Category: Torque Automotive

You’ll Be Surprised At What a Rego Check Can Find

Getting information on your car’s registration in Prestons can be important for when you need to keep your car protected while ensuring it is legal. But there are some times in a rego check that might surprise you as the review goes along. You must perform this check if you have a used vehicle in particular.

Was the Vehicle Ever Stolen?

Sometimes a check might reveal information on whether a vehicle has been stolen. This could be important if you have gotten a vehicle from a used car lot or a private seller. Sometimes a seller might not be overly direct with you about the background information surrounding your vehicle.

Prior Damages

Your rego check should include information on any damages the vehicle has experienced in the past. These include reviews on any significant services that a car had to utilize to fix certain problems. Police reports surrounding such damages should be linked up to your vehicle’s registration info.

What Services Were Used?

You might get information on whether a vehicle went through extensive repairs following a wreck. These include fixes from a suspension service or brake repair specialist. You must watch for this as your check might reveal some repairs or damages that you were never made aware of. These repairs should be reported by a proper service provider to create a sense of transparency over how well a vehicle has been maintained or used.

Any Modifications Used

You may get information through a car service about any modifications that were made to a property. These include some changes to an exhaust system, an engine or even to the inside of the car. Such changes are often recorded as extensive repairs or projects that had to be listed on a car’s name. These are problems that might keep a warranty on a vehicle from being valid.

Torque Automotive will help you with finding all the details surrounding your vehicle through a rego check. Contact Torque to learn more about how a check can work so you will get the answers you need surrounding your vehicle.

Exhaust Service: What Does Your Exhaust Colour Mean?

There are several ways to determine if your vehicle is in need of an exhaust service. For one, take a look at the smoke coming out from your vehicle.

Black Smoke

You may notice that your car emits black smoke every time you start it. This is quite normal because a cold engine runs inefficiently, and will thus burn more fuel until it warms up. However, if your car continues to expel black smoke after it’s been running for a while, your car might just be in need of an exhaust service.

Black smoke coming out of cars means that the engine is using up more fuel than it needs to. It may also indicate problems with other components of your vehicle. For instance, vehicles emitting black smoke may have issues with their air filters, which may be dirty or clogged. Other reasons may include a faulty sensor or a clogged fuel injector. To properly diagnose the cause of the problem, visit a shop that offers car service in Prestons and have the pros take a look at your vehicle.

Blue or Gray Smoke

Blue or gray smoke coming out of vehicles means that oil is being burned in the engine’s combustion chamber. This results to your oil levels being depleted quickly, which further means more oil changes than usual. To avoid this kind of unnecessary expenditure, you should consider taking your car in for an exhaust service.

There are several other reasons why you’ll want to have your vehicle checked by a car service in Prestons. Aside from the costs associated with the unnecessary oil changes, leaving this problem unresolved will result to more problems. For instance, it puts your spark plugs at risk of being damaged, resulting to additional expenses.

Thick White Smoke

Out of the different colours mentioned, thick white exhaust is one that you should particularly be wary about. Such smoke colour is usually an indication that your car or vehicle is having some serious engine problem. Pros and experts from car service in Prestons have identified several reasons why this happens.

For one, thick white smoke is the result of the engine burning the coolant. When coolants leak into the engine’s oil reservoir, it can result to a myriad of problems. Other culprits include a blown head gasket or a broken cylinder head. Whatever the cause may be, it is best to call a mechanic from a shop that offers car service in Prestons.

In line with this, avoid driving your vehicle to the shop when you see it belching out thick white smoke. If you do, your vehicle to overheat or some serious and irreparable damage to your engine and vehicle. Instead, call a tow truck and have them bring our car to the nearest shop offering car service in Prestons.

Need reliable exhaust service for your vehicle? Get in touch with us today.

When to Contact a Suspension Service For a Full Replacement or Auto Repair

One of the most common forms of auto repair that people often require entails getting a suspension fixed up properly. The suspension on a truck can wear out after a while. You must look at a few warning signs to see if you need a suspension service to repair or replace your suspension as it starts to wear out.

The Ride is Rough

You will need to get a suspension service to work for you if the ride on your vehicle feels rough. A weakened suspension gives off the feeling that the car is shaking far too much. This could be a sign that the suspension is wearing out.

Tyres Are Wearing Out Unevenly

The suspension is designed to create an even amount of pressure on all corners of your vehicle. This ensures the tyres wear evenly without any unusual changes involved.

But when the suspension stops working properly, pressure goes onto one part of the vehicle more than others. This makes it harder for your vehicle to work well.

Pulling Motions

A pulling motion occurs when the vehicle appears to favor a particular direction while it is moving. This is often a sign that the suspension has weakened. This could be especially noticeable when you are turning. Such a shift as you are driving will suggest that your vehicle’s suspension could be wearing out and that it needs to be replaced.

Dipping As You Stop

You may also notice problems when you are stopping. As you stop, you might see the vehicle body feeling as though it is moving forward. This is also known as dipping. It is a common sign of serious issues in the suspension system. This could also make it harder for your brakes to work as you might force yourself to brake faster than necessary.

Watch for what might be happening with your with regards to your suspension. Contact a suspension service for your auto repair needs in the event you are bearing with serious problems relating to your suspension not working as well as it should.

Key Parts of a Vehicle Safety Check to Use

A car service Prestons can assist you in reviewing how safe your vehicle is. You need to get such a check ready to ensure that you have a vehicle that is not at risk of being a problem while on the road. Several steps should be used when making it all worthwhile.

Interior Inspection

The first part of your safety check should entail looking around the inside of your car. The interior inspection must include a look at the following points:

  • A review of how well the windows work and if you can see out of them
  • How the seat belts work and if they can operate properly
  • How the brake pedal feels
  • How the emergency brake can deploy
  • The quality of your heating and cooling; it needs to be clear with no exhaust or other dirt items coming into your vehicle
  • The child safety seat anchors; they must be easy to use while keeping a full link onto the seat as it is added

Exterior Review

The outside part of your vehicle should also be reviewed during a safety check. This should feature an analysis of:

  • The headlights and how well they work; this includes how far they project light and if they are aiming properly
  • Your tyres and if they are inflated properly and if the treads are safe
  • The bumpers and other parts of the body
  • All other lights based on how well they can project themselves

Under the Hood

A safety inspection will also go under your hood to get a full view of everything inside the vehicle. It will entail a look at:

  • All belts and hoses; they should be fully intact
  • The wiring to see that every connection is safe
  • Your exhaust manifold to ensure it is not obstructed
  • All tanks that might be at risk of leaking
  • The master cylinder and its natural operation

A safety check goes through everything around your vehicle to ensure it is secure. Check with a car service Prestons to see what such a check can do for your vehicle so you can keep it protected and less likely to be a threat.

 

 

 

 

The Key Signs That You Need a Brake Service

You might know of many instances when you need to get various parts of your car serviced. You might need a tyre service if you notice your tyres are wearing thin. You might require a new battery if you are struggling to start up your car. But what about the signs that show you need a brake service?

You must be aware of what can happen when your brakes start to wear out as you need to get them fixed up or even replaced. You have to act as soon as possible since it would be extremely dangerous for you to try and drive around with brakes that are not working as well as they should.

Listen to Your Brakes

Take a careful listen to what is happening with your brakes. You might need to get them fixed if you hear any growling or grinding noises. Such noises mean that the brake pads have worn out and the brakes could start to weaken. The noises will become more significant when the brakes really start to wear out.

Vibrating Pedal

Your brake pedal could also start vibrating after a while. When the rotors wear out, the brake pedal starts to shake. This is due to the extra pressure that goes onto the physical body of the brake.

Pulling

Pulling occurs when your vehicle starts moving to one side as you are braking. This means the linings in your brakes are not wearing out evenly. It could also mean that the brake fluid is not working properly.

Leaking Fluid

Check your car regularly to see if there are any leaks. Take your car in for brake service if you start to notice the brake fluid leaking. This could be a sign that your brakes are not as well-lubricated as they should be.

Be certain you get a regular brake service on your vehicle. The brakes are critical to the success of any drive. Make sure you keep that part of your vehicle safe and maintained well enough so you will not be at risk of harm due to your brakes not working as well as they should.

 

Main Checks Involved in Cooling System Service

At its core, the main purpose of your vehicle’s cooling system is to keep heat away from the engine. Whenever the engine is running, it generates heat which can damage its components. This usually happens when you neglect to bring your car in for regular cooling system service. This particular car service may include a variety of checks, including those involved for the below.

Antifreeze

Water is an effective coolant, but alone, it is not enough for automobile engines. That is why they are mixed with antifreeze or coolant. The addition of antifreeze to water significantly improves its boiling and freezing point. Vehicles should contain an adequate amount of coolant all the time. Otherwise, this can cause the engine to overheat.

Coolant Hoses

Radiator and heater hoses are integral components of your cooling system. The main issues that you would normally see with these things are pretty obvious. For one, there’s cracking and splitting. Then there’s also bulging or swelling. If you observe any of these, then bring your car for cooling system service and have them replaced.

Do note that you should avoid making use of aftermarket or universal hoses. It is still best to use the original hoses for quality and safety reasons. The replacement hoses should be a match to the make and model of your vehicle. Ask the car service centre to do a pressure test as well to ensure that the hose has no leak and that it is installed properly.

Belts

Water pumps are driven by belts, though the type of belt used are different for old and new vehicles. Older vehicles usually use a V-belt or a serpentine belt while the newer ones make use of a timing belt.

V-belts are often easier to inspect and replace if they are worn out. Your car service shop should be able to easily see any cracks on the inner surface of the belt. When they do, the belt needs to be replaced right away.

In the case of timing belts though, these belts are somewhat harder to inspect and replace. This is because they are installed inside the engine. As such, partial engine disassembly is required. Also, these belts have specific service life. This means that you have to have the belt replaced at specific times. This can be actually more convenient since you don’t have to keep on checking whether the belt’s still fine or if it needs replacing.

A properly functioning cooling system is necessary for a hassle-free driving experience. If you feel that it’s time for a cooling system service, do get in touch with us. You can call us up through our telephone line at (02) 9607 8677 or 04 3253 8325 or you can also leave a message in our contact page.

 

Your Suspension Service Helps Your Shocks and Struts

The shocks and struts in your vehicle are critical to its suspension. A shock absorbs vibrations from your tyres and suspension. It keeps the vehicle from shaking or vibrating while in motion. A strut is a structural part of your suspension that secures the height of your vehicle. Both parts combine to keep your suspension secure but it is important for you contact an auto repair service to help you get the most out of your work.

A suspension service will analyze your shocks and struts and identify points of wear. The service assists you wish fixing problems in your vehicle.

Contact a Repair Team If You Experience Regular Stress

It is a necessity to contact a suspension service for help if your vehicle constantly goes through a sizeable amount of stress. Running over potholes, curbs and other tough surfaces can cause shocks and struts to wear out. This is especially concerning if your vehicle isn’t designed with off-road travels in mind.

As these parts wear out, your tyres will suffer from too much stress and pressure. Your car will start vibrating and shaking. These shakes could even develop as your car is fully stopped.

You must get help for your vehicle as soon as possible. A suspension service will give you the help you require for keeping your vehicle safe.

What a Team Does

An auto repair team reviews the physical structures of your shocks and struts. They may be replaced if necessary. They can also be cleaned off if excess dirt or other compounds are in the way. The connections are also analyzed so they may be tightened or secured if they have become loose for any reason.

The team may work alongside an added tyre service to see if the shocks and struts have harmed your wheels or tyres. The added pressure from old parts might cause these items to weaken.

Check with an auto repair service to see how your suspension can be fixed. Shocks and struts are critical to your vehicle’s operation. See how well a service will fix up your vehicle.

 

What Parts Are Reviewed in a Brake Service?

The brakes on your vehicle are critical to its overall operation. But to make the brakes work well, you have to ensure a car service will review all parts of your brakes. The steps used by a brake service should be carefully arranged and suitable for the safety of your vehicle.

Caliper Analysis

The caliper should be analyzed at the start. The amount of drag produced when the rotor is turned by hand should be minimal. The caliper might have to be replaced or otherwise fixed up if the drag is too strong.

Checking the Rotor

The rotor is the next part for a brake service to review. The rotor should be smooth and capable of moving fast. Grooves on the rotor are a sign of wear. This part has to be replaced if it has been fatigued so it will allow the brakes to respond quickly without harming any additional parts.

Wheel Bearing Are Checked

A car service will also look at the wheel bearings. Pitting or other forms of fatigue are signs that the bearings have to be replaced. Proper lubrication is required to keep the bearings functional as well. Greasing is needed to keep the bearings protected as it creates smooth barriers around each bearing while keeping them from grinding and not allowing your brakes to work properly.

Pad Reviews

The brake pads should be reviewed as well. Brake pads should not make any sounds when they are used. Any pads that are squealing will have to be replaced.

Brake Fluid Help

Brake fluid materials can also be replaced by a brake service. The old brake fluid in your vehicle could cause fatigue if not handled properly. Restoring the fluid helps to keep the space hydrated and comfortable for as long as possible.

Make sure you get your brakes checked regularly before you have any auto repair needs in particular. Check with a car service to see what needs to be done with your brakes and to see if they are healthy and functional.

 

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How Do You Know when It’s Time for a Suspension Check

Your suspensions are key components to your safety and comfort as you drive. And like many other components of your vehicle, they do suffer from damage and wear and tear. There are signs that tells you that it’s time for a suspension check, some of which are outlined below.

Pulling to One Side While Driving

One of the most common signs of suspension failure is when your vehicle pulls to the left or right. However, this pulling can also be attributed to a variety of reasons. Some include uneven tyre pressure, poor alignment, bad tie rods and several other reasons. Thus, this makes this particular issue somewhat challenging to deal with.

This is why you need to bring your vehicle to a car servicing centre. Their experts will be able to properly identify what the problem is exactly. They’ll also be able to recommend the most appropriate solution like a tyre service or suspension check.

Bumpy Rides

It can be pretty hard to endure a bumpy ride. When you start feeling every bump in the road, it’s time for a suspension check. This kind of issue results from worn out shock or struts, which then means they need to be replaced.

Shock absorbers are supposed to keep your tyres in contact with the ground. Otherwise, your car will be flying all over the place. If you feel that this is the case for your vehicle, you need to have professionals look at your car.

One Corner of the Car is Low

This is something that can be difficult to spot, unless the corner in question is sitting really, really low. However, do try and take a look. Park your car on level ground and notice if one corner is sitting low. If it is, then it is likely that your springs are damaged. This happens because the spring can’t support its share of the car’s weight.

Nose Diving, Rolling, or Squatting

Nose diving means your car leans forward when you pull on the brakes while squatting means your car leans backwards as it accelerates. On the other hand, rolling refers to your car leaning side to side when you corner. And we’re talking about everyday driving, not any extreme sports. All these can be signs that your car is in need of a suspension check. Talk to a pro and ask if your shocks or struts are in need of replacement.

Some drivers may not find pulling to one side as they drive annoying. Some even think of squatting as cool. However, these issues may point to a damage which can compromise your safety. And these problems won’t go away by themselves. Get in touch with a professional today and ask for a suspension check before the problem gets worse.

Importance of Regular Tyre Service

Many people bring their vehicles to a shop that offers car service in Prestons to be checked and serviced. But with all of the services available in the shop, there is one that they often forget to ask for. And that is a comprehensive tyre service. Even some of the most seasoned drivers on the road are guilty of this from time to time.

This is quite unfortunate since the tyres are the only part of the vehicle in direct contact with the ground. As such, it is one part of the vehicle’s that experiences wear and tear and damage on a daily basis. Tyre service is crucial in order to spot these kinds of damages before they worsen and compromise your safety.

When it comes to tyre service and maintenance, there are some aspects that vehicle owners can take care of themselves. However, there are more intensive and comprehensive maintenance checks that should be left at the hands of professionals.

For instance, simple inspection of the tyres can be done at home during the weekends or before you drive off. This will help you see if you are in need of a tyre service or not.

One of the things that you need to check is the air pressure in your tyres. Get yourself a pressure gauge and check the tyre pressure at least once in a month. Keeping your tyres properly inflated is important for a variety of reasons. For one, it ensures a smooth driving experience. Second, it helps you get the most miles out of every gallon of fuel you put in the vehicle.

If you live in a place where temperatures shift from one extreme to another, you’ll want to do this check more often.

Another thing you’ll want to check is the tyre tread quality. The treads play an important role in providing grip to the road. If the tread is pretty worn out and thin, visit a shop that offers car service in Prestons and have your tyres replaced.

The other aspects of tyre service like tyre alignment, rotation and the likes are beyond the capacity of normal drivers. For such services, you should visit a shop that offers car service in Prestons. Doing so will help keep you and your passengers safe while you’re on the road. Just be sure to choose a shop that is well-known for quality services and products. And if you’re looking for one, you can get in touch with us today.