Dewald Ranft Archives - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Water Puddles: A Hazard To Your Car

vuyi on January 21, 2022

By H&H Admin

With the current weather pattern of frequent rain, keeping your vehicle safe from water damage has become a very important consideration for motorists.

With the current weather pattern of frequent rain, heavy down pours and flooding around large parts of the country, keeping your vehicle safe from water damage has become a very important consideration for motorists.

The problem is exacerbated by sizeable puddles of water forming over the roads due to ineffective storm water drains not draining effectively and insufficient road maintenance.

“Not only does this present a road safety hazard, but the water can be equally hazardous to your car,” says Dewald Ranft, Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).

Ranft says possible damage from water can impact a number of different components in one’s car ranging from your engine control unit (ECU) to gearbox control unit. Water can enter the electronic components and cause the engine to stall. This presents a danger to the driver if he/she is left stranded on the road.

Excess water can also impact a car’s air cleaner intake which is usually fitted low on a car. “This presents a great risk as taking in excess water can damage the car engine. Water sucked into engine can cause hydro lock. This will destroy the inner working of the vehicle engine at great cost to the driver.”

One also has to watch out for seemingly insignificant if parking a car outside. “It is important to drain under the windscreen wipers as they can become blocked due to leaves and twigs. If left unattended, the debris could lead to damage to the engine ECU as water can enter the ECU (engine control unit) and/or the gearbox control unit. As a result the car can stall leading to expensive repairs. “It can be easily avoided with regular maintenance like cleaning cowl panels and water draining systems,” says Ranft.

In order to prevent damage motorists should follow the following guidelines:

Never drive too fast into a pool of water if you are not sure of the depth of the puddle. This can lead to the vehicle being damage or even being totally flooded with water. Dangerous aquaplaning is also a risk and can cause the driver to lose control.
Avoid fast-flowing low water bridges. Fast flowing water over low water bridges as little as 6 inch can sweep a vehicle downstream.
Be alert for hidden potholes covered by water which can cause damage to the vehicle rims, tyres and alignment.
Always drive with your headlights on when it is raining to make your vehicle more clearly visible. In heavy rain or misty conditions it may even be necessary to switch hazard lights on to be more visible
Never speed in the rain. Drive slowly and maintain additional following distances.

Remember: It doesn’t take much water to cause a car to stall, particularly as is can be difficult to gauge how deep the water actually is.

Depending on the conditions, it could be difficult to tell how deep the water actually is and almost impossible to detect if there isn’t a pothole lurking under its surface. It is best to approach any amount of water with caution.

Source: MIWA / Retail Motor Industry

What to do when your tyre explodes at high speed

vuyi on December 20, 2021

Anyone who has ever experienced the shock of a burst tyre while travelling at a relatively high speed, will relate to this article particularly given our country’s unacceptably high road accident rate.

Pay attention when your car complains

vuyi on October 13, 2020

A proverb reading, “the squeaky wheel gets oiled,” can be applied to your car maintenance. Paying attention to obvious niggles that occur during daily trips can avoid disappointment and save money.

Dewald Ranft, National Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), points out the importance of timeous car maintenance. “Rather than leaving a small issue to develop into an inconvenient breakdown, always be alert for any tell-tale niggles. Attending to minor maintenance issues pro-actively, can avoid extensive collateral damage to other parts,” he says.

He advises motorists to stay alert for warning signs in some of the most common areas like brakes, tyre care, warning signals, windscreen damage, steering mechanism, oil consumption, radiator, starter motor and fuel economy.

Warning signs to take heed of:

Tyre care: Uneven wear can be an indication of alignment or suspension issues, especially if there is vibration on the steering wheel while cruising on an even surface. Have it checked out urgently to avoid more damage. A sensible practice would also be to rotate the tyres according to the manufacturer’s specifications every time the car has an oil change or regular service.

Brake pads: Although most modern cars have sensors to warn a driver when brake pads are due for replacement, one should take note of other warning signs. When brakes tend to squeak or develop a grinding sound, get this checked out by a professional mechanic as a matter of urgency. In addition to brakes being an essential safety feature for any vehicle, worn brake pads can cause expensive damage to the brake discs. “The more serious and costly result when ignored, would be brake failure at a critical moment,” says Ranft.

Warning signals: Different models have various alert systems, enabling a driver to act swiftly and attend to mechanical or electronic issues. Be knowledgeable about the signals and warning lights by studying the owner’s manual. Any uncertainty about warning signals should be taken up with a professional mechanic.

Steering mechanism: A shaking steering wheel while travelling at reasonable speed needs to be checked out. It might only take a simple adjustment of wheel balancing to fix the problem. Should there be noticeable movement on the steering wheel at very low speed or even when the car is idling, it could be suspension or wheel bearing issues.

Windscreen damage: Depending on the kind of windscreen make, a small crack can grow and cause a safety hazard. Ensure timely replacement of damaged windscreens. Most insurance packages make it quick and easy to resolve.

Leaky radiator: It is important to keep the radiator in tip top condition. Any signs of leakage could be attributed to corrosion. The best medicine would be to replace the unit and avoid any overheating, which could cause major and expensive engine damage.

Starter motor: Any signs of the starter mechanism playing up will need urgent attention. There could be a wide variety of causes that would need to be assessed by a professional. The root of the problem could be with the motor mechanism itself, a number of electrical issues or damage to the solenoid. Because it is all but impossible to predict when the starter motor would finally say its goodbyes, a professional assessment and resolution should be completed sooner than later.

Oil consumption: An oil light grabbing your attention is a no brainer to take action. But a more subtle symptom would be a gradual increase in oil consumption. This could also be accompanied by less perky performance by the vehicle. Get a reputable mechanic to check out the basics by replacing the oil and oil filters. It also pays in the long run to use high quality oil brands.

Ranft concludes that sustained maintenance will ensure that car owners can have peace of mind when taking to the road. Keeping a vehicle in good shape, particularly now, makes good economic sense and ensures safety for the owner and passengers.

Extract from article published by the RMI

Lost Means Cost – Replacing your lost car key

vuyi on August 26, 2020

Replacing a lost car key used to be simple – you’d take the spare to your local key cutter and for about R250 you could have a copy made. These days, however, it’s a different story.
– Article courtesy of retail motor industry organization

Replacing a lost car key used to be simple – you’d take the spare to your local key cutter and for about R250 you could have a copy made. These days, however, it’s a different story.

Not only does the modern car key start your car, it can also unlock the doors remotely and provides extra security thanks to transponder technology. All of this is great news until you lose or damage your keys – and discover you’re up for hefty replacement costs.

Many car owners have no idea how much their keys are worth until they lose one
– Dewald Ranft, National Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA)

“Many car owners have no idea how much their keys are worth until they lose one,” says Dewald Ranft, National Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organization (RMI). Most people are shocked when they discover a replacement key could cost thousands of Rands and, if you don’t have a spare, keep you grounded for a day or two.

Ranft says the cost of a single replacement key ranges from R2 000 to R4 500 and the price for keys for an exotic car can even be higher. A new key needs to be ordered, cut and coded which could mean up to a full day or more off the road. “A high price for losing something you have to carry with you on most days,” he says.

While the cost of a single replacement key is high, if you lose all the keys to your car, the costs and time off the road will increase significantly, particularly if the car’s computer has to be reset or completely replaced to match the new replacement keys.

“One could easily be quoted anything from R10 000 to more than R20 000 for work done on various models of cars,” he says.

Many people are simply unaware there’s an alternative should you find yourself ‘keyless
– Dewald Ranft, National Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA)

Independent industry experts are of the opinion that increasingly complicated technology used in car accessories, including keys, may be a sales growth area for businesses selling vehicles, but it can be a high-tech headache for car owners.

Accredited independent aftermarket workshops, like MIWA accredited workshops, offer a legitimate alternative service to cut and recode modern car keys for most car models at a very competitive cost. “An added bonus,” says Ranft, “is that they can, in most cases, assist vehicle owners immediately, which means you avoid the hassle of down time or being without a vehicle for more than a day.”

Most MIWA accredited workshops have worked with modern car keys since their introduction to the South African market. They have the equipment and parts so there is no risk to the owner. “Many people are simply unaware there’s an alternative should you find yourself ‘keyless’,” he says.

Ranft says many MIWA shops carry genuine keys and also stock after-market keys which may look different to the original but work as well and cost less. Some workshops even carry diagnostic tools that can help reset the car’s computer if both keys are lost.

So the best advice from MIWA:

Don’t ever have just one key? If you’re buying a car, be sure to ask about the keys before you sign on the dotted line.
Smart but not strong – It’s a fact – keys wear out developing faults or even breaking. Sometimes a repair is an option and not a total replacement. The two most common problems are water damage and keys that have been dropped.
Remember you have options – Either speak to your current dealer to manage the replacement or if you prefer, and once you have checked your warranty won’t be affected if you select an alternate workshop, approach any of our accredited MIWA workshops across the country to replace the missing key.

The Importance of Timeous Vehicle Maintenance

vuyi on July 17, 2020

A proverb reading, “the squeaky wheel gets oiled,” can be applied to your car maintenance.

Paying attention to obvious niggles that occur during daily trips can avoid disappointment and save money.

Warning signs to take heed of:

1. Brake Pads

Although most modern cars have sensors to warn a driver when brake pads are due for replacement, one should take note of other warning signs. When brakes tend to squeak or develop a grinding sound, get this checked out by a professional mechanic as a matter of urgency. In addition to brakes being an essential safety feature for any vehicle, worn brake pads can cause expensive damage to the brake discs. “The more serious and costly result when ignored, would be brake failure at a critical moment,” says Ranft.

2. Tyre Care

Uneven wear can be an indication of alignment or suspension issues, especially if there is vibration on the steering wheel while cruising on an even surface. Have it checked out urgently to avoid more damage. A sensible practice would also be to rotate the tyres according to the manufacturer’s specifications every time the car has an oil change or regular service.

Attending to minor maintenance issues pro-actively, can avoid extensive collateral damage to other parts
– Dewald Ranft, National Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA

3. Warning signals

Different models have various alert systems, enabling a driver to act swiftly and attend to mechanical or electronic issues. Be knowledgeable about the signals and warning lights by studying the owner’s manual. Any uncertainty about warning signals should be taken up with a professional mechanic.

4. Windscreen damage

Depending on the kind of windscreen make, a small crack can grow and cause a safety hazard. Ensure timely replacement of damaged windscreens. Most insurance packages make it quick and easy to resolve.

5. Steering mechanism

A shaking steering wheel while travelling at reasonable speed needs to be checked out. It might only take a simple adjustment of wheel balancing to fix the problem. Should there be noticeable movement on the steering wheel at very low speed or even when the car is idling, it could be suspension or wheel bearing issues.

Stay alert for warning signs in some of the most common areas like brakes, tyre care, warning signals…

6. Oil consumption

An oil light grabbing your attention is a no brainer to take action. But a more subtle symptom would be a gradual increase in oil consumption. This could also be accompanied by less perky performance by the vehicle. Get a reputable mechanic to check out the basics by replacing the oil and oil filters. It also pays in the long run to use high quality oil brands.

7. Leaky radiator

Hot steam coming out of Radiator, Car engine over heat.

It is important to keep the radiator in tip top condition. Any signs of leakage could be attributed to corrosion. The best medicine would be to replace the unit and avoid any overheating, which could cause major and expensive engine damage.

8. Starter motor

Any signs of the starter mechanism playing up will need urgent attention. There could be a wide variety of causes that would need to be assessed by a professional. The root of the problem could be with the motor mechanism itself, a number of electrical issues or damage to the solenoid. Because it is all but impossible to predict when the starter motor would finally say its goodbyes, a professional assessment and resolution should be completed sooner than later.

9. Fuel economy

During lockdown some motorists boasted they were getting ‘two months per tank’. Ironically during the time when we were unable to travel, fuel prices also plummeted to record lows. And now that we can travel again, prices are rising. Therefore, we need to avoid unnecessary high fuel consumption. Apart from sensible driving habits that can reduce excessive consumption, a few other measures can be applied:

• check tyre pressure regularly to be in line with the carload and road conditions;

• keep to regular prescribed service intervals;

• ensure that the fuel cap locks tightly;

• avoid unnecessary idling;

• when driving, use the highest possible gear, without labouring the engine;

• fill up with the manufacturer’s prescribed fuel and oil type; and

• reduce drag and excessive weight;