Blogs

The Unsung Hero Under Your Hood: Why Air Filters Deserve More Respect

Posted on: 27 Nov, 2024
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At Autotecnic, we know that every component of your car plays a vital role in its performance and longevity. And while oil and fuel

Autotecnic Delivers Christmas Cheer to Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice

Posted on: 26 Nov, 2024
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We're delighted to share a heartwarming thank you letter we received from Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, a wonderful organisation that provides care and support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families. This Christmas, Autotecnic donated a collection of

The Skills Gap: Why Training is Crucial for the Future of Car Repair

Posted on: 20 Nov, 2024
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The automotive industry is changing faster than ever. New technologies in electric and hybrid vehicles, alongside increasingly complex systems in traditional petrol and diesel cars, mean that mechanics need to be at the top of their game. That's wher

Quality Assured Lubricants with autotecnic German Vehicle Service

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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We carried out some German specialist pricing research recently, regarding the specification and costs of oil which garages are using when servicing vehicles. To our amazement, the majority of garages use only 2 or 3 engine oil specifications. Motor oil is often referred

Service Filters, The Professional’s Choice

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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MANN-FILTER now offers filters for passenger cars that are compatible with synthetic fuels, it has announced. Climate change is one of the biggest dangers facing mankind and requires urgent action. In 2018, road traffic was responsible for around 18 per

Haldex four-wheel drive oil and filter changes. The forgotten oil change!

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Haldex four-wheel drive oil and filter changes. The forgotten oil change. If your VAG Group vehicle has four-wheel drive it’s likely the real wheels are driven through a Haldex coupling located alongside the differential, depending on your exact model. Whatever the model, it w

Servicing your German Car – Value for Money – Filtration

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Filtration on cars is getting more and more complicated. This is predominantly due to the changing of emissions, oil improvements and manufacturers working on producing longevity of engine life. If your car is not fitted with the correct filtration and oils, it can affec

Service & Lubrication – the correct oil for your German Car?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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There was a time when it was relatively simple to choose engine oil and this option was there until the 90s. Till then, engine oil viscosity was the only concern for every driver. If a driver knew that he only needs engine oil graded as 5W-30, there were many options available on the lo

Audi A3 2009 – Drivers window and door lock inoperative

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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This repair was a low-mileage, 2009 Audi A3. It was booked in with the driver's window and door lock inoperative. The customer advised us that the up and down window switch would not work. Then a week or two after the car would not open or lock using the key fob. Our

Audi and VW timing (cambelt) replacement intervals

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Your timing belt is the heart of your engine – it allows the camshafts and crankshaft to work together and if they fail it can cause extensive damage which could lead to a hefty repair bill. A timing belt (or camshaft belt as it is sometimes called) is the most important servi

Customer information – Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF)

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Our level of telephone enquiries is currently on the increase regarding problems with Diesel Particulate Filter, (DPF’s). Some customers are requesting Technical information, others just want to know what to do and how to fix it, albeit, not always tha

Porsche Cayenne – water leak?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Our findings in the workshop sometimes astonish us, but we did laugh at this one! We were completing the service requirement details of this well-looked-after Porsche Cayenne when the customer mentioned a worrying noise she had heard. She specifically complained about a

BMW E90 318 SE – Service

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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This week we were presented with a 2007 BMW 318SE. The customer requested a Service, brakes to be looked at (brake pad warning lights were illuminated) handbrake adjustment, door mechanism on the driver's door faulty and an MOT. The car’s previous services had been conducted by a BM

A Token of Appreciation: How Autotecnic Goes the Extra Mile for Our Customers

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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A Surprise Hamper for Exceptional ServiceWe are thrilled to share some heart warming news with our community! Recently, we received a delightful surprise from one of our valued customers—a small hamper filled with assorted goodies as a token of appreciat

Are Your Brakes Working Properly?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Your vehicle’s brakes are arguably the most important safety mechanism on your car, therefore, when you hear new noises, it’s best to get them checked immediately. If you notice any of the items listed below, you should give us a call: 1. If you hear screeching, clic

German Cars – Air Con – FAQ

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Air Con smell, what causes it? The origin of the smell is caused by fungus, bacteria and other microbes growing inside the evaporator core. The moisture-laden environment is very conducive to the growth of these organisms. As car manufacturers downsize components to save

Autotecnic Ethos

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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It’s simple: a great service, by great people, at a great price! We live by the Three Fs: Fixed. Fully. First Time. We don’t offer sticking plaster repairs, and we don’t call a job done un

Are electric vehicles safe in accidents?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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This is one way in which purely electric cars are distinctly safer than cars with internal combustion engines: They don’t carry any fuel, but they add an entirely new factor to the safety equation. Almost all electric cars on their way to the marketplace use large arrays of li

German Car Service & Diagnostics

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Whether you drive a VW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Skoda, Seat, BMW or Mini be assured, we will offer a first-class service at highly competitive prices. Full menu pricing is offered for service work and once you have agreed on the price, no further work is carried out on your vehic

Cost Effective Repairs?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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This loved Audi A4 3.0 V6 (Year 2002) came from an enquiry last week with a suspect water pump failure. The customer informed us that he had a garage fit a new timing belt kit (cambelt kit) approximately 3 years ago but had only covered around 15K miles. This was due to him ha

Why Does Brake Fluid Need to Be Replaced Periodically?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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DOT 4 brake fluid is glycol-based and absorbs moisture over time. Moisture contamination causes the fluid boiling point to drop (which could lead to fluid boil and brake fade during hard use). Moisture contamination also contributes to internal corrosion in the callipers, wheel

Pre oil drain treatments – do they work?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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When customers present their car for any service that includes draining the oil we will always try to discuss the benefits of using a pre-oil drain treatment before carrying out this operation. It’s important to drain the oil when it’s at its highest temperature, but more im

VW Bora – Rear braking efficiency?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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A recent repair on a VW Bora identified a poor-performance rear braking system with a slight grating noise. Our technician identified that new brake pads had been replaced with deteriorated brake discs which were well below the minimum threshold of 7mm. A good wire brush & clean up

Mercedes C Class squeak – vibration when braking

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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The driver of this 2008 Mercedes C Class was complaining about a squeak and vibration when braking and on full lock. After an initial road test we place the car on our lift for a closer inspection.

2.0 TDI Audi A3 Clutch noise?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Earlier this year a major service was carried out by our Service Technician on this Audi A3. Our Technician had initially road tested the car and reported a noise from the gearbox area. His job card recorded “possible dual mass flywheel needs further investigation”. On collectio

Audi A6 camera system fault – only months out of warranty

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Our Master Technician was presented with a frustrating camera problem a couple of months ago. The complaint was explained by the customer. “When I select reverse the camera shows the reverse image of the car for a couple of seconds then it goes out”.

We thought it was just German Cars that had this problem

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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These are im

Audi A3 2.0 TDI – Black Diesel

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Audi A3 2.0 TDI – Service 69K milesThe customer with this vehicle requested a Major service on his car as it had not been running smooth on his trip from Nottingham to Sheffield of late.Our technician carried out the service replacing all the necessary filters. But on remo

Audi A4 2.0 TDI Timing Belt – Close shave!

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Our timing belt specialist removed this timing belt from a 2007 Audi A4 2.0 TDI recently! The technician was carrying out a service on the car before the cu

VW Golf GTI – SRS Airbag problem

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Images of wiring repair modification being carried out as specified on the VAG STI (Service Technical Information) system regarding Air bag light indicator illuminated.

Mercedes Benz C220 CDI (W204) – Non – Start problem

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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When we service vehicles at autotecnic, we always recommend to customers that Shell V Power Nitro + or BP Ultimate fuel is used whether it’s a diesel or petrol engine. The report & images below are just one of the reasons why. Pictures paint a thousand words!

Audi A6 – Oil Pressure Problem

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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We were presented with an Audi A6 2.0 TDI with 63,000 miles on the speedo recently with an oil pressure problem. The car was lifted by a recovery agent from the owners address after the red oil light illuminated on initial start up. The recovery agent had carried out an oil pres

BMW 320D – Quality Fuel?

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Over the last 18 – 24 months we have seen an increase of associated diesel problems in our workshop. Rough lumpy running cars, emission problems, black death, sensor problems, DPFs (Diesel Particulate Filters), EGRs (Exhaust Gas Re-circulation units) Shut off Valves to name a few. All

Mercedes- Benz E320 CDI – Top & Bottom

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Vehicle was presented to us for a Gearbox Service and a puffing, whooshing noise when on tickover, plus a smell of diesel inside the car. The gearbox service

Diesel Particulate Filter Now Requirement of MOT

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2024
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Tests for diesel cars and lorries are to be tightened up to ensure vehicles have a critical exhaust filter if one had originally been fitted as standard, Roads Minister Robert Goodwill has announced. Garages and testing stations will be required check for a diesel particulate fi

Motorists are increasingly delaying vehicle servicing and maintenance in a bid to save money!

Posted on: 05 Jun, 2023
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Drivers across the UK are putting off vital car safety checks to help save money as they battle the cost-of-living crisis – with younger drivers most likely to skip on important maintenance. New data commissioned by the UK’s leading independent road safety c

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