#transerv

When you bring your car to, or request a part from TRANSERV, you know you're getting original car parts, that are backed by reputable global brands. However, if you take your car to an informal dealer, you'll most likely get inferior aftermarket or unlicensed reproduction parts. So how does this affect you?

An aftermarket part is any part for a vehicle that is not sourced from the car's manufacturer, or a licensed parts supplier. Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than original parts, and the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ rings true here, due to the of the use of lower-quality materials, and they don’t usually carry a warranty, which is essential on Zimbabwean roads. This is all not to say they can seriously decrease your vehicle’s book value.

With original parts it’s easier to choose your part. You don't have to worry about assessing the quality of different brands and prices, and there is a much greater assurance of quality: The part should work exactly like the one you are replacing. It is what the vehicle was manufactured with and provides peace of mind in its familiarity and performance. Original parts also usually come with a warranty, which gives you further peace of mind, and protects the value of your vehicle.

A clean interior not only looks great, it is also good for your vehicle’s longevity, value and even your health. So without further ado, heres a few tips on how to clean the interior of your car like a TRANSERV Pro.

#1. Vacuum it

Remove the floor mats. Vacuum the seats, and the carpet. Using the proper attachment, reach under the seats, around the pedals and the area between front seats and central console. Vacuum floor mats separately.

Use soft brush attachment to vacuum the dashboard and doors. Be careful not to damage knobs, vents and other parts. Use the same attachment vacuuming the seats. Leather seats are easy to damage, so be careful not to scratch them with the vacuum hose.

#2. Clean the fabric and door upholstery

There are number of upholstery cleaning agents available. Apply evenly on the seat or door upholstery, rub vigorously and then wipe it thoroughly with a dry cloth.

If you don`t have an upholstery cleaner, simple laundry detergent will work as well. Just mix some detergent with warm water, dip a clean cloth into it, wring out, and then wipe the seat. Work harder on dirty areas and, again, rub dry with a clean, soft cloth.

Don`t soak the seat with water – it can cause stains and mould.

#3. Clean the carpet

Clean the carpet the same way you cleaned the seats and upholstery.

Spray evenly with carpet cleaner and rub vigorously. Then, wipe it thoroughly with a dry cloth.

Laundry detergent will work on the carpet as well. Dampen a rag with a little bit of water and detergent, squeeze out the excess of water and rub the carpet vigorously. Then, rub dry with a clean dry cloth.

Don`t soak the carpet with water, which could cause mould and corrosion under the carpet.

#4 Clean and polish the dashboard

Clean a dashboard, central console, and other plastic parts with a slightly damp cloth. Use very small amount of laundry detergent to remove the stains. Dry with a clean soft dry cloth. To shine it up, spray plastic polish and spread it evenly with soft brush. Don`t spray directly on the stereo – use a brush instead.

To dry, polish gently with clean soft dry cloth. Polish not only makes the dashboard shiny, it protects the plastic. All you need to do afterwards is use a soft dust cloth periodically and your dashboard will maintain it’s new appearance for a long time.

#5. Get rid of any musty smell from the air conditioner

If you experience that unpleasant musty smell from the vents when the air conditioner is turned on, try one of the odor treatments you can buy in your local TRANSERV. It kills the bacteria and removes that mildew smell.

Cleaning your tyres is an easy way to improve your vehicle's appearance and performance. Not only does cleaning your tyres look great, but it also ensures better traction and braking for your vehicle, saving you money in the long-run.

#1. Wash ‘em

Wash the wheels and tyres separately from the rest of your car. Use a separate bucket of soap and water, so you don't get grease and grime from your wheels and tyres onto the rest of your car.

#2. Clean ‘em

Use a proper tyre cleaning product, applying it to your tyres and wheels based on the instructions on the packaging. Some cleaners are creams that should be applied with a soft cloth; others are sprays that should be applied to all spots on your wheels and tyres.

#3. Scrub ‘em

Use a feather-bristled brush to remove all the dirt from everyday driving that accumulates in your wheels. Scrub your wheels one at a time, and rinse off the tyre you were just working on before moving on to the next wheel. Make sure you get into the crevices of the wheel where the brake pads are. If necessary, rinse and repeat.

#4. Dry ‘em

Dry with a terry cloth. You can find special microfiber detailing towels, too. Make sure you dry the entire tyre and wheel, as if you don't completely dry your tyres and wheels, the wax and detailing solutions you use may dissolve and not work properly.

#5. Wax ‘em

Tyre maintenance is something often left out in vehicle maintenance by most drivers. However, your safety on the road depends on the overall health of those four patches of rubber that connect your vehicle to the road which are, of course, your tyres.

Proper and timely tyre care goes a long way in maintaining good performance, ensuring safety and improving the durability of your car, and here’s just a few ways to ensure that your tyres are always at their best:

#1. Check the wear, tear and depth

Check for signs of wear and tear on the tyre’s surface and replace them if they are worn. Also, be sure to check for the tread depth and replace your tyres if you find a reading of 1.6mm or less. By regularly checking the depth of the tyre tread you ensure that your tyres provide maximum traction on the road.

#2. Check your tyre pressure regularly

Ensuring that your tyres are always at the correct pressure level will help save fuel and can help identify any balance or alignment problems. On the other hand, over or under inflating your tyres can severely affect performance and increase the risk of damage. The correct tyre pressure for your car can be found in the user manual of your vehicle, on a label on the door frame or on the inside of the fuel flap.

#3. Do a balance check to ensure that weight is distributed evenly

The proper distribution of your vehicle’s weight will help your tyres perform their best for the longest time possible. Always have your wheels balanced when a tyre is replaced, a balance weight is moved or removed, or when you fit new tyres. Doing this protects the suspension, steering system and the bearings of your vehicle.

#4. Replace the tyre valves when you fit new tyres

The suspension on our vehicles (shocks or struts) is something we often take for granted. However, the shocks wear out with regular running, and suspension repair or replacement will be necessary. Just like other maintenance issues like oil changes or brakes, maintenance of your suspension is essential. Having a bad suspension can greatly affect your ability to control the vehicle, especially when stopping or turning, so it’s best not to ignore this aspect of vehicle maintenance.

How do you know when it’s time to service or repair your suspension? Your vehicle will usually tell you. Here’s 6 things to watch for.

#1. The bounce test

If you suspect your suspension is going bad, try this simple test. With the car stopped, in park or with the handbrake engaged, press down on the front of the vehicle with all your weight, bounce it a few times, and release. Do it again on the rear of the vehicle. If the car continues to rock or bounce more than 2-3 times after you let go, the suspension is wearing out.

#2. Uneven tyre wear

On your tyres, if you notice the tread is wearing down unevenly, or if you notice balding spots, this could mean the suspension isn’t holding the car evenly, and putting uneven amounts of pressure on the tyres.

#3. A rough ride

Most people can tell their shocks or struts are wearing out when they begin to feel every bump in the road, or when every bump causes the vehicle body to bounce. A rough ride is an obvious sign that your vehicle’s suspension needs checking.

#4. Nose diving when stopping

When the shocks are worn out, you’re likely to feel the vehicle body lurching forward and dipping downward nose-first when you apply the brakes firmly. This can actually affect your ability to stop the car quickly (a bad suspension can increase stop time by up to 20 percent).

#5. Drifting or pulling during turns

With a failing suspension system, you’ll often feel the vehicle drift or pull when you’re turning. This basically means the shocks are no longer keeping the vehicle body stable against the centrifugal force of a turn, increasing your risk of rolling.

#6. Damaged or oily shocks

If you can look under the vehicle, take a look directly at the shocks or struts. If they look greasy or oily, there’s a good chance that they are leaking fluid and therefore aren’t working properly. It’s probably time to get those shocks checked out.

What you need to know.

Every vehicle owner should have heard of “wheel balancing” and “wheel alignment”, and even taken their vehicle in to have these two maintenance procedures performed, but the truth is, most people don’t really know the difference between the two. In our experience, many people confuse the two as the same thing. When it comes to vehicles, it is important to know that wheel alignment and wheel balancing are two completely different things. Let’s compare wheel alignment vs. wheel balancing and help you better understand when each should be performed.

What’s the difference?

Wheel alignment – When someone has a wheel alignment performed on their vehicle, they are having the wheels of the vehicle adjusted to the appropriate angle. The purpose of this is to ensure that the wheels are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the ground. A wheel alignment will help to extend the lifespan of your tyres and will also help to keep your vehicle travelling in a straight direction (as opposed to ‘veering’ off to one side).

Wheel balancing – When someone has their wheels balanced, the wheel is checked for any spots and are balanced using a lead weight on the opposite side of the spot. The purpose of wheel balancing is to ensure that your wheels and tyres will spin without any unnecessary vibrations.

What are the symptoms?

Wheel alignment – If your vehicle is in need of a wheel alignment, you may notice several things. Firstly, and most commonly, individuals with a wheel alignment issue will notice that their car is veering away from a straight line as they drive. Improperly aligned wheels may be signified by uneven or excessive tyre wear.

Wheel balancing – Wheel balancing issues are generally signaled by unusual vibrations. In particular, you may notice vibrations in the steering wheel while driving at certain highway speeds (but not others). You may also notice vibrations in the seats or on the floorboard. Wheel balancing may also be an issue if you notice wear on your tyres.

How often should you do it?