Vaal Autonostics

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

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.

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!