Water leaking into car causing puddles under the carpet

The plenim chamber is an area that normally holds the battery and some control units.

Water is allowed in this area but should drain out through the drain holes. When the drain holes become blocked the water just builds up and has nowhere else to go but inside the car.

This causes the carpets to become very wet and electronic units to be water damaged.

The end result is that the entire carpet needs to be removed and allowed to dry. The inside of the car needs to have all the puddles of water removed. All the electronics that sit on the floor of the car need to be checked for water damage.

What can I do as the driver to stop this happening to me?

The best thing you can do is try not to allow a build up of old leaves under the bonnet. When you have the bonnet open try and remove all the old leaves from the area around the lower part of the windscreen.

Unfortunately the plenim chamber drain holes are not easily accessible and cannot be easily unblocked.

If you need a plenim chamber check please give us a call at Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist.

0208 2000 995

By having your car serviced or repaired at Russell Automotive Centre you have all the benefits of main dealer servicing but without the price tag.

There are several other things you can do to help save fuel, here are our top tips.

1. Drive smoothly. Stop-start driving burns fuel. Watch the cars ahead and try to avoid heavy braking and sharp acceleration.

2. Stay in gear down hills. Ease of the accelerator. Don’t coast down hills as that actually uses more fuel.

3. Keep an eye on the rev counter. Change gears smoothly and try to change up through the gears as early as possible approximately 2000 revs. Drive in the right gear and at the correct speed for the road conditions.

4. Drive off as soon as your engine is running. Modern cars can drive just as well when cold as they can when hot. You do not need to waste fuel waiting for your engine to warm up.

5. Loose extra weight. Empty the boot and remove unused roof racks. You will use extra fuel moving any weight around that is sitting in the boot. Roof racks make your car use more fuel to push it through the air.

6. Don’t stand there idle. Switch off the engine if you are sitting still or stuck in traffic for more than a minute or two. Restarting the engine uses virtually no fuel. (Don’t allow the battery to go flat by leaving electrical consumers on, e.g. radio, heater and DVD players)

7. Plan your journey. Check the route for road works before leaving. If you are lost ask for directions. Use sat nav if you have it.

8. Take it easy. Drive easy you will arrive at your destination safer and more relaxed. Also take the first parking space you find rather than driving around for ages try to find a closer one!

9. Keep your car serviced and maintained. A well serviced and maintained car will use less fuel than a neglected car.

For any further help or advice call Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist.

0208 2000 995    www.rac-london.co.uk

Make sure the engine is switched off, the car is cool and parked on flat ground. Open the bonnet and look for individual markings on the side of the following four tanks: Oil, Coolant, Screenwash and Brake fluid.
Oil – pull out the dipstick from the engine, then wipe and replace. Pull it out again – the oil level should sit be between the minimum and maximum marks. If not, top it up.

Coolant – ensure the tank isn’t hot, and use a cloth to remove the cap. Check the minimum and maximum levels on the coolant tank, and fill up with water/antifreeze to the halfway point.
In the winter it’s a good idea to use a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze, but take care as anti-freeze can burn your skin and ruin your car’s paintwork. This will help prevent freezing, which could crack your car’s engine.

Screenwash – make sure washer fluid is filled up to the maximum mark, but take care not to overfill.
Brake fluid – check the brake fluid level is between the minimum and maximum points. If not, ask Russell Automotive Centre to help – driving with low levels of brake fluid can be dangerous. Brake fluid should be changed every two years.

Headlights

Check your lights are working. These include headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicator lights and fog lights. If a bulb is blown or doesn’t work, it may need replacing.
(RUSSELL AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE WILL REPLACE MOST LIGHT BULBS FREE OF CHARGE)

1. Open the bonnet and look behind the headlight.
2. Identify the faulty bulb and remove it from its holder
3. Check your vehicle handbook for the right specification or ask Russell Automotive Centre to supply the correct bulb. It can be helpful to take the old bulb along to ensure you buy the correct one.
4. Unscrew the old bulb and screw in the new one. Take care when touching the bulbs – a small piece of dirt or grease can ruin the bulb
5. Ensure there are no cracks or dirt on the bulb’s seal
6. After fitting a new bulb, switch on the lights to check they work

Tyres

Tyres with low pressure or tread can be dangerous and impair your car’s handling. Here are two essential tyre checks:
1. Tyre pressure:
First make sure the tyres are cold, and remove the valve caps (small caps which twist off by hand from the outside of the tyre).
Check the pressure level and adjust as necessary using a footpump or inflator with a reliable pressure gauge, before replacing the valve caps. Check your vehicle handbook for the correct tyre pressure.
2. Tread depth
Locate a tread wear marker – small squares found in the grooves of the tyre, and make sure your tyre’s tread depth is higher than this. If it’s lower, your tyres need changing. For a more accurate measure, use a tyre tread depth gauge.
A minimum tread depth of 1.6mm should be across the central three-quarters breadth of the tyre and the entire outer circumference (3mm is recommended). Any lower and your tyres will need changing. Look for any cuts, bulges and foreign objects stuck into the tyres (such as nails).

Windscreen wipers

If your wiper blades are leaving behind dirty smears or tiny scratches instead of cleaning your windscreen, it’s time to replace them.
RUSSELL AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE WILL REPLACE WIPER BLADES, FREE OF LABOUR CHARGE
You can clean your wiper blades with vinegar each week to keep them in good condition. Give them one quick wipe with a cloth.
Your windscreen washers should also be checked to make sure they are working and hitting the screen in the correct position.
RUSSELL AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE WILL ADJUST AND TOP UP WINDSCREEN WASHERS FREE OF CHARGE

Car battery

Car batteries generally last around four to five years. You can use a car battery charger to check your battery’s condition or ask Russell Automotive Centre to carry out a battery and charging system health check.
If your battery is dead you may have a faulty alternator, or have an electrical item draining from the battery. This will need to be checked it may not be the battery at fault!
To prolong car battery life, switch off electronic controls including lights, wipers, radio and the heater when the engine is not running as this will allows extra charge to run into the battery.

For any other car care tip please call Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist. 0208 2000 995.
www.rac-london.co.uk

The most important part in your car that should be ready for wet weather is of course your tyres. The legal requirement for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm. But this is too low to be safe in heavy rain.

Your tyres start to lose their ability to move water when they get to 3mm, so it is at this point from a safety point of view that they should be replaced.

HERE AT RUSSELL AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE WE CARRY OUT FREE TYRE CHECKS!

Should you need any other advise please feel free to call Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist.  0208 2000 995.

Only ever drive through water if you know that it’s not too deep!

Driving in wet conditions can be hazardous, but you have a better chance of staying safe if you prepare for wet weather.

Even drivers with local knowledge can be caught out during heavy downpours, as even the most modern road surface is still susceptible to standing water. This creates a potential aquaplaning hazard as well as significantly reducing visibility. Take it easy through standing water and if the steering does become unresponsive due to the rain, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

The engine’s air intake on many cars is low down at the front of the car and it can take just an egg cupful of water in the combustion chamber to wreck an engine. Water doesn’t compress and the piston in effect hits a wall, bending or breaking a con rod (causing a very expensive repair bill). Driving fast – even if the intake’s above the water level – could cause water to be ingested into the engine.

If you’re unlucky enough to break down in heavy rain, don’t prop the bonnet open while you wait for the breakdown recovery service to arrive – the engine will be more difficult to start again if the electrics are all rain-soaked. Instead, pull over to a safe and visible place and wait for help to arrive.

Heavy rain

Be safe, and prepare for wet weather:

Remember that according to the Highway Code: You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

Give yourself the best chance of being able to see clearly in wet weather by renewing windscreen wipers if worn or damaged.

Double the distance you leave between your car and the car in front, as stopping distances are increased by wet roads.

If steering becomes unresponsive due to the rain, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

Floods and standing water

Only drive through water if you know that it’s not too deep.

Allow oncoming traffic to pass first and test your brakes as soon as you can after leaving the water.

Don’t try driving through fast-moving water, such as at a flooded bridge approach – your car could easily be swept away.

Watch out for standing water, trying to avoid it if you can, and adjust your speed to the conditions.

Driving fast through standing water is dangerous; tyres lose contact with the road and you lose steering control in what’s known as ‘aquaplaning’. If you do experience aquaplaning, hold the steering wheel lightly and lift off the throttle until the tyres regain grip.

HERE AT RUSSELL AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE WE CARRY OUT FREE TYRE CHECKS!

Driving fast through standing water is inconsiderate. Driving through water at speeds above a slow crawl can result in water being thrown onto pavements, soaking pedestrians or cyclists. You could face a hefty fine and between three and nine penalty points if the police believe you were driving without reasonable consideration for other road users.

Driving fast through standing water can cause expensive damage. The air intake on many cars is low down at the front of the engine bay and it only takes a small quantity of water sucked into the engine to cause serious damage. All engines are affected but turbo-charged and diesel engines are most vulnerable.

If you break down in heavy rain don’t prop the bonnet open while you wait for the patrol to arrive. The engine will be more difficult to start again if the electrics are all rain-soaked.

This is just some basic advice, it is the responsibility of the driver to drive the vehicle safely and responsibly to avoid damage and harm to yourself, your vehicle and any other road users.

For any further advice call Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist. 0208 2000 995.

Inside a manual gearbox

A new customer of ours came to us looking for a solution to a problem that another garage could not rectify.

His problem was jumping out of first gear and a noise when driving.

During his visit to another garage they could not commit to a rectification or cost to rectify the problem.

The customer did some internet research and found us, Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley specialist.

When we checked the vehicle it was easy for us to diagnose the 2 problems inside the gearbox.

We needed to remove and disassemble the gearbox to fully check it out.

When the gearbox was fully disassembled it was easy for our fully experienced gearbox technicians to diagnose the problem. The main gearbox shaft had too much movement cause by a worn shaft bearing.

We replaced the worn bearing and fully reassembled the gearbox.

Removal and disassembling gearboxes is normally a job that is not taken on by most garages as they do not have the ability to complete the job correctly.

Here at Russell Automotive Centre this is a job that we complete in house!

After the repair the car was fully tested and all the problems had been rectified.

After the customer collected the vehicle and had fully tested it for himself he very kindly took the time to call us and thank us for doing such a good job, as all of his problems were no longer there.

For gearbox and all other repairs, Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist. 0208 2000 995

Golf GTI in near perfect condition

It was a real pleasure to have into our workshop an old VW Golf GTI in near perfect condition. Normally we work on Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley vehicles that are not yet considered as “classics” but the GTI we had into the workshop was a great example of the great cars that VW can build.

The car had come in for a minor problem and some routine maintenance.

The engine of the Golf GTI had a minor running problem which was easily sorted and we carried out a full service and replace the cambelt.

The whole job went very smoothly and there were no problems like you would expect from and old vehicle, like seized or corroded bolts.

The technician who work on the car said “it was a pleasure to work on a very well kept classic car”

Old “classic” vehicles are very

Old Golf GTI having it's cambelt replaced

welcome at Russell Automotive Centre.

Refer a Friend and we will give you £10 off your next

 service!

If your friend spends over £100 with us you will receive a £10 credit on your account for your next visit!

Welcome to our Refer a Friend scheme.

It couldn’t be easier! 

All you have do is tell your friend, family member or colleague to mention your name when they come to us for servicing or repairs and you get £10 credit put on your account!  Saving you money on your next visit!!

Here’s the best bit there is no limit on how many referral credits you can get on your account – they don’t expire so what are you waiting for – start referring!

Here at Russell Automotive Centre London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist we are a 100% confident that our customers will walk away satisfied with the service they have received and tell friends and family about their experience. 

Being the only independent VAG specialist locally with manufacturer diagnostic equipment compulsory for main Dealers ensures we can continue to offer you, your friends and family a first class service at an affordable price!

CALL NOW on 0208 200 0995 or email us on service@rac-london.co.uk for further information!

Our new logo including Bentley

We are very proud to have been approved by Bentley to be able to fully integrate with their online systems for key, immobilizer and control unit coding.
Russell Automotive Centre is the FIRST and ONLY specialist in London and the South of England to be able to carry out all of the type of repairs that you would have only received from a main dealer.
For all types of service, repair, MOT or anything else on your Bentley, Audi, VW, Seat or Skoda visit Russell Automotive Centre London’s ONLY Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist.
0208 2000 995

www.rac-london.co.uk

Russell Automotive Centre, London's only Bentley Specialist!

Being the only independent specialist in the South of England with the same up to date diagnosis equipment as a main Bentley dealer, Russell Automotive Centre is offering Bentley owners a choice previously only available to Audi, VW, Seat & Skoda drivers.

Steve Russell, director, said; ‘We have spent many months getting ready to be able to fully service, repair, MOT and maintain Bentleys. We feel we are able to compete with the main dealers and have all the equipment to do so. ‘

Since 2004 Bentley has been owned by the Volkswagen Group and they now share many technologies. Russell Automotive Centre have invested in Bentley specific diagnosis equipment and software which makes Russell Automotive Centre, London’s FIRST and only independent specialist with the same up to date diagnosis equipment to be able to carry out repairs that were only possible before by a Bentley main dealer.

The specialist independent’s fully up to date equipment will enable them to carry out online procedures like key coding, component coding, adaptions of software and resetting service lights correctly. As well as all the general Bentley servicing, repairs, diagnosis and routine maintanance. All work is carried out by fully skilled technicians using genuine parts at a fraction of the cost of a main dealer.

Fully up to date diagnosis equipment.

Fully skilled technicians.

We only use genuine parts.

All parts and labour are covered by a 2 year warranty.

Our fully up to date diagnosis equipment

Large fully equipped workshop.

Large car park.

Large and comftable waiting area.

Free Collection and delivery.

Free courtesy car.

Valeting service.

Huge savings compared to a main dealer.

All repairs are covered by our price match promise.

You can relax knowing your vehicle is being cared for by London’s Leading Multi Award Winning Independent Specialist.

Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Bentley Specialist.

Call now to book: 0208 2000 995.

Divital TV upgrade

As of the 18 April 2012 there will be no more analogue TV we will all have to switch to digital TV.

That’s no problem for the TV in the home as we all probably already have a freeview box or Sky TV, but what do we do about the TV in the car that has just stopped working?

Here at Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda Specialist we have a cost effective solution for you.

We can upgrade your old analogue TV system into a digital TV receiver so you can continue to watch the TV in car as you did before.

We will fully install a digital TV unit that will work with your existing system that will allow you to watch TV again using the same controls as before. It will also have the ability to record and replay TV.

For more information give us a call, 0208 2000 995

Russell Automotive Centre, London’s Leading Audi VW, Seat and Skoda Specialist.

www.rac-london.co.uk