The Automotive Blog

12 Volt Trailer Light Testers For Ifor

Ifor Williams Trailer Manufacturer Purchase 2 More TrailerChecks

Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd, the leading trailer manufacturer in the UK has recently purchased another two Trailer Electrical Testers from aide automotive ltd.

Ifor Williams manufacture trailer such as Tipper Trailers, Livestock Trailers, Horsebox Trailers, Plant Trailers, Box Van Trailers, General Purpose Trailers, Car Transporter Trailers, plus many more.

Trailer Wiring Tester 12 Volt TrailerCheck Plus is the professionals choice, portable and well constructed the 12 Volt TrailerCheck Plus quickly tests any trailer without the need of a vehicle or battery. No more carrying car batteries around and DIY wire connections, built in a ergonomic housing the 12 Volt TrailerCheck weighs just 8Kg.

12 Volt Trailer Light Testers can be recharged by a mains supply or van power socket (optional extra lead), included within the Trailer Wiring Tester is a spare remote controller in case the in use one is lost or damaged.

If you are a trailer repairer and require professional workshop tools, contact aide automotive ltd on 0115 8456471.

The Old Mechanical Brake Tester Tapley Now Retired As DVSA Say A Print Out Required

For almost 100 years Tapley brake testers have been the market leading portable brake testing equipment.

Results of Tapley Brake meter tests have been accepted as evidence of braking efficiency in Courts of Law throughout the world.

But now it seems the Tapley Brake Tester may well be retired in the UK, recent guidance from the DVSA now says a brake test must be printed for inspection records.

Decelerometers have moved on significantly from the old mechanical brake testers such as Tapley Decelerometer. Being electronic BrakeCheck has 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.

Contact aide automotive to discuss the recent DVSA brake testing guidance and BrakeCheck. – Call 0115 8456471

MOT Tapley Brake Meter

EBS/ABS Sensor Master Order Receives Praise

Tested the EBS ABS Sensor Tester and it is an impressive piece of kit!

The EBS ABS Sensor Tester is the ideal tool for any user, from an apprentice to a time served fitter, or a busy workshop. Quickly identifying and clearing the fault can save time and money, rather than calling in a dealer or diagnostic expert.

“The order arrived as promised. We have tried out the EBS Sensor Tester and it is an impressive piece of kit. Many thanks for your prompt service.” stated Neil Robinson Tyson Haulage

To read more and download a PDF product brochure click on Trailer Sensor Tester.

Call aide automotive on 0115 8456471.

Sensor Tester for ABS or EBS

DVSA Recommend 4 Brake Tests Per Year!!

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.”

BrakeCheck is a portable brake tester that works from the principle of measuring deceleration or Brake Efficiency, BrakeCheck has been proved to be a good indication of brake performance and cost effective for any workshop. Over 15,000 BrakeCheck’s have been purchased since it’s introduction in January 2003, and is now a standard tool for any vehicle workshop.

In addition to BrakeCheck Standard which is marketed towards Car, Van Truck and Bus / Coaches, BrakeCheck For Truck &Trailers is ideal for trailer operating companies.

aide automotive also recommend the use of an Infra Red Thermometer to check individual wheels via temperature. This in conjunction with a decelerometer print out would be the perfect 3 times a year brake test for any commercial vehicle.

To discuss how BrakeCheck or the Brake Testing Equipment works or to review pricing please call us on 0115 8456471.

Brake Tester Using Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

Trailer Light Tester For Farming Trailers

Improving on an earlier version of the Agricultural Trailer Light Tester, Richard Western returned to aide automotive to review the latest 12 Volt TrailerCheck – Trailer Light Tester.

The 12 Volt TrailerCheck – Trailer Light Tester is designed to make the testing and repair of trailer lights faster and much simpler. Power is taken from the leisure battery for this product but for portable use aide automotive offer the 12 Volt TrailerCheck Plus, read more at 12 Volt TrailerCheck Plus.

Where 12V TrailerCheck Trailer Light Tester really scores is when there is a fault.

The Agricultural Trailer Light Tester will hold power on the faulty circuit leaving both hands free while you trace the problem. Then if you need to work on the circuit you use the handset to switch the power to another light or off altogether. Thus repairing without risking a short circuit, switch the power to re test with no need to move.

Based in Suffolk, England, UK, Richard Western design and manufacture a range of machines including grain trailers, rootcrop trailers, grain chasers, silage trailers, dumper trailers, muck spreaders, dual spreaders, slurry tankers, vacuum tankers, bowsers, field runners and transfer wagons. Proud of their reputation for producing machines that are robustly built and will give trouble free performance.

Richard Western have more than 40 years experience supplying machines for agriculture and we are available to help you with your requirements and specifications to ensure that you get the machine best suited to your individual requirements.

Visit the aide automotive Ltd website for more information on Trailer Light Tester For Farming Trailers

13 Pin MOT Apporved Tow Bar Tester

How to Use A Decelerometer For Trailer Brake Tests

Trailer maintenance requires to be as professional as truck maintenance, Carrying out a inspection brake test on trailer doe not mean an expensive Roller Brake Test.

Research has concluded that using a product like BrakeCheck to test trailers brakes is beneficial but will not indicate a below par efficiency on a particular wheel or brake, although using an Infra Red Thermometer as well will increase your awareness of a faulty brake or a low efficiency brake.

VOSA’s Mark Pattison has stated “A decelerometer is not the ideal method to test the braking of a vehicle and trailer combination. However it is of some use. You are correct that the checking of individual wheels would not show up in a test result. The way to use a decelerometer is to first test the drawing vehicle on its own. Then connect the trailer and the deceleration rate should be similar i.e. the trailer is doing its fair share of work. This is not an exact science but would be enough to give you confidence the trailer brakes were working.”

This system is ideal for commercial operations to improve maintenance records for trailers and increase awareness of a trailers brake performance between the annual roller brake tests. Offering a print out of the combination tractor and trailer performance with brake temperatures will improve quality procedures and health & safety paper work. It is often said in today’s age paper work to protect directors and managers from the corporate manslaughter or health and safety law is essential.
aide automotive have designed an inspection sheet for trailers using the BrakeCheck and thermometer, if you require a copy email info@aideautomotive.com with subject heading Trailer Inspection Sheet.

aide automotive also recommend to test the pressure on brake chambers, this will increase your past rate for trailer parking brakes.

To discuss trailer brake testing further call aide automotive on 0115 8456471.

aide automotives Brake Efficiency Tester BrakeCheck is the ideal way to test vehicle brakes.

VOSA are continually advising operators, commercial repairers and in house workshops to complete regular inspection sheet brake test.

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.

BrakeCheck 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. Within the MOT centre this device is used as back up to the roller tester but used in principal on 4×4 vehicles.

Gary Moir of MSK Waste said ” Using a Brake Efficiceny Tester such as a BrakeCheck has saved this company hundreds of pounds as taking vehicles to rollers testers for an inspection brake test is unecessary.”

Contact aide automotive for a Brake Efficiency Tester question by clicking on BRAKE EFFICIENCY 

Brake Tester Uisng Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

BrakeCheck 2 Year Warranty!

aide automotive are now pleased to offer a two year warranty on all BrakeCheck’s & Accessories

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

BrakeCheck is the number one brake tester for commercial vehicle inspections sheets and with over 13,000 testers sold BrakeCheck is now the number one reliable tester on the market.

Matthew Burke Sales Director Said “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 VOSA & MOT approved.

If you have any questions on why a BrakeCheck is used on commercial vehicles or within the MOT test station please click on Brake Tester to enquire or phone 0115 8456471.

KNOW YOUR DIFFERENT ABS FLASH CODES FOR DIFFERENT MAKES OF SYSTEM

There are always two, possibly three, ways to power up the ABS system and you should know what to expect regarding light function. If an ABS/EBS cable is fitted then the GREEN headboard monitor lamp should be ignored and only look at the in-cab RED dashboard light. (The trailer light may not work at all with the ISO7638 connected)

STATIONARY TRAILER HEAD BOARD LAMP FUNCTION WHEN POWERED ONLY BY 24N STOP LIGHTS (REMOVE ALL OTHER CABLES)

The in-cab dashboard warning light will only work when the ABS Susie (ISO7638) or, in some cases, the 24S is connected. The lamp sequence will mimic the trailer headboard warning lamp when the ignition is turned on (NOTE: NO NEED TO PRESS FOOT BRAKE PEDAL)

** The first time after fitting a new ECU, this sequence is different until the vehicle has been driven above 30kph and the brought to a halt for dynamic sensor check. After this it should function as shown in table.

·         24Normal – ISO 1185

·         24 Supplementary – ISO3731

·         ABS/EBS – ISO7638

aide automotive ltd offer trailer light testers and ABS / EBS sensor testers for truck and trailer diagnostic repairs.

aide automotive have recently supplied all Chatfields truck locations with trailer test and diagnostics testers, Chatfields are a franchised truck repairer & distributor for DAF, Renault Truck, Hino & Iveco, predominantly across the North of England.

TrailerCheck is an intelligent trailer tester and diagnostic code reader / clearer for all makes of commercial trailers.

Wayne Edwards, the Chatfields National Franchise Director, commented “as part of the Chatfields’ one stop shop philosophy and following requests from customers, we decided to invest in the latest diagnostic and test equipment for trailers, with this we decided to invest in TrailerCheck from aide automotive ltd. This investment enables us to offer trailer maintenance service and repairs across all depots; this service also includes curtain repairs & bodywork.

aide automotive assessed the type of work our service would undertake and offered advice on the correct model type. Technical support was also part of the decision to invest in TrailerCheck, which included on-site training as part of the package. TrailerCheck has proved to be invaluable in the first few months of use in each depot, with customers feedback on the improved speed and accuracy of diagnostic repairs compared with their previous suppliers, which in turn saves our customers time and money.”

TrailerCheck is available is portable test boxes or van / workshop installed units. Remote Code Talk also covers reading and clearing of fault codes within the trailers ECU. Furthermore TrailerCheck 4 Vans  / Workshop also incorporates air test gauges enabling a total one man maintenance tool for trailers.

Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 for further details.