Author: Tony Allardyce

Not something we normally think about but too many keys on your keyring can damage the ignition barrel. 1 to 4 or 5 keys is ok. But, by the time you add a keychain, more keys, a pocket knife, a flashlight and so on, you may well find that, one day, the key won’t turn and the lock cylinder will need to be replaced. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a warning whereby the ignition becomes a bit temperamental and you’ll have a chance to sort it out before it fails altogether

A vehicle is a big purchase and you want it to last. Cheap and good don’t usually go hand-in-hand. While it’s tempting to hunt down a bargain, remember a car has 10,000 moving parts. It really is worth paying a bit more, if you can, for a vehicle which has been well cared for. It could save you much more down the track in repairs than the extra you paid upfront for the vehicle itself

As we know, NZ’s sunshine is hard on us and our cars. It’s not always practical to keep your car out of the sun or under cover. However, if you wash your vehicle regularly, say once a week, with a product as simple as Armor All Wash and Wax, it will help protect the clear coat or paint if it is not coated. It’s an easy but effective thing to do to help preserve the value of your vehicle. You can buy Armor All pretty much anywhere including your local supermarket. It’s not expensive and you don’t need to use much

We are not financial advisors so seek your own advice. However, we often see people finance their vehicles over a longer period than they would normally keep their vehicles for. Some finance companies are now financing vehicles over 7 years! Owing money on a vehicle when you go to sell it limits your options, especially if you still owe more than the vehicle is worth. It can cause you to be locked into a vehicle which is no longer suitable for your needs. We think it’s important to think about this up front

When you go to sell your car, it’s great to be able to show a good service record. If you can demonstrate you’ve looked after your car, you’ll sell it more easily and get a better price. So, importantly, get your mechanic to stamp the booklet which comes with your car. If you don’t have one, email sales @tootscars.co.nz and we’ll send you our generic one. And, if you can be bothered, keep copies of all invoices in the glovebox of your car. A good service history is gold

For longer life and safer riding, rotate your tyres every 10,000km’s. No matter what, tyres do not wear evenly. Apart from anything else, there are different loads on front and rear tyres. Remember, too, to have your wheels aligned from time to time. Uneven or fast tyre wear, pulling to the side or even squealing tyres are signs a wheel alignment is required

Sometimes, a misfire, sputter, poor acceleration or rough idle can be as simple as water in the fuel tank. Some water in the tank is normal but more than that will cause a problem, sometimes more so when you let the tank run low. This could happen when you’re filling up at the pump or from condensation. If the car sits unused for a while, water will sink to the bottom of the tank where the fuel is normally drawn from to run the car. So, before you go to the expense of changing plugs or coils and so on, if you have reason to think it might be excess water, drain and refill or use an additive to get rid of it. Note the latter won’t work if there’s too much water in the tank.

As you’d expect, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) glow plugs are more expensive than aftermarket ones. Before you buy the cheaper ones, check the specs against OEM. If, for example, the aftermarket plug takes longer to heat up than the OEM one, the timer will time-out before the plug reaches the right heat. That will make it harder to start the vehicle, especially in colder conditions.

Located in or around the glove compartment, cabin filters remove dust, pollens and prevent smells from entering the vehicle. When they get dirty, they restrict airflow through the vents compromising demisting and so on. It’s a good idea to change them every second service or more if you’re in a dusty environment. They’re cheap and easy to fit but, often, forgotten about.

An integral part of the cooling system for your vehicle, the thermostat is an inexpensive item which, if it fails, could cause catastrophic engine failure. Often overlooked, it’s a good idea to change it when you change your coolant. Given hoses outlast thermostats, if your hoses need changing, your thermostat probably does too. While there are many variables, some say the average life of a thermostat is 10 years. However, not worth leaving to chance.