A Day in the life of a car shop

Wiper Blades

2011-09-30T03:31:00.000-07:00

Wiper Blades

To ensure that your visibility is good you should ensure that your wiper blades are in good condition. They are in fact one of the most important features of your vehicle for ensuring your safety. There are many factors that play a part in the life of your wiper blades, adverse weather conditions changes in temperature prolonged sun exposure etc can all cause premature wear of your blades.

If you notice that your windscreen is not clearing properly when you use your wiper blades or if you notice them juddering and squeaking and being noisy then the following could apply.

Not enough pressure from the wiper arm.
Worn out or damaged
Hardened or cracked as a result of ageing or excessive heat exposure.
Lifting off the screen at speed.

At MAS not only do we have a large stock of wiper blades for most makes and models of vehicles we also offer a free fitting service on wiper blades.

To enquire about cost and availability for your wiper blades either visit us in store, email us or phone us on 02380449202, please have your vehicle details at hand when you contact us.

Cambelt

2011-09-29T04:24:00.000-07:00

Cambelt

You will also have heard of a Cam-belt being called a Timing Belt or Timing Chain. It connects the components of an engine that revolve using tensioners and pulley wheels and does this in total synchronization.

Revolutions are at 1000's per minute whilst the engine is running it is under the most extreme mechanical and thermal stress, there are scheduled intervals in which this must be replaced and I cant stress enough the importance of doing so.

If you fail to replace the cam-belt or you fail to do this at required schedules it can result in costly repairs and can result in a new engine being needed.

At MAS we can supply you with the timing belts and the kits. Call us on 02380449202 or email us with the full details of your vehicle and we can give you a fast no obligation quotation.

2011-09-27T03:43:00.000-07:00

Tyres and Wheel Alignment

Why should I Check my Tyres?

On your vehicle the only point that has contact with the road is the tyre, it is therefore imperative that you make sure that they are checked at regular intervals. To drive with incorrect inflation in your tyres or worn tyres can cause accidents and are very dangerous. If you ignore these vital things you may not only be involved in a serious accident but you may end up with a hefty police fine and have points on your driving licence.

Facts

Low tyre pressures reduce the economy of your fuel - reduce braking performance - reduce handling performance and in addition wear the tyre out prematurely.
A tyres tread has a dramatic effect on the performance of your tyre, especially in wet weather and handling will deteriorate to the extreme when tread is below 2mm.
You could risk driving without insurance if your tyres are illegal.
Each illegal tyre carries the risk of penalties of up to £2500 and also the possibility of 3 points on your licence.

Tread

The British legal tyre tread depth limit is 1.6mm across 75% of the tyre.

Alignment

Pot holes and kerbs can be the scourge of a drivers life, but in addition they can cause your wheels to be incorrectly aligned.
Incorrect wheel alignment causes your tyres to wear prematurely and unevenly.

Figures

According to research 12% of cars have at least one tyre that is illegal.
A further 12% of cars have 1 tyre at least that is badly worn.
36% of vehicles have dangerously under inflated tyres.
Over 1/3 of of all road crashes that result in injury can be attributed to worn or under inflated tyres.

MAS sell - tyre pressure gauges, emergency inflation tools and all the necessary tools to change your wheel safely.

We are open 7 days a week 8.30am - 06.00pm Monday - Saturday and 09.30am - 04.00pm on a Sunday.

Our friendly and helpful staff will be able to help you determine if your tyres are legal or not.

Winter Tips for your car

2011-09-24T04:04:00.000-07:00

Winter Tips for your car

What you should know about cars and winter is that they DO NOT like each other

As the temperature begins to drop and winter is fast approaching it is time to start thinking about how best to protect your car. This will ensure that you stay safe and hopefully reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and it may even save you money and cut your fuel consumption.

Firstly, check your battery - that it is charging properly and in good working condition, the cold weather reduces the cranking power. As the temperature dips the electrical power needed in order for the engine to start is increased, always have a set of jump leads or a power pack and some de-icer in your car during the winter months as it will prevent you getting stranded.

Always ensure that you have checked your heating system, the defrosters and the wiper blades are in good condition and working properly.

Ensure that your car has the correct oil and that it is filled up this will ensure that the engine is well lubricated and put less strain on the engine. Check that the antifreeze is at the right concentrate for the lower temperatures and that you have the correct antifreeze for your vehicle.

Oil, Fuel and Air Filters are advisable to check prior to the winter - and as a routine car maintenance it is probably worth changing them once a year to keep the vehicle running in tip top condition.

Next make sure that your tyres have plenty of tread and the pressure is correct for your vehicle - DONT FORGET to check the spare. This will ensure that you have the best grip on the roads and will improve fuel consumption.

When you start the engine in cold weather - don't set off straight away - let the engine warm up for a minute and allow the oil etc. to circulate - don't idle for long you will waste fuel.

Remember that above all in the winter slowing down and driving safely - leaving plenty of room between vehicles and keeping well within the speed limits.

We stock a wide range of winter products at MAS and we can advise you on the best products for your car.

What Antifreeze Should I put in my car?

2011-09-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

What Antifreeze Should I put in my car?

Critically to ensure the health and well being of your car you should ensure that you are using the correct antifreeze for your vehicle most typically ensuring that you have the correct colour is the easiest way of determining this. It is also important to ensure that you have the right concentration of antifreeze in your car.

Antifreeze acts as a protection against the cold weather in the winter months and a coolant and protection against high temperatures in the summer months ( yes even in the UK).

Most car engines are built using different metals - an important part of keeping your engine running smoothly is to prevent scale build up and rust within your cooling system which in turn allows your engine to run at a normal temperature. More than half of all engine related problems are directly related to issues with the cooling system.

Recently we have seen the introduction of propylene glycol as an alternative to the more toxic ethylene glycol - however you should note that this is unfortunately much more expensive and therefore makes manufacturers be reluctant to use this and thereby pass the cost on to the consumer.

When your car is first manufactured, the manufacturer will choose the most suitable coolant/antifreeze for the vehicle and this will then be the coolant/antifreeze that you should continue to use for the life of the vehicle

By providing us here at MAS with your vehicle registration we are able to advise you on the recommended antifreeze/coolant for your vehicle as specified by your manufacturer.

We have the full range of coolants here in stock and we make sure that we never run out during the winter months, with prices starting from as little as £6.5 per litre of concentrate we are also able to advise you on the capacity of your expansion tank and the concentration needed to ensure safe and smooth running of your vehicle.

It is important that you make sure that you do not mix different coloured Antifreeze/Coolants as you may be cause the products to create a sludge build up in the expansion tank which will circulate around the cooling system and prevent the system working as it should.

Help I have put the wrong fuel in my car?

2011-09-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Help I have put the wrong fuel in my car?

What should I do?

A friend of mine has done this today which inspired me to blog about this common occurrence.....hope it helps....

If you have put the wrong fuel in your car - quite by accident - don't worry you are not alone - around 200,000- drivers do this each year in the UK alone!

Try to remember this as the first rule

DO NOT TURN ON THE IGNITION OR START THE ENGINE - THIS ALLOWS THE WRONG FUEL TO CIRCULATE - RISKING MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE DAMAGE.

The further the contaminated petrol goes in the system the more expensive the repair – it can be cheaper in more extreme cases to fit a new engine.

Many systems use a low-pressure electric pump in the tank or sender unit and this begins to work as soon as the ignition is switched on, circulating the contaminated fuel through the pump and rail – so it's important not to turn the ignition on.

Petrol into a Diesel Tank

DO NOT TURN ON THE IGNITION OR START THE ENGINE - THIS ALLOWS THE WRONG FUEL TO CIRCULATE - RISKING MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE DAMAGE.

If your car is still under the dealer warranty then put in a call to your dealer and get their advice as to how to resolve if you drive with the wrong fuel you risk voiding your warranty.

If you've added in excess of 5 litres of petrol in your diesel tank you will need to fully drain the tank and refill with diesel and it is advised to use a fuel cleaner.
If you've added no more than 5 litres of petrol in your diesel tank then just top up the tank with diesel and run normally unless the manufacturer has advised against this and again it is advised to use a fuel cleaner.

Diesel into a Petrol Tank

DO NOT TURN ON THE IGNITION OR START THE ENGINE - THIS ALLOWS THE WRONG FUEL TO CIRCULATE - RISKING MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE DAMAGE.

Putting diesel in a petrol car is much less common than petrol into diesel as the standard diesel pump nozzle doesn't fit in the majority of petrol fuel tanks.

If your car is still under the dealer warranty then put in a call to your dealer and get their advice as to how to resolve if you drive with the wrong fuel you risk voiding your warranty.

If you've added in excess of 5 litres of diesel in your petrol tank you will need to fully drain the tank and refill with petrol and its recommended to use a fuel cleaner.
If you've added no more than 5 litres of diesel in your petrol tank then just top up the tank with petrol and run normally unless the manufacturer has advised against this and again it is advised to use a fuel cleaner.

It would be worth checking with your breakdown service such as the RAC or AA if they offer such a service as Fuel Tank Cleaning.

We sell here at MAS many different types of Fuel Cleaner - so if you do run into this problem let us see if we can assist you in getting the right fuel cleaner.

The most important thing even if you do start the engine and drive the vehicle is don't panic it can be sorted.

http://www.m-a-s.uk.com

Something Different Today

2011-09-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

Hello All

We here at MAS are hoping that you are all well....

Ok for something a little different today - I want you to email pictures of you and your car to us - not just any pictures, but pictures of you in your car, with your car, working on your car, silly poses with your car - performance enhanced cars to old bangers - we don't mind.......

But why you ask - well for all of you that submit via email a photo of you and your car or cars! I want you to make sure your email address is included, that way I will send you an exclusive and massive 20% off voucher for all purchases over £25 - but only if I have a picture of you with your car.

We will then also add you to our mailing list and you will receive exclusive discounts on a wide range of our products and services.

Remember at MAS we sell a wide range of products including, brake pads, batteries, ball joints, wishbones, filters, haynes manuals, spark plugs, brake shoes, brake drums, brake discs, oil, gear oil, ignition coils, distributor caps, condensers, ballast resistors, stereos, speakers, K-seal, stop leak, power steering fluid, tools, air compressors, foot pumps, paint, sandpaper, carb cleaner, brake cleaner, easy start, WD40, Auto Glym, Roof Racks, Bin Bags, Manista, Swarfega, Turtle Wax, Wet n Black....to name but a few of our amazing range of stock so please pop in to see us, we can advise you on the recommended oils and fluids for your vehicle by our vehicle registration management system.

We are open 7 days a week 8.30am - 6.00pm Mon - Sat and 9.30am - 4.00pm on a Sunday.

mas_office@hotmail.com

Save Money by Reducing your fuel consumption.

2011-09-20T04:17:00.000-07:00

Save Money by Reducing your fuel consumption.

As we continue to see ever increasing costs in fuel prices, stretching consumers to their absolute limit in these days of tough economic climate - I thought I would list a few handy hints to help you save a little on your fuel bill....Hope it helps - happy motoring.

If your car is a 4x4, keep it in 2-wheel drive when driving normally - you use less fuel in this mode than in 4 wheel drive mode.Your fuel mileage depends mostly on your driving habits. Drive conservatively and you'll notice a difference.

Manual transmissions often get a better mileage to gallon than automatics.

Don't waste fuel going through the drive through, hop out of the car and go into the store not only will you save fuel but you will have done a little more exercise.

Try to make sure that you go out to do your chores and errands when it is not rush hour. Doing this will ensure you are not sat in traffic as long and also leave you less stressed.

When looking for a new car, always check the fuel consumption - ask the sales advisor to go through it with you.

If your car has a roof rack, remove it if possible while not in use. If you cant take all of it off then take the bars off and it will reduce the weight thereby increasing fuel economy and it will improve the aerodynamics.

Keep carbon deposits from building up in the cars engine by revving the engine to high engine RPM's about once a week.

Remove any unnecessary weight in the car - the more weight the more fuel is used.

Avoid using the air conditioning unless motorway driving and always make sure when using the air conditioning to keep the windows closed.

When looking for a new car, always check the fuel consumption rating.

On fuel-injected cars, make sure the oxygen sensors, engine emissions system. When the Engine Warning light comes on - it indicates that there is a problem with one of the components such as the above. Damaged components such as these can reduce fuel consumption by up to as much as 20%. We can supply most sensors within an hour at MAS.

Dirty air filters reduce fuel economy, make sure you change these regularly. We can supply most air filters within an hour at MAS.

Regularly replace the fuel filter on the vehicle - this will ensure that you are not using dirty fuel and thereby getting the most out of the consumption if your fuel. We can supply most fuel filters within an hour at MAS.

If you need any more advice on reducing your fuel consumption then please pop into the store where we have many products and our fully qualified mechanics can advise you on the best way to improve your fuel economy.

Need your computer fixing

2011-09-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

Got a Virus? Is your PC running slowly?

Here at MAS I can offer you an exclusive discount with PCParamedics, if you mention MAS - you will receive 10% off your bill, normally you can be dealt with within 24 hours and at a cost of £25 to sort your computer out speed it up get rid of virus' and pretty much anything else.

Call Debs on 07934837032 or email clarkewood39@gmail.com

Free quotes on request.

Exclusive Deal on Mondays and Fridays

2011-09-16T01:17:00.000-07:00

Exclusive Deal on Mondays and Fridays

We can now offer you an exclusive service here at MAS on a Mondays and Fridays.

Computer diagnostics for your vehicle and Engine Management and Service Light re-sets.

All for the exclusive MAS price of £20 per diagnostic or Light Re-set.

A normal price for this sort of diagnostic at a garage will cost you £80+.

Call now to book your vehicle in 02380449202 or email to book in mas_office@hotmail.co.uk

Only covers cars with OBD2 systems, your manual will advise you of this.

Free Bottle of wash and Wax and.......

2011-09-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

Free Bottle of Wash and Wax - and a 10% Discount Voucher

The first 5 people that come into the shop with a completed list of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the world will receive a free bottle of wash and wax and a 10% Discount Voucher on purchases over £30 in store.

53 Spring Road, Sholing, Southampton, SO19 0AD

Good Luck

Please note that entries will only be accepted once per person and they must be correct to the answers that we have - the 10% discount applies only on in store purchases of goods totalling £30 or more.

http://www.m-a-s.uk.com

Another brilliant Review

2011-09-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.carparts-finder.co.uk/city-Southampton/1006120-parts-M-A-S-Motorist-Centre-Ltd.html

Some of our Adverts

2011-09-13T03:26:00.000-07:00

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Video

2011-09-13T03:08:00.000-07:00

Car Parts Southampton - M.A.S. Ltd by ScootVideo

Replacing your Car Battery

2011-09-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

Car batteries wont last forever and they are subject to failing if the weather is bad or if there is an excessive drain on them.

If you notice that your headlights are dimmer than usual, or if you are having to jump start the car - it may well be time for the battery to be replaced.
Here at MAS we will test your existing battery with an industry standard tester and show you the results, if the battery is bad and needs replacing we will then advise you of the relevant battery for your car and the cost involved, and weather permitting we offer a free fitting service.

It is normally a very simple and swift procedure to change the battery on most cars - however from time to time we may encounter some difficulties - in this case we will reccommend that you take the car to a garage to have the battery fitted.

NEVER TOUCH THE SULPHATE BUILD UP AROUND THE TERMINALS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS. ( it may contain sulphuric acid)

Here at MAS we can advise you on the correct battery for the make and model of your car. Batteries start from £47.00 incl VAT and all come with a 3 year no quibble guarentee.

If you are going to change the battery yourself - here are some helpful hints that should make the fitting procedure nice and simple.

1) Make sure that the environment that you will be working in is suitable - park the car on a flat surface away from traffic - make sure that the handbrake is on and that there are no smokers in the vicinity. It is always advisable that you should wear protective gloves and goggles - you can also purchase these at MAS.
2) If you have a memory saver - remember to plug this in to the cigarette lighter before you disconnect the battery, this should save the codes for your radio etc, if you dont have a memory saver then you should make sure that you have the radio code written down before you disconnect the battery.
3) Open the bonnet - or the boot - depending on where your battery is located. The positive terminal is normally indicated by a (+) sign and a red lead, the negative by a (-) sign and a black lead.
4) Loosen the clamp on the negative terminal using a spanner or socket most often 8mm or 10mm and slide it off the terminal. Always disconnect the negative first otherwise you run the risk of short circuiting the electrics on the car.
5) Disconnect the positive terminal.
6) Disconnect the clamp - this is either located on the base of the battery or is a clamp that goes over the top of the battery, you will need a spanner or socket again and usually is 10mm or 13mm.
7) Remove the dead battery from the car, remember that batteries are very heavy - if you have back problems then please get some help.
8) Give the area that the battery was in a clean if it requires, to remove any corrosion, you may want to use a wire brush and baking soda solution to clean the area.
9) Make sure that the area is completely dry and then place the new battery in the same way as the old one came out - ensuring that the terminals are on the correct sides.
10) Replace the clamp to keep the battery in place.
11) Reconnect the positive terminal with the clamp.
12) Reconnect the negative terminal with the clamp.
13) Tighten all the nuts using the relevant sized spanner or socket.
14) You may want to spray the terminals with some lithium grease - this will prevent corrosion of the terminals and the clamps.
15) Shut the bonnet or boot.
16) Start the engine (making sure that the car is in neutral or park before doing so).
17) If you have used the memory saver then disconnect this - or re-enter the radio code.
18) You will need to dispose of the old battery - you can bring your old battery to MAS and we will dispose of this free of charge for you.
19) Rarely you may need to re-set your alarm/immobiliser - this will be detailed in the car manual and is usually a series of button presses or turns of the key in the ignition - if you do not have the car manual or cannot reset the alarm - contact the main dealer of your vehicle and one of their service staff should be able to assist you.

At MAS we can supply the battery - fit for free (in most cases) and supply any other parts you may need such as the sockets and spanners, lithium grease and protective clothing,

If you need a battery either call us on 02380449202, email us or pop into the shop - we are open 7 days a week, Mon - Sat 8.30am - 6.00pm and Sundays 09.30am - 4.00pm.

When do my brake pads need changing?

2011-09-07T04:19:00.000-07:00

When do my brake pads need changing?

Over periods of time and constant use of the car, brake pads wear out, this thereby reduces their effectiveness at reducing the speed of the car.

For the reasons that are stated above it is important that brake pads are changed whenever they have worn down.
Brake pads are a relatively simple procedure to change yourself - its not always necessary to enlist a mechanic to change these for you. If you do need a mechanic then please email us or call us on 02380449202 as we can supply one

REMEMBER - IT IS DANGEROUS TO WAIT TOO LONG BEFORE REPLACING BRAKE PADS.

It is relatively simple to decide when brake pads need changing, most vehicles that have disc brakes (Discs and pads) have what is known as a wear indicator. This is a small piece of metal attached to the brake pad that contacts the brake rotor when the pad material has been worn down to a certain level. It will make a squealing noise as you apply the brakes. This noise is a signal which tells you it's time to have your brakes checked. Alternatively you may have a light that is illuminated on the dashboard when the brake pads reach a certain level to alert you to the fact that they require changing.

If you hear the sound or see the light then make sure that you get them checked and replaced as soon as possible.

Brake pads should last tens of thousands of miles, that will always depend on not only the way that the vehicle is driven but the make and model of the vehicle, it stands to reason that the more you use brakes - the sooner they need replacing - thats not to say you should skimp on braking when its needed.

At MAS we can supply the brake pads and brake discs and will ensure that they are the correct ones for the vehicle.

Got an old car battery?

2011-09-06T02:46:00.000-07:00

Got an old car battery?

We will dispose of them for you free of charge - no purchase necessary.

All you need to do is bring it to us.

53 Spring Road, Sholing, Southampton, SO19 2QD

Jump Starting a Car

2011-09-06T02:26:00.000-07:00

HOW TO JUMP START YOUR CAR

When your car doesn't start - there are a number of reasons - one of the most common is that the battery is flat.

It may be that you can get the car going again by jump starting it - I have detailed below how to go about doing this.

Things you will need

A set of jump leads, they are sometimes called booster cables - make sure that they are the correct amp and size for the size of your vehicle.
A working vehicle.

Anyone (over the age of 17 - preferably) can use jump leads safely - just follow these simple instructions.

1. You need to connect the jump leads to both the working car and the car with the flat battery so ensure that they are close together.

2. Connect the jump leads to the batteries following the order set out below.

a. Connect the positive cable that should be red and have a (+) sign to the positive terminal on the dead battery again this should be indicated by a (+) sign.
b. Connect the opposite end of the (+) positive red cable to (+) positive terminal on the working car.
c. Connect the negative cable that should be black and have a (-) sign to negative terminal on the working car again these should be indicated by a (-) sign.

d. Connect the opposite end of the (-) negative cable to the (-) negative terminal on the dead battery.

3. Now start the engine of the car that has a working battery. Do not have any electrical loads on such as heaters, radios, lights etc...this ensures that all battery power is being used to jump the dead battery. Leave the working car tick over for a couple of minutes, then try starting the car with the dead battery, if you can rev the engine of the working car which will produce more current and will help start the dead battery.
4. If it sounds like it may start but just cant quite get there then turn the ignition off in the car that has the dead battery (again check there are no electrical loads on) then leave another minute and try again, revving the engine of the car with the running battery.

5. You should now have a running battery on both cars, you are now able to remove the jump leads, this must be done in a reverse order to how they were put on.

a. Disconnect (-) negative black cable from the terminal on dead battery.
b. Disconnect (-) negative black cable from the (-) negative terminal on the working car.
c. Disconnect (+) positive red cable from the (+) positive terminal on the working car.
d. Disconnect (+) positive red cable from the (+) positive terminal on the dead battery.

HINTS AND TIPS

Once the dead battery has been started it is advisable to take the car out for a run of around 30 mins to an hour to recharge the battery. If you can't do that then attach to a battery charger overnight. If you do both of these things and the battery continues to die, you most probably have a damaged plate in the battery - this means that the car will require a new battery.

When you are connecting the jump leads and when removing them, you MUST make sure they do not touch each other.

Make sure the leads do not come into contact with any moving parts in either car's engine.

Most jump leads that are sold these days, the clamps are coated with plastic so there is a far smaller chance of metal touching.

If the battery terminals on either car are dirty and corroded, it may assist your efforts to clean these up so that the connection is all good.

Jump Leads are definitely something I would recommend that you keep in your car, it will get you out of trouble, assist others and may prevent the expense of a new battery or the time waiting for Breakdown assistance.

Buy jump leads at MAS - starting from £12.00 per set.

Here at MAS, we not only sell car batteries, starting from £47.00 incl of VAT and with a 3 year guarantee, we will also test your battery for free and we will fit the new battery - again for free, and dispose of your old battery - again for free!!

For further information or a quotation call us on 02380449202 or email mas_office@hotmail.co.uk

Have a look at this for a bargain

2011-09-02T05:23:00.000-07:00

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Things you need to remember when buying parts

2011-09-02T03:05:00.000-07:00

The car's full registration
The make and model of the car
The engine size
What fuel it uses - Petrol or Diesel
If the car has ABS or not
Is the car manual or automatic
Does the car have air conditioning?
Are the discs solid or vented?

While we use a Vehicle Recognition System at MAS - there are some times that we are unable to identify the car by this method, having the above information at your fingertips will enable us to source the right products/parts for your vehicle.

If you need a number plate making - we can do this while you wait, however, we MUST see your V5C and driving licence and they must be displaying matching names and address - we are unable to produce the plate unless we have these pieces of information, laws on number plates have become extremely strict in the last few years which is why we have to adhere to this.

We make brake pipes at MAS, however we do them from a pattern of your old ones - so please make sure that you bring them in and we can make them there and then for you.

Pop in to MAS - 53 Spring Road Sholing, Southampton, SO19 2QD or call us on 02380449202 or email us mas_office@hotmail.co.uk

Just some of the products that we sell here at MAS

2011-09-01T03:11:00.000-07:00

Just some of the products that we sell here at MAS

Colour Magic, with chipstick from £9.50 per bottle.

Petrol and Diesel Magic from £6.50 per bottle

Colour match spray paints from £4.10 per can

Haynes Manuals for many makes and models of vehicles from £17.90 per book

Wide Range of Draper Tools

Spark Pugs - From £3.00 per plug

Ignition Coils - Call us or email us with your vehicle registration for a price

Many different additives for your vehicle to prolong the life of the engine and provide solutions for small problems such as leaks.

These are just some of the products that we sell here at MAS - feel free to browse the shop

we are open 8.30am - 6.00pm Monday - Saturday and 9.30am - 4pm on Sundays

02380449202

mas_office@hotmail.co.uk

Check out our new facebook page

2011-09-01T02:21:00.001-07:00

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MAS-Ltd/272196142792576

Re-Spraying your Car

2011-08-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

Re-Spraying your Car

Over a period of time, most cars that are used regularly for daily activities will suffer scratches, minor dents, scuffs and paint degradation.

You can restore paintwork using polishes such as Tcut and Autoglym - but the best way for a smooth finish is a total re-spray or a partial respray.

It is important to take your time over the preparation of the area that is to be sprayed and to spend a god amount of time on the actual spraying when doing a D.I.Y job. You will not achieve the perfect look when using spray cans but it has been proved that a good job can be made.

Make sure the area that you are using for the re-spray is free from dust, and try to do the spraying on a warm day.

Before Spraying you need to have sanded down the paint, filled in any holes and scrapes etc, re sanded the area and primed it - assuming that this has all been done you can move on.

Wash the area that you are spraying down - using a good quality car shampoo that is wax free.
Wipe the area down with a solvent based cleaner and lint free wipes
Make sure that the area that you are spraying is masked off from the rest of the car - you will need to take your time over this ensuring it is as accurate as you can get to avoid overspray marks etc
Test the paint before you spray it onto the car to ensure there is no splatters or blobbing
Rather than 2 or 3 thick coats of paint, you are aiming for lots of thin coats
Spray at a regular pace on the first coat - left to right and the second up and down, and so on alternating as you go.
Once the paint has dried you can apply the top coat - clear lacquer
Allow the clear lacquer to go off - this will take 2-3 days
Using a fine wet and dry go over the area
Use a cutting paste to polish it in
Use a good quality wax to polish and buff the area up.

You can buy all these products, Paint, Masking Tape, Lacquer, Wet and Dry paper at MAS.

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2011-08-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

Some Customer Reviews on Google

2011-08-30T07:58:00.000-07:00

jamie ‎ - 22 Apr 2011

I go here regularly, they're always very helpfull and willing to offer advise, better than the idiots at halfords!

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Mareka ‎ - 16 Aug 2009

great range and fantastic prices Went there recently to buy some wheel trims for a ford mondeo - halfords didn't have the right size. Glad we did because not only did they have the right size but they were also cheaper! Will definitely go there again!

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Matt Probert ‎ - 31 Jan 2011

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