When did you last change your pollen filter?

The clocks are going forward this weekend! – yeeeaaaaah! 

It’s Spring and soon it will be Easter – time to finally be able to get outside more!

The only downside of all this mood lifting news is that there could be an increasing number of people who are dreading the spring and summer due to being  prone to allergies and in particular, hay fever. The Allergy season is pretty much upon us and this can cause all sorts of problems for hayfever sufferers from spring right through to the end of summer.

It may sound as if I am heading off in a direction unrelated to cars, but there is a link!!

Due to the change in season, it is now time to think about when you last changed the ‘pollen filter’ or ‘cabin filter’ in your car. I believe it is just as important to change the pollen filter in the car as it is to have your oil filter changed.

This image shows the difference between a new cabin filter and one that is clogged

The cabin filter cleans the incoming air and therefore is able to halt the pollen, dust and other pollutants that would otherwise be drawn into the car through air conditioning and ventilation systems.  For this reason, the filter really does need to be replaced on a regular basis.

As a parent of an asthma / allergy sufferer, I know how important it is to minimise the exposure to pollen and any other aggravators for the sufferer to be able to breathe as freely as possible and be able to minimise the number of episodes they have.

Unfortunately changing the cabin filter is not covered by every service schedule, meaning that it could be an additional cost which varies for each vehicle, however it is not something that will set you back a fortune by any means and could greatly contribute you and your family’s general wellbeing. Lakeside Garage can check the schedule for your particular vehicle to give you the exact requirements for changing your pollen filter.

It goes without saying of course that having the pollen filter in the car does not provide protection other than inside the car!

Here’s to happy allergy free days out as we enjoy the upcoming holiday season!

For those of us that do continue to suffer with Asthma, hayfever or allergies I am highly recommending Silvia Giunta – a Homeopath based in Windsor http://www.silviagiunta.co.uk/ who has helped many people with similar issues.

You can also follow us on twitter and / or like us on facebook.

VOSA will no longer offer an MOT reminder service from April 1st

How do you manage your MOT reminder?

It has come to our attention that VOSA will be withdrawing their MOT reminder service, so if you have currently been receiving reminders using their service, you will be unable to set new reminders after Tuesday 1^st April.

Are you aware that driving your car without an MOT is illegal. There are no ‘grace’ days once the MOT has expired. Your insurance policy may have terms and conditions regarding road worthiness of a vehicle and it would be advisable to check to see if you would be covered by your policy without a valid MOT.

If you are stopped by the police the following is likely to happen:

• ·        The car will be impounded.
• ·        You will have to pay for the cost of having the vehicle recovered to the pound, then pay to have the car released from the pound, (The cost of which increases on a daily basis)
• ·        You will receive a fixed penalty fine
• ·        You will only be permitted to have your vehicle returned once proof of an MOT appointment can be verified and the vehicle will have to be driven straight to the MOT test centre.

We do not want this to happen to you! Here at Lakeside Garage we send out Free reminders at least a month before your MOT is due; Please note, you can have your vehicle MOT’d up to 30 days before it is due, without it impacting on the due date the following year.

If you wish to receive MOT reminders and live in the Staines, Slough, Windsor, Ashford, Egham, Ascot area we would be more than happy to set these up for you. We also offer a free collection and delivery service so that having your vehicle MOT’d does not impact on your day.

You can  contact us on 01784 482158 or email us at info@lakesidegarageservices.co.uk

You can also follow me on twitter and like us on facebook.

Demystifying vehicle Diagnostics

Universal dashboard lights

Now that we are finally coming out of an incredibly difficult and in some cases devastating start to the New Year with all the rain and flooding, you may find that your car is feeling a bit neglected :-(( 

With this being the first of our blogs from Lakeside Garage, we thought we would concentrate on trying to shed a bit more light on diagnostics for your vehicle and explain what it all means, just in case after all these winter months, you find that your dashboard is ablaze with lights or even if there is just one!

What do you understand a diagnostic check for your car to mean? 

There appears to be some confusion around what a diagnostic check actually means from garage to garage.

A proper diagnostic test  should be an in depth assessment of a fault on your car which involves reading the codes and evaluating them to ascertain exactly what work needs to be carried out.

There are numerous types of diagnostic equipment that garages can invest in, and simply speaking, you get what you pay for. The cheaper equipment is able to provide a fault code, but it is then down to the garage as to whether they have the ability or knowledge to carry out the appropriate testing to advise you of the exact cause of the fault.

To try to explain further, Fault codes are a symptom and not a cause. So, we advise that when considering where to take your car when you see a warning light, it is important to consider what you will actually get for  the price you are quoted.

Many independent garages will have basic equipment and may seem cheaper, but the diagnostics they offer is merely a ‘code read’, which does not address the actual cause. Providing you with a fault code is not what a Diagnostic check should be, the garage should be able to completely assess the fault. If one garage is unable to assess the cause, then you will end up paying again at another garage in order to get an accurate answer and potentially have the work done. No financial saving in the long run!

At times it may feel frustrating to have to pay money just to be given what you may perceive to be a ‘simple’ answer as to why a fault light may be on; here at Lakeside Garage we have invested heavily in Autologic Dealer Level Equipment and our  expert technicians have received specific training run by Master Technicians and specialist Software Engineers. This enables us not only to be confident in using the equipment, but also allows them to be able to accurately assess the cause. This takes time (it is not just a case of plugging a machine into the car and getting an answer!).

The Dealer level software and other test equipment used here at Lakeside Garage, allows a far superior level of access and unlike other diagnostic tools, it enables programming. We have the capacity to carry out tasks such as key programming, software updates, renewing control units and engine re-mapping. Some of these items need to be coded to the vehicle.

We have concentrated on BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Mini, making us ‘The German Car Specialist’, within the Staines, Heathrow, Windsor, Ashford, Egham, Ascot and Slough area. We also offer diagnostics for other makes and models of vehicle, and would be happy to answer any questions as to the capabilities of the equipment we have.

Here at Lakeside Garage, we are of the opinion that having invested in this equipment, we stand out further from other Independent Garages offering this as one of many valuable services which allows us to specialise without incurring the cost of the dealer.

You can also follow me on twitter and like us on facebook.

As the only female working within a male environment at Lakeside Garage,  my aim is to help bridge the gap of mistrust between the customer and the garage.