Kiff Brothers

At Kiff Brothers we offer both private motorists and company car drivers a wide range of services all of which are backed with good quality work and a friendly and efficient service at a price that represents excellent value.

CAR SERVICING

Regular car servicing can extend the life of a vehicle. The reason for this is simple - defects are found before they become catastrophic

A small investment in routine car servicing and repair, plus a good inspection programme results in a good return on that investment due to:

• Reduced cost of repairs over the life of the vehicle
• Reducing unforeseen and possible breakdown risks
• Reduced vehicle time off the road
• Less inconvenience and less unforeseen expense
• Less likelihood of car accidents
• The possibility of greater fuel economy
• The possibility of increased product life

e.g. tyres last longer, brake discs do not become scored and in need of replacement

We offer a choice of servicing schedules as shown below:

Interim - 6 month vehicle service

This 6-month service/check up is designed for the high mileage car user, or where the manufacturer recommends more frequent checks. This service helps maintain your vehicle and prevents unforeseen faults. Included are an oil and filter change and a wide range of checks on the fundamental items.

Full - 12 month vehicle service

This is a very comprehensive annual service for trouble free motoring. It exceeds most manufacturers service schedules with up to 70 checks and adjustments and includes the replacement of spark plugs* and the air filter element as well as changing the engine oil ** and oil filter. High quality parts are used such as Castrol Magnatec lubricants and Champion spark plugs. We check and record wear and tear items using a colour code reporting system to give you peace of mind.

PRE MOT TESTING

All UK cars 3 years old and over require a valid MOT certificate by law.

MOT tests can be carried out on your car up to one month prior to the expiry date of an existing UK MOT certificate provided that a current MOT certificate is presented to the examiner at the time of the test.

On passing the MOT test, the vehicle will receive a certificate valid from the date of expiry of your existing MOT certificate.

All UK cars 3 years old and over require a valid MOT certificate by law. The contents and standards required are set by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

MOT Car Test

What is involved?
The annual testing of your vehicle to ensure it meets minimum road safety standards. We will carry out a pre MOT Vehicle inspection. Listed below are the pre MOT diagnostics to get a successful result first time.

• Driving Controls
• Steering Wheel and Column
• Footbrake and Servo
• Handbrake
• Light Switches and Horn
• Windscreen Wipers and Washers

Exterior

• Suspension
• Shock Absorber Effectiveness
• Tyres and Wheels
• Body Condition

Lights

• Sidelamps
• Direction Indicators
• Headlamps
• Headlamp Aim
• Reflectors
• Stop Lamps
• Rear Lamps
• Fog Lamps

Under Bonnet

• Braking Components
• Suspension
• Steering

Under Vehicle

• Steering
• Tyres and Wheels
• Foot and Handbrake System
• Suspension and Shock Absorbers
• Wheel Bearings and Driveshafts
• Exhaust
• Chassis

Brake Performance

• Footbrake Efficiency
• Front Brake Balance
• Handbrake Efficiency

Exhaust Emission

• Carbon Monoxide (CO) Emission
• Hydrocarbon (HC) Emission
• Lambda
• Excessive Visible Smoke

IMPORTANT

An MOT Certificate relates only to the condition of testable items at the time of the test. It should not be regarded as evidence of the condition of the items tested at any other time nor should it be taken as evidence of the general mechanical condition of the vehicle.

BRAKES

If you are ever in any doubt about the state of your brakes, in between services, we provide a no obligation FREE OF CHARGE brake check.
Free Brake Checks

If you are ever in any doubt about the state of your brakes, in between services, we provide a no obligation FREE OF CHARGE brake check. Our fully skilled and experienced technicians will;

• Check the condition of friction materials and hydraulics
• Clean and remove dust from drums
• Adjust rear brakes
• Check hand brake
• Check brake fluids
• Test and report

We use the latest equipment to carry out these essential safety checks and only fit brakes that are made to original equipment standards meaning you are guaranteed the highest levels of safety as designed by your vehicle manufacturer. All parts are guaranteed for 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever is sooner).

Brake Maintenance

Brakes are a critical safety item and to provide maximum stopping power, your brakes must be at optimum braking efficiency. Regular brake checks and maintenance are of great importance for the safety of your vehicle and help reduce the possibility of more costly bills in the future.

CLUTCH REPLACEMENT

Regular checks of the clutch can prevent problems such as slip, drag or judder...

We offer a range of high quality new clutches from all leading clutch manufacturers. All parts fitted carry a 2 year unlimited mileage guarantee (excluding taxis, driving schools and commercial vehicles).

An example of some common clutch faults are listed below.

It is important to get specialist advice before fitting a new clutch as many symptoms could indicate a problem with the clutch, whilst the real fault may be something completely different such as engine revving, slipping fan belt or minor adjustment. At Nationwide Autocentres our specialist will provide you with a free clutch check and/or help to arrange vehicle recovery if your car is broken down.

Common Clutch faults are:

SLIP
Caused by oil on the friction plate or worn friction plate, the symptoms of clutch slip would be partial or total loss of drive, vehicle speed lower than normal compared with engine speed.

DRAG
Clutch cable not at correct adjustment or centre plate sticking on splines. The symptoms of this would be difficulty in obtaining gear, particularly first and reverse gears.

JUDDER
Caused by warped friction plate or engine / gearbox mounts broken. The symptoms of this would be a shudder and vibration as vehicle moves off from rest.

AIR CONDITIONING

A/C is increasingly becoming standard equipment on more vehicles due to the major enhancement it brings to passenger comfort.

Air Conditioning is increasingly seen as standard equipment on new cars due to the major enhancement it brings to passenger comfort. However, drivers are only just realising that A/C systems do require regular maintenance.

Vehicle A/C systems will tend to lose refrigerant over time as refrigerant permeates through the physical joins between components.

Over time this will cause deterioration in performance.

Worse still, if you leave A/C operating with low refrigerant levels more serious problems can occur, lubricant circulation may be affected and air or moisture may enter the system.

The consequences could include:

• Poorer fuel economy as the compressor remains engaged to attain lower temperatures
• Internal corrosion caused by air or moisture reacting with refrigerant
• Component or system failure

Free A/C Performance Test

• Checks system pressures and vent temperature
• Compares to recommended levels
• Visual inspection

Anti-bacterial system clean

• Treats the problem of stale smelling A/C at source
• Prevents the problem returning for 12 months

Full A/C Service

• As per Performance Test
• Recovers refrigerant
• Evacuates air and moisture from the system
• Leak test
• Recharge to recommended levels adding fresh oil as necessary
• Full visual inspection

CAMBELTS

Replacement at recommended times are essential to reduce risk of serious engine damage.

As trained technicians we also provide a cambelt replacement service. This is a vital requirement on most vehicles at manufacturer recommended mileages. If the Cambelt is not replaced at the set intervals it could break and then most often causes expensive damage to the engine. This can be a complex job that requires skill and specialist knowledge and technical information.

EXHAUSTS & CATALYTIC CONVERTORS

All our garages can supply and fit a new exhaust to your car quickly and easily.

The exhaust system is one of the most hard working components on your vehicle. It is constantly in use whilst the engine is running. An exhaust system on most vehicles usually comprises of four sections:

• Manifold
• Front Downpipe
• Centre Section
• Rear silencer box

Also on all vehicles registered after 1993 a catalytic converter is fitted. The most common section to become defective is the rear silencer as moisture gathers inside the box and attacks the metal. Corrosion from the inside results in hole, which causes the exhaust to blow. A defective exhaust will mean the vehicle fails the MOT test. It also causes excessive noise; thereby rendering the vehicle illegal which could lead to a fixed penalty fine. An unchecked exhaust may also result in fumes entering the car, which can lead to headaches, sickness and drowsiness.

All our exhausts carry a 1 year unlimited mileage guarantee.

Catalytic Converters

Catalytic converters are now fitted to all cars to remove harmful pollution from the exhaust gases. This expensive and high-tech component fits in the exhaust system and looks on the outside like a typical silencer box.

The catalytic converter is an integral part of the engine performance system and sensors control the gases entering and leaving the catalytic converter are controlled by the engine management system.

The catalytic converter effectiveness is measured by testing the exhaust gas emissions. This is an important part of the MOT and service requirements on all cars today.

The catalytic converter can be damaged if the engine is not properly tuned and excess fuel or oils enter the component. If your catalytic converter or exhaust does become defective and requires replacing, Nationwide Autocentres provides top quality replacement parts at significant saving to dealer prices.

With regular servicing and FREE checks we can keep your exhaust system legal and prevent any fumes from entering the vehicle. With our fully skilled technicians we can diagnose any current faults or any faults that may occur in the near future and cause the exhaust or the catalytic converter to become defective.

STEERING

The steering system on every car is very important and requires regular maintenance to keep it at an optimum standard.

The steering system on every car is very important and requires regular maintenance to keep it at an optimum standard. The steering rack on all motor vehicles is easily knocked out of alignment by all the speed humps and potholes in the road. When the wheel alignment becomes out of tolerance the tyres will wear unevenly on either edge of the side walls.

Noticeable signs of wheel imbalance to look out for are:

• Steering wheel is off-set when the vehicle is travelling in a straight line
• The vehicle may drift/pull to the left or right
• The front tyres will wear bald or show signs of uneven wear on either edge

If any of these faults are present on your vehicle we strongly recommend you have your wheel alignment checked and adjusted if necessary, as soon as possible.

We can prolong the life of your tyres with a free wheel alignment check and regular servicing. Our highly trained technicians can be of assistance to advise you of the best solution for any steering problems.

SUSPENSION

On the suspension system there are many moving parts, the main component of which is rubber that can dry out over a period of time and can crack and perish. In the worst situation the rubber components can split. You may be able to recognise when a component has become defective, some of the effects could be;

• When pulling away from a standstill a knocking noise may occur from the front of the vehicle.
• When travelling along uneven surfaces, i.e. speed humps or bumpy roads, once again a knocking noise may be heard from either end of the vehicle and the ride in the vehicle may be an uncomfortable one.
• On a straight road, i.e. a motorway, if one side at the front of the vehicle there is a defective component, the vehicle will drift or pull to the defective side.

An important part of the suspension is the shock absorbers, these are usually hydraulic or gas filled. They are essential to control the bounce on the vehicle and to ensure the tyres are kept firmly on the road. Damaged and worn shock absorbers can reduce the braking efficiency, cause poor cornering and tyre wear.

It is very important to have regular checks on your vehicle, whether it be every 6 or 12 months, to ensure that the ride comfort and suspension system are kept at an optimum level. At Nationwide Autocentres the suspension system is fully checked over as part of our routine servicing to make sure that you remain as safe and comfortable as possible. With all our technicians being highly trained and fully experienced you can rest assured that you and your vehicle are in safe hands.

Free suspension checks and advice are available from our trained technicians, just call in