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If the grating occurs when engaging 1st gear or reverse while the vehicle is stationary, the grating in usually caused by the clutch.
If your car is running rough and showing symptoms even when it’s just idling and standing still, it’s not a clutch issue.
- A change in engine speed without noticeable acceleration. While driving in 3rd gear and your foot is off the clutch accelerating quickly if the car revs climb and there is no noticeable speed increase, it can mean your clutch isn’t delivering the boost in RPM through the transmission to the drive wheels.
- If there is change in the clutch pedal height where the driver feels the clutch begin to engage.
- Change in perceived engine power when pulling a load. A slipping clutch reduces the amount of power delivered to the drive wheels.
2.
Push down on the clutch pedal. Your clutch may need to be replaced if it takes only a little of the pedal movement to disengage it. There should be an inch or two (2 to 4 cm) of free movement of the pedal before the clutch starts to disengage. If it disengages sooner, this is an indicator that your clutch is not riding (i.e., is not partially disengaged) when the pedal is not depressed.
3.
If you notice a smell coming from under the bonnet. This may be the result of an oil leak or even damaged electrical wiring (both serious, but not clutch-related issues), but it can also be a sign of a slipping clutch. Most of the time if you are towing a caravan or trailer on a steep hill and you smell a pungent smell coming from the engine it could mean the clutch is slipping.
4.
Check the clutch fluid level. Check the clutch fluid reservoir, which is located near the brake master cylinder. The reservoir should either be filled to the top, or somewhere between the minimum and maximum lines shown on the reservoir. If necessary, add fluid to the reservoir.
- Some vehicles use the brake master cylinder for the clutch. If this is the case, make sure there is brake fluid in the master cylinder.
A major service usually consists of the following:
- New in-line plastic fuel filter (Excluding High Pressure fuel filter)
- New spark plugs (non platinum), points and condensers
- New oil filter
- New air filter
- New engine oil
- Electrical check and report on any faults
- Adjustment of the hand brake
- Testing of brakes
- Battery check
- Car wash and vacuum (excludes engine clean)
- Labour for all the above
- A report on defects found and customer informed of additional repair work required for your vehicle
- No additional work is undertaken without the customer’s prior consent
While it varies by make and model, minor services generally include: changing the oil and oil filter, an inspection of all fluids, filters, belts, hoses, brakes, windscreen wipers, and emissions. Please consult with your nearest e-CAR workshop as to what their minor service includes for your vehicle. Find your closest e-CAR workshop.
They are made of stacked glass ceramic fibers, filler material, bonding agents, and small amounts of various metals. They perform much like a dual pane window, by inhibiting the heat that is generated by the pad hitting the rotor, from going back to the hydraulic or caliper system. The Ceramic pads tend to keep the brake fluid cooler then the Metallic pad does. Due to their cooling capabilities, their performance stays strong with repeated use and repeated hard stops.
Many vehicles now come with Ceramic pads as their OE (Original Equipment) from the factory, and we always recommend that you stay with the OE manufacturers recommended friction material.
Metallic pads are typically made from a mixture of iron, copper, steel, and graphite that are all bonded together. They are good at transferring the heat generated by the friction that is created from the contact with the brake rotors. Metallic pads provide good performance, and much better resistance to brake fade than Organic pads. They are also a more cost effective option. They are harder and more durable, and are the best choice for heavier vehicles. Although Ceramic has enjoyed a considerable gain in popularity over the last dozen years, Metallic remains a popular choice.
Most of today’s Metallic pads are actually Semi-Metallic Brake Pads, which are a hybrid mix of both Organic pads and Metallic pads.
The Organic Brake Pads are made from natural materials like glass and rubber that have been bonded together with high heat resistant resins. Many Organic formulations use Kevlar as well. They are a much softer brake pad which results in a quieter pad, but one that also wears faster and creates a lot more dust. Organic Brake Pads are best suited for light weight small cars that have limited hard stops.
These pads use ceramic compounds and copper fibers in place of the semi-metallic pad’s steel fibers. This allows the ceramic pads to handle high brake temperatures with less heat fade, provide faster recovery after the stop, and generate less dust and wear on both the pads and rotors.
Most vehicles on the road today have metallic brake pads. In case you’re wondering, these brake pads aren’t just slabs of metal. They’re typically made of iron, copper, steel and graphite all mixed and together and bonded to form the pad material.
Yes. Brake pads are car specific. Please consult your e-CAR mechanic to recommend the correct brake pad for your car.
Yes. Some brake discs are hard therefore last longer. Some brake discs are soft and last a shorter period of time. The softer the brake pad the shorter the lifespan. Some brake pads will stop the car consistently no matter the temperature of the brake pad, whilst others will have an adverse effect on the stopping distance. There are many factors that can affect the stopping distance therefore we will not cover that here.
Yes. When you push the brake pedal the two pads on either side of the disc get pressed onto the disc thus stopping the car. Without any brake discs nothing will press against the disc and this will result in the car not stopping.
Book a car service @ Tomson Motors in Stellenbosch, Cape Town
All you have to do is service your vehicle at any e-CAR workshop, get your membership pack and then call us to activate your free year-long membership – so you can start benefiting right away!
Medical Emergency
Our 24-hour Medical Emergency line offers you and your immediate dependants response and assistance in certain medical emergency situation as described in the limitation of benefits table. Professional, qualified medical personnel will ensure that the most appropriate emergency service is dispatched.
This cover includes:
- Appropriate medical transportation to the closest, most appropriate facility dependent on medical aid status.
- You and your immediate family are covered for repatriation (within the borders of SA) or return of mortal remains to an appropriate facility at your normal place of residence after an accident.
- Arrangements will be made for companionship or care of stranded minors, subject to the benefits table.
- You also have access to 24-hour emergency telephonic medical information and advice, as well as general medical information.
- After a traumatic incident, you and your immediate family have 24-hour access to telephonic trauma counseling and advice as well as approved specialised rape crisis centres.
Household Assistance
This 24-hour emergency assistance service applies to your normal place of residence (within the four walls of your house) and is available when there is a danger to you and your family, or to the property or structure (i.e., a threat to a person or assets). We will arrange assistance from the following service providers: Ultra Plus membership Only
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Locksmith
- Glazier
(Window repairs) Assistance will also be rendered in the event of non-emergency repairs or repairs outside of the four categories listed above, in which case the account must be settled by you.
Legal Advice & Assistance
This service provides you with 24-hour legal support and advice. Practising lawyers, legal consultants and academics will provide you with broad-based assistance including:
- Telephonic legal advice
- Access to standard legal documents via email/fax
- A free 30-minute consultation on a referral basis.
Your free year long membership is valid for 1 year from the date we serviced your car. Make sure you activate your membership immediately upon receiving it so you can enjoy a full year of benefits.
Yes! This service includes assistance in Lesotho and Swaziland. If you need help in Zimbabwe or Namibia you can call us on 0861 755 756 and we’ll refer you to a local assist representative there.
Call us on 0861 755 756 and we’ll take it from there!
One tow per year. So make your tow count. We’ll pay a maximum of R730, limited to 40kms, towards the cost of your tow. Any extra kilometers driven over and above the 40km limit will be charged at AA rates and will be for your cost.
No. Your membership is linked to the car you register with e-CAR Club on activation. Your road assist benefits are linked directly to the license and registration you provided us. This information is given to AA’s recovery team, our road assist partners. When you call in for assistance you will be asked to verify that the car you driving is indeed the one you registered with us. Only then will a recovery team be dispatched to assist you.