The Automotive Blog

Brake performance testing should be a key part of your maintenance

BrakeCheck Decelerometer Price Offers

Portable Brake Tester Now Incorporates GPS Data

The Bowmonk BrakeCheck is probably the best known portable MOT & Commercial Vehicle Brake Tester around.

Bowmonk GPS added to Brake Tester

Truck Bus, Coach Winter Battery Test
Cold Weather Means Vehicle Battery Tests More Beneficial
Cold weather is especially hard on Car, Van, Truck, Bus & Coach batteries.

According to AAA’s Automotive Research Center, at 0°F, a car’s battery loses about 60 percent of its strength, during cold temperatures starting an engine can take up to twice as much current as needed under normal conditions.

Cold weather inhibits the chemical reaction necessary to make a battery work, which is often the reason you may have trouble starting a vehicle on a cold winter morning! Cold weather together with a lack of vehicle usage, especially over the festive period, every year leads to high numbers of assistance call outs.

During the cold winter months, the last thing is a breakdown due to vehicle battery problems. A vehicle battery’s ability to charge is also reduced in the cold weather.

Charge and test is the recommendation for all garages while service or MOT-ing vehicles this winter.

Charging batteries will replace the lost capacity that modern day gadgets use, a vehicles recharging circuit will only replace the lost capacity through driving. Sat navs, mobiles phones and DVDs for example could slowly discharge a battery and cause a flat battery breakdown.

aide automotive have been marketing the Midtronics Battery Tester for over 10 years, with some great customer response over this period the Midtronics range offer ease of use and accurate diagnose compared to other cheaper models.

aide automotive have a range of new and used Midtronics Testers, with some used testers in perfect condition offering a good saving from a new tester.

To equip a workshop with a excellent tester before the winter hits and keep vehicles on the road contact use by clicking on Midtronics Battery Tester and ask for pricing and specification of 12 volt Battery Testers or 24 Volt System Testers.

Midtronics MDX 655P 24 Volt Truck/Bus/Coach Battery Tester

Truck Sender Tank Security

New Sender Shield Protection

Sender Safe is a new product to help with fuel security around a Truck Diesel Fuel Tank.

Sender Safe is a robust and easy to fit protective shield for a Truck Fuel Tank Sender unit, increased protection of the fuel tank filler entry by fitting anti siphon devices has meant the Sender Unit is now the way to steal fuel.

The Sender Safe unit sits on top of the fuel tank attached by the fuel tank mounting straps, Sender Safe prevents access and damage to the Fuel Tank Sender Unit.

A recent enquiry from a northern haulier advised the cost of a Sender Rip out to be £800, that’s including the fuel stolen.

Cost effective and in house or on site fitting, Sender Safe takes one more step in fuel security.

aide automotive specialise in truck fuel tank security, with 3 unique products to protect a truck diesel tank.

Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 or via the contact page – aide automotive Contact!

Stop Truck Fuel Theft

ALTip Ltd Start A Fleet Install Of Camera’s & TankGuard

ALTip has made a considerable investment in making the truck fleet as safe as possible with the currently available technology. Installing 360 Deg Cameras and fuel theft prevention alarms is that start of a continued investment to meet the Silver FORS accreditation.

FORS provides a quality and performance benchmark for van, lorry, mini-bus, coach and bus operators

Truck Emission Testing DVSA

From August 2017, roadside checks of lorries carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will include an emissions check.

The DVSA are set to target lorry drivers and operators who try to cheat vehicle emissions. The new checks will target those who break the law and will help to improve air quality.

In May 2017, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a draft plan to improve air quality by reducing nitrogen dioxide levels in the UK.

This included looking at ways to reduce emissions produced by vehicles, including those used commercially. A final plan will be published by 31 July.

Fraudulent emissions readings

The DVSA’s enforcement staff, and their European counterparts, have found evidence that drivers and operators use emissions cheat devices to cut the cost of operating.

These include:

Using devices designed to stop emissions control systems from working
Removing the diesel particulate filter or trap

Using cheap, fake emission reduction devices or diesel exhaust fluid

Using illegal engine modifications which result in excessive emissions
Removing or bypassing the exhaust gas recirculation valve

Taking action against emission cheats

DVSA enforcement officers will give the driver and operator 10 days to fix the emissions system if they find a vehicle with tampered emissions readings. If the emissions system isn’t fixed within 10 days, DVSA will issue a fine and stop the vehicle being used on the road.

DVSA enforcement staff can insist that a vehicle be taken off the road immediately if they find a driver or operator is repeatedly offending.

Working with the EU

DVSA will investigate all Great Britain operators cheating emissions and pass the findings to the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, who have the power to remove operator licences.

DVSA will also continue to work with counterpart agencies across Europe, and further afield, to make sure that all offences committed by non-Great Britain hauliers are dealt with locally.

DVSA Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said: DVSA’s priority is to protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles. We are committed to taking dangerous vehicles off Britain’s roads and this new initiative to target emissions fraud is a key part of that. Anyone who flouts the law is putting other road users, and the quality of our air, at risk. We won’t hesitate to take these drivers, operators and vehicles off our roads.”

Even though the roadside checks will be to search out the cheat devices, the operators who omit emissions over the required standards could be penalised.

Checking commercial vehicle emissions within inspection intervals will confirm no emission regularities on the roadside.

aide automotive market workshop emissions monitors for quick indication emission checks. Contact us for further details.

Tel 0115 8456471
EMail – shoponline@aideautomotive.com

Truck Fifth Wheel Plate

Brigg Haulage have now purchased over 8 Fifth Wheel Lube Liner Plates

Brigg Haulage have now purchased over 8 Fifth Wheel Lube Liner Plates

Diesel Fuel Splash & Spill Prevention

aide introduce Splash Stop For The TP Diesel Anti Siphon Range

aide automotive would like to introduce you to a NEW accessory for the HGV Anti Siphon product range “Splash Stop”

Following consultations with drivers and customers to discover ways of improving the anti-siphon range, it quickly became apparent that fuel splash back was a major irritation to drivers and fuel spills to managers.

With this we can now offer a Splash Stop Accessory for the Truck Protection Anti Siphon product range.

Tested and approved by drivers this simple innovation prevents fuel splash while re fueling on hands, clothes & the truck body.

Driver comment “It works brilliantly, such a simple solution to an age old problem. For all of us that take pride in our trucks it simply is a must have I recommend it. Stefan”

Splash Stop is fitted permanently if using a non lockable cap, with lockable caps the Splash Stop requires to be removed.

Priced at £4.99 + vat you can order now for fitted siphons or purchase with new orders. Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471

HGV Diesel Fuel Splash & Spill Prevention

Fatal Coupling Incident Prompts HSE Warning

The HSE has urged drivers and operators to take steps to prevent truck runaway incidents when coupling and uncoupling trailers.

Quick Air Line Replacement Product

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

Bessie Easy Truck Susie Coil Repairs