Autofix-It Plus Nigeria

11/07/2017

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAR SUDDENLY STOP IN A FLOOD OR YOU ARE CAUGHT UP IN A FLOODED AREA.

Good day all Auto Enthusiast, good to be back here after a long while. In the last few days, Lagos has been ravaged by massive flooding that have affected mainly the highbrow areas of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and its environ rendering so many people homeless and causing others to loose their properties running into billions of Naira. Those affected by the unfortunate incident will continue to count their losses in the days and months to come. We at Autofix-it Plus Nigeria send our deepest sympathy to all those affected by the unfortunate incident.

The above incident motivated this little piece on what to do when your car suddenly stop inside a flood or you are caught up in a flooded area.

1. When your car suddenly stop in a heavy flood, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE CAR. Find a way to quickly remove the battery head and arrange to get it towed away to a nearby mechanic workshop to get it properly inspected.

2. Attempting to start the car and leaving the battery head on, can cause a short-circuit or bridge in the electrical system and damaging sensitive and very expensive electronic components including the Electronics Control Module (ECM) or what is popularly reffered to as the Brain-box to fry-up. Water is a good conductor of electricity.

3. There is also every tendency for water to get into the engine Chambers through the air intake duct, valves and seals. The salty water misses with the engine oil, thereby denegrading the lubrication property and causing the engine to knock.

4. Apart from the engine, the drive train or the transmission can also be damaged by the water that may have found it way into it.

5. Ensure that every reminant of water are completely drained out and the doors left open to dry up. If left wet, mould will grow quickly and damage the interior of the car.

6. While the impact of the flooding might not be felt immediately, there is the possibility that the implication might be felt in a long time to come. Ensure that all the fluids and the air filter element are changed.

For assistance and other enquiry, drop us a comment here or better still send us a mail at [email protected].

Also don't forget to like our page and share this post on your timeline. You never can tell who you will be helping to avoid a very expensive repairs.

14/08/2015

VEHICLE MAINTENACE TIPS – TIRE ROTATION
Properly aligned, rotated and inflated tires will help save you money on fuel. Regular tire service can help. Here are a few pointers to help keep you and your tires rolling along trouble-free.
1.Have your tires rotated regularly. Your vehicle's manufacturer has specific recommendations for tire rotation or at least, every 6 months.
2.Keep your tires properly inflated. The recommended PSI is pasted at the driver’s door panel. Your tires typically lose 1 psi (pound per square inch) each month and more during raining season. That adds up very quickly. And remember, temperature can have a major impact. A drop of 0.12°C can also cause a 1 psi loss in pressure. Low tire pressure, in turn, can result in high fuel consumption and excessive heat build-up leading to tire damage.
3.Check for signs of excessive or uneven tire wear. Uneven wear on the inside or outside could be an indication that other problems are lurking, so make sure your tires are professionally inspected.
Need further assistance? Drop your enquiries here or send us a mail at [email protected]. be sure to get a quick and immediate response.
Enjoy your day!

23/03/2015

Hello Good people, how are you doing today? We at Autofix-it Plus Nigeria just want to remind you that as the general election is approaching, kindly go out and vote and not fight. No politician, no matter how highly place, is worth the blood of any Nigerian.

27/11/2014

As the year is coming to an end stay alive for the people you love. Observe all safety regulations and regularly maintain your cars. You are very important to us!!!

31/07/2014

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TIPS: WHEEL ALIGNMENT
A Wheel alignment is a check of a vehicle's suspension and steering angles to make sure they are properly adjusted. Suspension and steering components that are even slightly out of adjustment can cause abnormal tire wear and/or prevent your vehicle from driving straight down the road.

WHY SHOULD IT BE SERVICED?
• A vehicle with improper wheel alignment can cause premature tire wear.
• Improper alignment can cause the vehicle to drift out of your lane, causing unsafe driving conditions.

WHEEL SHOULD WHEEL ALIGNMENT BE DONE?
• If your vehicle is pulling or drifting to the left or right when driving
• You are experiencing abnormal tire wear
• Whenever a part on the suspension is replaced

HOW IT IS DONE
Alignment Shops use a piece of equipment called an "Alignment Rack". This equipment includes sensors that attach to each wheel, and information about the exact position of each wheel is sent to a computer that provides the mechanic with the necessary information to determine if a wheel alignment is needed, and if so, how much adjustment is needed.
All new alignment machines can provide the customers with the "before" and "after" results. Good and reputable shops will attach this information to your repair invoice.

For all your vehicular issues, question and inquiries, contact us by dropping your comment on this page or send us a mail: [email protected]
Have a wonderful day!

19/06/2014

04/06/2014

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TIP: BALL JOINT
Hi friends, today we will be discussing BALL JOINTS. Many at times, we see vehicles on the road with the tyres disconnected in an awkward way that inhibit traffic flow. This is particularly common with Honda cars. The reason for this is a bad ball joint; a very important component of the suspension system that is often overlooked by most car users.
Ball joints link the suspension knuckle (which supports the wheel assembly) to the lower/upper control arm(s). They allow free movement in the suspension and aid in the steering of the vehicle.
Symptoms of Wear or Failure
1. Suspension may make a knocking and/or squeaking noise over bumps
2. Vehicle may wander
3. Uneven tire wear
4. Complete failure will result in the lower control arm becoming disconnected from the suspension knuckle, rendering the vehicle inoperable
To overcome these challenges and have a stress free motoring experience, we recommend that car users take the following preventive measures on their cars:
1. The boot should be inspected during maintenance services to make sure it is not torn
2. If possible, we recommend replacing ball joints as a set, especially on vehicles subject to heavy usage.
3. In some cases, the control arm must be replaced in order to replace the ball joint
4. Replacing the ball joints may affect the alignment's settings. We recommend a four-wheel alignment when the ball joints are replaced.
Having any issue with your car, contact us for advice through this page or send us a mail at [email protected]. Don’t forget to like our page as well.
Enjoy your day!

17/05/2014

Life lesson for all of us!!!

15/04/2014

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TIPS: NEED FOR REGULAR BRAKE FLUID SERVICE
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air and accumulates dirt and debris. Replacing the fluid periodically help keep the braking system operating at its maximum efficiency.
Old brake fluid may affect brake performance, so it's important to have it serviced. If you don't, you may experience one or more of these symptoms:
- Brake and/or ABS light may illuminate
- Soft or spongy brake pedal
- Internal corrosion of braking system components
We recommend brake fluid service every four years or 100,000 KM. Having it serviced at these intervals will help reduce the chance of any related drivability concerns. Your vehicle may have a brake fluid service recommended by the manufacturer, please consult your owner’s manual for vehicle specific information.
If you bought your car as fairly used or what we call “Tokunbo cars”, it always advisable to do all the fluid change – engine oil, transmission oil, brake fluid and coolant fluid; as you may not know the maintenance history of the previous owner. You can then start keeping your own record afterward.
Getting the best out of your car needs a lot of pampering. It’s far cheaper to maintain than to repair.
Need help with your vehicle, get in touch with us through this page or send us a mail at [email protected]. Help your mechanic to help you.
Have a wonderful day!

26/03/2014

THE PURPOSE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR IN YOUR CAR

Oxygen sensors come in several types and serve different functions. Vehicles may have one, two, three, four or more. The basic function is to tell the Powertrain Control Module (Brainbox) or PCM, how complete combustion has been in the engine. The PCM uses this information to control the fuel injectors and determines how much fuel is delivered to the engine for combustion.
When too much fuel is added, economy will suffer and components can be damaged. If there is not enough fuel, in relation to the air, running problems such as sluggishness, jerking and damage to components can occur. Improper mixture can also result in damage to the catalytic converter(s) which can be extremely expensive.
Oxygen sensors are also used to monitor the function of the catalytic converter and test its efficiency, on post OBDII vehicles. A defective oxygen sensor or out of range signal from the sensor is one of the major causes of the “check engine” or “service engine soon” lights on your dashboard.
Contact us for further information. Enjoy your day!

04/03/2014

HOW TO TELL WHEN YOU HAVE A BAD BRAKE CALIPER

Brake calipers, like many parts, fail in several ways. The symptoms generally depend on the nature and severity of the failure.
Some possible symptoms of bad brake calipers include:
o Leaking brake fluid, from the caliper area
o A pull to the right or left on braking
o Rapid brake pad wear and uneven brake pad wear
o Brake rotors that continue to warp
o A wheel that is difficult to rotate
o Heat or smoke coming from the brake with the bad caliper
o A bad shaking in the steering or a feeling the brakes are still applied when driving

It is also important to realize, most of these systems can also be caused by other components as well. For instance a pull on braking can also be caused by worn suspension parts, a bad brake hose, brake rotors as well as other things. A professional hydraulic test is sometimes the only way to isolate a bad caliper as the cause of the problem.
Tell us your car challenges; we will help you solve them. Post them on this page or email us at: [email protected].
Share and invite your friends to like our page.
Have a wonderful day!

03/02/2014

From the Mail Box:
Dear Autofixit, the ABS brake light on my dashboard is on but there are no symptoms and the brakes seem normal. What could be the problem? From Yinka

An ABS warning light indicates the anti-lock brake system (ABS) has been deactivated. This could be due to component failure; cut/disconnected wiring or parts in the system are out of the proper range. Under normal operation, symptoms will not always be noticeable. Symptoms may only become apparent when the vehicle is in a brake lockup situation; that is when you suddenly step on the brake pedal and causing it to lockup the wheels. With the wheels locked up, you will not be able to control the steering. When the light comes on, a code(s) will generally be stored in the vehicle computer. Retrieving the code(s) with a professional scan tool will identify the area of the system that is causing the problem. From there, testing of components is necessary to identify and correct the actual problem.

Do you have a question about your car, ask the Technicians by sending a mail to: [email protected] or simply post them on this page. Enjoy your day!