The Automotive Blog

Truck, Bus & Coach Brake Testing

Following The Bath Tipper Incident Inquiry HGV Brake Testing Essential

BrakeCheck Conducts DVSA HGV Brake Tests

Decelerometer BrakeCheck Offers Great Reliability

BrakeCheck Decelerometer Includes 2 Years Warranty

aide automotive have improved our customer service by increasing the warranty from 1 to 2 years on the BrakeCheck decelerometer!

BrakeCheck is the number one brake tester for commercial vehicle inspections sheets and with over 18,000 testers sold BrakeCheck is surely the number one reliable tester on the market.

aide auto’s Matthew Burke Says “Since the launch of BrakeCheck in 2001 we have been continually looking at way to improve the tester for reliability and operational, with BrakeCheck Series 2 we now have the over whelming confidence to offer a two year warranty, operationally the BrakeCheck product is at the very top of its product sector and now we feel its top for reliability.”

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 DVSA accepted for commercial vehicles & is MOT approved for all vehicle classes.

aide automotive can supply pricing quotes and full immediate technical support to all!

BrakeCheck Conducts DVSA HGV Brake Tests

Quick Air Line Replacement Product

Bessie is a Truck Brake Susie Coil Replacement Product from aide automotive ltd.

Bessie Easy Truck Susie Coil Repairs

No more inspection sheets with “Brakes OK, On Road Test”

Since April 2014 the DVSA have been recommending commercial vehicles undertake 4PSV or  Truck brake tests per year!

Many operators have moved with the guidance but still over 2 years passed many commercial vehicle operators are unaware of the guidance.

The guidance states:

Document :Guide to maintaining road worthiness
Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles (Revised 2014)

Section 5: Safety inspection and repair facilities

Extract –
“Therefore it is normally expected that the vehicle or trailer should complete at least three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout year in addition to the annual MOT test.”

An operator can take the decision to carry out brake tests using roller brake tests or a decelerometer like BrakeCheck.

Many bus & coach companies use a decelerometer, here at aide automotive we have sold many brake testers recently with feedback from one customer saying:

“A necessary piece of kit in today’s transport, does the job perfectly – Inwood Logistics”

BrakeCheck is portable brake tester that works from the principle of measuring deceleration or Brake Efficiency, BrakeCheck is cost effective for any commercial vehicle workshop costing as low as £470 for a PC Downloading Kit & £572 for a printer kit, BrakeCheck is ideal!

To discuss BrakeCheck options and requirements please do not hesitate to contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471

MOT Test Station in the area to be able to offer testing for HGVs and PSVs

Trailer Air Line Lock May Offfer

aide automotive are pleased to offer a Special Price for the Trailer Air Line Lock for the month of May 16.

The Trailer Vehicle Off Road (VOR) Air Line Lock is an excellent tool to manage a trailer fleet within a depot or off site.

Off site a Trailer Air Line Lock can offer security against theft, with this lock snapped on an air line a trailer is near impossible to move. Simply lock on to the emergency C coupling of the trailer to prevent unauthorised movement, securing commercial trailers by preventing the release of the brakes

How Trailer Air Brakes Work
Trailer air brakes by default are ON, compressed air is forced from the tractor or cab unit to apply pressure to release the brakes.

Without compressed air the trailer air brake system is not activated and the trailer remains stationary, so, for example, it cannot roll away. The air line hose is integral to the trailer and cannot be easily removed.

Trailer Air Line Lock fits onto the red line which is the pneumatic high pressure hose that connects the pressurised air supply from the cab/tractor unit to the trailer. Trailer Air Line Lock fits all makes of air hose couplers and push-to-connect tube fittings.

Trailer C Coupling Lock Features

The lock sleeve is long enough to cover the male coupling preventing it from being unscrewed from the trailer.

Each lock is supplied with two keys, which are tucked inside a plastic cap for transit.

Compact, rugged and simple to operate.

To fit remove key and push lock onto the male.

10,000 Key combinations

Sets of locks operated with the same key may be purchased.

Contact us via the website or by telephone 0115 8456471

Trailer Vehicle Off Road (VOR) Air Line Lock

Lorries Face Ban Over New Cycle Safety Measures

London has become the first city in Britain to fine the drivers of HGVs not fitted with equipment like mirrors to protect cyclists.

From the 1st of September all lorries over 3.5 tons in the capital must now be fitted with guards at the side to help prevent cyclists being dragged under wheels in the event of an accident.

They must also have a special type of mirror that helps the driver see those riding bicycles or on foot.

Any that do not have the equipment fitted with the safety equipment may be issued with a £50 fixed penalty notice and operators could face a maximum fine of £1,000 at a Magistrates’ court.

The new rules for lorries will operate 24 hours a day and cover every road in the capital except motorways.

Most HGVs are already required to fit side guards, but lorries involved in the construction industry have been exempt from that requirement. Similarly, while new lorries must have extended view mirrors fitted, older HGVs have been exempt.

A Hi Vu Commercial Vehicle Fresnel lens press-fits inside the truck’s passenger side window, like a mirror, Hi Vu affords the driver a normal, (through the window) view of what’s close to his cab, not a reversed or inverted mirror image. That means the driver will assimilate any danger much faster and react far more quickly.

Due to a blind spot, drivers of trucks cannot see smaller vehicles or other vulnerable road users which are immediately next to the passenger side door of their HGV. These unseen road users can be hit if the truck changes lane in their direction.

For the low price of £9.99 + vat, a Truck Or Bus Fresnel Mirror Lens is an ideal addition to a HGV to the required guards and mirrors.

aide automotive can be contacted via email info@aideautomotive.com or by phone – 0115 8456471

Fresnel Lens is a clear, thin, flat plastic lens that is press fitted to a truck’s passenger door

Truck HGV Blind Spot Lens

A Hi Vu Fresnel lens press-fits inside the truck’s passenger side window and is held firmly in place by its own ‘peel-back’ self-adhesive.

The Fresnel lens provides an extra downwards view for the HGV driver so that at a glance he can see any vulnerable road user that might be hidden in the mirror blind spot, alongside his passenger door.

Unlike a mirror, Hi Vu affords the driver a normal, (through the window) view of what’s close to his cab, not a reversed or inverted mirror image. That means the driver will assimilate any danger much faster and react far more quickly.

Due to a blind spot, drivers of trucks cannot see smaller vehicles or other vulnerable road users which are immediately next to the passenger side door of their HGV. These unseen road users can be hit if the truck changes lane in their direction.

DVSA says, “Even the latest HGVs with a full complement of six mirrors, in compliance with the latest EU directive, still have blind spots to the passenger side which are large enough to hide a family saloon car. The solution is to fit a special Fresnel lens.”
VOSA has conducted trials which have proven that by fitting Fresnel lenses to vehicles, both the frequency and the severity of “sideswipe” accidents is reduced.

Truck Mirror Lens Benefits

Multi-Vehicle Use – Trucks, Vans, Bus, Coach, RVs (Recreational Vehicle), SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicle) and Hatch-Backs.
Low Profile, Smallest Footprint Lens, No Window Obscurity
The Only ‘Peel Back’ Self-Adhesive Fresnel Lens available
Multi-Positional Lens Fits All Vehicle Types (LHD & RHD)
Easy to install in seconds
Strong Adhesive surround ensures the lens will not easily peel off when passing through the doors rubber weather seal

aide automotive can be contacted via email info@aideautomotive.com or by phone – 0115 8456471

Fresnel lenses are now accepted by Transport for London

With the increasing number of hybrid and electric vehicles on the road, the demand from workshops for correctly insulated tools has grown significantly.

A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle for example a conventional internal combustion engine and also a high voltage electric motor. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. However, other mechanisms to capture and use energy may also be included, such as diesel-electric trains which are powered by both diesel engine and electric motor and submarines that use diesel engines to power the rotors and also to charge batteries that power the craft when submerged.

So is your garage ready? Does your car / van MOT garage have the necessary tools to guard against the dangers of electrocution from hybrid-electric vehicles?

Mechanics should be cautious when working on hybrid vehicles because hybrid vehicles use a combination of a petrol motor and a high-voltage electric motor. The electric motor operates on voltages as high as 500 volts, that’s more than eight times the lethal voltage. Be ready for anything. Don’t be caught worrying about the “what ifs” while working on these vehicles.

aide automotive’s Hybrid Service & Test Tool Kit is ideal for servicing and general maintenance of Hybrid vehicles systems. Used by auto-technicians and HSE compliant to ensure safety. At present this is the only kit of it’s kind for auto-servicing professionals, the Hybrid Vehicle Service & Test Tool Kit is the natural choice for small and large garage operations. This is suitable for use on all Hybrid vehicles, when the term hybrid vehicle is used, it most often refers to a Hybrid electric vehicle. These encompass such vehicles as the Saturn Vue, Toyota Prius, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h and 450h and others.

aide automotive’s Hybrid Car Service & Test Tool Kit Contains:
CAT III 1000V Multimeter, Cables, Probes, Clips and Magnetic Hanging Strap.
CAT III 1000V Protective Gloves
HSE Approved Warning Sign
8mm & 10mm CAT III Insulated Spanners
10mm CAT III nut spinner
Boric Acid Solution (for emergency spillage protection).

Hybrid Car Electric Vehicle Tool Kit – enables safe isolation of all high voltage systems.

Contact aide automotive to review or purchase your Hybrid Car Service & Test Tool Kit today! Call 0115 8456471

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Tool Kit – enables safe isolation of all high voltage systems

Truck Fresnel Lens

Blind Spot Lens Receives Excellent Feedback

Due to a blind spot, drivers of trucks cannot see smaller vehicles or other vulnerable road users which are immediately next to the passenger side door of their HGV. These unseen road users can be hit if the truck changes lane in their direction.

DVSA says, “Even the latest HGVs with a full complement of six mirrors, in compliance with the latest EU directive, still have blind spots to the passenger side which are large enough to hide a family saloon car. The solution is to fit a special Fresnel lens.”

Fresnel lenses are now accepted as a very important visual safety aid for HGV drivers and so organisations such as Transport for London and Crossrail insist that trucks are fitted with lenses before being allowed to undertake transportation work on busy urban roads.

A recent customer stated “Great item, the Lens is as described, thanks for fast postage!”.

Another customer past comment with “Very pleased with the Truck Fresnel Lens, happy to purchase further products. Many thanks!”

Find out more about the Truck Fresnel Lens from aide automotive by calling our sales team on 0115 8456471

Fresnel lenses are now accepted by Transport for London

Truck Diesel Fuel Spills Reaches 500 Prohibitions

More than 500 immediate prohibitions have been issued to commercial vehicles for Spilling Diesel Fuel on the roads since the DVSA began to crack down on the problem last year.

Since September the DVSA has been issuing only immediate prohibitions for fuel system defects or diesel spillages. Offences likely to warrant an immediate prohibition include a missing or ineffective fuel cap or seal, a fuel leak caused by a defect or an insecure fuel tank.

A pilot scheme giving Highways Agency officers the power to stop vehicles and direct them to a DVSA site for inspection was a success,

A DVSA spokesman said. “The agency is currently looking for ways in which it could be rolled-out further.”

aide automotive have been marketing a Retro Fit Spill Valve for the TP Anti Siphon for the past 4 years.

Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 to review your fleet with the Anti Siphon and Diesel Spill Valve.

Fuel theft device that also prevents diesel spillage