The Automotive Blog

aide automotive can report on a Rear Truck Brake Fault Solution!
DAF & Scania trucks fitted with Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) could have the same fault but for different reasons. The fault occurs after the vehicle has been driven for a few miles, when the rear brakes slowly start to apply by themselves and in some cases the brakes are on so much that the vehicle is un-drivable.
There are two reasons this fault can appear, the first one is quite simple. On the rear of the vehicle there is a EBS modulator valve which controls the brake pressure to the rear brakes, one of these pipes connected to this valve is from the redundancy valve. This is a saftey back up for the brakes, if in event the EBS fails the truck is left with some brakes to stop the vehicle.

If the redundancy valve starts to leak the air pressure can build up in the pipe connected to the rear modulator valve and start to apply the rear brakes, at the same time the EBS system which constantly monitors the brake pressure when you press the brake pedal sees that there is pressure in the modulator but knows the driver dosnt have his/her fott on the brake so assumes the rear modulator is faulty and puts the EBS warning light on in the cab.

This means there is two faults being caused by the one leaking valve, the EBS causedlight on and the rear brakes applying. The easiest way to identify this fault is by removing the pipe which comes from the redunacy valve when the brakes are on, you will hear the aire pressure being released from the pipe and hear the brake come off.

The Second reason this same fault can appear is a faulty foot brake valve. On a EB System when you press the foot brake on, the foot brake valve not only supplies air pressure to the rear modulator and applies the brakes, it also sends a CAN signal to the rear modulator to apply the brakes. The CAN signal is basically an electronic signal telling the rear modulator to apply the brakes. Inside the foot brake valveare switches which knowhow far you have pressed the pedal down, if these switch’s work incorrectly they can think you have pressed the pedal down when you havent and tell the rear modulator to apply the brakes.
The easiest way to see if the fott brake valve is causing the fault is by removing the electrical connection from the foot brake when the fault appearsand you will hear the brakes release. In both cases the rear brakes usually only apply a small amount but in both cases the EBS light will come on.

aide automotive offer products to test ABS or EBS Sensors or offer brake testers for inspection sheet brake testing.

Trailer testers are available in portable format of wrokshop / van monuted testers.

The I-Addvantage Cataytic Converter Theft Advert is now live and can be seen by clicking on:-

Catalytic Converter Theft!

So what is I-Addvantage?

In the modern day the internet is where people search for products or services; with this any company from a one person dog grooming business to a multi country business with a specific product that needs to be on the first page of search engines such as Google or Bing.

Statistics says that if you are not on the first page of the organics search engine you will not get the call! Organic driven searches are of greater interest to the searcher than the Pay per click adverts on the page, so we could say pay per clicks could not work for you.

We think of I-Add-vantage as an ever present advert on the internet, not a one hit half or costly full page advert in a publication hidden within pages and with a very small shelf life, I-Add-vantage can be around forever!

So to find how you can achieve top search engine ranking call Matthew Burke on 07876663609.

With regard to CatGuard, In the early part of 2008 as a result of the credit crunch in the UK, prices on scrap metal and precious metals increased dramatically. At the same time the theft of Catalytic Converters followed suit with thieves just simply cutting each end of the system and removing the CAT completely, with the demand for precious metals, and parts as a result, the risk of theft of catalytic converters is on the rise.

Vehicles that sit higher from the ground, such as trucks, pick-ups and SUVs, are particularly vulnerable to catalytic converter theft because thieves can slide underneath without having to jack up the vehicle to gain access to the converter. With just a few cuts of a battery-powered saw, the converter can be removed in less than a minute.

If a CatGuard is installed and a thief attempts to remove the Catalytic Converter, CatGuard alarm will be activated. This will result in a 114 decibel siren or voice alarm giving a deafening warning along with a high intensity flashing strobe to drive the thieves away.

With the low cost of a CatGuard, this device can hopefully prevent high repair costs to the unlucky owner.

To enquire for a Internet Advert call 07876653609 or to enquire about Catalytic Converter Theft click on CatGuard!

UK Ambulance Service Start A Trial Of AirAlert With Case to Install To Fleet
A UK ambulance service has recently started a trial of the TPM System from aide automotive ltd, AirAlert is a reactive warning Tyre Pressure Monitoring Device.

Once installed the device will blink when a loss of PSI occurs (4PSI for cars & 8 PSI for commercial vehicles), so just walking up to the vehicle will highlight a under inflated tyre.

AirAlert is ideal for commercial vehicles and trailers, when a tyre valve is not visible the devices LED will blink so bright, the LED will show on surrounding surface areas, making inner axled tyres easily checked.

Ambulance tyre pressures are critical due to weight and response driving, with this the staff of this service have requested the authority to review ways of checking and preventing accidents due to under inflated tyres.

The trial will run for a least a month for all managers and staff to review how an Air Alert TPMS can help.

Contact aide automotive ltd for further information on TPMS.

Trailer Susie Locks For Imperial Tobacco

A Red Line Susie Lock Helps With Trailer Management & Keeps VOR Trailers Off The Road
Imperial Tobacco based in Nottingham required a system to prevent unauthorised trailer movement. Having scouted the world web they found a local supplier in aide automotive ltd.

Purchasing 20 Susie Locks from aide automotive Imperial Tobacco now can implement a system to keep trailer management for VOR or loading.

The Suzie Lock is a simple to fit trailer movement deterrent made from stainless steel incorporating an integrated lock. The Susie lock unit provides a key protected barrier to prevent coupling and restrict unauthorised trailer movement.

Benefits
Prevents unauthorized trailer movements
Easy to apply and remove with key control
Robust stainless steel manufacture
Fits most standard trailer formats
Individual or keyed alike variations

SuzieLocks provide both an easy visual with physical barrier indication against the movement of trailers particularly for yard management of the trailer fleet. Its ease to operate and install onto the trailer coupling provides a quick, clean method to protect VOR (vehicle off road) trailers from unauthorised movement particularly when maintenance issues are at stake. It also provides a very simple and cost effect deterrent against opportunistic theft.

Contact aide automotive by clicking on Susie Lock to request a quantity quote for your trailer fleet.

VOR Trailer Lock - Susie Lock

Brake Faults Most Common At the Roadside, says VOSA
Defective braking systems and components top the list of reasons for prohibitions issued by VOSA at the roadside and depot checks last year.

Nine percent of prohibitions for trucks and 20 percent of prohibitions for trailers were issued because of defective brakes.

The use of a regular deceleration test such as a BrakeCheck could help reduce brake faults and keep inspection sheet paper work in order.

BrakeCheck (decelerometer) can be used and is accepted by VOSA for many vehicles, in the commercial sector VOSA approve BrakeCheck for testing all commercial type vehicles on every inspection. BrakeCheck can be used on vehicles such as, fork lifts, construction / quarry vehicles, tractors and trailers.

This device has moved on significantly from the old mechanical testers such as Tapley Meters. Being electronic there is a much higher accuracy and additional information such as average deceleration, a left/right pull measurement, speed at braking and stopping distance. All tests are time and date stamped.

aide automotive ltd are a leading supplier of brake testing devices for Truck Inspections sheets Brake Tests.

Click on DECELEROMETER to enquire how a BrakeCheck can help you.

Keltruck a Scania dealer based in Sutton In Ashfield Nottinghamshire recently purchased a Midtronics MDX655P battery tester from aide automotive ltd.

Duncan Edwards the dealers service controller reported the tester to be the ideal product for the branches use, he stated “The use of the tester has been excellent on winter service routines and when carrying out vehicle inspections, easy to use and with the benefit of a built in printer we have a hard copy report of the battery state for our records. Winter is a problem time for batteries and poor batteries will cause no starts which is a problem for our customers, testing and reporting healthy batteries will stop no starts and keep our customers vehicles on the road. Furthermore I can add all the products and back up service I have requested from aide automotive has been second to none.”

Battery Testing quickly confirms the efficiency of a vehicle and gives the owner a view to the functionality and life span of a battery. Companies with large heavy duty commercial vehicles such as trucks or buses need to ensure that the vehicle battery is working efficiently. Many companies test their brakes or tyre pressures before a vehicle inspection but why not a battery? Completing a battery test before an inspection will give a view of the batteries long term functionality.

A Midtronics battery tester is the most up to date and cost effective and easy to use tester. The unique technology makes testing of discharged batteries possible, and once tested, a hard copy print out is available for the customer.

Midtronics test method allows battery testing and diagnostic charging to be safer, fast, simple and able to be performed in front of the customer. Each battery test takes just 7 seconds.
Midtronics Battery Testers will provide an increased level of service, increase battery revenue and efficient battery management for the workshop.

If you require a correct answer to your battery testing, click on Midtronics Battery Tester to contact us further by calling 0115 8456471.

Midtronics battery tester

January has seen a good start to BrakeCheck sales for aide automotive.

Since the return after Christmas and New Years holidays enquirys and orders have been flowing for us, BrakeCheck is ideal for any truck operator to carry out an inspection sheet brake test with ease or at a cost effective manner. says Matthew Burke of aide automotive ltd.

BrakeCheck is a portable battery-powered device that can be used by vehicle workshops, government traffic authorities, testing and inspection stations to test and report on vehicle brake efficiency. BrakeCheck is VOSA & MOT approved.

If you require an inspection sheet brake tester for your trucks or trailers call aide automotive ltd on 0115 8456471 or click on www.brake-tester.co.uk to read more or contact us.

BrakeCheck the UK’s Number 1 MOT Brake Tester (Decelerometer) is in the aide automotive’s January Sale !!
Used as a back up to the roller tester the BrakeCheck is an electronic tester that can be used to test vehicles that cannot go on the rollers or Quad, Trike bikes and Motorcycles.
Each MOT Garage requires a back up brake tester and aide automotive would like to offer this great deal to those who don?t have a tester or require upgrading their old mechanical meter such as a Tapley. Having the latest tools within the garage will be of benefit when VOSA carry out inspections.
BrakeCheck is easy to use and can also be downloaded to a PC or connected to a supplied printer for hard copy test reports at an optional cost, also for motorcycles a mounting clamp is required.

In the last year we have also seen garages part exchange the Auto Stop Mini, this is an electronic tester supplied by Tecalemit. As this tester is expensive to recalibrate and by reports hard to use, part exchanging to the BrakeCheck should pay back within 2 years.
To read more click on BrakeCheck for the main website page or click on www.brake-tester.co.uk for the dedicated website.

If you would like to purchase a BrakeCheck then call 0115 8456471 or send an email to shoponline@aideautomotive.com and we will call you back.

MV Trucks in Aylesford Kent recently purchased a TrailerCheck 4 Vans for one there mobile fitter vans.

TrailerCheck is an ideal cost effective test gauge to quickly determine the electrical integrity of an EBS/ABS braking system and a full lighting check on a commercial trailer.

Using a tractor unit to carry out a trailer test is not as effective as the TrailerCheck as the tractor unit is not guaranteed to be a 100% working unit. TrailerCheck eliminates the indecision and confirms the trailers fault. Additionally when servicing or prepping trailers there maybe no space to hook a tractor unit up, as TrailerCheck is portable testing in tightly parked yards can be achieved. TrailerCheck is easily used on site by a mobile commercial repairer or used on a multi service lane workshop. TrailerCheck is built into a rugged carrying case, portable and powered by batteries that can be re charged by mains power or via a cigarette lighter within a service van.

MV Trucks David Henniker Stated ” In this day and age buying specilist equipment is a big commitment for companys, however when we realised that we needed this specilist trailer checking equipment we decided to look around for the best application. Having finalised the deal with aide automotive we were not diaspointed, it was delivered quickly and fitted easily in our van, its easy to use with a full set of instructions, we take the workshop to the trailer what could be more simple.”

Contact aide automotive for info on the TrailerCheck Trailer Light Tester with Diagnostics.

Up to the 22nd aide automotive have been flooded with enquires for anti siphon devices.

Matthew Burke stated ” It seems that theives are hard at work stealing fuel leading up to Christmas and with trucks sat over this period it may only get worse for haulage coampanies. This last week has probably seen our highest ever recorded week of enquires for anti fuel theft products, orders are going out every day and many more will come in the new year I am sure.”

aide automotive supply a range of anti diesel siphonging devices for trucks and vans. Also we offer Catalytic Converter Alarms to stop catalytic theft from vans.

Contact aide automotive by clicking on Stop Fuel Theft to enquire about anti Siphoning Devices.