Major & Minor Car Service

Dent and Mag Surgeon offers an extensive range of major and minor automotive services, catering to the essential maintenance and repair needs of your vehicle.

Major and
Monor Services

New Parts & Replacements For:

  • Spark plugs (non-platinum), points and
    condensers
  • In-line plastic fuel lter (Excluding
    high-pressure fuel lter)
  • Air lter
  • Oil lter
  • Engine oil

Performing the following checks
& tests:

  • 62-Point check
  • Electrical check and report
  • Testing of brakes
  • Battery check
  • V-belt check
OUR GUARANTEE

All work is guaranteed for a period of 6 months or
10 000km

At Dent and Mag Surgeon, we stand rmly behind the quality and durability of our services. We provide a solid guarantee for all our work, ensuring that it holds up for a period of 6 months or for the rst 10,000 kilometers of your journey, whichever milestone is reached rst.

Your trust in us is paramount, which is why we pledge to never commence any additional work without obtaining your explicit approval beforehand. This commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction is the cornerstone of our guarantee to you.

FUEL SYSTEM

AC
  • Engine’s air-fuel mixing system
  • Main system for fuel delivery in petrol engines for vehicles
  • Carburettors largely replaced by late 1980s
  • Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) standardized hardware across diesel and gasoline engines
  • EFI firmware allows the same hardware to adapt to various fuels
  • Pulls fuel from the vehicle’s tank
  • Equipped with check valves at inlet and outlet
  • Check valves ensure unidirectional fuel flow
  • Pressurises and routes fuel via filter to the fuel rail
  • Fuel rail linked directly to fuel injectors
  • Unused fuel recirculated back to tank via return line

DRIVETRAIN

  • Transfers power from engine/transmission to vehicle’s front or rear
  • Central differential distributes power to wheels
  • Uses short drive shafts for power transmission to wheels
  • Engine runs at 600 to 7000 rpm; wheels turn at 0 to 1800 rpm
  • Engine’s max torque at mid-range; high torque needed for initial movement
  • Gearbox transmission modifies engine power for wheel delivery
  • Clutch’s friction material wear leads to slipping
  • Wear happens when clutch plate and flywheel spin at different speeds
  • No wear when both are locked together, spinning at the same rate
  • Extreme wear results in clutch failing to transfer engine power to wheels; replacement necessary

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

AC
  • Air-conditioner operates on:
  1. Evaporation
  2. Condensation
  3. Compression
  4. Expansion
  • Vehicle’s AC system uses hard tubing and flexible hoses to circulate refrigerant.
  • Compressor, belt-driven by engine’s crankshaft pulley, pumps refrigerant vapor when AC is on
  • Refrigerant under high pressure goes to the condenser
  • Liquid refrigerant passes to the receiver-dryer
  • Receiver-dryer eliminates moisture to prevent refrigerant ice crystals and system blockages
  • Pressurised refrigerant sent to expansion valve
  • Expansion valve reduces pressure, allowing refrigerant to vaporize in the evaporator
  • Evaporator situated in passenger compartment, above footwell
  • Evaporator absorbs heat, cooling air as a fan circulates it inside the car

STEERING SYSTEM

Steering System: Power Steering

  • Provides mechanical assistance for steering a car.
  • Operates primarily through hydraulic pressure.
  • Hydraulic pressure is generated by a rotor or rotary vane pump powered by the vehicle’s engine.

Power Steering Flush

  • Over time, steering fluid accumulates dirt and debris.
  • Contaminated fluid can cause issues with the vehicle’s steering system.
  • The solution involves flushing out the old fluid and replacing it with new fluid.
  • Comprises shock absorbers, springs, and linkages connecting a vehicle to its wheels.
  • Enhances safe handling and braking.
  • Provides a comfortable ride, isolating occupants from road noise and vibration.
  • Maintains wheel contact with the road for optimal traction and safety.
  • Enable easy rotation of a vehicle’s wheels.
  • Support the vehicle’s weight.
  • Must be maintained in good condition, free of leaks to retain lubricant and exclude contaminants.

Challenges in Motor Vehicle Power Transmission System Design

  • Engine power is not transmitted directly to the wheels in a linear path.
  • The drive shaft must transmit power at an angle to reach the wheels.

Solution: CV Joints

  • Facilitate power transmission at a constant rotational speed through an angle.
  • Achieve this without significantly increasing friction.

BRAKE SYSTEM

Brake System
  • Essential component of the brake system that halts the car.
  • Typically made from solid cast iron; may be ventilated based on the vehicle’s weight and power.
  • Stopping action initiated by brake pads pressing against the brake discs, creating friction.
  • Endure extreme temperatures and conditions.
  • Wear over time, potentially leading to hotspots and steering wheel vibration due to wheel wobble.

Brake Disc Skimming

  • Process of refining discs to align perfectly with the drive flange, resolving issues without needing replacement.
  • Necessary when:
  • Discs exhibit corrosion or rust.
  • Brake shudder is present.
  • Brakes have a spongy feel.

Brake Pads

  • Integral to braking systems that employ brake discs.
  • Consist of steel backing plates with friction material on the surface.
  • Contact the brake disc to halt wheel rotation.
  • Require regular replacement.
  • Often include a soft metal indicator that squeals when pads are excessively worn.

Brake Lining

  • The component that contacts the brake disc or drum.
  • Made of a soft, yet durable and heat-resistant material.
  • Secured to the brake pad or brake shoe, typically with high-temperature adhesives or rivets.
  • Key component of the brake system that halts the vehicle.
  • Typically constructed from solid cast iron; may include ventilation based on the vehicle’s specifications.
  • Braking action achieved through friction as brake pads press against the brake drums.
  • Withstands extreme temperatures and operating conditions.
  • Susceptible to wear over time, potentially leading to hotspots and subsequent steering wheel vibration due to wheel wobble.

Brake Drum Skimming

Refining process that ensures brake drums precisely align with the drive flange, addressing issues and averting replacement.

Required when:

  • Drums show signs of corrosion or rust.
  • Brake shudder occurs.
  • Brakes exhibit a spongy sensation.
  • Essential to braking systems equipped with brake drums.
  • Hold the brake lining, which is attached to the shoe via riveting or gluing.
  • Activate during braking, pressing the lining against the brake drum’s interior to halt wheel rotation.
  • A hydraulic fluid that converts force into pressure.
  • Requires a very high boiling point to prevent vaporization under high temperatures experienced during braking.
  • The fluid moves through cylinders at each wheel, directed by the master cylinder, pushing pistons to apply the brake shoes against the drums.

Brake Fluid Flush

  • Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water easily, including from the air.
  • Water absorption lowers the fluid’s boiling point and diminishes braking performance.
  • Accumulation of water increases fluid corrosiveness, risking damage to brake system components.
  • Regular flushing and replacement of brake fluid are necessary for maintenance.

ENGINE

Engine
  • Engine oil can accumulate sludge deposits from various residues produced by engine combustion.
  • In severe situations, sludge may thicken sufficiently to obstruct passages, potentially leading to engine failure.
  • An engine flush (or engine oil flush):
  • Removes all sludge from the engine.
  • Replaces it with fresh, clean oil.
  • A potent DC electric motor equipped with an attached solenoid.
  • Draws power from the car battery to generate sufficient current for engine startup.
  • The solenoid functions as a switch, establishing a connection between the battery and the starter motor.
  • Recharges the battery and supplies power to the vehicle’s electrical system when the engine operates.
  • Generates electricity similarly to a DC generator by:
  • Altering the magnetic field around a conductor.
  • Inducing a current within the conductor.
  • Mixes air and fuel for engine intake.
  • Air flows into the inlet manifold through an open pipe.
  • Fuel is dispensed through small holes in the pipe.
  • Fuel flow regulated by calibrated jets.
  • Jets’ operation is influenced by the position of the accelerator pedal.

Petrol Engine Efficiency and Cooling Needs

  • Petrol engines convert chemical energy to mechanical power with low efficiency, necessitating a cooling system.
  • Optimal engine performance is achieved when coolant temperature is around 93°C, which:
  • Ensures oil flows freely.
  • Facilitates easy fuel vaporization.
  • Reduces metal wear without causing engine burnout.

Cooling System Flush

  • Over time, coolant and antifreeze chemicals degrade, losing effectiveness against freezing and boiling.
  • Corrosion and other factors can lead to clogging and, in severe cases, complete cooling system blockage.
  • A cooling system flush is recommended to:
  • Remove old chemicals.
  • Clean the engine of corrosion-induced particles, preventing blockages.
  • Operated by the cambelt or v-belt, it circulates water as long as the engine is active.
  • Water is drawn from the pump’s centre (the inlet).
  • Pump vanes propel the water outward, allowing it to flow into the engine.
  • Post-engine circulation, water moves to the radiator and then returns to the water pump’s inlet.

Spark Plug

  • Installed in the engine’s cylinder head.
  • Ignites compressed petrol with an electric spark to start the car.

Glow Plug

  • Used in diesel engines instead of spark plugs.
  • Heats air to a temperature that causes diesel fuel to combust spontaneously.
  • Essential for lubricating moving metal parts in the engine, preventing overheating whether the engine is idling or at full capacity.
  • Utilizes a high-pressure system to:
  • Draw oil from the oil pan.
  • Distribute it through various passages to metal-contacting surfaces within the engine.
  • Driven by the timing/cam belt.
  • Crankshaft connects to pistons via crankpins, translating rotation into linear piston motion.
  • Camshaft opens valves for air/fuel intake and exhaust management.
  • Synchronization between camshaft and crankshaft rotations is crucial.
  • Ensures valves open at the correct times during piston strokes.
  • The timing belt ensures this essential synchronization.
  • Constructed from rubber with high-tensile fibers (e.g., fibreglass or Kevlar) to maintain tension.
  • Manages the timing of engine valves.
  • Serves as an alternative to the older timing chains, with some manufacturers returning to chains for their durability.
  • Links the crankshaft and camshaft:
  • Crankshaft governs piston movement.
  • Camshaft oversees the opening and closing of engine valves.
  • Requires replacement according to the car manufacturer’s scheduled intervals to prevent severe engine damage or failure.