Sykes-Pickavant Tool Torque

Sykes-Pickavant Tools Now Available For Hire At Rent2Repair

2012-05-24T02:48:00.003-07:00

We at Sykes-Pickavant are delighted to hear that our automotive tools are now available for hire through Rent2Repair. Launched in May 2012, the company provides a tool hire service to independent garages for specialist tools that are required for specific jobs, whether it be a diesel injector remover or a gas analyser.

In the past many independent garages have been faced with no option but to turn certain jobs down due to the fact that they do not have the required piece of equipment. Stocking all the gear required to repair every problem on every model of car is simply too costly for many garages. There is also the issue of where to store so many items and as a result, dealerships have had somewhat of a monopoly on certain repair jobs.

However, for a small monthly subscription, independent garages can now have access to a huge range of Sykes-Pickavant tools. Having paid a rental fee, the item will be delivered to the garage the next day and then collected when finished with. Rent2Repair also offer the option of purchasing tools outright. You may even decide to use their hire service first to try out one of our tools, before you commit to buying.

Using Rent2Repair’s tool hire service really could have a positive impact on your garage’s business. Not only can it increase your turnover by taking on more jobs; you will also instil confidence within your customer base and encourage repeat business. Plus customers will be happy with the convenience of taking their vehicle to a local garage, rather than having to travel to the nearest dealership.

So we are wishing Rent2Repair automotive tool hire service the best of luck on their business venture and look forward to a long lasting relationship - one that should benefit garages and consumers alike.

Are you prepared for the new MOT changes from 2012?….

2012-01-16T05:01:00.000-08:00

From 1st January this year, The Department for Transport added a number of new mandatory test items to the annual MOT, to comply with a revised European testing directive and in respect of MIL ( warning lights ) the following statement applies:-

“Illumination of malfunction indicator light (MIL) for electronic power steering, electronic stability control, electronic park brake control, brake fluid warning lamp, tyre pressure monitoring system and air bag/ pre‑tensioner“

As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted), the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

- Headlight main beam warning light

- Electronic power steering warning light

- Brake fluid level warning light

- Tyre pressure monitoring system warning light

- Air bag warning light

- Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light

These changes (along with several others) will be “advisory” during the period January - March 2012, following which they will then become compulsory failures.

Help is at hand to prepare for these changes, with the recently launched TPMS Tester – An all-makes service tool that covers Sensor Activation, Sensor Checking and Sensor Replacement.

For those looking for a more comprehensive tool – the SPe Electronic Service Tool works with ease on modern vehicles with electronically controlled service functions – including Service Light / Service Module Reset, Power / Electronic Steering Controls and Brake & Clutch Bleeding.

Full details of the new mandatory test items can be see in the 2012 MOT Inspection Manual

New Addition to the Export Team……

2011-10-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Clelia Serot as Export Sales Administrator. Clelia will be working alongside our Export Manager, Sebastien Excoffon and assisting in daily duties including processing sales orders, producing reports and handling customer requests. French born Clelia has been in the UK for 7 years and joins us from Tata Steel Automotive where she worked in the Commercial Department as an Account Co-ordinator.

CLICK HERE FOR CONTACT DETAILS

18580000 - Injector Puller Kit proving a success

2011-09-09T02:12:00.000-07:00

We have been hearing about many success stories when it comes to the new 18580000 Hydraulic Injector Puller and how using this kit has saved so much time for many of you when faced with the problem of a stuck injector.

The pictures shown are another example of the kit working on a Renault 1.9DCi engine.

You can read more about the kit by CLICKING HERE or to watch a VIDEO of the puller in action, please CLICK HERE

Intelligent Battery Care from ‘Keepower’

2011-09-07T00:56:00.000-07:00

The new ‘Keepower’ Battery Care range that can be seen in our new promo brochure is a handy tool for battery testing, charging and boosting.

88813800 - XL-Pro Charger

With three powerful versions available to suit a number of requirements and suitable for all battery types, the keepower battery charger is the perfect choice.

The video link below is an example of the 88813800 – XL-Pro Intelligent Charger in action, primarily showing the capability it has to maintain a steady battery output voltage, regardless of the demands placed on the battery – For example during workshop based events when diagnostic testing is being carried out.

The charger is also a great time saver, as for many garages it is essential that a stable output voltage is achieved to avoid any unnecessary faults, which in the past has led to certain tasks taking longer than expected to complete. The Keepower charger provides a stable voltage ensuring smooth communication and correct functionality.

The video also highlights how efficiently the Keepower range is able to react to the electrical loadings placed upon the battery and these chargers react quickly due to their superior quality components and by doing so help to reduce internal damage to batteries and can lengthen their service life by as much as 50%.

The Keepower range – The perfect choice for the professional workshop or garage user.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE XL-PRO INTELLIGENT BATTERY CHARGER

New Promo Brochure – Available Now!

2011-09-02T02:34:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks we have been busy working on the next Special Offers & New Products promo brochure and we are pleased to announce that this is available now! CLICK HERE

The brochure features a mixture of new products and supplier brands including Power Probe – A new testing range that is suitable for a number of requirements, for example Relay, Circuit and Harness testing. Also on offer is a new range of Battery Chargers from our friends at Keepower – Intelligent Battery Care that covers testing, charging and boosting.

The existing SPe – Electronic System Tester now includes new software options - available as an Electronic Service tool for the workshop AND an Electronic Bodywork tool for the bodyshop.

Other new additions include braking, suspension, servicing and workshop tools – So be one of the first to take a look at the new brochure – Available to view and download HERE

It was all go go go at Unipart – Nottingham’s Karting event

2011-09-02T00:55:00.000-07:00

Jason with the Unipart - Nottingham Team

Unipart Automotive - Nottingham got all in a spin last Wednesday when they arranged a staff team building race night at PF International Kart circuit near Grantham. Our very own Jason Bavin, Regional Sales Manager for the North went along for support and took part in what was an action packed (but rather wet) night full of bumps and crashes.

Race awards were presented to the staff by some of the Unipart team who included Pete Brown, Area Sales & Operations Manager, Dave Clelland – Business Development Manager and Ian Parsons – Branch Manager.

Unipart commented on the event saying “A great time was had by all and a few crashes made the night more of a challenge ...as did the wet weather. Many thanks to Jason & Sykes Pickavant for their support”

Another successful event from the guys at Unipart, although Jason may have to put up with a bit of stick for a while as he finished in second to last place! Well Done Jason!

Unipart Automotive is the UK’s largest independent supplier of car parts, workshop consumables and garage equipment to the aftermarket. For further details click here

GEN2 Bearing Fitting & Removal Tool proving a success

2011-08-26T00:39:00.000-07:00

Many of you will be familiar with the GEN2 Tool designed for mounting and dismounting modern GEN2 wheel hub bearing units. The current kit has proved to be a popular seller having been designed for vehicles with 72mm bearings like the Audi A2 (2000 onwards), Skoda Fabia (2000 onwards) and the VW Polo (2002 onwards).

We have had a few people ask us if there are other parts available to fit different sized bearings and the good news is that we are in the process of testing further sizes for this tool with the help of our friends at FAG bearings. They have provided us with some great advice as well as performing various bearing tests so watch this space for news of other sizes that will be available for this kit.

See a preview at Mechanex – Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on the 20th and 21st September

You can watch a video of the GEN2 tool HERE

Sykes-Pickavant supporting Andrew Page Trade Events

2011-08-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Our friends at Andrew Page are holding a number of events throughout the country, inviting customers to come and meet the team along with a number of suppliers and our very own Regional Sales Manager Jason Bavin will be attending these events showcasing some of our new promotional products including the latest diagnostic equipment. The last event took place in Warrington and was a successful evening with over 60 people attending.

Visitors to these events will be provided with handy technical info as well as training advice and will also have the opportunity to purchase several tools at special ‘on the day’ prices.

Jason will be attending the AP Birmingham Open Evening that includes a BBQ, refreshments and raffle on Thursday 25^th August from 4.00pm onwards. Guests will get the chance to talk to the AP team and its suppliers whilst enjoying a guided tour around the warehouse. Contact Andrew Page - Birmingham branch for more details: 0121 328 7611

Vibro Impact Air Hammer strikes a blow

2011-07-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

90206000 - Vibro Impact Air Hammer

We know that seized components can cause a real problem at times and it was good to hear that recently, while visiting a couple of garages, our sales reps were able to come to the rescue when faced with this setback and this was with the help of the Sykes-Pickavant Vibro Impact Air Hammer tool – 90206000 – A great tool to use for loosening seized suspension parts as well as rusted nuts and bolts.

CLICK HERE to watch a video of the Air Hammer in action – a popular tool with successful results!

Charity Bike Ride from Manchester to Blackpool beach!

2011-07-05T02:48:00.000-07:00

Our Sales Rep, Dave Noon – Area Sales Manager for North England & North Wales has been limbering up in preparation for the Manchester to Blackpool Bike ride in support of ‘The Christie’, a cancer charity that raises money to fund projects at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 40,000 patients a year and is also an international leader in groundbreaking research into cancer treatment.

This year the 60 mile Manchester to Blackpool Bike Ride takes place on Sunday 10^th July starting at Manchester United Football Ground, taking cyclists along country lanes all the way to the finish on the South Promenade in Blackpool.

The Christie charity holds a special place in Dave’s heart as his sister is currently going through treatment for Breast Cancer and taking part in the bike ride is Dave’s way of helping to repay The Christie for the treatments his sister has had.

Dave will be taking part in the race for the first time and we wish him the best of luck!

You can sponsor David by donating through Just Giving – http://www.justgiving.com/David-Noon

For further details about The Christie charity - CLICK HERE

It’s time we had a website redesign!

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

Some of you will have seen our current website – www.sykes-pickavant.com and as informative as it is, general feedback shows that there is a great need for a comprehensive search facility and a spare parts list.

You will be pleased to know that we have now contacted several web design companies, giving them a brief of our requirements and so in the next couple of weeks we should see things starting to move in the development of a new site. The project will take a few months from start to finish but if anyone has any ideas, requests or suggestions as to what they would like to see as part of the all new website, then please do drop us a line via our Facebook page CLICK HERE or via email – sales@sykes-pickavant.com

It’s always good to know what users of the site would like to see so all comments welcome.

Mongolia Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance Charity Rally

2011-06-21T05:20:00.000-07:00

This summer as part of the 2011 Mongol Rally, Team ‘Things Can Only Get Bataar’ are driving to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, to raise money for three charities - Cancer Research UK, Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and Help for Heroes.

Some of the team pictured with the Mercedes Sprinter ambulance

Driving the 10,000 miles from the UK to Mongolia is a challenge within itself, however the team have decided to make things a little bit harder by driving the journey in a Mercedes Sprinter ambulance, which will then be gifted to a Mongolian hospital at the end of the rally.

In collaboration with LUK, we are supporting this amazing challenge and have donated a number of tools and accessories that will be taken on the rally including pliers, spanners, screwdrivers, wrenches, gloves, goggles and tape to name but a few – all vital items that will be required in the service and maintenance of the ambulance throughout the journey.

The rally begins on the 23^rd July and will see the team visit a number of countries along the way that include France, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and Russia before they reach their destination of Mongolia. We will provide updates from the team and keep track of their progress as they embark on an adventure of a lifetime – all in aid of charity.

If you would like to support the team of youngsters – visit their website: http://www.malvern2mongolia.co.uk/ and see how you can help.

Dr Bob - Problem Solver of a disassembled Honing Set!

2011-06-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

Cylinder Honing Set

This week Dr Bob received a query about our Cylinder Honing Set (02800000) and he was quick off the mark to solve the problem. The customer, Bill, had called to say that he had taken the tool apart and was unsure of how to put this back together and in typical Doctor Bob fashion, he was able to delve into his library of all things technical and emailed a photo of the assembly order of the tool to Bill – Job done and one happy customer!

Bill also commented on Doctor Bob’s quick solution on a website called – www.realclassic.co.uk - a site dedicated to classic motorcycles. See the comment that Bill kindly posted on the message board page – under the heading ‘Service Stars’ - June 13th. The site provides an array of information about classic motorcycles and offers friendly expert advice from people who share a passion for old motorcycles - A great biking site for any enthusiastic rider.

SP Pullers head to China

2011-06-01T01:20:00.000-07:00

It seems the Chinese desire for buying quality items extends to more than German and Italian cars!

After years of “interesting“ pullers coming to Europe, we have just started exporting our “made in the UK puller range to China. The interest level is increasing each month – so much so that we thought its time we made a visit!

So Paul and Sebastien have headed off to China this week and who knows what will happen!........Watch this space for updates!

Success at Mechanex

2011-05-20T03:33:00.000-07:00

We had a busy couple of days at the Mechanex Motor Trade show in Harrogate this week. It was good to see so many people turn up and find out about the latest products to hit the automotive industry.

Our stand at Mechanex

Huge thanks to our friends at LUK / FAG who were demonstrating our new GEN2 VAG Bearing tool (08125500) – This was a popular one with the crowds as the guys at LUK did around 30 demos of this tool in one day!

There were a couple of tools in particular that many visitors to our stand were talking about and these were the Universal Press & Pull Sleeve Set (08780000) and the recently launched TPMS Tool (30661000). It was great to see so many requests for workouts too – our Sales reps are going to be kept busy over the coming weeks visiting these people and promoting some of our latest products.

We were also thrilled at the request from a couple of fellow exhibitors who asked if they could borrow some of our products to display and help raise the image of their stands during the show…….. It’s good to know that the SP name is appreciated by many within the industry!

Thanks to all those people who came to see us on the stand and provided us with some valuable feedback that we can use for future product development. Hope to see you again at one of our future shows!

Competition News!

2011-05-18T02:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all those that entered our competition to win a GearWrench® 12 Piece Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set. We received lots of entries and are pleased to announce that the winner is………………..Mike Smith of RMS Car Repairs in Calshot. RMS Car Repairs are a long established, independent garage, whose services include car repairs, MOT’s, engine diagnostics and car servicing. Well Done Mike – We hope the wrench set comes in handy!

RMS Car Repairs

Tel: 02380 891046

The M9R Engine Conquered! by Professor Rob

2011-05-16T04:17:00.000-07:00

Stuck Injector

This week I visited a large Vauxhall dealer in Bolton that had a Vivaro van – as I found it, with one injector not just stuck but broken off as well. Double trouble! A vain attempt to remove this had been made by the guys at the garage using the OEM tool used by Vauxhall, Nissan & Renault but this injector was not budging!

18580000 - Tool in place

So I was set the challenge of pulling the injector out of the engine and with this particular Vauxhall having a joint engine fitted, also common in Renault and Nissan vehicles and renowned in the motor trade as the worst engine to remove injectors from – It is the fabled ‘M9R’ motor!

Injector successfully removed

People in the know normally allow half a day or more to pull one injector, so you can imagine how impressed the staff were when I managed to pull this tricky injector out……..along with another 4 injectors that were stuck in various Vauxhall M9R engines in little over half a day! Reeesult!

It has to be said that the garage had serious doubts we could provide a tool (18580000 - CLICK HERE to see video) that would actually assist in this tricky problem, yet alone work on this type of engine - but ours did. I have to add that our vibro-impact air hammer tool (90206000) also assisted in this operation and the combination of tools used really did the business!

Voila!

Mission: Accomplished!

"Shut that door!" – Another top tip from Professor Rob

2011-05-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

Shut That Door!

Vehicle diagnostic checking – always remember to shut the doors first or else there is a real chance your diagnostic tester won’t communicate with the car you are connected to.

Many vehicles (particularly Germanic ones) will restrict high level ECU access with the doors open or if the interior lights are on. Basic entry level EOBD readers pick codes from around the ECU core data..…but to go right into an ECU at a higher level using OEM type communication protocols – then many ECU’s only exchange data with the doors shut & interior lights off – so always remember to Shut That Door!

Conveyor Engineering – Delivering in style…...

2011-05-09T04:50:00.000-07:00

Conveyor Engineering – a local family run business based in Wolverhampton, manufacture one of our best selling lines and talk about delivering these to us in style! Father and son team Graham & Stuart Goodall each own a Holden Ute Maloo – imported from Australia, each has a 5.7 litre V8 engine (the same engine as a Corvette!) and boasts an impressive 340bhp. Environmentally friendly, the Holden’s LPG Dual Fuel system allows the Ute to automatically switch between petrol and LPG making it a cleaner, greener and cheaper alternative!

Conveyor Engineering UK Ltd – Providing general precision machining and fabrications
Tel: 01902 871254
Website: www.conveyorengineering.co.uk

Latest generation of vehicle EOBD flight recorders to help find faults that never seem to show up in workshops…

2011-05-06T06:24:00.000-07:00

Blubox

The past generations of vehicle flight recorders have always promised a lot but then failed to deliver – with most having limited communication, poor data recording and next to nothing in the way of diagnostic capabilities – all in all they just frustrated us! However don’t be disheartened because at last there is a recorder that delivers. The new ‘Blubox’ from Sykes-Pickavant offers full CAN compliance, multiplexing and selectable parameter recording allowing for weeks of data recording capability, making it an item that can be put into a car and left until a fault or faults appear.

When the little marvel spots a trouble code (not just P codes, but also B, C & U codes too!), it records it, beeps loudly and flashes its LED to alert the driver to bring it back to your workshop. In the past, older types were limited in the information they held – but Blubox is able to replay whole journeys back in real-time showing what was being sent to the ECU at the time a fault occurred and this combined with its diagnostic capability, database and free (yes free!) updates makes it the bee’s knees! So if you own a PC and are looking for a decent code reader - at £149.50, Blubox could be the ideal solution for you.

New Summer Promotional Brochure - Available Now

2011-05-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

We have now launched our latest Special Offers and New Products promotional brochure that runs from May until August 2011. The latest promo includes a mixture of products covering areas such as Suspension, Injection, Braking and Diagnostics and new tools like the Hydraulic Injector Puller System and Concentric Speedy Steering Rack Wrench are already proving to be a hit.

Be one of the first to see the brand new Tyre Pressure Monitoring-Sensor (TPMS) all makes service tool. Its features include sensor checking, activation and replacement – all in one tool!

To request a copy of the latest Summer promo, call Customer Services on 01543 679900 or CLICK HERE to view a copy.

Competition Time!

2011-04-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

We are launching a competition for one lucky person to win a GearWrench® 12 Piece Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set (9412 – List Price £85.00).

For your chance of winning, all you have to do is subscribe to our blog (CLICK HERE) and your email address will be entered into a draw to win the wrench set.

Closing date for entrants is 5pm on 10^th May – so make sure you subscribe today! For those who have already subscribed to the blog, don’t worry – your email address will automatically be entered!

Good Luck!

Note: Winner will be notified by email within 10 days of close of draw. Terms & Conditions apply

NEW VAG Hub Bearing Tool – Developed with a little help from some friends…..

2011-04-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

We have recently launched a tool for replacing hub bearings on certain cars that include the Polo, A2, Ibiza, Cordoba, Fabia, Roomster and Fox. The NEW 08125500 - Wheel Hub Bearing Fitting Kit was developed and tested with the help of one of the countries leading independent Volkswagen specialists - “Volks” from Coventry.

Proprietor Rob Howard says…”Over the years we have done hundreds of these tricky hub bearings and this tool will really help, now that it can be used on the car quickly and safely”. Rob adds “Without this tool the hub bearing is likely to be damaged when you re-fit it into the hub.” Praise indeed and seeing how many people trust Rob and his team to look after their VW group cars from all across the Midlands; that’s good enough for us!

VOLKS Service, Repair & Recovery, Unit 2 Arches Industrial Estate, Spon End, Coventry, CV1 3JQ

Tel: 02476 676407

Injector Removal – A real pain in the cylinder head…….

2011-04-20T04:12:00.000-07:00

When it comes to common rail fuel injector removal, it is true to say that performing such a job can be a real nightmare and if the injector is not pulled perfectly straight out of the cylinder head, then any deviation can cause the injector to lock into head which can then lead to broken off injector tips……Big trouble!

The NEW 18580000 - Hydraulic injector puller kit is designed to apply 10 Tonnes of vertical pulling force, to help in the removal of seized fuel injectors on modern diesel engines; this kit is compact, so very useful where there is not enough clearance above the injectors for traditional slide hammer pullers to operate.


Inject......arrghhh! - Desperate DIY'ers Attempts

We had to share the above image with you to show you what measures certain people have gone to remove a stubborn injector using washers, nails, screws, bolts....you name it! Anyone care to own up to the above contraptions?!!

Please CLICK HERE to watch a video of the hydraulic injector puller kit in action

To make common rail injectors last longer (often more than double their standard life) before failing, we recommend using a high quality diesel additive and if you are struggling to find a good one… give United Diesel a call on +44(0) 1939 291155, or visit their website: www.uniteddiesel.co.uk