The Paint & Body Clinic Blackpool

🎄🎄MERRY CHRISTMAS!!🎄🎄

Cox Motor Groups Christmas Jumper day is in full swing!

Here are our Merry Christmas Paint & Body Clinic Elves (they are very hard workers just like Santa’s Elves), in their Christmas Jumpers.

We would like to say a massive thank you to all of our employees and customers who have already donated towards our collection for the North West Air Ambulance Charity

Enjoy your day everyone!

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The long reign of Queen Elizabeth II was marked by her strong sense of duty and her determination to dedicate her life to her throne and to her people. Our thoughts are with the royal family at this difficult time.

Queen Elizabeth II 21st April 1926 - 8th September 2022.

MOT PREPARATION AUTUMN 2021 CONTINUED

Tyres

Tyres must not only meet tread requirements but they (and the wheels) need to be in good order too, and free from damage.

As we suggested earlier, get new tyres professionally fitted.

Contact the Blackpool Honda Parts team on 01253 547 502 and speak to the team to order your tyres with fitting.

Summary

With these simple checks complete, your car stands a better chance at passing its MOT.

Remember that in addition to the common reasons for MOT failure, examiners will also be checking other things such as seatbelts and the bodywork condition

(see the full checklist @ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/966766/mot-inspection-checklist-vt29.pdf).

If anything is clearly awry with your car, it is sensible to get it addressed before sending your vehicle in for its MOT.

Contact us at The Paint & Body Clinic by DM or on 01253600998 if you need your bodywork looking at before your MOT is due!

Cheers all and have a great weekend.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

MOT Preparation Autumn 2021

Common MOT failure points

Lighting: This is the most common area for MOT failure. It’s usually due to blown bulbs, which is an easy fix on most cars and one we will address below. It’s important to know that registration plate lighting is also checked during an MOT.

Brakes: We’ll leave it to you to consider what a car would be like without brakes, but the concerning statistic, according to the RAC, is that 10% of MOT failures are due to braking issues. Any problems with your brakes should be rather apparent to you.

A symptom of worn brake pads, for example, is squeaking. Do your brakes judder when in use? Does your car pull to one side under braking? Does your handbrake hold the car even on a steep hill? Does the brake pedal feel more spongy than it did? If there are any problems with your brakes, you must get them addressed prior to an MOT, otherwise, you can wave goodbye to a pass.

Suspension: Problems with suspension can be less obvious than those with brakes. But you need to pay attention here too because many MOT failures are due to suspension issues. If you hear knocking noises when driving, or the car doesn’t ride like it used to, or the body doesn’t sit level, get your car checked prior to an MOT.

Tyres: The rules could not be clearer here. Tyres need a minimum of 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre. Get a ruler, a 20p coin, whatever you need and check those tyres. Need new tyres? We'd recommend getting them fitted professionally, contact our fantastic team over at Blackpool Honda parts on 01253 547502 to get you the best price with fitting

MOT Preparation Autumn 2021

Using Blackpool Honda parts!

Before we dive into the 'what', we wanted to first dive into the 'where' of basic car parts. That is, where is a good place to get them from?

Blackpool Honda parts are the place to go, our team of experienced and dedicated staff are on standby to take your call and get you the right price on parts for your vehicle.

You can call them on 012536 547502 and speak with Jackson, Matthew or Andy.

How to vacuum your car

It’s a chore for sure but properly vacuuming your car can give the interior a new lease of life. Here’s how to do it properly.

Cars can become real dumping grounds for all sorts of muck - whether it’s food crumbs, sand from that beach trip last year or just plain old dust and dirt.

The good news is that quite often you can get your car’s interior looking almost as good as new with the simple application of a vacuum cleaner. A quick vacuum will get your mats and upholstery free of debris. It’ll remove dust, helping those with allergies. And keeping your carpets free of damaging grit means they’ll last longer, too.

But cars are so full of nooks and crannies that it’s easy to miss a spot. Here’s how to vacuum yours really thoroughly.

Choosing the right vacuum

Trying to hoover out your car with a bulky upright is an exercise in frustration. For that reason, we’d recommend either a cylinder vacuum cleaner with a long hose or a cordless handheld unit.

Henry Bagged Cylinder Vacuum

The classic cylinder vacuum cleaner from Henry is an icon in its own right thanks to its clever nozzle and cutesy face. As tough as old boots and more capable than it needs to be, it's our favourite cylinder vacuum cleaner and good for cleaning cars, just remember the Car Kit.

https://amzn.to/3lbKXCZ

https://www.myhenry.co.uk/carkit

Gtech Multi MK2 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

If you're in the market for something handheld then the Gtech Multi MK2 is our top pick. We like how robust it feels and the fact it is decently powerful. It's also lightweight and offers a very good 20-minute runtime which makes it a really good choice for cleaning the car. It is on the pricier side, however.

https://amzn.to/3C0Kw5m

24Hours Deals NUMATIC HVR240-11 Henry Vacuum Cleaner, Bagged, 620 W - Red/Black 24Hours Deals NUMATIC HVR240-11 Henry Vacuum Cleaner, Bagged, 620 W - Red/Black

Vacuuming your car can be a right pain, but it can be made easier if you have the right attachments. The problem is, many vacuum cleaners only come with a basic set - especially cheaper units, which may only have a stubby little crevice tool and a small, ‘all-purpose’ nozzle.

Well, Numatic, manufacturers of the Henry range of vacuums, appears to have the answer. Its CarKit includes three attachments that combine to make cleaning the car easier, quicker, and more effective.

https://amzn.to/2YL5Mh9

What do you get in the Numatic CarKit?

The first item is perhaps the most useful - a 1.5m long extension for Henry’s hose, which already measures a generous 1.5m. With the extension in place, Henry can happily sit out on the driveway while you vacuum your entire car, without ever having to pull or tug at the hose to get more reach.

Also included is a long, flexible crevice tool for your nooks and crannies, and the Airobrush 140 - a suction-powered turbine tool with a rotating brush, which better agitates carpet and mats compared with a static nozzle. Finally, you get a connector piece, necessary for coupling up the two ‘female’ hose ends to one another.

The crevice tool and Airobrush work identically to the standard Henry toolset, so they can be positioned directly on the end of the hose with the help of an adaptor, or on the bent end handle or either of the two extension wands.

What vacuums can I use the Numatic Carkit with?

The CarKit works with any vacuum in Numatic’s range - from the basic Henry and Hetty through the brand’s range of wet/dry vacs and carpet washers, if fitted with a filter and bag.

It will also fit any vacuum that takes 32mm tools - that dimension refers to the diameter of the attachments. This is one of two standard sizes in the UK and many vacuums, particularly budget ones, will fit the CarKit.

How well does it work?

You may only get two tools and an extension hose but combined with Henry’s standard toolkit you really do have everything you need to give your car a thorough clean.

The Flexi Crevice Tool is an outstandingly useful nozzle. Not only is it very long, making it ideal for getting into deeper nooks and crannies, but its flexible neck (that extends the full length of the tool) means you can delve into even tighter spots, or curve around corners.

The flexible portion is made of a tough rubber that can withstand some serious punishment, too.

Meanwhile, the Airobrush 140 makes cleaning carpets and mats a breeze. As anybody who’s vacuumed a looped-pile car mat knows, they cling onto dust, grit, sand and dried-up mud like almost nothing else. The agitation provided by the Airobrush and its spinning brushes beats the dirt out of the mats and means you’ll need to make fewer passes and be done in less time and with less effort than you would with a conventional all-purpose nozzle.

The Airobrush is also the perfect thing for pet owners, as it’s great for sweeping up stubborn pet hair from a seat or a boot carpet. Longer hair may clog the brushes or the turbine, but the brush opens up very easily to facilitate cleaning.

Should you buy the Numatic CarKit?

There’s no denying at around £40, the CarKit is quite expensive for a few tools - especially when you look at the price of copycats on auction sites. But the tools here feel high-quality and like they’ll last far longer than cheap imitations - especially the hose, which is often poor-quality if purchased elsewhere.

If you’re passionate about keeping your car’s interior clean (or indeed your house - these tools are useful in the home too) then the Numatic Carkit is a worthy purchase, either for your Henry or another compatible vacuum.

https://www.myhenry.co.uk/carkit

CarKit Containing everything you need for the ultimate car clean, the CarKit will leave your car seats, floor and boot looking as good as new.

Now that the sun is shining, that feeling of looking your best may be on your mind, but what about the looks on your vehicle?

Here at The Paint & Body Clinic, we can detail your vehicle to look the best during these summer months. Bring your vehicle down to us for a no-obligation quote!

Looking to trade in your car? Probably the best time of the year is now just as spring has started.

There are a lot of things that can knock value off your car according to research from Leasing Options.

For example, you could lose up to £400 on the value of your car during a part exchange if you don’t fix any damage to alloy wheels.

It’s also worth getting rid of any scratches or scrapes on your car and fixing any paintwork, as this could wipe hundreds of pounds off your car’s value.

Also, you should look for dents in your vehicle’s bodywork as you could lose between £50-£100 for every panel that needs repairing.

The Paint & Body Clinic, Blackpool are here to help you save money on trading in your car, give us a message or call us directly to arrange a free estimate on 01253600998.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me please show you the before and after shots of Brother Howard's work. Take a look at let me know what you think.

Fancy this work being carried out for this Spring and into the Summer, then get in touch to arrange a free estimate.

Bring your vehicle in, we will take a look and offer you the price!

**FEEDBACK**

We all love to hear positive feedback, it represents the talents in our team.

Our customer sent in this email after returning her car to her last week.

Great work all

Tell me about your driving test, the one you passed on. How many attempts did it take? Do you recall any specific events?

My practical test was on the same day I had sold a house and it was the day to leave the house and hand the keys to the estate agent. I was being counted on that I would be an additional driver for moving the furniture and suchlike.

Oh and I was moving from one county to another, just to add to the day.

Did you know we offer free no-obligation estimates to repair your vehicle? Any make any model. We're here to get you back on the road as quickly as possible and offer great competitive prices. We can also work with your insurance company should you need to use them. Give us a message or call 01253600998

Our techie Mike asked if we can do a before and after photo shot for this van door repair he was about to tackle. I mean look at that damage!! HOLY SMOKES and then look at the final job.

I think he's absolutely the mutts nuts.

Went back today to another satisfied customer, and he was even impressed by the speed of our return delivery.

**CUSTOMER FEEDBACK**
After a repair to a customers vehicle, she decided to email in to us the following: Great team work by all.

How was your weekend? I got out with the kids yesterday at the park for about an hour and learned that my 4-year-old girl can trap a ball with her foot. I didn't even know she could kick a ball. 😂

What a way to make a living...

Fellow Facebook Fan Matthew's top tip for Tuesday

What's that?? spring around the corner?????

Do you think that's the end of winter? I think it's about 9 degrees at the moment and I am fed up of freezing

Alright, everyone, I'm just about out of the dog house, so I need to warm up, let's sit back, relax and enjoy some motor trivia, brrrr

Here's the link https://qz.app.do/motor-car-quiz

I really do love you,
You're my heart's desire.
When we're together,
You set my world on fire.

Oh crap! It's the national "Buy your flowers from your local petrol station day" alternatively known as Valentine's Day.

I forgot I forgot, I for.....I'm in the doghouse

The WiFi is weak in here, but let me know what YOU HAVE done right for your other half on this Romantic day????

Never leave your keys in the ignition

Have you ever got out of your car for a minute and left the engine running? Most people don't realise that their car insurance won't cover them if the car's stolen with the keys in the ignition.

Most drivers know that they should always take their keys out of the vehicle when they walk away from it, even for a very short time. And yet, we still see customers having their vehicles stolen when:

They've left the car running outside their home on a cold morning

They run into a shop for a matter of minutes

They jump out to quickly use a post box

On frosty mornings it's tempting to turn your engine on and put the window heaters on full blast to clear the ice.

Leaving your car unattended with the engine running is an opportunistic thief's dream.

The important thing to remember is not to make life easy for these criminals - make sure you never leave your vehicle with the keys in it at any time.

The Paint & Body Clinic Blackpool Send a message to learn more