Follow the link to our latest article in Autotechnician magazine highlighting some of our recent DPF work and the downfalls of not getting DPF issues diagnosed properly. In conjunction with The DPF Doctor and JLM Lubricants we had the opportunity to get this article published so big thanks to these guys and Dee Blick who once again joined all the dots for us!
Every day really is a school day, each day we venture into work we pick up a new piece of information, a new tool to use,
a new method for testing etc. etc. However some days are just a whole different level and none more so than when we attend a full time training course. We constantly upskill using some online resources but also we often attend full time courses here in county Wexford, Dublin and even in the UK.
The latest of which was when I attended my EV (electric vehicle) level 4 course, which is currently the highest level certified course available for electric vehicles. The course was presented to us by Rob Drinkwater in Technical Topics HQ, which is in Bridgwater, south west England. There is an excellent training team here, headed up by James Dillon, who’s credentials are well known throughout our trade, and the facility he has developed here is an excellent training environment. This course is just one part of a bigger qualification in the form of a Master technician accreditation that I am working on with the help of James and his team. Along the way I have gained accreditation for ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), attended courses in advanced vehicle electronics, oscilloscope and pressure analysis, manufacturers specific diagnostics, vehicle communications & networking and so much more…
There is a commit
ment financially and time wise to the training side of our work but having said that, it is, in my opinion, essential. We could just read an odd book or article, even do a little research when a difficult job comes in but to me that is not enough. I believe we need to be trained and focused to be above and beyond where we need to be most days, motivationally and skill wise, so when the difficult job comes in we can deal with it efficiently and without alarm bells going off, we need to be really professional! When the awkward job comes in then all we are looking for is the information specific to that particular vehicle, our skill set, testing and diagnostic procedures are already engrained in our brains and ready for use.
Another advantage of attending the training courses is to network with like minded technicians and business owners, we can learn so much from how others approach their work and run their business and in turn we can give the same back to them. Point to note here is that not all our training is vehicle related, we also do business and customer service training with some amazing people like Andy Savva, whom I have leaned so much from.
Another event myself and Jim attended recently was a prime example of this opportunity we get to talk to others in the trade. We recently went down to Ryans Automotive, in Ballywilliam for a presentation on some of the excellent equipment they offer, Jim had recently attended an electric vehicle training course here also which he came back from with his EV certification. On the day a number of presentations were held, though we regularly speak to Seamus & Brendan Ryan and their team it was great to get down there and have some face to face conversations with the lads and the other attendees. Myself and Jim had our heads spinning with ideas and changes we wanted to make in the garage on the car journey home.
To anyone wanting to join this trade, a lot of folks think its just oil and spanners but the amount of different types of jobs we do, training we attend, equipment we use would really blow your mind
. Even better is the diverse range of people we meet, their backgrounds etc but one thing we find, when we attend really good training is that the folks attending are like minded, focused and motivated just like us. If you want to learn more skills, want to learn from and help others I can highly recommend getting onboard this school bus, every day is a school day!
So, I got the opportunity thanks to JLM and The DPF Doctor network to answer some questions recently about who we are, what we are about, our ethos as a business, the importance of good customer service for us, our relationship with JLM & The DPF Doctor network and our views on doing the job right! The road has been far from smooth at times to get to this point, but its been an amazing journey and getting this interview out to Autotechnician (see link below) is a great source of pride for us, we must be doing something right! We are hoping to do some more articles in trade publications soon and hopefully get back in full swing with the social media platforms that we have slowed down on lately due to the volume of work we have had in. A big thanks to Dee Blick for helping me get this together and obviously JLM and The DPF Doctor Network, these guys have been a huge help to me and my team. Our customers, I/ we can’t thank you all enough for your support, you all have helped to sustain us, helped us grow and encouraged us to be the best. Finally, thanks to my/ our friends and family, their patience and support has been the real rock behind our perseverance and the catalyst for so much change in how we work. Here’s to the next chapter, onwards and upwards! Keith, Maurene, Jim, Renato & Cameron.
As I’m sure you have heard many times before, regular servicing and maintenance is key to your vehicle being kept at its most efficient, reliable and safe condition, but why? Well in a way the answer is very simple yet the reasons, the systems, the parts and fluids, equipment, training and experience to do it properly is much more complex. As an example a 20 year old VW diesel, I know what your thinking “sure that’s ages ago” but a 20 year old car is a 2001 registered vehicle, looking at it that way, considering how many of them are still about, it really doesn’t seem that old. If we take this vehicle, keep it topped up with decent oil and fuel it will probably give you pretty good service, bar the usual wear items like tyres, brakes etc. Obviously given regular oil and filter changes this thing will comfortably drive away up into many hundreds of thousand of miles without any major heartache. However the common failings on a very light maintenance attitude both on modern and older vehicles are those of safety eg. tyres, brakes, steering and suspension. The only way to keep on top of these items before they become a problem is by regular servicing/ checking of all these items. The best way to discover your tyres or brakes are gone is not in a ditch after the failure has occurred. This I am sure is common sense/ common knowledge and needs no more explanation, however the huge failing in lack of service and difference between modern and older vehicles really comes on the service of the items such as the engine, emissions systems, transmission etc. The old 20 year old VW wasn’t overly fussy about the oil used, wasn’t worried about a skipped filter change or two, didn’t have a DPF, had no SCR or AdBlue system, didn’t have a dual clutch gearbox, ran on a different type of fuel, didn’t have start-stop systems, didn’t have ADAS, didn’t have online digital service record…..the list goes on. Now we could have a week long discussion about the often stated ‘facts’ that “there’s too much crap bolted onto modern cars” or “there’s too many electrics in a modern car” but the cars are the way they are now and ain’t going back. The reason they are this way, well, there are several reasons: environmental, efficiency, cost, convenience, legislation….the list goes on.
So what has all this got to do with maintenance, well, these modern cars are quite different cars. Yes, cars of all ages and eras should always have been maintained properly for obvious reasons but the modern cars have a lot more requirements. ‘Why should I bother?’ Our priority surely must be safety, then you must consider you invested in your vehicle and you need to see a return on that investment, the biggest return will be gotten from that vehicle running at its optimal so a number of things are required from you to do this.
As previously stated, regular maintenance is key, but you must carry out the maintenance correctly with the correct fluids, parts and intervals whether that be by mileage or time and should be carried out by suitably qualified people. The reason this is so important is because the modern engine works on much finer tolerances than older types, this allows for more efficiency and a massive reduction in emissions. Due to this vehicles now use much more specific fluids whether they are engine oils, transmission fluids etc to make sure the engine or transmission runs at its very best. The engine oil used also has an effect on the emissions systems on a vehicle and using the wrong type can have an adverse affect on their operation. Have a look at the huge variety of oils out there, you may have a few cans of 5w-30 oil sitting on the shelf but if you look at the fine print you will see a massive difference in specification in the same viscosity oils, this is carefully thought out and not just done for the craic. At our own garage for example we have 9 different oils that we stock for regular use and we still special order some less common oil specs in on quite a regular basis. On top of engine oils there are also different specs of coolant, transmission fluids and even different types of additive systems fluids on cars.
On top of maintenance modern vehicles are also manufactured for more specific uses. Unfortunately a hell of a lot of people have “the wrong car for the job”, in fairness usually through no fault of their own but through misconception of what they need and sometimes even from either a lack of knowledge or an unwillingness to give good advice from the sales folk in the trade (this is not a blanket statement, there are certainly some great sales folk willing and able to advise properly, so make sure that’s who you talk to!). It’s a shame more attention is not given on the sales/ purchase end of cars as this would alleviate a lot of problems down the line with repairs and breakdowns. If for example the only driving you do is a mile up the road to the shop, drop the kids to and from school 2 mile away, drive 10 mins to work etc. a modern diesel engine really is not for you. You will not reap the rewards of the diesel engine efficiency as you won’t be doing the mileage to justify its extra cost as regards purchase, maintenance etc and you will inevitably have breakdowns/ running issues due to the fact the vehicles emissions systems and powertrain are not getting the driving they need to maintain themselves. At the same time if you are a sales rep who is never off the road I think you will find some serious failings in a pure electric vehicle for your needs.
So if you do decide to purchase a vehicle check out all the info available to you to enable you to make a good decision on the type, make and model of vehicle you require. Have a true understanding of the driving you will be doing and the demands you have for the vehicle. Then use a combination of independent online resources, manufacturers info, sales advise, your garage/ mechanics opinion and make a truly informed decision. Don’t be afraid to ask for a schedule of maintenance so you can see what costs may lie ahead for you based on your vehicle selection and type of driving.
Finally, if you do buy electric or hybrid, yes, they also do need maintenance, they do contain fluids and wear items that need to be changed and maintained. They aren’t magic, they suit a purpose, they have a role and they have needs just like all other vehicles.
A customers vehicle recently visited us, very hard to start, huge lack of power. Vehicle had been elsewhere and had a “diagnosis” of a faulty mass air flow sensor. At this stage they decided to fit a new mass air flow sensor and guess what, fault still present. So why did the part highlighted in the “diagnosis” not fix the fault? Well, to put it simply, the car was not diagnosed but had its fault codes read and then an assumption was made on the fault code alone.
So now, customer comes to us ” can you read and clear codes on my car, I had a new part fitted but its still not right!” As usual our approach to our customer is to hear what they “want”, question them to gain information on the fault and history of it, then discuss with them what they really “need”. In this case the starting point was a proper diagnosis. What did this entail, well…we confirmed the fault existed, read the fault codes (but in our case this is only used as a guide to possible issues), analyse the data available from the engine control unit and then decide on testing actions. Now it may seem long winded, but its not, its a proven strategy for correct diagnosis. This led us to solving the real fault behind the mass air flow which was in fact a stuck EGR valve. The stuck EGR valve unfortunately in this case not fixable and needed to be replaced, but in this case we knew from proper testing that this would resolve the issue. We’re not saying diagnosing faults properly means you don’t need parts but it does mean you won’t fit unnecessary parts or add unnecessary labour costs.
As I’m well aware some customers may think at first that our diagnosis fee is expensive but it really isn’t, it is value for money and then some. The original “diagnosis” ,which in reality was a code read and a gamble, carried out by the other garage was actually much more expensive, why?, well they cost the customer a part which was not needed and cost in excess of €200 for the part alone not including their “diagnosis” and fitting labour.
So don’t just settle for a best guess, the cheaper option, the parts a €30 scan says to fit…..query what service you are getting for your money and ask yourself is this value for money?
When it comes to efficient, cost effective repairs proper diagnosis is key!
With electric vehicles really taking off now, whether they be full electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid, we are in a position where we can take care of your repair, maintenance and diagnostic needs.
As we have often said before our mission is “Taking care of you and your vehicle!”. With that said it involves a huge commitment from us constantly upskilling, improving our equipment/tools and having the best information at hand to keep us efficient at our job. Apart from holding qualifications to work on electric vehicles and having access to tooling and information we also are members of HEVRA.
HEVRA is a network of professional independent garages with set standards in electric vehicle maintenance and repair. Being a part of this network is good for us to get access to very in depth information and experience from other members in dealing with not just the maintenance but also issues encountered in the repair of these cars. From a customer point of view it also links them up with a network that can deal with their electric vehicle issues in a professional manner, to a certain standard and in many locations across Ireland and the UK.
For any electric vehicle maintenance or repairs don’t hesitate to drop us a line and rest assured we will:
“Take care of you and your vehicle!”
So whats new? Well a few months ago we decided to contact Gareth Jones of Avon Tuning to find out more about what Avon had to offer and if we could improve our services to our customers by jumping onboard with the Avon team. As you can see by our blog headline……we decided to go for it and we are delighted to have done so. But why? What extra can we possibly offer you, our customers? Please continue to read and we’ll enlighten you.
After many rave reviews from several sources and from speaking to other professionals in various trade groups we are involved in we were left in no doubt if we were to go down the road of tuning/ remapping, then Avon had to be top of of the list of our potential file providers. They are top end providers of tuning files, they custom their files to ours/ our customers needs and provide excellent back up to us.
What do we offer as an Avon agent? Well, the main reasons for tuning are: Economy, Performance, Better response/ driveability and other alterations to a vehicle that need the software of the car to run differently from original. Our main type remap that we carry out is a stage one tuning which is used to enhance standard vehicles without any hardware upgrades and results in a vehicle having much improved power, torque and efficiency without compromising reliability. There are other services we can provide via Avon and also a tuning options and calculator section on the Avon website at: https://www.avontuning.co.uk/services/ecu-remapping/cars
For any queries or to get that bit more from your vehicle please give us a shout!
We like to offer our customers a warm welcome, not just to make you feel welcome through our front door but also because when people visit us they are often stressed due to a vehicle issue, a breakdown, concerned about costs and whether they will have a vehicle to travel to work or pick up the kids, so the least we can do is try to alleviate that pressure on them.
Firstly we like to reassure a customer, especially a new customer, that we are trustworthy. They may well have heard this from other customers of ours or presumed this due to our membership of the SIMI, but trust is earned and until a job is done it can be quite hard for trust to be realised. We like to think that by being absolutely transparent and open with a customer from the start they can see we are confident in our work, that we are not in it for the “big sell” and as we always say “we look after you and your vehicle!”
We do often ask a lot of questions when meeting our customers but there is a very good reason for this. The first questions are how we break the ice, get to know the person, see how they are feeling and build up a relationship with them….over time. This also gives them an opportunity in a very relaxed way to ask us anything they feel they would like to know to make them feel comfortable about leaving the care of their vehicle in our hands. The next set of questions focus on symptoms and needs. We use these to ascertain what the customer needs, what issues they are having, gather info about a fault that may aid us in the diagnosis process and in some cases, for bigger jobs, set timescales/ budgets for diagnostics or repairs so the customer again can feel comfortable that they are not getting out of their depth financially.
If you are looking for a professional garage to take care of you and your vehicle, contact us!
The Nissan Qasqhai as you know is a very popular small SUV on Irish and European roads, however unfortunately they are also frequent visitors to the garage with engine warning lights and ABS/ ESP lights on. Here are some of the common reasons why we see them and what you can do to minimise the chances of yours letting you down.
The issues we see them in most for are DPF, exhaust and fuel system related faults. The ABS/ESP lights are usually (but not always) a consequence of an issue with with engine/ exhaust monitoring systems on this particular car. In all honesty by far the most common problems derive from frequent short journeys, low fuel levels, poor servicing and bad quality oils. However there are a number of weak points on these vehicles too which there is not much you can do about for example injector, exhaust flap, glow plug and induction pipe failures, but when they go wrong you should be dealing with them immediately before they cause you bigger issues.
There are a few engine types in the Qasqhai the most commonly seen variants are of the 1.5 and 1.6 DCi units which as most will know are actually an engine developed by Renault. As with all modern engines the right oil type being used is critical to efficiency, performance and reliability of the vehicle. The wrong type of oil being used can cause some major contamination and wear of engine components and not least of all the DPF. Poor servicing habits also cause issues for example the engines ability to breath is very reliant on a good quality and clean air filter so a clogged air filter will do your vehicle no favours. These may, to some, seem like very obvious steps to take but you would be surprised how many people don’t take them. I won’t delve much deeper into the servicing side of things as it really is simple, yet important, regular maintenance, proper oils, quality parts!
When a warning light comes on in your vehicle you really need to deal with it soon, especially in these particular cars. From experience over the years we have seen the customer who has an engine management/ fault light on for months and then as the NCT looms near decides its time to “erase” the fault to extinguish the light. This is not a practice we approve of at all, especially with some of the cheap code readers on the market, accurate diagnosis is done using proper equipment, information, training, experience and procedures. You may get lucky with some cars having a minor fault, however we have found that with the Qasqhai the common faults that put on the engine light and even the ABS lights very quickly lead to serious blockages in the DPF and in many cases have left the driver stranded with a serious lack of power or even a non-runner.
By far the most common issues we come across in the Qasqhai, and other vehicles, are down to two things, frequent short journeys and frequent low fuel level. The short journeys are a major issue for DPF equipped vehicles as the exhaust temperatures don’t get up high enough to enable regeneration(cleaning process) of the DPF, or in some cases where the journey is just long enough to hit the required temperature but during the regeneration process the journey ends and cuts short the procedure. In a short period of time the car will start to register regeneration frequency faults and/ or become clogged leading to loss of power or as stated before become a non-runner. The other common issue is one of fuel level, we’ve all heard the stated over the years “don’t run the tank too low, you’ll suck up all the crap in the bottom of the tank”, well fine , yes, to a point and depending on fuel and tank condition, however on modern DPF equipped diesel engines the actual software for regeneration may stop regeneration when fuel level is detected as being below quarter of a tank, so if you consistently allow your fuel level to get that low or never top it up above quarter you will probably fall victim to a DPF issue also.
“What can I do about this?”
So what can you do? Well quite simply:
Hopefully this may be of some help and if nothing else will give you an insight into some of the factors you may not have thought about that can affect the performance of your vehicle.
Any queries about this please feel free to contact us, we are heavily involved in vehicle maintenance & diagnostics and as members of The DPF Doctor Network we are well placed to take care of your DPF issues.
Thanks for reading, keep an eye out for more articles coming soon!
