KEEP YOUR VEHICLE SAFE, DEPENDABLE AND ON THE ROAD LONGER.

A Checklist for spring Car Care Month in October – getting ready for those hot summer months.

The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in summer during extremely hot days. Enoggera Workshop recommends that car owners follow its “Spring Car Care Month” checklist and inspect their vehicles before the temperatures rise and severe weather hits.

Aircon, Wipers & Lights

• Consider wiper blades these perish under the hot summer sun, and it is recommended to have them replaced every six months, or as soon as they start to wear (streaking, making noise).
• Check to see that all exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed.
• Ensure that you have your aircon checked before the hot months hit. Enoggera Workshop can check this with a free safety check. Please see us immediately if its no longer blowing cold, or is making a noise and we will be able to ensure that your aircon is running at its absolute best.

Tyres & Brakes

• Check the tyre tread depth and tire pressure of all tires, including the spare.
• During summer, tyre pressure should be checked fortnightly.
• Have the brakes checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item.

Petrol, Oil & Filters

• Keep your petrol tank at least half full throughout the warmer weather to prevent condensation build up, which can cause major issues for your car.
• Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell trouble in summer. Excessive heat can cause acid build ups in the oil.
• Check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time.

System Checks – Charging, Cooling & Exhaust

• Have the battery and charging system checked, as warm weather is hard on batteries. Excessive heat can cause batteries to fail.
• Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a rule of thumb, this should be done every two years.
• Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during hot weather driving when windows are closed.

Pack the Essentials

• Stock an emergency kit with jumper cables, a flashlight, extra clothes, bottled water, non-perishable food and a first aid kit with any needed medication.

Summer magnifies existing problems like hard starts, sluggish performance and rough idling, so a little car care now is a sensible way to avoid being stranded out in the hot weather later. Whether you perform the inspection and maintenance yourself or come and see us here at Enoggera Workshop, it’s a small investment of time and money to help avoid the cost and the hassle of a breakdown during the hot summer months ahead.

Chipped windscreens may seem like an insignificant issue but you’ll be surprised at how dangerous they can be if you don’t get them fixed, especially when you’re using your car every day.

Causes of Windscreen Cracks

If your windscreen has cracks or chips it can be annoying and frustrating to look at but why and when does it happen? It’s actually quite common for windscreens to crack and chip, and there are different reasons why this occurs. Here are some of the common causes.

• Temperature and Weather

If your vehicle is subjected to harsh weather conditions like storms, ice or strong winds, the pressure on the windscreen, if it has existing cracks or chips, can cause it to break or shatter. On the other hand, direct sunlight may also damage your windscreen. Imagine pouring boiling water on it to remove the ice (never a good idea!) or blasting the air conditioning while your car has been sitting under the sun for a long time. These extreme changes in temperature are really bad for your windscreen. One side expands while the other contracts, resulting in stress and tension which cause cracks on your windscreen.

• Road Debris

Road debris is almost unavoidable. At some point in your driving, pebbles and small rocks will hit your windscreen. It may seem insignificant because they’re small but keep in mind that they move towards your vehicle at high speeds. These can cause small chips and often you know about it as they can be really loud! If your windscreen is already chipped, then it’s possible that if debris hits near the already weakened spot, the glass can shatter altogether. Other than rocks and stones, you should also be careful about tailgating vehicles with loaded items. You could never be sure if those items are secure. If they ever fall and you’re too close to the vehicle, then they’ll most likely hit your windscreen, damage your car, or even cause a serious accident. And always heed the warning signs “loose chippings” and their speed limit recommendation on newly surfaced roads- they are there to help you avoid chipping your own or other vehicles.

Can I Still Drive with a Chipped Windscreen?

If your windscreen has a small crack, it might be easy to just ignore it and drive your car as usual. However, if you get caught driving a car with a cracked windscreen and you might have to pay a fine.So, the answer to whether you can still drive your car with a chipped windscreen is no. Legally, you’re not allowed to knowingly do so. But beyond the legalities, it’s important to think of your safety as well as that of your passengers and even other road users. It’s not worth taking the risk rather than getting your windscreen replaced.

Windscreens Provide Protection

Another reason for you to be concerned about a damaged windscreen, is that in the event of an accident, windscreens have a crucial role. When the airbag is deployed, it moves upward and then bounces off of your windscreen. This happens so that your head won’t go into the glass. However, if the windscreen has been weakened by cracks, it won’t be strong enough to receive the impact from the airbag. The glass will shatter and there won’t be any protection for you and your passengers during a crash. During a collision where a car rolls over, the roof won’t cave in if the windscreen is strong. But with a cracked one, then the glass will break and it’s more likely that the roof will cave in. It will be a lot more dangerous for the passengers of the vehicle if this happens. As mentioned previously, don’t drive a car with a cracked windscreen. No matter how small the crack is, it’s just not worth endangering your life and the life of other road users. Take your car to a trusted workshop like Enoggera Workshop with highly trained technicians who can provide the best quality materials and professional work.

As soon as you notice cracks on your windscreen, get it replaced. There are instances where the windscreen can still be repaired. Enoggera Workshop can do this by filling the glass with resin. However, this only works if the crack has a size of 10mm or smaller. If it’s bigger, you’re going to need a replacement. Talk to an expert at Enoggera Workshop regarding your options. Before you worry about the expenses, do check with your insurance provider if windscreen replacements are covered as they often are. If they are, then the insurer will take care of it. In case of any excesses, it will be a small amount compared to paying for everything out of your pocket. Keep in mind the cost of repairing or replacing the windscreen is something you can earn back. If you continue to drive with a chipped windscreen, then you may encounter accidents that may result in catastrophic consequences. So, do check your windscreen regularly to ensure that you and your passengers are safe whilst on the road.

As a car owner, you have a responsibility to be a cautious driver to ensure your safety as well as the safety of other road users. But how exactly can you practice safe driving? Since you’re reading this article, you’re already doing the first step which is educating yourself about driving safely. In this post, we’ve gathered some useful tips you can apply whenever you’re out on the road.

1.Avoid Distractions While Driving

When drivers are distracted, they are more likely to get into an accident. Distractions are not just using your mobile phone for texting or calling but can also be playing loud music while you’re driving. This can cause longer reaction times and you might not be able to change your driving speed when you have to, leading to a possible collision with another vehicle.

Another cause of distractions among drivers is relying too much on satellite navigation. Sat navs are there to help drivers, however, depending on them rather than being fully aware of what’s really happening on the road can be dangerous. Take priority over what you’re seeing over what the sat nav tells you.

2.Check Road Markings

Signs and road markings are vital to the safety of drivers. Road improvements are usually there because of collisions that have happened in that area. Be alert whenever you see road markings, slow down, and keep a safe distance from the car in front. If the road you’re taking has plenty of road signs, then the riskier it is so be extra careful.

3.Do Not Use Your Mobile Phone

It is against the law to use your mobile phone while you’re driving. It is a major cause of distraction that could put your life and the lives of other road users at risk. It’s also not allowed to use your phone when your vehicle is not moving but your engine is running. An exemption to this is if the phone is in hands-free mode. If you’re caught driving while using your mobile phone, you could be fined and you will also receive three penalty points on your license.

2.Maintain a Safe Distance

Having enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you is crucial in making sure you don’t crash into it. Maintaining a safe distance means you will have sufficient time to react in case something goes wrong. When the weather conditions are bad like rain or fog, it’s even more important to keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

3.Keep the Two-second Rule

On good days, make sure that you are at least two seconds away from the car in front. The distance should be doubled when there is low visibility on the road. This includes driving at night, light fog, light rain. If the weather conditions are worse, then be at least eight seconds away from the vehicle in front of you.

4.Follow Speed Limits

One of the obvious reasons why drivers break the speed limit is because they are in a hurry to get to their destination. Don’t be this kind of driver. You can easily avoid this by giving yourself enough time to prepare for your trip. When you allocate time for your journey, be sure that there’s sufficient allowance for stopping at traffic lights, being stuck in traffic, and other factors that may affect your schedule.

5.Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Driving requires you to be attentive and focused. On the road, everything is moving so you need to always be ready for changes and adapt accordingly. It’s best to keep your eye on what’s happening on the road ahead as far as you can see, rather than just the vehicle in front! Also, make use of your side mirrors and rear-view mirrors to check what’s happening in your immediate surroundings, including behind you, especially before you maneuver to overtake for example.

Observe the light signals or other cars and don’t forget to use your own whenever you need to change lanes, for example. Also, look for road signs, traffic lights, speed limit signs, and others so you can anticipate the condition of the road and make the right adjustments.

6.Check Road Markings

Signs and road markings are vital to the safety of drivers. Road improvements are usually there because of collisions that have happened in that area. Be alert whenever you see road markings, slow down, and keep a safe distance from the car in front. If the road you’re taking has plenty of road signs, then the riskier it is so be extra careful.

9.Avoid Driving While Tired

Driving when you’re tired or sleepy is just as dangerous as drunk driving. If you feel tired, try to stop at a café and drink a caffeinated beverage to perk you up. You can also try walking around for about five minutes so you can stretch your legs and get some fresh air. In case you’re absolutely exhausted, then it might be wise to find a place to take a nap.

10.Get Your Car Serviced

Of course, the condition of your car is important in keeping you safe while driving. Get your car serviced regularly and not just when something’s wrong. This also helps in preventing your vehicle from breaking down and costing you time and money.

There are things like changing fluids and checking tyre pressures that you can do yourself. If you’re not very familiar with checking your car’s engine or changing tyres, or pop into Enoggera Workshop and one of our professionals will be able to help you. Our experts will be able to ensure that your car is running at its best.

Servicing your car can sometimes feel like a bit of a chore. If your car feels healthy, is performing as usual and isn’t showing any warning signs, you’d be forgiven for not being particularly enthusiastic for paying to have it serviced, especially when you consider that the servicing doesn’t show any visible improvements.

However, servicing is an important part of car ownership, and we’re giving you 10 reasons why you need to make sure you stick to your service schedule. Here are ten very good reasons why you should invest the money and get your car serviced with Enoggera Workshop

1. Longevity – Whether you buy new or used, the chances are that you’re going to be holding on to your car for a number of years and countless kilometers. To get the most out of the engine and components that you are paying for you’re going to want to look after them. Cars rarely see over 160,000 km’s if they haven’t been properly looked after, but cars with the proper maintenance can often live on for twice that amount of travel.

2. It’s not as expensive as you think – Making sure that you are is taken care of regularly will ensure there are no nasty surprises, and if you do need to spend more then you were expecting, Enoggera Workshop have you covered with Open-Pay and Zip Pay for your convenience. Your car is also less likely to have major issues if it is well looked after and serviced regularly.

3. Peace of mind – Perhaps the most satisfying thing about having your car serviced is driving away from the workshop knowing that your car has been worked on by professional’s, and you do not have to worry about anything going wrong. Yes things happen but isn’t it a great feeling knowing that everything is in working order and taken car of? So, there you are. If that’s not convinced you to look after your car by taking it for a checkup at Enoggera Workshop then nothing will.

4. Pollution – We have all seen it before, a car pulling off at the traffic lights, leaving a dark cloud of smoke behind it. You do not want to be that guy. Having your car serviced frequently keeps your emissions (and your carbon footprint) as low as possible.

5. It remains in Warranty – Perhaps the most important reason of all. Protecting the Manufacturer’s warranty on a new car can only be done by having services carried out at, or before, the correct intervals. Servicing outside of the Manufacturer’s guidelines can invalidate the warranty, possibly leaving you to pick up the repair bill if something should go wrong. If you aren’t sure when your vehicle’s next service is due, then refer to your handbook. Alternatively, give Enoggera Workshop a call and we will be able to advise you, and even get you booked in if a service is due. As professionals we are able to ensure that your warranty remains protected.

6. It keeps the engine healthy – Cars need to be serviced. They are designed to require maintenance to keep them in good working order. Having the oil and filters changed at regular intervals prevents any dirt or dust getting into the engine’s oily bits and potentially causing major issues. It will also prolong the engine’s longevity and ultimately the car’s overall life span. A general rule of thumb is that your oil should be a golden brown colour, so if you check and find it to be a thick black, then we recommend getting it changed.

7. It keeps you safe – Although there is nothing massively wrong with someone rolling up their sleeves and doing an oil and filter change themselves. More often than not, they won’t check other components of the vehicle that they are in good condition. While performing a car or van service, we will always carry out a total Vehicle Health Check on your vehicle, enabling us to identify any potential problems or safety concerns. This includes checking major components such as the brakes, suspension and exhaust system to ensure they are in good-working order.

8. Your Tyres – During the Health Check, we’ll also check your tyres to ensure that they’re in good condition and have a reasonable amount of tread depth. The legal tread depth limit is 1.6mm, but we’d recommend you consider changing your tyres at around the 3mm mark in order to maintain adequate performance on the road, especially in cold and wet weather. Tip: Apply a quality tyre shine after a car wash because it helps to prevent cracks appearing in the sidewall of your tyres.

9. It protects your cars value – More often than not, a car is one of the most expensive purchases you’re going to make, second only to buying a house. It is therefore important to protect this investment as much as possible by keeping your car in good condition. The oily bits also need to be kept in tip-top shape too, and this can be achieved by having your car serviced regularly. It is a fact that your car will be worth more when you come to sell it if it has a full service history from a professional mechanical business like ourselves. Also, if the car is written off in an accident, the insurance company may pay out a lower-than-expected sum because they’ll say the car is worth less without a proper service history.

10. You save money in the long run – Having your car serviced regularly using the correct items as recommended by the manufacturer can save you money in the long run. An engine that hasn’t been serviced will use more fuel than one that has been well-maintained, which means more trips to the petrol station. Fuel is not cheap at the moment, so you do not want to be making anymore trips that you need to! Cheap tyres that are worn are worse in the wet and have a greater braking distance than quality tyres with good tread, which means you’re not as safe as you could be. If brakes are the only thing that slow you down, why would you risk not having them maintained properly?

We do 100 point safety checks, so pop in and take a few minutes to allow us to check everything for you if you are not sure, you also receive a free set of wiper blades worth $50. A regularly serviced vehicle is worth more money, results in maximum efficiency and is safer in general. So, the question we should be asking is: can you afford not to have your car serviced regularly? For more car advice and tips, keep an eye on our blog page. Alternatively, follow us on or facebook and Instagram.

Did you know that flat tyres are the reason behind many emergencies on the roadside? If you cannot possibly get to Enoggera Workshop who will happily assist you with your tyre’s then here is a step by step guide to help you change your tyre in under 15 minutes.

Preparation – Ensure that you have a lug wrench, owner’s manual, spare tyre, and wheel wedges in your car at all times.

Turn Your Hazard Lights On – Turn your hazard lights on as soon as you realise that you have a flat tyre. This will alert other drivers to slow down and then you are able to locate a suitable part of the road to stop your car safely.

Find A Suitable Location – Park your car to the side of the road and ensure that you are away from the incoming traffic. You do not want to be struck by oncoming vehicles. Come to a complete stop and park your car safely to the side.

Is you car stable?– Ensure that your car doesn’t roll down the road once you start working on it. Use wheel wedges to ensure that your car doesn’t roll ahead and make sure that it is safe and does not roll forward before you start fixing the flat tyre. If you are fixing the front tyre, then place the wheel wedges ahead of it, and similarly, if you are working on the rear tyre, then place the wedge behind it.

Hubcap Removal – Remove the hubcap if your tyres have them before proceeding to the next step. Refer to your owner’s manual.

Loosening Lug Nuts – You can use the lug wrench for lug nuts loosening, but don’t loosen them all the way. Loosen the lug nuts halfway.

Raising Your Car – Use a jack to raise your car before you start replacing your flat tyre. Ensure that you place it on the same side as the flat tyre.

Remove Lug Nuts – Use a lug wrench or your hands and remove the lug nuts. Ensure that you don’t misplace the nuts, so keep them safe.

Flat Tyre Removal – Grip the flat tyre firmly on the treads and remove it by pulling it towards yourself. Place it on the ground sideways so that it doesn’t roll away.

Replace the Tyre – Use the spare tyre to put it into place and then move on to the next step.

Put the Lug Nuts in Place – Put the lug nuts back where they belong but do not tighten them entirely just yet.

Have a professional check and replace your flat tyre – Head to Enoggera Workshop to have a professional check the tyre for you, we are able to do free safety checks, and also organise a new tyre so that you are all safe and ready to go.
Contact us on 0433503019 or visit us at Unit 7, 80 Webster road Stafford

August is brake safety month – this is a great reminder to ensure that you check your brakes with Enoggera Workshop!

Brakes are a normal wear item for any car and eventually they’re going to need to be replaced. A vehicle’s braking system should be checked at least once a year and a thorough inspection should include brake lining wear, brake fluid level, rotor thickness, condition of hoses and brake lines, brake and dash warning lights, as well as taking the car for a test drive to detect other potential brake system problems. Brakes are one of the most important parts of your car to ensure are working at all times.
If your car is pulling to the left or right, or if you hear odd noises when you apply the brakes, they should be inspected. Other warning signs include:

• An illuminated brake warning light
• Brake grabbing
• Low pedal feel
• Vibration
• Hard pedal feel
• Squealing

Several factors affect brake wear including driving habits, operating conditions, vehicle type and the quality of the brake lining material. Never put off routine brake inspections or any needed repair, such as letting the brakes get to the “metal-to-metal” point, which can be potentially dangerous and lead to a more costly repair bill.
Here at Enoggera Workshop we offer free safety checks, which include checking that your Brakes are safe. We care about your safety, and encourage our customers to get regular checks, and ensure that they have their cars serviced regularly too.

Contact a professional at Enoggera Workshop today on 0433503019 or come and see us at Unit 7, 80 Webster Road, Stafford and we can assist you.