The Automotive Blog

TrailerCheck is fast becoming a popular test kit for commercial workshops around the UK.

Matthew Burke of aide automotive stated “We see new enquiries every day for this product and increasing numbers, workshops seem to be looking to improve on test equipment and to keep on top of vehicle maintenance as a proactive approach rather than a have to approach. A forgotten diagsnostic cover is commercial trailers, with trucks being scanned for faults codes on servicing workshops  are now seeing the benefit of reading trailer ABS and EBS codes. TrailerCheck II With Code Reader is the ideal cost effective diagnostic tool for trailers that is simple to use and rugged for any workshop.”

aide automotive market the TrailerCheck with Diagnostic Code Reader, visit http://www.aideautomotive.com for further info. 

Diagnostic Code Reader for ABS and EBS ECU Fault Reading

Brake Testing should form part of vehicle maintenance routine, however VOSA are reporting that Van fleets are ignoring the need for regular maintenance checks and disregarding mechanical failures. They claim that this is a greater problem with vans than with heavy goods or PSV operators.

Over 50% of the 21,000 roadside checks VOSA conducted on vans throughout 2009 uncovered mechanical defects, compared to 24% of HGVs and 15% of PSVs. The most common issue was faulty brakes.

In addition, almost half (45%) of vans fail their MoT compared to 34% of HGVs and 24% of PSVs.

Graham Owen, VOSA area manager says fleets would be held criminally responsible for unroadworthy vehicles or drivers as VOSA has the authority and responsibility to remove them from the road. He insists that vans should follow the same good practice as HGVs, as laid out in the ‘O’ licence on preventative maintenance. In particular making it the driver’s responsibility to do a daily walk-round of the vehicle to ensure it is in a roadworthy condition, and keeping records to demonstrate this

Don’t rely on the MoT – it’s the worst standard you can apply,” Owen warned. “It is the minimum standard of a vehicle that has ticked the boxes at a moment in time. You want your standard to be higher so that over the period between inspection – whether that’s 12 weeks, six months or a year – you never fall below the compliance line.”

These checks could include regular brake testing with products such as Brake Check.

Visit aide automotive for a full list of automotive products

BrakeCheck. Make brake Testing part of your routine vehicle checks

AdBlue is an example of such an additive. The liquid is mixed with the exhaust fumes as they leave the engine. A great method of reducing emissions however a business needs to be sure that this process is working effectively all the time to ensure compliance with the European Union rules.

An Optical Refractometer is the solution. It measures the refraction of a liquid, in other words it ensures the right level of AdBlue is being used and checks the contamination with other liquids such as brake fluid or antifreeze!! The Optical Refractometer is an easy hand held device that is portable and easy to use

Check out aide automotive for more automotive products

The easiest way to prevent any prohibitions from VOSA however serious is to consider regular Brake Testing and Tyre Pressure Monitoring. By using a Brake Tester like BrakeCheck you can demonstrate that you’ve been testing on a regular basis. Similarly a Tyre Pressure Monitor such as PressurePro allows you to check you have the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle.

One Staffordshire firm recently discovered the consequences of not regularly maintaining their vehicles. Stoke-on-Trent firm, Dime Metal Services had its licence revoked from 7 August, and its boss disqualified from applying for a new licence for 15 months.

The operator has had its O-licence revoked after a Deputy Traffic Commissioner (DTC) described their vehicles as a “significant danger to other road users” due to lack of maintenance and regular testing of brakes and tyres. West Midlands Deputy Traffic Commissioner Roger Seymour said the company had shown an “almost total disregard of the law and obligations of operator licensing”.

VOSA inspectors carried out maintenance investigations into the company and identified eight prohibitions – three of which were S-marked – were imposed on the firm. They are related to “very serious” brake and tyre issues.

The DTC summarised “Looking at the evidence overall, I find that this operator has failed to discharge his responsibilities and undertakings to maintain his vehicles in a roadworthy condition to the point where the continued use of his vehicles constituted a significant danger to other road users.”

Check out aide automotive for our full product range.

Brake Tester

Trailer Diagnostics for EBS - Electronic Braking Systems

A new trailer diagnostic product by aide automotive ltd.

TrailerCheck with EBS Diagnostic Code Reader is the latest product to achieve a high interest in the commercial vehicle market.

Trailer repairers have been searching for a cost effective diagnostic tool to communicate with commercial trailers.

Reading and clearing codes on trailers at service intervals is good practice to keep records and possible fault reports.

TrailerCheck will also read ABS codes and complete a full intelligent trailer lighting test.

Trailer Check will soon have the ability to read Electronic Brake Systems.  Coming soon from aide automotive this new version of TrailerCheck will not only look at ABS diagnostics but also consider EBS diagnostics too.

Trailer Check is already a popular product and an ideal cost effective test gauge to quickly determine the electrical integrity of a braking system.  This new version just takes it a step further to ensure that the EBS codec reader is working correctly too.

Check out the aide automotive website later this year for the new version or visit it to find out more about all the other automotive products that we supply

The EBS/ABS Sensor Master is the ideal workshop tool for detecting and clearing EBS or ABS Faults.

Since the start of 2010 aide automotive have seen a major increase in sales, Matthew Burke Stated “This product is simple and cost effective, sometimes you just need to easier tools than the more expensive techincal diagnostic tools. I beleive the increase in sales is down to the products word of mouth and customers looking for more cost effective ways to solve brake faults.”

The ABS Sensor Master is an easy to use device which will confirm each EBS/ABS sensor is operational and effective. By connecting to the sensor socket on each wheel, individual sensor faults can easily be identified. The Master also tests the exciter ring and the distance between the ring and sensor.

Contact aide automotive ltd for further information.

Sensor Master EBS ABS

Just Car Clinics the nationwide car boby shop repairer with over 20 sites has recently invested in the Launch X431.

Supplied by official distributor aide automotive ltd, Matthew Burke stated “Just Car Clinics recently purchased their first diagnostic tool for the Sheffield branch, with an increase in boby repairs due to the icing conditions at the start of the year they also saw a need to clear and reset engine codes in house, with this a reported £3000 was saved by not out sourcing diagnostic work. Since Sheffields purchase further tools have been supplied to Mansfield, Nottingham and Hinckley.”

The X431 covers a large range of vehicle manufacturers around the world, making the X431 an essential tool for the independent automotive expert. The X431 tool package will allow your business to expand by providing ready diagnosis of all types of manufactures, including Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, and many more! All in all, the X431 coverage spans over 37 manufacturers and 148 vehicle systems.

The Launch X431 Is the Ideal Diagnostic Tool for any Car Workshop

It only takes 5ml of Diesel to 20 litres of AdBlue in the AdBlue tank to turn it all into paste.

This effects the SCR systems dosing unit and catalytic converter which puts the truck into limp home mode.

Even minimal damage means the replacement of the dosing unit, more extensive damage can result in the replacement of the SCR system.

A leading UK manufacturer has indicated that 50% of call-outs are as a result of cross contamination the other 50% being accidents.

AdBlue Key is a built-in mechanism which only opens when the AdBlue nozzle is inserted (manual fill or pumped), the Key has been designed so that if you do try to put Diesel into the Key and any Diesel is released, it will run off through the drain off holes and none can enter the AdBlue tank .Adblue Key is made of the same polyoxymethylene (POM) materials as the rest of the SCR system, conforming to the same rigorous testing.

W ith a guide RRP of 89.00 + VAT, AdBlue Key this a cost effective guard against massive repair costs!

Contact aide automotive ltd for further information.

AdBlue Key to Stop AdBlue Contamination