Mr B's hair raising Vauxhall vex

Hello faithful readers and welcome to another week of adventures from the KAM team. We have been very busy this week as you continue to heed the call and more and more of your cars are being restored to perfect health. You can leave your comments, questions and queries at www.twitter.com/dr_kev and on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kamservicing.

    As the KAM team were hard at work at our Bulwell depot preparing for a Bank holiday weekend break when we received a visit from Mr B. He parked up his Vauxhall Zafira in the forecourt and from first glance there did not appear to be any visible problems. In fact the only tell tale sign that anything was wrong was the look of desperation that overcame Mr B’s face as he entered the reception. “Kev I feel I may have been a catalyst in the appearance of a dreaded gremlin within my car. I just need an expert’s opinion and I have heard you are the best.” Mr B was a retired scientist from Nottingham and even sported similar hair to that of one Mr Albert Einstein. He was now home a lot and had used some of his free time to undertake some DIY mechanics. “Kev I recently installed a cooler into my car and I may have interfered with parts elsewhere.” Before I could assure Mr B that this would be an easily fixed problem, it appeared he was not done. He said with some hesitation “Kev I got a little too confident and used what little knowledge I possess to install in an in car entertainment system.” Mr B was happy to admit that the procedure had been successful but recently he had noticed the appearance of the ABS (anti-lock braking system) light.  “I need your help Kev.” We assured Mr B that we would have his car fixed in no time and after all the details were taken, he was dispatched in one of our courtesy cars.”

   Diagnostic Dan got to work and immediately got out his diagnostic tools to start the search for the illusive gremlin. He first did a visual test and to see if there were any visible faults that could be deduced before we would need to bust out the diagnostic machines. After some rooting around it was not long till the infamous words rang out. “I’ve got it Kev.” It so transpired that the DIY work that Mr B had undertaken on the car had unfortunately had an adverse affect on the car. It so transpired that when he had wired the new features into the car he had wired the main live feed incorrectly through the fuse box. This had burnt the wiring loom, which leads to the ABS wiring. This had caused the ABS light to appear. Dan then removed the ABS pump and saw that the wiring leading up to the ECU (Engine Control Unit) was burnt. Mr B’s work had led to some electrical problems but thankfully he had bought his car in time and so no serious damage had occurred.

 

 We called our fantastic suppliers who arrived promptly and we were able to source a reconditioned ECU. This usually costs a lot of money but we were able to get it for a fraction of the price. Dan fitted the new ECU and then reprogrammed it and it was time for the moment of truth. Dan got behind the wheel and turned the key, and after a few seconds delight covered his face. “The light is gone Kev. We did it, this car is back on the fast track.”

Mr B arrived later and was elated to have his car back. “Thanks Kev, I suppose next time I’ll leave it to the professionals.”

  Remember faithful reader, our team of dedicated and hard working staff at the branches in Sutton, Long Eaton, Bulwell and Belper along with our bodywork shop are open every day of the week, EXCLUDING Sunday’s, while the lads at our Sawley and Heanor workshops are at your service seven days a week and most Bank Holidays, keeping your car where it belongs. ON THE ROAD.

So until next week faithful reader, drive safely and keep it shiny side up.

Dr.Kev.

 

 

 

Mr G finds the light

Hello faithful readers our Beeston depot is officially open and the boys have got off to a flying start. We are seeing more and more customers come through the doors and the boys are being kept busy with all the new challenges that arrive. I myself have been helping out down there but am happy to report that Super Sunny is doing an excellent job along with Fearless Frank and all the new boys that have joined the KAM team. Our new ramps continue to hoist up cars and our winning record for finding and fixing faults continues.

 Our new customers have also been enjoying our new facilities and the comfortable sofas have already become a favourite with waiting customers and our mechanics at Beeston are on hand to take on any gremlins that may besiege your car and as always you can expect high standards at the lowest prices.

  For a limited time the KAM team at Beeston is offering a number of money saving deals for all of our customers. So if you need your brakes, batteries or alternator checking make sure to come down to KAM for total piece of mind. At KAM Beeston we are also in possession of one of the most state of the art wheel alignment centres in the Midlands and we can offer you HALF PRICE on all wheel alignments. We also offer a free health check to all customers and all tests have no obligations so you can choose the work that is undertaken on your car.  

    But don’t just take our word for it, our customers have been very vocal in their support for KAM Beeston and this week was no different. A few days after the grand opening of Beeston, we received a visit from Mr G, who had read about the new depot and was eager to see what the fuss was about. “Kev I have read all about you and I thought I would put you to the test.” Mr G was sceptical about garages having spent a lot of money and with no solution being found. We welcomed him into the reception and as he took on a seat on the sofa and sipped from a cup of hot coffee he regaled the recent problems he had faced. His car a Toyota Landcruiser had been displaying the ABS light intermittently for quite a while and Mr G was concerned especially after another garage had supposedly ‘fixed it’. “Kev I have taken it to other garages and have had 4 ABS sensors fitted and the problem still exists. Please say you can help.” Mr G was desperate to find the cause of the problem and so we assured him that the KAM team would find the problem.

 After all the details were taken Mr G was whisked away in one of our courtesy cars and we got straight to work. “I’ll take it Kev.” said the familiar voice of ‘Big Ben’. Ben immediately plugged the car up to our new, state of the art machines at Beeston and awaited the results. But a short while later he was to be disappointed as they did not point to any faults. Next in the diagnosis process would be a reversion to old school mechanics and armed with his multi-metre and probes Ben got to work checking the wiring of the car. He stripped the back seats of the car and checked the continuity of the wires. After a short time of prodding and poking the famous words rang through the workshop. “I’ve got it Kev.”

It so transpired that part of the wiring loom had burnt out. The wiring loom goes towards the ABS and so this had been the reason for the sporadic appearance of the light. Thankfully the damage had been minimal and all that was needed was a new section of wiring loom. The new part arrived after a quick call to our fantastic suppliers and Ben fitted it meticulously making sure to ensure that no further faults would occur. The car could now need to be tested. As Ben started the car, one by one the dashboard lights went out. “We did it Kev, the light is gone. This car is back on the fast lane.”

When Mr G arrived later he was very happy to have his car back to it’s best. Wow thanks Kev, the service you provide is excellent and KAM Beeston is surly going to be a big success.”

 You can leave your comments, questions and queries at www.twitter.com/dr_kev and on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kamservicing. 

   Remember faithful reader, our team of dedicated and hard working staff at the branches in Sutton, Long Eaton, Bulwell and Belper along with our bodywork shop are open every day of the week, EXCLUDING Sunday’s, while the lads at our Sawley and Heanor workshops are at your service seven days a week, keeping your car where it belongs. ON THE ROAD.

So until next week faithful reader, drive safely and keep it shiny side up.

Dr.Kev.

We cut out the "jibba jabba" for Mr T

Hello faithful readers and welcome to another week of adventures from the KAM team. We have been very busy this week as you continue to heed the call and more and more of your cars are being restored to perfect health. You can leave your comments, questions and queries at www.twitter.com/dr_kev.
This week we were visited by Mr T who called in to our Long Eaton depot to tell the KAM team all about his car’s woes. He was a new customer and had come here on the recommendation of a friend after some rather unfortunate experiences with previous garages. “Kev I don’t know what to do about my car, its just not running like it used to.” It so transpired that the car in question, a Honda Civic had failed its MOT and the ABS (Anti Braking System) light had appeared on the dashboard. However the MOT centre where Mr T had got the MOT done did not do repairs and so he was left with a faulty car and no means of fixing it. “I have been to a garage Kev and they said the possible damage caused could cost me thousands, this can’t be right can it. Please say you can help?" Mr T was in need of our help and after taking all of his details and dispatching him off on one of our courtesy cars we got straight to work.
Benjamin Button was the first person to volunteer to work on this week’s mystery. “I’ll take it Kev.” He was eyeing up the car, and with Diagnostic Dan already occupied, he reached for his multi meters. First he checked the wiring and there did not seem to be any visible problems, this would take some further investigating. It was time to bring out the big guns. Ben then attached the car up to one of our state of the art machines and got to work on deciphering the problem. Dan looked over curiously “Haven’t you got it yet Ben, are you sure you don’t need some help?” he asked. Ben peered out from under the bonnet, “I think we can do this one without consulting the mechanical wizard.” Joked Ben. A short time lapsed and the infamous word rang out “I’ve got it Kev.”
The problem lay in the ABS pump module, which had become faulty and was in need of replacement. This had been the reason for the ABS light’s appearance and fortunately for Mr T the damage had not been as catastrophic as it could have been. However the cost of a new ABS module system would be very high unless we could find a reconditioned one. Ben was straight on the phone and called all of our suppliers asking if a reconditioned unit could be found. He did not have much luck at first but then he struck gold after nearly an hour of calls. “I’ve got one Kev.” We called Mr T and told him of the car’s condition and let him know of the high cost that would have occurred had we used a brand new unit. He gave his permission for us to change the unit and was delighted at the price we had managed to acquire the part for.
Ben went off and picked up the part and arrived back promptly. The old ABS module unit was then replaced with the new one and it was quite a big job for Ben. Every part was removed with military precision and the engine was checked once again to ensure that no other problems had occurred. The boys then gathered around and waited in anticipation to see whether the transfer had been successful and if the car was gremlin free. Ben turned the key in ignition and the car purred with Ben showing off a resounding smile. “We did it Kev.” The ABS light was off and the car was back to it’s best, the calling about had paid off and now we could call Mr T with the good news.
“Wow Kev, you have really saved me a bundle, I can’t thankyou enough. You KAM boys really do go above and beyond.”
Remember faithful reader, our team of dedicated and hard working staff at the branches in Sutton and Long Eaton, Bulwell and Belper along with our bodywork shop are open ever day of the week, EXCLUDING Sunday’s, while the lads at our Sawley and Heanor workshops are at your service seven days a week, keeping your car where it belongs. ON THE ROAD.