This year, I celebrate over 20 years as a self employed sole trader! It's been hard work. But I've met some really great people, many are now friends for life. Thanks to all of you for the support and recommendations, it really is appreciated.

When your car is serviced or repaired at my garage in Plymouth, I always explain what work needs to be done. Equally importantly, I explain why.

I also share a few service, repair and motoring tips! All advice is given in good faith but followed at your own risk.

You can chat with me and see what I'm up to on

 Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube. I also have a Bongo group on Facebook, on this link.

I hope you'll 'Like' and 'Follow' me!

Pop in and say hello! 

Established in October 20013, I am very pleased to say that my small independent Plymouth garage has been thoroughly checked and is approved by Trading Standards, since 2015. I am registered with them and the Buy With Confidence Scheme.

I'm a professional Motor Mechanic, registered with 'The IMI'. As an IMI member, I am commited to maintaining standards, which are monitored, and I follow a 'Code of Conduct'. 

As a qualified motor mechanic with The IMI, my garage is listed by The AA  And my business is registered with The FSB.

My garage is a dog friendly garage! We have dogs of our own and like to welcome our customers (well behaved) dogs and children.

Dogs can't be left in cars while we are working on them. So your dog is welcome to wait with you in our family friendly waiting room. There are dog toys. Please ask if you'd like fresh water for your dog. 

I'm also family friendly

My waiting room has seating, a TV, magazines, toys and books.

I'm next to National Trust Saltram House

Saltram House is set in fields and woodland, next to the River Plym. It has miles of walks, dogs are welcome. There's a childrens adventure playground, a cafe and toilets. Link to NT Saltram House.

A garage is a working environment. My waiting room is seperate to the garage workshop, but used at your own risk. Dogs and children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Many other pets welcome by prior arrangement!

We often travel with our dog. Here are our ideas on how to travel safely with a dog.

Protect your dog from a hot car! The golden rule is to never leave your dog in a car. A car can quickly become as hot as an oven and your dog could die. And how often have you been in a queue of traffic and seen a dog panting in the boot of the car in front of you? Fit specially designed shades to the rear and side windows, to reflect heat while you’re driving. If you have air conditioning in the rear of the car, it can help to keep your dog cool while travelling. And if the weather is cold, ensure your dog will be warm enough and comfortable.

Minimise dog travel sickness: Avoid feeding your dog for two hours before you travel. This can help to avoid dogs becoming car sick.

Keep your dog secure in a car: If your dog travels in the boot, use a dog guard. If it’s on the seat, use a dog harness that clips into a seatbelt holder. These protect your dog being thrown around and injured during heavy braking or an accident. And it protects passengers from being hit by an unrestrained dog.

Dog travel kit: Dogs generally appreciate a blanket or dog bed to lay on. Your dog should wear its collar and identity tag. You can also pack a lead, bowl, water, food, poop bags, wipes, toys and a towel. Don’t forget any medicines your dog needs.

Doggie comfort breaks: Dogs like to stretch their legs, have a drink and take a toilet break. So stop every couple of hours to let your dog relax and refresh, in a safe place.

Lost dog? Nobody wants this to happen! Be careful when opening the car if your dog is not restrained. We once stopped in a layby and one of our dogs leapt out of the boot as we opened it. She ran down the motorway! A huge stroke of luck meant no vehicles were close and we managed to catch her safely. It could have been so much worse.

It’s now compulsory (in the UK) that dogs are microchipped. This registers your dog on a database. The microchip can be scanned at many vets and some animal shelters. Should your dog get lost, it can be reunited with you. It’s also helpful to have a phone number on your dog’s identity tag, so you can be contacted quickly.

If you have a tip on travelling with dogs, let us know and we may include it here.

Contact our family and dog friendly garage to book your service, repair, MOT or underseal.

The obvious answer a is that a service helps a car or van to run reliably and efficiently.

By spotting potential problems before they become dangerous, it can help with safety.

A service also helps to lower running costs. That's because dirty or blocked filters increase fuel consumption. 

Garages can use different descriptions for their services. When booking, you can ask for details in writing, so you know what you're paying for.  

At my garage, this is what the services cover:

A Basic Service (6 month or 6,000 mile service) includes an oil and oil filter change, and a variety of basic checks. It helps to maintain your vehicle and prevent faults.

A Full Service (12 months, annual service, 12,000 miles) is a comprehensive service. It includes changing oil, oil filter and air filter. Wear and tear items such as brakes and tyres are checked; faults are recorded. These checks are important for the vehicle's safety. Advice will be given on any faults that are found.

A Major Service (24 months, 2 years or 24,000 mile service) covers all points mentioned above and more areas of essential maintenance. The oil, oil filter, air filter, brake fluid, fuel filter and spark plugs or glow plugs can be changed at this service.

I use quality parts, oils and fluids. Gearbox and cooling system flushes are avaialble  as requested.

Last week was another busy one at my Plymouth garage.

Along with the usual cars and vans that needed servicing, exhausts, brakes and tyres, I also welded a few vehicles. I weld many different vehicles, but this weeks were all Bongos.

The Mazda Bongo and Ford Freda are no longer manufactured, so the newest models are no longer new! Just like the older VW Campers they corrode as they age. Fortunately, replacement body parts, sills and arches are readily available or can be manufactured.

The Bongos I had in for welding had corroded in the usual places; Sills, wheel arches and subframe. (If you own a Bongo, check these areas for corrosion.)

I always apply waxoyl underseal after welding, to extend the life of the repair. I also underseal complete vehicles, to help to protect them from rust corrosion. I've undersealed cars, vans and Bongos for over 14 years and have seen the difference it makes as a vehicle ages.

Find out more about our welding and undersealing services on these links: 

WELDING & UNDERSEALING CARS & VANS 

and  WELDING AND UNDERSEALING MAZDA BONGO

If you’d like to have your car, van or Bongo welded or undersealed in Plymouth, please get in touch.

AutoExpress researchers obtained figures from DVLA, showing 15% of MOT test results, from a random selection of 1800 cars, were incorrect.

18% of vehicles that passed, should have failed. 11% of those that failed, should have passed.

In almost a third of the vehicles tested, the DVSA vehicle examiner found faults the MOT test centre had missed or ignored.

This is the sort of results that worry some people.

They want a fair MOT test, that doesn’t miss potentially dangerous problems, yet doesn’t fail things that should have passed. They wonder where to take their car or van for an MOT test.

Worry no more! My customers can leave their car or van with me and I will take it for MOT. As a former MOT tester, I can check vehicles before test, and scrutinise the MOT result.

I do not charge for taking customers vehicles for MOT.

There is a charge for the MOT test.

If MOT repairs are required, we can carry this out and take the vehicle for MOT re-test. A re-test is free if repairs are done withing the required time.

It’s a good time to carry out a service, if it hasn’t been done recently, to help to keep your vehicle in good condition.

LET ME TAKE THE WORRY OFF YOUR SHOULDERS!

Contact us to arrange to take your vehicle for an MOT test in Plymouth. 

The MOT test includes body structure, condition and security.

At the time of writing, the UK MOT Test Check List says:

"MOT Test of Vehicle Structure, Body condition and security.
Includes body and components such as spoilers, bumpers and mirror housings.
For vehicles with a separate body, the body must not be so insecure or displaced so that it might lead to loss of control of the vehicle when driven, or be a danger to other road users.
There must be no dangerous sharp edges or projections caused by corrosion or damage which is dangerous to other road users including pedestrians.

Corrosion.
A vehicle can fail with respect to corrosion for:
Excessive corrosion in a 'prescribed area' — within 30 cms of certain safety related components, e.g. brakes, steering, suspension, seat belt mountings etc.
Excessive corrosion not in a 'prescribed area', but which is likely to adversely affect the vehicle's braking or steering.
Excessive corrosion' can mean a hole or a significantly weakened structure."

Inevitably, steel corrodes and rust bubbles and holes eventually appear.

Corrosion weakens the structure of the vehicle and affects safety; this results in an MOT failure.
If we take your vehicle for MOT and it fails because it needs welding repairs, we can weld it.

The rusted panels are cut away, retaining as much of the original construction as possible.

It's important to weld to solid, clean metal. We use manufacturer’s replacement panels or construct replacement patches. The new panels are tacked into place and then seam welded. Seam sealant and underseal are applied to help to protect the new metal from further corrosion.

Commonly repaired and replaced panels are suspension mountings, outer sills, inner sills, cross members, floor panels, brackets, door steps and seat belts mountings.

I can weld and underseal your car or van in Plymouth.

The photos below show before and after replacing a rusted crossmember on a Mazda Bongo. A crossmember is part of the body structure and is important for the body strength of a Mazda Bongo. A rusted crossmember is a weak part.

A new replacement crossmember was welded into place and undersealed to help to prevent further rust.

We offer a complete undersealing service and can waxoyl underseal your car or van in Plymouth.

Contact us or SEE THIS LINK for more information.

Don't forget to check your car before a trip!

Carry out some checks to help to keep your car running well. Include tyres, lights, antifreeze, brakes, battery, wiperblades and washers.

Have the tyres survived the potholes?

Or are they battle scarred with splits and bulges? The tyre tread should be a legal minimum of 1.6mm but more than that is safer. Don't forget the spare tyre!

Check the tyre pressures; If you don’t have a tyre pressure gauge, remember to do this the next time you’re buying fuel. Your vehicles handbook will tell you the correct pressure; this is also usually stamped on a plate by the driver’s door.

Check that all the lights are still operating, replacing bulbs where needed. Check the wiper blades and the levels of engine oil, radiator coolant and windscreen wash. A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water will protect the radiator and waterways from corrosion (and freezing). Wipe up drips of antifreeze to prevent animals drinking it; It tastes sweet but is poisonous.

We also recommend checking the underside of the vehicle as it takes the worst of the mud and road spray. If this is left on the vehicle, it causes rust. Use a hose pipe to wash down the underside, including inside the wheel arches, where mud can gather. If your vehicle is undersealed, check for damage to the sealing compound. If it’s not undersealed, it’s something to consider doing, to help to prevent future rust corrosion.

Book a service or have your vehicle undersealed at my Plymouth garage.

On this Land Rover Discovery, the rear suspension kept dropping when it was parked. The suspension would still rise when the ignition was on. If left like this, the compressor would be damaged and the air suspension would no longer rise, making it undrivable.

I found a tiny hole in the passenger side air suspension bag; it was leaking air. The drivers side bag was also worn; As the drivers side was going to fail soon, it made sense to change both air suspension bags at the same time. This saved my customer from having to pay for the same labour again, a few months later. 

The ride is now back to normal and handling well.

A lucky escape for this Mazda Bongo owner! The Bongo was booked in for a routine service. During a service, I keep an eye open for any problems, that are not part of the service, but would be foolish to ignore. This coolant hose was clearly swollen. It should have been the size of the hose at the top of the photo. It was also rust stained from a slow coolant leak.

If a hose bursts on a Mazda Bongo, it results in a sudden loss of coolant and an almost instant engine overheat. The standard temperature gauge does not rise slowly. It goes from normal to 'engines cooked' quicker than an emergency stop!

Nothing lasts forever, so check the cooling system hoses and pipes.

Look for swollen or cracked hoses. There should be some 'give' when a coolant hose is squeezed hard - a hose should not feel solid.

A hose can have a tiny hole that's almost impossible to see. Sometimes it's only apparent when the engine is running, jetting a fine spray of coolant that evaporates in the heat from the engine. It can leave a telltale mark, so look for coolant stains or rust stains.

Check that hose clips are still tight (but not too tight), with no visible loss of coolant.

Also check the metal coolant pipes, as they eventually rust and will leak.

Carry out these checks regularly, as the condition of hoses will change.

And regularly check the coolant level in the header tank, to monitor for coolant loss. Prevention is better than cure!

If you'd like me to check your Mazda Bongo coolant hoses and pipes, please call, email or text to book an inspection. 

Servicing, maintaining and repairing cars and vans creates considerable waste that has to be disposed of; This includes used parts, tyres, metal, oils, lubricants, fluids, plastic and packaging. We had always absorbed the cost of disposing of the waste. Due to recent changes in the rules and the additional costs involved, unfortunately we are no longer able to do this and have to pass the cost on to our customers. A small amount will be added to each bill. It will be identified seperately on the bill. We will keep this charge to the minimum.

My commercial waste contractor is 'Devon Contract Waste'. I like their 'zero-to-landfill' policy; the waste they collect is sorted, separated and used to create energy. Having raised an environmentally aware family and participated in numerous 'Beach Cleans', we are very much aware of the impact of waste on our environment. Recycling is essential. And it's a good way to dispose of automotive trade waste!