Summer season is here
With the weather getting warmer we are starting to see more cars with A/C issues. Here is a Peugeot RCZ […]
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Are the combustion engines days numbered? Is this the beginning of the end for the diesel and petrol engine? Lets find out….
Significant gains in battery technology favour electric motors moving into the future. Current electric cars, powered by lithium-ion batteries, can reach ranges of almost of 300 miles on a single charge Tesla fans recently drove a Model S more than 700 miles in one go. Straight away this takes away the more recent questions and concerns around how far you can drive without needing to stop versus a diesel or petrol car.
Many thought leaders actually believe the “total cost of ownership” of an electric car will reach parity with a petrol one next year. Predictions are being made that electric vehicles will make up 14% of global car sales by 2025. Regulations are tightening, too. Last month the UK joined a lengthening list of electric-only countries, saying that all new cars must be zero-emission by 2050.
Electrification has thrown the car industry into potential chaos. Many leading brands are founded on their engineering heritage—especially in Germany. Compared with existing vehicles, electric cars are much simpler and have fewer parts; they are more like computers on wheels. That means they need fewer people to assemble them and fewer subsidiary systems from specialist suppliers.
While today’s carmakers grapple with their costly legacy of old factories and swollen workforces, new entrants will be unencumbered. Premium brands may be able to stand out through styling and handling, but low-margin, mass-market carmakers will have to compete chiefly on cost. Ultimately, what this means is, new competition in the industry from players such as Apple and Google will drive the cost down, and through innovation, the quality of Electric vehicles up.
Driverless electric cars in the 21st century are likely to improve the world in profound and unexpected ways, just as vehicles powered by internal combustion engines did in the 20th. But it will be a bumpy road. Buckle up. Follow our latest news to keep up with all the changes to the world of electric cars!
Did You know…Potentially thousands of car repair firms ‘face collapse’ after no-deal Brexit.
Did you know that within 2 weeks of Brexit happening at the end of this month, around 1,000 companies across the UK car-accident repair industry “could be on the brink” of closure. According to experts it could mean the cost of repairing your car would increase significantly due to parts becoming more difficult to come by.
Body shops that repair cars in accidents face a very uncertain future, business leaders warn
Body spraying a panel in a body shop – the Government has been accused of doing very little to help the industry which depends on speed at the border
New border checks risk slowing down business dramatically for an industry which relies on getting car parts in quickly from abroad, including Europe.
The Government is facing calls to take a ‘no-deal’ Brexit off the table from the car industry
According to car industry experts, the car repair industry had been ‘severely underinvested in for many, many years’ and therefore didn’t have the reserves to step up to the difficulties of a no deal – if the supply chain was hit with delays. Meanwhile Kate Goodwin, who fronts the repair programme and supply chain at The Innovation Group, an organisation which supports industry, added: ‘Repairers don’t get paid until a repair is completed, margins are tight.
According to the government the priority is to deliver a deal that will protect UK jobs and prosperity and provide certainty for businesses as we leave the EU. The Government is preparing to ensure the country is ready for every eventuality.
What we say is if you are in Widnes then don’t panic Brexit is potentially going to happen at the end of this month. The good news is that Widnes Auto Electrics are fully prepared for all outcomes and will be able to continue to provide car electrics for you regardless of the outcome
This 3 series came to us after the dealer said there was nothing wrong with it.
The alarm was going off intermittantly.
A quick code read showed several faults
Testing the car seemed to show no faults .
But looking at the BMW site it showed a TSB (technical service bulletin) for this fault. The switches in the door become worn with age and set the alarm off.
The solution is to reprogram the frm module and this gives the switches larger tolerances so alarm doesn’t go off.
For Driving in the UK stopping distance is made up of 2 parts, THINKING and BRAKING
A lot of learners are caught out during the test, because they aren’t aware of the difference! Whats worse is that fact that you are probably reading this document because you have passed your test either recently or some time ago and despite being on the roads every day you no longer know what the rules are!
What is thinking distance?
Thinking distance is the distance that the car travels after the driver has seen the danger and before the brakes are applied.
Some peoples reactions are faster than others, but the average distance it takes before the driver realises the danger ahead is 20 feet, when travelling at 20 mph.
What is braking distance?
The distance that the car travels whilst braking. With the brakes applied the car slows down, and the average car will travel 20 feet before coming to a complete stop, when travelling at 20 mph.
The Overall Stopping Distance is a combination of the 2 above.
When trying to visualise a distance it is useful to remember that the length of an average car is approximately 15ft, therefore, 75ft would be about 5 car lengths away.
Stopping distance when Travelling at 20mph:
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 20mph is 40 feet (12 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 20 ft (6 m)) + (braking distance: 20 ft (6 m))
Stopping distance when Travelling at 30mph:
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 30mph is 75 feet (23 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 30 ft (9 m)) + (braking distance: 45 ft (14 m))
Stopping distance when Travelling at 40mph:
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 40mph is 120 feet (36 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 40 ft (12 m)) + (braking distance: 80 ft (24 m))
Stopping distance when Travelling at 50mph:
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 50mph is 175 feet (53 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 50 ft (15 m)) + (braking distance: 125 ft (38 m))
Stopping distance when Travelling at 60mph:
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 60mph is 240 feet (73 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 60 ft (18 m)) + (braking distance: 180 ft (55 m))
Stopping distance when Travelling at 70mph:
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 70mph is 315 feet (96 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 70 ft (21 m)) + (braking distance: 245 ft (75 m))
Please note: Information is for guidance only – for up to date accurate information please check your highway code. Official guidelines can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158
This Ford came to us with a cluster fault which the previous garage couldn’t solve because they didnt have correct tooling.
With the replacement cluster fitted car failed to start due to cluster being part of the PATS system (ant-itheft system).
But with the correct equipment the job is straight forward
With coding complete the car starts and runs.
Another happy customer
A older Renault came to our workshop with a running issue.
Various tests were performed and the ECU condemned. Due to high cost of new replacement part a 2nd hand unit was sourced. But due to immobiliser coding 2nd hand part wouldn’t allow car to start.
But with our equipment we have at our disposal we are able to Virginise 2nd hand part then code it to vehicle.
AUDI A4 with display fault on the instruement cluster.
We removed the cluster and replaced the faulty display.
2009 mini was in our workshop with airbag light illuminated.
A quick code read revealed internal fault in module.
But here at Widnes Auto Electrical we offer a repair service. We can remove your original unit and with specialist equipment repair your unit saving you 100’s pounds
With the chip resoldered onto the pcb and refitted to the vehicle, the airbag faults are cleared and the light extinguishes.
Another happy customer
Jaguar will stop producing the XJ in July so that it can focus on producing an all-electric version. The current model is a favourite of British politicians, and is frequently the car of choice of the Prime Minister. The current X351 model has been on sale since 2009, when the Jaguar XJ debuted with an all-new aluminium structure.
The British manufacturer has confirmed that the final XJ will roll off the Castle Bromwich production line on July 5 – with more than 120,000 versions produced over the last decade.
A facelifted model went on sale in 2015 with revised styling and a much-improved infotainment system on offer, while 2017 saw the introduction of a powerful XJR model, which produced 567bhp.
And last year Jaguar unveiled the XJ50 – a special edition marking 50 years since the original went on sale in 1968. This features unique XJ50 branding, unique 20-inch alloy wheels and a gloss walnut veneer interior trim.
The firm’s flagship model is available in standard or long wheelbase versions, and it comes with just one engine an offer, a 296bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel, which proves a great match for the XJ. Prices start from £62,400, and rise to £83,145 for the range-topping XJ Autobiography.
From <https://www.carkeys.co.uk/news/curtain-falls-on-jaguar-xj-to-make-way-for-electric-model>
The airbag light was illuminated since the car was valetted. A quick scan revealed passenger side occupancy sensor fault.
This sensor detects whether someone is sat in passenger seat so in the case of an accident should that side airbag be deployed.
Alot of people decide when this goes faulty to fit an emulator instead of fixing properly. In our opinion this is dangerous as this kids the computer into thinking there is someone sat in the seat all the time . Luckily this customer decided to proceed with the correct fix.
The seat is removed and the upholstery stripped to reveal the sensor
A new sensor was sourced from the manufacturer, fitted and tested.