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Buying a Car for Your Australian Adventure

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Chris Notte

Are you planning to travel to Australia and considering buying a car for your journey? Understanding the process of buying and selling a car in Australia, especially in Western Australia, is crucial for a smooth experience. Here’s what you need to know, including some handy tips to help you along the way.

Choosing the Right Car

The type of car you should get depends on your needs. For off-road adventures, popular 4×4 models include the Toyota Prado, Hilux, Mitsubishi Pajero, and Triton. If you’re looking for a standard car, consider models from Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Honda, and Mitsubishi. However, not all models and years are recommended, so be sure to do your research before making a purchase.

Buying a Car in Western Australia

When buying a car in Western Australia, there is no legal requirement to have it inspected beforehand. However, we strongly recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection. This can potentially save you thousands of dollars in the long run by identifying any issues that could become costly repairs later on. At Autoplus WA in Midvale, we offer comprehensive pre-purchase inspections. If you’re traveling around Western Australia, consider workshops from the AASDN Network or RAC WA, which offers mobile inspections.

Pre-Purchase Inspections

In other Australian states, cars require an annual inspection to ensure they are roadworthy. These inspections vary in thoroughness, so a pre-purchase inspection is still advisable. It checks additional items that might not be covered by the government’s roadworthy procedure.

Department of Transport Inspections

It’s important to understand the difference between a Department of Transport inspection (often referred to as a Pink Slip or Roadworthy) and a pre-purchase inspection. Government inspections have minimum requirements, such as brake tests, which can vary between states. For example, Western Australia requires a road test for brakes, while other states might use a machine. Additionally, a Department of Transport inspection typically does not include checking fluid levels or conditions and is mostly visual. Therefore, even if you’re getting a government inspection, we recommend a pre-purchase inspection for a more comprehensive check.

Selling a Car in Western Australia

If you end your travels in Perth, Western Australia, and plan to sell your car, you’ll need to register the vehicle in the state, which requires a Department of Transport inspection. Be aware that the standards for roadworthiness can differ between states. An item deemed acceptable in New South Wales, for example, might not pass in Western Australia. This can lead to unexpected repair costs before you can sell the car.

Final Thoughts

When buying a car, always opt for a pre-purchase inspection. Familiarize yourself with the rules for buying and selling cars in the states you’ll be traveling through to avoid unforeseen expenses. Remember that Department of Transport inspections vary between states and territories and might not cover everything checked in a pre-purchase inspection. If you have any questions about inspections in Western Australia or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us at Autoplus WA. Enjoy your journey in this beautiful and vast country of ours, and remember to keep left on the roads!

For more information or to schedule an inspection, visit our website or contact us directly. We’re here to ensure your vehicle is safe and ready for your Australian adventure.

Navigating Car Services: The Road to Vehicle Wellness

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Chris Notte

You have moved suburbs, and life has been so busy that you jump in your car, ready to head out on the school drop followed by the busy commute to work. As you lift your sun visor up, which was down from the trip home last night, you glance at your service sticker, only to be reminded that you are way overdue for a service.

“Okay,” you say, “no problem.” You remember seeing an ad in the local paper advertising a service special and decide you will book it when you get home. During the day, you see an ad come up on Google for a service, and it’s $100 more. You think two things: Is Google reading my mind? And why is their service $100 more? That leads us to what we are going to talk about today: Are all car services the same?

If you don’t want to read the rest of this blog, I will tell you now: the answer is no. If you want to know why they are different, then you’re in the right place.

So, what is a service anyway? Generally, a service on a car refers to the routine maintenance that’s either due by the manufacturer’s specifications or when your mechanic has advised. It is set by kilometers or time, whichever comes first.

Why do I have to get my car serviced in 6 or 12 months if I have not even done the kilometers yet? Well, not driving can be worse than driving a lot. Have you ever wondered why you see some taxis with 500,000 km and they still have the same engine? It’s because they are kept at running temperature more often than not and have fewer cold starts, which is where most engine wear occurs. When a vehicle is not driven a lot, moisture builds up in the engine and forms in the oil. This, along with the natural degradation of oil, is one of the reasons you should service your vehicle regardless of the kilometers you have done.

Back to the service: how do I know which one to book? You may see the words major service, lube service, logbook service, minor service, and notice depending on where you look, they may have different names and prices. So what’s the difference? There can be many differences between your inclusions for a service.

One thing they all have in common is your motor oil and oil filter, along with the sump plug washer, should be changed. Now here’s where you need to start doing your research. Just on these first three items, the things to check are what brand fluids and parts are being used, are they being disposed of in an environmentally safe way, and what experience does the team have who is doing it? You want to be sure that well-known brands are being used that will meet or exceed the manufacturer’s specifications for the motor oil and oil filter, and you want to know that trained technicians are performing the work.

Let’s have a quick look at what a logbook service might mean. Generally, if a customer is asking for a logbook service, then the logbook should be followed in relation to the time or kilometers the car is at. A logbook should not or cannot be stamped unless all the items on that list have been replaced or inspected. A side note: some manufacturers, in an attempt to take away the consumer’s choice to service their vehicle where they like, have added things to the checklist that sound like only the dealer can do them. If there is a recall or update, you are entitled to this regardless of where you service your car, as long as they are following manufacturer specifications. Servicing your vehicle at a licensed independent workshop will not void your warranty.

So what about a lube service? Again, you have to look at the inclusions and see if it’s what you need or want. Some lube services include replacing the motor oil and oil filter only, while others offer a comprehensive inspection and air filter clean as well, for instance. The same can go for a major service.

Let’s take a look at some things that could be included or not included under all the service names we have talked about:

• Comprehensive inspection with pictures or video
• Roadside Assistance
• Rolling break stop on a Safe T Stop machine
• Alignment run-out check
• Air filter inspection and clean
• Spark plug check
• All fluids checked and topped up
• Basic engine scan and report (not diagnostics)
• Engine flushes or additives
• Engine bay clean and wipe down
• Wiper blades (Standard)
• Tyre tread depth checks and tyre pressures
• Charge system testing including battery report
• Cooling system test
• Suspension Testing
• Lifetime workmanship warranty
• Windscreen washer additive
• Local pick-up and drop-off
• Loan Cars

Looking at the above list, we start to see why there might be a difference in price from one repair shop to another depending on what their ‘Service’ includes. On that note, it’s a good reminder that the inclusions are only one part of the service; the experience you receive and the trust you have with your chosen repairer can often be worth more than the price difference between the services.

Now that we have had a look at what might be included in a service, we hope this helps you to dive deeper into what you are getting with your vehicle service. Now let’s look at what typically is not included in a service.

Often, we see consumers bring vehicles into workshops under the impression that a service might rectify the noise they have been having or take that pesky engine light that’s been coming on off the dash. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. A noise can sometimes be discovered in a service if it’s found in the inspection; in other cases, it can be a job on its own using specialized equipment to locate the noise or need parts removed to inspect further.

An engine light is not like a service light that is set during the service and requires a completely different set of steps that are generally sold under diagnostics. If you have an engine light on, let your Service adviser know so they can give you a guide of what the initial costs for stage 1 inspection will be. This will generally be able to give you an idea of the next steps required or even an estimate on work required to hopefully remove the light.

So, what service is for you? For the long-term resale value of your car and peace of mind, following the logbook and your trusted mechanic is a great place to start, keeping in mind you don’t need to do this with the dealer or where you purchased the car from unless your aftermarket warranty says differently.

After that, it’s all about education; compare what inclusions are important to you and will make you feel safe to travel where you need to when you want to. For example, if you want the logbook followed, a lube service might not be what you want. You can also just call and ask; your local mechanic will be more than happy to take you through what their service includes and see how it can work best for you. From here, you can make an educated decision. Happy motoring!

Automotive Air-Con Service & Re-Gas in Perth

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Chris Notte

Automotive Air-Con servicing –
We look at how often you should do it, why you should do it, what does it involve and why does it sometimes smell!

So when and why should you Service & Re-Gas your Air-Con System?
Air-Cons like a lot of things in life, we generally don’t put to much focus on until they no longer work. Like a battery that fails when you’re far away, it’s raining and your phone has died, Air-Con always tends to stop when it’s hot!
To reduce the chance of premature failure or the need to service your Air-Con system there is one thing you can do that costs nothing. What is it? Turn it on! that’s it, turn it on in all seasons not just when it’s hot and especially in winter. The system is not only filled with gas but an oil too. Oils that not only helps keep the compressor and other moving parts lubricated but help keep the seals and the lines that stop the gas from getting out lubricated and preventing them from drying out and causing leaks, which means you get hot air! Outside of turning it on all year round your Air-Con would be better off with a service every 12 months, however, depending on how old your car is just a performance check may be all that’s required. A performance check could include a visual leak check, pressure check, and temperature check.
Over time however the system will lose gas, so you won’t always notice the change the same as when a Battery dies and you know it’s stopped right away. Slowly each year the system gets less and less efficient, to the point it’s barely working anymore. Prior to this is when it’s best to get it serviced and re-gassed as the system may be running low on gas or oil which will not do any favors for the longevity of the system.

What is included in an Air Conditioning Service & Re-Gas?
Generally, your service provider will regas and service your system by doing the following. Remove any remaining gas from the system and safely dispose of or recycle. Fill the system with new approved gas, oil and a die that with a UV light will help find the smallest of leaks. The system will then be leak checked with a machine and visually using the UV light, whilst checking the pressures and seeing what temp the system gets down to. The last result will depend on the ambient conditions of the day.
Other checks and tests may include inspecting and replacing the cabin filter that filters the air entering the cabin. If blocked this can restrict air flow through the vents and reduce performance. In some cases replacing the receiver dryer which helps filter the system and remove moisture from it may also need to be replaced, however, may incur an extra charge as would the cabin filter.

My Air-Con system has a musty smell?
If your Air-Con system is cold but it has a smell this does not necessarily mean it has a leak. It may have bacteria build up on the evaporator which is located behind your dash. This is caused by the changing temps that allow moisture to build up on the evaporator that leads to a build-up of bacteria. So when you turn your Air-Con on and you get that musty smell, you may need an antibacterial service. This generally involves running a non-intrusive chemical through a machine placed in your vehicle that kills the bacteria leaving your car with a new car smell rather than a musty one.

So if your starting to notice your Air-Con is just not as cold as it used to be, get it serviced before it’s 40c’, If it stinks get an antibacterial service. if it’s working fine, awesome, don’t forget to turn it on and give it a run, even in winter and your system will be ready to keep you and your precious cargo cool when you need it most!

 

Chris Notte

 

Check out AutoplusWA’s New Website!

Posted on November 9, 2018 by ourauto

You can use this website to check for the various services we offer, make bookings for your vehicle, and keep up to date regarding our regularly updated special offers for valued customers!