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What You Auto Know About Car Headlights

vuyi on March 8, 2022

By Vuyi Mpofu

A car with only one functioning headlight is an annoyance to all road users and diminishes the proper visibility of its driver.

Being visible to other road users requires that both your headlights –  driver’s and passenger’s side – are in good working order.  Headlights are a basic safety feature and increase your ability to see where you are going and what is around you.

A couple of generations ago, car headlights worked similar to household lights and needed to be changed whenever the bulb burnt out.  But, through the evolution of technology, the science behind headlights has progressed from the use of filament bulbs to something much more effective in the form of the following types of bulbs:

  1. Halogen
  2. High-Intensity Discharge (HID)
  3. Light Emitting Diode (LEDs)

How do these bulbs differ from one another?

Halogen

Halogen bulbs are the most commonly used bulbs in the vehicle industry.  They are filled with halogen gas, hence the name. 

Halogen bulbs are easy and cost-effective for manufacturers and car buyers to use and replace.  They operate by tungsten filament which creates heat and light when a current flows through it.  The halogen gas within the halogen bulbs prevent the bulb from turning black.  For this reason, when the globe fails, sometimes there is a black mark on the side of the glass.   

The shortcoming with halogen bulbs is that they are not as bright as other options and need a lot of energy to power up which puts a lot of pressure on the vehicle’s electrical system. 

Image credit: Ford Motor Company

High-Intensity Discharge (HID)

HID headlight bulbs are much brighter than halogen lights and increase visibility substantially.  The bulbs are filled with xenon gas which is ignited via an electric arc between two electrons inside the bulb.

High-intensity discharge bulbs first made an appearance in luxury sedans and high-priced sports cars but have steadily become more common in vehicles ranging from SUVs and bakkies to premium passenger cars.

The downside of high-intensity discharge bulbs is that they are costly to replace and can cause injury if not handled correctly.

Image credit: AutoEvolution

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

LED bulbs are the latest innovation in headlight technology.  The LED headlight bulbs consist of numerous small ‘bulbs’, which light up when the voltage passes through them. 

LED headlights are long-lasting and use considerably less energy than HIDs and halogen bulbs, while providing a substantial among of light.

The simple truth is that you need both of your car’s headlights working at 100% to be safe on the road.  If not, you become invisible to other road users, thereby putting all road users – yourself included – at risk.

Park in front of your garage door with the headlights on and flick between the switch between dim and bright to ensure that the lights work well in either mode.  Should you suspect that your headlights aren’t working the way they should, have them looked over by a qualified technician as soon as possible. 

New On The Tarmac: We Drive The Renault Kiger Intens

vuyi on March 7, 2022

By Vuyi Mpofu

If I were a first time car buyer, looking for a spacious, high riding compact SUV with stylish looks, I’d go for the Renault Kiger Intens.

Vuyi Mpofu, Editor Heels & Horsepower Magagzine

It is my belief that Renault South Africa has been very instrumental in changing the perspective South African motorists have of French made vehicles. 

Products such as the ever-popular Duster, Kwid and Triber seem to tick all the boxes required by thousands of South Africans, as these vehicles offer both space and functionality at prices which don’t break the bank. 

With the introduction of the Renault Kiger, (and now that I have driven it), I can safely say that the French manufacturer’s compact SUV will undoubtedly follow in the successful tyre tracks of the aforementioned cars.

The Renault Kiger made its debut in South Africa towards the end of 2021, and I recently got my heels on the pedal of the brand’s flagship Kiger Intens 1.0L Turbo CVT. 

Normally I wouldn’t mention pricing at such an early stage of a review, (as that would be akin to asking for tomato sauce at a fine dining restaurant), but I have to start off by sharing that, at less than R300 000 for the top of the range model, the Intens 1.0L Turbo CVT made a positive impression on me as a vehicle which offers quite a lot of value, particularly for a first time buyer or anyone looking to scale-down.

Exterior Styling

The exterior of the Kiger is eye-catching with design cues that allude to real SUV qualities.  It’s front grille has a 3D graphic finish with honeycomb shaped chrome effects, and it boasts Renault’s moniker LED daytime running lights and striking tri-octa LED Pure Vision headlamps.  All these work in harmony to give the Kiger an air of sophistication not usually found in its segment.

The tail light units have glossy black inserts which accentuate the Kiger’s rear double C-shaped lighting signature.  These blend rather well with the Kiger’s sporty rear bumper.

Overall, the Renault Kiger’s look lend it muscular tones and hints of sportiness one would normally find in bigger SUVs.  It’s topped off with  silver roof rails, and balanced out with aluminium finish skid plates, all of which add gravitas to the pocket-sized SUV.

Interior, Styling & Tech

The Kiger Intens 1.0L Turbo CVT is reasonably well laid out on the inside, offering a multitude of styling features and tech to suit even the most seasoned palates. Among these are a digitised instrument cluster panel, 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The Kiger Intens 1.0L Turbo CVT also boasts an auditorium 3D sound system by Arkamys, with eight onboard speakers (four 6,5” speakers, four tweeters).  What I liked most about this system, is that it automatically adjusts the volume according to the speed of the vehicle.  Needless to say this helped me keep my speed down whenever I pressed the gas pedal a little harder than I should! 

The Kiger Intens 1.0L Turbo also comes with a reverse camera, handsfree smart access, ambient lighting, cruise control, keyless entry/start and multifunction steering wheel.

What I Didn’t Like

There is a lot of talk about quality of the interior of the Kiger and I must confess that when I first stepped into it, I felt let down by Renault’s choice of materials and final interior finishing. 

For starters, I am not a fan of hard plastic cladding on the interior of any car and didn’t expect to find it in the Kiger.  In my view that sort of material is best at home in a hardworking bakkie and not a run-around compact SUV. 

Another disappointment was the difficulty in opening the doors from the inside.   I found myself tussling with the latch more often than not, then resorting to unlocking the doors using the central locking function just under the central air vents. Of course this unlocked all the doors at once even though I only wanted to open just one door.

I also found the fronts seats a tad narrow which may be a problem for ample sized South African men and women.  This problem is further compounded by the challenge of clicking the seatbelt into its latch, because the bulky centre console protrudes quite a bit into the space were you would ordinarily, and comfortably, slide your hand to lock secure the seatbelt lock.   One will have to get creative and do all manner of hi movements just to click in the seatbelt!

But enough about what I didn’t fully appreciate.  The Kiger does have a lot of good qualities and ticks quite a lot of boxes. Here are two of the most noteworthy interior highlights.

What I Liked

Generous leg and headroom.  At just under 4 metres, one would think the seating in the Kiger would be a bit of a squeeze.  I found the space within the Kiger pleasantly roomy and I don’t say that simply because I am vertically under par myself.  Rear leg room is more than adequate and offers more space than your average economy airline seat.

Lots of storage compartments. There is no shortage of places to squirrel things away in this little SUV.  It has four 1-litre water bottle holders, 2 cupholders in the front doors, a storage space in the central armrest as well as an upper and lower glovebox. 

In total, according to Renault, there is a total of 29-litres of storage capacity inside the Kiger which is all very impressive but whoever thought it was a good idea NOT to include 2 central cupholders needs to be sent to the naughty corner with immediate effect’.

The Drive

Driving the Kiger Intens was more pleasurable than I could have imagined.  Backing out of the driveway in my city home in Fourways, I pointed the Intens grille in the direction of the highway then towards the Gauteng provincial border, as I headed home to the farm. 

I remember wondering if the Kiger would cope better on city roads or along the gravel roads which lead to the homestead.

Engine & Performance

Thanks to its sprightly 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, it wasn’t long before I was in the thick of Johannesburg traffic.  With 74kW on tap the Intens kept up effortlessly. 

I was struck by how little noise emanated from it CVT gearbox which is a huge plus in my book (anyone who knows anything about me will attest that I abhor traditional CVTs because they shriek and squeal like a 2 year old having quite the tantrum).

Driving Modes

The Kiger has three different driving modes for three different driving experiences –  Normal, Eco and Sport mode.

Normal mode offers a well, normal driving experience and I used this mode for the duration of my 7 day test period.  Suited for city driving conditions, normal mode provides useful information such as real-time and average fuel consumption. In normal mode, the Kiger provides an adequately responsive performance and in all honesty, this is the mode I believe the Kiger should be driven in the most.

Next, I flicked the switch to Eco mode.  I’m not a driving Miss Daisy type of motorist so Eco is not a mode I particularly enjoy. As the name suggests, Eco provides a drive which is inclined towards economic driving practices, making for a leisurely drive.

On the opposite end of the spectrum Sport mode provides an energetic drive thanks to the sharpened throttle response.  Sport mode doesn’t bode well with fuel efficiency and I soon had to take my pedicured foot off the gas.

Arriving at the farm I turned off the tarmac and ventured onto the gravel.  The Kiger didn’t miss a beat and continued to eat up the road ahead of it with ease. 

I was struck by the fact that comfort levels didn’t change when driving on dirt and simultaneously discovered how nimble the Intens is as I dodged goats and ducks which are yet to become accustomed to vehicles moving faster than the farm’s all familiar tractor.

Giving The Local Vicar A Ride

Later in the week, when traversing between the farm and the nearby village, I was met with admiring glances from the locals.  The male folk was in agreement that the Kiger is best suited for their wives and when I announced its pricing they were doubly sold. 

As the group prepared to disperse, one of the elder men in the group suggested that I give the village priest a ride to his church; I managed a weak grin in agreement as the elder in question glared at me meaningfully.

Excited, the priest hopped over to the driver’s side and yanked at the door much to the amusement of the watchful group as they loudly reminded him that this wasn’t a taxi and that the door didn’t need to be pulled off its hinges.

My nerves got the better of me as I started off, (probably due to a sense of guilt; I haven’t been to confession in ages) and unwittingly drove over potholes I would ordinarily have managed to avoid. 

The Kiger Interns took these in stride while the Man-of-God punctuated each mishap with an evangelical Halleluiah. 

I later learned that was his way of showing appreciation for the Kiger’s sturdiness and not a disguised reprimand in response to my driving skills.

As I dropped him off at the gate of the church building he turned and said a short prayer for my continued safety, adding if the man upstairs granted me favour in winning the national lottery, I would find it in my heart to purchase and donate such a vehicle to the church.

I said amen.

Safety

The Renault Kiger Intens 1.0L Turbo CVY is equipped with numerous safety features in line with 3-star global NCAP requirements, namely:

  • A reinforced body structure
  • ABS+EBD
  • ESP
  • ISOFIX (for child seat safety)
  • 4 Airbags (front + passenger + front side airbags)
  • Seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Impact sensing door lock
  • Pedestrian protection

It also has remote central locking, child locks, and ISOFIX fittings to mention a few.

The Verdict

I enjoyed driving the Intens and honestly feel that it is a good buy.  Its competitors for those looking to stand out from their peers who may be driving the Kiger’s competitors such as the  Toyota Urban Cruiser, Suzuki Breeza and Kia Sonet).  In truth, the Kiger is one handsome little fellow.  It looks the business and is quite capable getting the job of taking you from point A to point B safely.

Being a compact SUV, the Kiger is at home both in city traffic as well as on the dusty farmlands where I live.   I wouldn’t mind having it my run around car – something I have never said of any vehicle of this category.

Range and Pricing:

The Renault Kiger range is available in 3 trims – Life, Zen and Intens.  I had the range topping Interns Turbo CVT.

  • KIGER Life 1.0L R204 900
  • KIGER Zen 1.0L R219 400
  • KIGER Zen 1.0L AMT R229 900
  • KIGER Zen 1.0L Turbo R259 900
  • KIGER Intens 1.0L Turbo R279 900
  • KIGER Intens 1.0L Turbo CVT R299 900

As with all Renault products, the Kiger comes standard with a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty.  Service intervals are at 15 000km.

4 Car Parts You Must Get Checked After Hitting A Pothole

vuyi on March 1, 2022

By Vuyi Mpofu

Our roads might look sturdy and capable but in reality, they are much softer than you think. 

Potholes are a motorist’s worst nightmare and a nuisance on our roads.  They form on almost all the roads in our country and cause considerable damage to our vehicles.  

Whether you are avoiding one or driving straight through it, potholes make you cringe and leave you worried about the cost of repairing various components of your car.

Before talking about which parts you should have checked after hitting a pothole, let’s start by looking at what causes potholes in the first place.

How Potholes Form

Potholes develop when water on the road seeps under the pavement through cracks in the road. When the temperature drops below 32°, the water freezes and expands, forcing the pavement to rise.

As the day heats up and the temperature rises, the compromised section of the road contracts and breaks as vehicles drive over the pavement. The result is a pothole in the road.

In cold climates, the freeze-thaw cycles during winter and spring are a key contributing factor to the formation of potholes. The more freeze-thaw cycles a pothole goes through, the larger the pothole can become.

When it’s warmer, heat is the culprit. Heat causes splits in the road that serves as an entry point for water. The pothole forms as traffic goes over the gap in the pavement causing the top layer of the road to crumble.

Car Parts Which Get Damaged By Potholes

  1. Tyres and Rims
  2. Tie Rod Ends
  3. Control Arm
  4. Shocks and Struts

What Are These Parts and What Do They Do?

Image Credit: WheelerShip
1. Tyres and Rims

Mowing straight into a pothole impacts your tyre first.  If the tyre is underinflated, the sidewall is most likely to pinch and the tyre will immediately lose air and go flat in seconds.

On the other hand, the impact created by hitting a pothole can separate the liner from the tyre body, causing a bubble to develop on the sidewall which could eventually result in a blow-out.

Hitting the pothole with extreme force could cause the rim to chip, crack or bend.  A bent wheel won’t roll smoothly and will most likely make a lot of noise asides from creating an uncomfortable riding experience; and besides, the tyre could deflate almost immediately there is a problem with the rim.  Sometimes a bent rim can be repaired but those with cracks and chips will have to be replaced as they will eventually collapse.

Image credit: TestingAutos.com
2. Tie Rod Ends

Tie rod ends are small, swivelling ball joints that connect your power steering gear to the wheel.  Prone to damage and wear, tie end rods can bend and in extreme cases, come apart altogether, leaving you in need of a tow.

TestingAutos.com
3. Control Arm

Your car’s suspension system is designed to absorb impact while providing a smooth ride.  When driving under normal circumstances, various components of the suspension system rebound to soak up the effects of shock along the road while your car’s control arms maintain the vertical position of your wheels.

In the event of a jarring hit against a pothole, the impact can cause a control arm to bend.  This will result in your steering being off-center and your alignment becoming misaligned.  Other damage could result in broken ball joints and damaged shocks and struts.

4. Shocks and Struts

Hitting rocks the entire suspension system and can cause premature wear and tear on shocks and struts, but spotting damage to shocks and struts can be tricky.

A flat tyre or bent rim are obvious signs of damage after slamming into a pothole and you’ll have a hard time driving with either of these problems afterward.

However, damage to your shocks and struts can be difficult to spot, so you need to be on the lookout for the followings signs.

  1. Excessive bouncing
  2. Loss of control
  3. Swaying and rolling when turning
  4. Excessive vibration
  5. Front end diving when braking
  6. Squatting when accelerating
  7. Sitting lower in front or rear
  8. Uneven tire wear

Fixing Pothole Damage

If you have hit one or more potholes and suspect you may have damaged more than just your tyre and rim, it would be best to take your car for a thorough inspection at an accredited tyre service provider. 

They will most likely check your vehicle’s alignment among other things and provide you with a report of what may need to be fixed or replaced.

Remember that the longer you put off getting your vehicle inspected the more damage you may cause by continuing to drive it.

Is It Safe To Drive On A Cracked Rim?

vuyi on February 16, 2022

By Vuyi Mpofu

Even though rims are generally sturdy, they aren’t immune to getting damaged and can result in blow-outs. 

There is a joke which says that if you drive in a straight line on any road in South Africa, chances are you are intoxicated; whereas if you drive haphazardly are you are most likely to be sober.  Why? Well, when you zig-zag across the road the assumption is that you are avoiding potholes.

Cracked rims are just as much of a threat to your safety and the overall performance of your car as any other component of your vehicle.  Sometimes, it is quite easy to spot a crack on the rim but at other times, the crack can be quite fine, making it difficult to spot. 

Either way, most motorists may be unaware that there is a problem, hence it is important to regularly check the integrity of your vehicle every other day and even more so before going on a long-distance drive.

Image credit: carcomplaints.com

Common causes of rim damage

It may not always be possible to avoid damaging a rim but to avoid costly repairs, here are a few things you might want to steer (pun intended) clear of.

  1. Hitting a pothole

Potholes are the bane of our lives.  They vary in width and depth and should always be approached cautiously particularly because they are a serious threat to the longevity of a car’s tyres and rims. 

A lethal combination of the speed of a car, coupled with the depth, width and sharpness of the edge of a pothole has been known to rip a tyre right off its rim; shredding it almost instantly on point of contact.

At other times, the damage is not as visible to the naked eye but can reveal itself over time. 

2. Driving on a flat or poorly inflated tyre

A properly inflated tyre can absorb impact from bumps and other anomalies on the road.  However, a tyre that has low pressure will not absorb any impact from any irregularities on the road’s surface.  Instead, the force of such impact will hit the rim directly thereby causing damage such as cracks or dings. 

3. Driving over a curb

On roads such as ours which are, in some instances, devoid of even the faintest remnants of paint, one can occasionally drive over an unmarked curb or similar hard shoulder.  This is more prevalent when driving on unfamiliar or poorly lit roads.   

How can I tell if my rim is damaged?

  1. A visual inspection of your tyres and rim is one way to check the health of your wheels. 
  2. Another is noticing a continuous vibration through the steering wheel or an unfamiliar sound emanating from the direction of the affected wheel. 
  3. Lastly, when you notice that your tyres can no longer retain pressure for long, forcing you to pump them more often than normal, chances are there is a problem with your wheels.

Is it safe to drive with a cracked rim?

My quick and short answer is no.

No matter how small or fine the crack might be, it would be best to have the rim replaced as soon as possible.  Cracks on your rim are a hazard and can jeopardize your safety and that of other motorists around you.

The smallest crack could either grow over time or widen exponentially at the slight of impacts.  In either scenario, where there is a crack on your rim there is a very real possibility that the air from our tyres could escape abruptly and without warning.  Should this happen, even the most skilled drivers would have a hard time controlling the vehicle.

If you suspect that you have a cracked or bent rim, it is best to have it attended to immediately.   Remember that your rim holds your car’s tyres and that the only contact you have with the road is about the size of the palm of your hand.  

Should there be an abnormality on your rim, then suffice it to say there will be an abnormality with your tyres, causing a ripple effect which could result in a tyre blow-out, serious injury, expensive damage to your vehicle and at worst – death.

It’s better to be safe – and out of pocket due to having replaced a rim – than injured or sorry.

Here’s What You ‘Auto’ Know About Spark Plugs

vuyi on November 17, 2021

By Vuyi Mpofu

Spark plugs (aka sparkies) aren’t just a term used to describe an annoyingly clever person.  Rather, they are tiny electric devices used in most internal combustion engines and are critical in the ignition process of your vehicle.  

Think of a spark plug as a diminutive bolt of lightning; minute but powerful, the spark of electricity that a spark plug produces, creates the ignition required to start up your car’s engine.  

Simply put, sparkies have the power to start your car and keep it powered up – or not – depending on the health of the plugs in your car.

Technically Speaking…

I know I come across as a motoring journalist whose sole purpose in life is to flit from one car launch to the next and to drive fancy cars in between, but allow me to show off some of my technical know-how with the following mechanical explanation:

A spark plug is fitted into your car engine’s cylinder head and is connected to the ignition coil.  The coil generates the high voltage necessary to create the spark from the plug.  When the spark occurs, the fuel ignites, allowing your engine to start and run.  However, if the plug is damaged then it stands to reason that it won’t produce the spark required to ignite the fuel and in turn, fire up the engine.

Image: Master Mechanic

That said, a damaged sparkie could have enough life left in it to get your engine started but may struggle to keep your vehicle powered up. This could result in a comically jerky ride due to misfiring during acceleration and at worst, a drastic reduction in fuel efficiency (which no one can afford!)

How Often Should Spark Plugs Be Replaced?

Fortunately, spark plugs don’t require replacement very often and can operate optimally for years – particularly if they are of premium quality.   Nevertheless, their durability not only depends on their make but also on the regular maintenance of your vehicle, hence you must have your car serviced regularly.

Image: Axle Addict
Signs That Your Car’s Sparkies Are Nearing Retirement Age

As with most car parts, spark plugs don’t last forever and after enduring several thousands of kilometres sparkies eventually go to sparkie heaven. The two main enemies of the mighty spark plug are:

  1. Deposit Build-Up:  Over time, the interaction between the spark plug and the air-fuel mixture causes residue which leads to pre-ignition of the fuel and an unpredictable delivery of energy to your engine.

2. Expanding Gap: When a sparkie ignites, the spark has to jump across a gap of space in order to provide the necessary amount of combustion.  As the spark plug ages and as a result of extreme temperatures and normal wear and tear, the gap widens.  Eventually, the gap becomes too wide, making it difficult for the spark to travel across and provide ignition. 

Symptoms Your Sparkies Need To Be Replaced

Similar to most things that age, sparkies give tell-tale signs that they require replacement.  

Here are our top 3 most common signs your engine is begging for new sparkies:

  1. Hard Start / Hard Ignition:  This results in your vehicle giving trouble when getting started.

2. Reduced performance: This results in a sluggish and fuel-guzzling drive

3. Rattling / knocking-like sounds: This is a result of the sparkies firing at the wrong time. 

Healthy spark plugs are critical to your everyday driving comfort but should you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms we suggest having your vehicle looked over by a qualified technician.