SAC Service Centres

Branches Situated Countrywide

Servicing goes very much hand in hand with preventative maintenance. Far more serious and expensive issues like cambelt failure, oil leaks, brake failure, knocking noises from the CV joints, a diff that whines etc., are fast becoming the order of the day. Why is this the case? Well, it is simple; there is a lack of or no preventative maintenance, and most often it is the latter, no maintenance at all.

Take for example Sump Services; they are no longer being done in workshops or garages. Many mechanics are too lazy to remove the sump, clean the oil pickup and the inside of the sump, and replace it. Many owners also do not want to pay for the gaskets and this service. We do not have to tell you how many engine failures are a direct result of this simple process not being done. You should really ask yourself which one makes more sense: a relatively inexpensive sump service or an engine rebuild or replacement for around R 50 000?

We think you know which one makes more sense to you.

More often than not, fixing a vehicle is a complicated matter, even for highly skilled technicians at SAC who know the job and do it every day. One needs to be very careful these days when it comes to having work done on your motor vehicle. Can you really imagine a DIY or backyard mechanic working on a complex computer controlled engine without the adequate machinery? They may surely be able to assist you with much older models, those of the 80’s and earlier, but do not let them fool you by convincing you that they can fix today’s modern and far more complicated vehicles.

Failures do not just happen, there will always be an explainable reason for a failure of any nature, and most times, it is a result of inadequate service intervals and/or a shortage of water, oil, antifreeze or something similar. The hot topic nowadays is turbo failure and more so the unnecessary turbo replacement on turbo diesels. If a turbo had its frequent inexpensive service, care and maintenance, then it would not have been necessary to dock out thousands of Rands for a replacement.

Preventative maintenance is not only linked to your engine, it is relevant to your entire vehicle. How often do you see relatively new vehicles with a windscreen scratched by worn or broken wiper blades, is that necessary? A windscreen replacement may not only destroy your ‘no claim bonus’ on your insurance, but it could also cost you a lot of hard-earned money from your pocket if you don’t have short term insurance. It is the same when you run your tyres with the correct pressure all the time; you could easily see them lasting up to 70 000 km, yet while having them too soft or too hard could shorten their lifespan down to say 40 000 km. That means you are buying new rubber twice as often as you should, and you know that tyres are far from cheap these days.

What about your vehicle’s exhaust? A broken exhaust is not only noisy; it can cost you extra in fuel and even go so far as to burn the valves in the cylinder head as a result of your engine running too lean. This may result in an expensive repair bill that could have been avoided. SAC offer a full range of exhaust repair and replacement options that include the fitment of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts right up to the best in hand-made stainless steel performance exhaust systems on the market today. The bottom line is that repair bills can drastically be reduced by very basic maintenance and regular service intervals and we at SAC offer you a full range of service and preventative maintenance options to suit any budget.

There is an old saying: “Penny wise Pound foolish” – Don’t be caught!