enough of the bush away to access and remove the Cir-Clip we cut into the side wall of the bush to make pressing it out easier.

Voila, bush pressed out using our bearing and bush pulling tool, hole cleaned up and greased ready for the new bush to be pressed into place.

Here you can see the bearing and bush pulling tool being used to press in the new bush, once the new bush is pressed in we just need to fit the new Cir-Clip and then begin the rebuild.

RANGE ROVER BUSH FITTED — New bush and Cir-Clip fitted.

New bush fitted and a new Cir-Clip fitted, after a quick rebuild the car was ready to go back to the customer for its MOT retest.

At Aarons Autos no job is to big or to small, we will en-devour to repair any car that comes through our doors.

Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info

Peugeot RCZ 1.6 THP 2011 stretched timing chain P0016.

Peugeot RCZ engine management light on Fault code P0016 and engine rattle.

We see quite a few Peugeot RCZ’s with engine management lights on and when diagnosed the fault code is P0016 Synchronization lack of coherence between engine speed sensor (crank sensor) and inlet camshaft sensor. This means that the engine is sensing that the timing of the vehicle engine is incorrect when running. The reason for this is that on this engine model (that is also fitted in the BMW MINI and other vehicles) the timing chain stretches due to either a mechanical component being worn, not being serviced regularly or low oil levels.

peugeot rcz timing chain aarons autos derby P0016

Peugeot RCZ 2012 fault code P0016

With the Diagnostic code read taken place we first remove the rocker cover and fit the engine timing pins to see how stretched the chain is but on this one we could see even with fitting the engine timing pins how far the chain had stretched.

Rocker cover removed with no timing pins fitted.

Having timed the crank and inserted the timing pin we went to time the cams and as you can see they were many teeth out. The two cam timing plates should meet together in the middle and both together.

Timing tool fitted showing how incorrect the timing was.

We removed the Chain and corrected the timing so that the new timing chain kit could be fitted.

Timing chain kit removed.

We always fit a brand new full timing chain kit that includes tensioner, chain, rocker cover gasket, guides, sprocket and VVT pulley.

All new parts fitted and timed up correctly.

With the new timing chain kit fitted and a oil and filter change completed the ecu was reset and the car ran allot quieter with no engine management light or code coming back on.

https://youtu.be/AkQTHUgsOSM Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby

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Suzuki Alto front shock absorber major failure.

Suzuki Alto Front Shock Absorber Failure

This Low miles Suzuki Alto got recovered into us with suspension failure causing the o/s/f wheel to be leaning out.

Suzuki Alto front strutt failure.

It was very apparent straightaway that the strut had failed due to corrosion.

Suzuki Alto strut failure due to corrosion.

We also checked the n/s/f and also found that it had a large crack in it.

Suzuki Alto strut cracking due to corrosion.

We replaced both front struts and a inner and outer cv boots due to them being torn and after checking the tracking the car was good to go.

Suzuki Alto front strut replaced.

Suzuki Alto tracking completed

Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info

Rotten Ford Transit LWB for Welding.

Ford Transit Chassis Cab Extra LWB for MOT Welding.

This Ford Transit extra LWB (Long Wheel Base) had been specially adapted for the customer many years ago to enable it to carry extra long loads. It came in to us for its annual MOT, whilst carrying out the MOT it became apparent that the extension section of the chassis which makes this van an ‘Extra LWB’ was made from a lower quality steel than the original chassis and was in very poor condition.

After removing the body from the chassis we could see what we had to deal with and realised we would have to completely replace the cross member as well as repairing the chassis legs.

The structural integrity of the the chassis legs was still very good and it was just the thin outer skin that was holed and corroded so we decided to sleeve the complete chassis leg to increase the strength of the existing legs.

New Sleeve And Top Being Welded Into Place

“MOT Welding on Transit Van”

Once both chassis leg sleeves and tops had been welded into place it was time to align and fit the new cross member, the cross member also supports the prop shaft so needs to be perfectly in line as to not cause any vibrations.

Cross Member And Modified Prop Mount Fitted

Next job was to weld the top onto the cross member and seem seal and paint the chassis to help keep it protected.

After completing this section there were a few plates to be made for the rear section of the chassis then the welding would be complete and we could refit the body.

“Time to refit the LWB body”

Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby.

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info

Renault Laguna rear end knock.

The customer of this 2007 Renault Laguna came into us with a complaint that there was a knock from the back of the car when he went over bumps or potholes.

We raised the vehicle and it became apparent that the rear axle bushes had split and separated causing the rear axle to move and hit the chassis when going over bumps.

Renault Laguna rear bush split and middle separated.

Once we removed the rear axle from the vehicle we could gain access to the bushes and replaced them both.

Renault Laguna rear axle removed ready for new bush installation.

Renault Laguna new rear axle bush fitted.

The rear axle bushes were both replaced and with the rear axle refitted we road tested the vehicle and all the knocking had been cured.

Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info

Honda Civic Type R EP3 Welding

A Very Holy Honda Civic Type R EP3

This Honda Civic Type R EP3 came into us after the customer had been cleaning and under sealing his car and came across a couple of small holes in the floor.

We inspected the holes and it soon became apparent the small holes were in-fact massive holes stretching the length of the floor pan on both sides.

Honda Civic Type R floor pan rusted through.

After finding good metal we started to weld plates in.

Plate welded in ready to be under sealed.

Whilst checking we also found holes in the rear wheel arches which is another common place for the Honda Civic Type R EP3 to rust so both were repaired and under sealed.

Honda Civic Type R EP3 rear wheel arch rusted through.

Repair panel made and welded into place then undersealed.

All repairs were completed and now the Honda Civic Type R EP3 can enjoy many more years on the road instead of going to the scrap yard in the sky.

We do all Types of welding on all makes and models.

Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info

2015 Peugeot Expert 2.0 HDI (AHZ) oil pump failure.

2015 PEUGEOT EXPERT 2.0 HDI OIL PUMP FAILURE.

Our customer gave us a call as there 2015 Peugeot Expert 2.0 HDI oil light, stop light and engine light had illuminated on his dashboard and the engine sounded really noisy.

We started the van and immediately it was apparent that there was a major oil pressure issue. As we service the van we knew the correct oil and filter had been used so we did a oil pressure test to measure the pressure of the oil that was circulating the engine.

The oil pressure was only 1 bar when it was supposed to be 4.2 bar so we knew there was a problem with the oil pump, after speaking with the customer it was decided to strip the engine to gain access to the oil pump.

Oil pump failure Peugeot 2.0 HDI.

We removed the sump pan and lower engine sandwich plate to gain access to the oil pump and removed it so a visual inspection could take place.

Oil pump vain failure Peugeot 2.0 HDI.

Once the oil pump was stripped it was found that the main vain in the pump had shattered and only half of it remained which caused the low oil pressure.

Oil pump shaft damage Peugeot 2.0 HDI.

We cleaned out the oil ways and replaced the oil pump then performed 2 oil and filter changes 200 miles apart to make sure no remnants of the oil pump metal remained in the engine.

Always remember if your oil light comes on pull over and stop your engine immediately as damaged will be caused if you do not.

Aarons Autos is the best car servicing garage in the world

Your friendly car garage in Derby

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info

Citroen C2 VTS Welding for MOT.

Citroen VTS MOT Repairs.

This little Citroen C2 came in for MOT but unfortunately failed on corrosion around both rear sills. Once we had removed the side skirts we could see that the corrosion had been there for quite a while but had been hidden by the skirts.

Find good metal to weld to!

When welding for an MOT we need to find good metal to weld to, this might sound obvious but it means that what looks like a small hole of say a couple of centimeters might end up being a 30cm plate due to the metal around the hole being corroded and thin and not suitable for welding.

In the case of this VTS we had to make plates for the inner and outer sill to bring it back to its original strength. After all the welding was completed it was just a matter of under sealing the welds and metal work then refit the side skirts and carry out an MOT retest.

Then hand the car back to its happy customer to enjoy another twelve months motoring.

Aarons Autos car servicing garage

Your friendly car garage in Derby

Give us a call at Aarons Autos for more info

Nissan Qashqai air conditioning not working.

The owner of this vehicle had taken his car to another garage for a air conditioning service but they could not complete the work as there machine had detected a leak but they didn’t have leak detection tool.

At Aarons Autos we have a nitrogen gas leak test kit that fills the system with nitrogen which is not harmful to the environment when released into the air.

Front end stripped down to find leak and then removal of the air conditioning condenser.

We used the air conditioning leak detection kit and with the gas escaping we pinpointed the leak to the air conditioning condenser behind the intercooler. We informed the customer of the air conditioning leak test result and after a estimated repair cost they gave us the go ahead to replace the air conditioning condenser.

Damaged air conditioning condenser.

New air conditioning condenser fitted.

After replacing the air conditioning condenser we performed another leak test and the system held gas as it should with no leaks detected.