New year = new car battery? Autoworld Zambia can help

According to Battery University (yes there is one out there), “All batteries have one thing in common: they run for a while, need charging, progressively fade with each cycle and eventually need replacement. The dream of a continuous energy source is not going to happen soon.” http://batteryuniversity.com.

Replacing your vehicle’s battery

When it comes to replacing your battery, selecting the right one can make all the difference between a battery you rarely think of, and one that becomes a constant source of frustration. It may be helpful to check out the Willard Battery Replacement Guide for passenger vehicles http://www.willard.co.za/passenger-cars-and-suvs/ (This website also has a replacement guide for batteries used for agriculture, trucks and leisure products)

The Hi-FASE brand stocked by Autoworld is made to the same specifications and on the same production line as the Willard Battery brand. Hi-FASE offers exactly the same product quality, warranty and technical support, giving customers “The Power of Technology”. Willard is acknowledged as a reliable, quality product that offers value for money, also a hard-working brand in terms of its ability to meet the needs of a diverse market. Willard Batteries is part of Powertech Batteries, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Powertech Group, one of the largest power electronics and telecommunications group in Southern Africa.

Not sure if you need a new battery?

If you don’t know whether your battery needs replacing, visit any of Autoworld’s fitment centres. While you wait, our staff will check your battery terminals and battery water levels (distilled water levels) ensuring your battery remains in good condition. We will also happily test the charging system on your vehicle, as well as your battery condition. Our equipment will report the alternator voltage (very important in prolonging battery life).  The equipment will also test the condition of the battery, identifying any damaged cells. You’ll get a printed report of this assessment of your vehicle’s charging system and battery.

Battery testing and component prices
Charging system test
Battery test
Battery fitting
Pair of brass battery terminals
Single battery terminal
Battery water (distilled water) 750ml
Battery water (distilled water) 2.5l

Note: all prices inclusive of 16% VAT
ZMW150.00
ZMW50.00
Free if battery purchased at Autoworld
ZMW50.00
ZMW24.00
ZMW7.00
ZMW19.00

Batteries for recreational use

Never store batteries for long periods of time without charging them up regularly. This shortens the life span of a battery significantly, even if it is brand new.

If you have a recreational vehicle, boat or motor cycle that is not used on a regular basis, it is advisable to connect its battery to a treacle smart charger. This is a battery charger permanently connected to a 220v power supply as well as both terminals of the battery while it is stored away. The charge of the battery is permanently kept above 12v. As soon as the battery drops below 12v then the charger automatically begins to charge the battery. Once the battery has reached 12v the charger will immediately turn off. This charger can be left connected for very long periods of time and will protect your battery from permanent damage. Smart chargers are available from the Autoworld Downtown Marine shop.

We trust this information has been useful to you. Visit our fitment centres and Autoworld stores for your Hi-FASE battery. And check out the incredible January 2016 Hi-FASE battery offer!

January monthly special — 15% off all Hi-FASE batteries

+ New year = new car battery? Let Autoworld help you decide. Read our latest battery article.

December monthly special — 15% off all tyres and wipers

Wiper blades and the rainy season

December has brought in the long-awaited rains. That makes it time to change your wipers! Use our wiper blades and visibility tips and get 15% right now. Read the wiper blades article.

Tyres and the rainy season

Watch out for oil slicks on wet roads. Drive slowly in wet weather. To avoid skidding make sure your tyres have a good tread on them.

“To help you keep safe, we’re offering 15% off all our stock of tyres and wipers for the next 14 days! So visit your nearest Autoworld branch from today, the 3rd of December to benefit. And because it’s Christmas, the 15% off deal is valid for two whole weeks, until Wednesday 16th December 2015.”

Monthly Specials are available at all participating Autoworld branches as well as Impala Service Station while stocks last.

Plus get free wheel balancing when you buy tyres from us!

The giveaways don't stop! As well as 15% off tyres our team is also ready to give you free wheel balancing. Stay safe this rainy season with our tyre and wiper blades offer.

Wiper blades tips for the Zambian rainy season

The start of the rains means action time for your wipers! They have been basking in the sun for several months and probably become brittle and cracked. If so, they're not going to be much good at keeping your windshield clear in the middle of a good old Zambian downpour.

What you need to look for in a good wiper blade

Here’s what the Wirecutter, a gadgets website, has to say about wiper blades. 

“You have to find a wiper that fits and change it frequently. If your blades are the right size and they’re less than a year old, you can drive out into a storm with confidence that you’ve got a good chance of being able to see out the windshield.”

— The Wirecutter

— Flat versus metal blades

Flat wiper blades are lighter and more wind resistant than conventional metal-framed blades. But some motorists prefer to stick to the metal-framed type. Autoworld stocks both designs.

1.       Moon brand (flat plastic) wiper blades

2.       Kstar brand (steel frame) wiper blades

Both of these are available in sizes 11” – 28” to fit any type of vehicle from a small saloon right up to a large truck or coach. Autoworld will happily fit them for you at no extra charge — and that will help ensure you buy the right size.

— Quick tips on how to keep visibility high when driving

1. In the rainy season, insects on the windscreen can be a problem, especially at night. Make sure your windscreen washer tank is full and use a good quality windscreen washer additive. Ordinary detergents tend to block the thin piping which leads to the windscreen washer jets. We stock two leading windscreen washer brands — Spanjaard Windscreen Cleaner and Holts’ Motorcycle Bug Shifter (specifically for bug removal).
2. Avoid misting inside the vehicle by using a silicon spray. We have a range of different brands in stock. Put some on a cloth and wipe on the inside of vehicle windows. (You can also spray this on door rubbers to reseal them).
3. If your wipers leave lines on the windscreen when in use, its a sign that the rubber is brittle and needs replacing.
4. Always keep a spare set of wiper blades in case you need to change them in a hurry.

Autoworld’s continuing support of Linda Compound Hospice in Zambia

Children in Linda Compound, Lusaka

For some time Autoworld has been donating medicines needed for the hospice in Linda Compound. 

Here is the background and context of this initiative. For the last decade Cossie and Noble Findlay (Chairman of Autoworld) have been involved in helping VisionAfrica, now VisionZambia, fulfill their promise to the community of Linda Compound in Lusaka, Zambia. When Psychology of Vision started visiting Zambia in the late 1990's Cossie was asked to find a worthwhile project for VisionAfrica.

“From that request was born this project to bring clean water to the 35,000 inhabitants of Linda Compound. This resulted in a profound drop in deaths from diseases born from dirty water. ”

And so the fund VisionAfrica was born and grown into a charity called VisionZambia. Over the years this charity has been helping the community by:

• Providing clean water and infrastructure
• Supporting the hospice in Linda Compound with access to drugs and palliative care
• Feeding the children
• Providing education
• Working with the people to on appropriate income generating projects 
• In 2013 the Friends Helping Friends Community Centre opened.

Cossie Findlay, Autoworld Co-founder

Cossie Findlay is still a committed trustee of the Mother of Mercy Hospice Trust and a trustee of VisionZambia.

“Together with support from Autoworld Limited, we have accomplished what we believed to be impossible.”

— Cossie Findlay, Autoworld Co-founder

And so the journey continues ...

More load shedding solutions for Zambia

Following on from our previous article "An answer to power cuts - Ecogen generators with back-up spares",  Autoworld is offering an alternative to give customers a choice of power back-up options.

Su-Kam DSP Sine Wave inverters

The Su-Kam Digital Signal Processor Sine Wave Inverter with EnerSys PowerSafe batteries gives a complete UPS system (Uninterrupted Power Supply). When there is normal electrical power, the inverter converts the AC supply to DC so that the batteries charge. When there is a power cut, the system can be instantly switched so that the DC supply from the batteries goes through the inverter. This converts it to an AC supply for use in the home or office. 

The Su-Kam DSP Sine Wave inverter protects your batteries from damage caused by over-discharging by automatically shutting itself off when the battery voltage falls below a certain level.

EnerSys PowerSafe V batteries

 
EnerSys’ PowerSafe V range of valve-regulated lead-acid batteries have been designed specifically for use in applications which demand the highest levels of security and reliability. They have a long service life and an excellent rate of performance.

Features of Su-Kam inverters

• Available in 2.5, 3.5, 5.0 or 7.5 KVA sizes
• Automatic computerised testing
• Regulated pure sine wave output
• Designed for heavy duty applications
• User friendly LCD panel for status, messages, faults and remedies
• Can run air conditioners, microwaves, geysers and submersible pumps
• PWM controlled 5 stage ATM battery protection
• Can be expanded at a later date
• Field-settable heavy-duty SMPS charger (7-20 amps) for different capacities of batteries (100Ah - 200Ah)

Features of EnerSys PowerSafe batteries

• Deliver superior performance
• Occupies less space than conventional standby power batteries
• V-0 rated, flame retardant, ABS plastic for both containers and covers – for high mechanical strength and excellent safety features
• Oxygen from the positive plates diffuses through micro-porous separators to the negative plates and recombines to form water
• Each cell incorporates its own safety valve, allowing controlled release of gas when pressure builds up within the cell

“Autoworld offers these inverters and batteries at highly competitive prices. See any of our fully trained sales men to help you select the correct size for your needs. You’ll be up and running in no time.”

November monthly special — 15% off Castrol, Caltex, Shell and Engen lubricants

November engine oil deal — Castrol, Caltex, Shell and Engen lubricants

Autoworld holds a substantial stock of these engine oils. Find out about the importance of changing your vehicle's engine oil especially in hot weather in this article 'What's so cool about engine oil'.

“Get 15% off all engine oils by Castrol, Caltex, Shell and Engen. That makes it a great time to stock up on quality engine oil!”

The November Monthly Specials start today, Thursday 5th November. Get discounted prices on Autoworld’s full range of engine oils. The 15% off deal is valid for one week until Wednesday 11th November 2015.

Monthly Specials are available at all participating Autoworld branches as well as Impala Service Station while stocks last.

September Monthly Special – 15% off GUD Filters

GUD filters

Autoworld stocks a full range of GUD filters including air, oil and fuel filters. These quality filters will to protect your engine from harmful contaminants. 

15% off GUD filters

The September Monthly Specials start today, Thursday 3rd September. Get discounted prices on Autoworld’s full range of GUD filters. The offer is valid for one week until Wednesday 9th September 2015.

Monthly Specials are available at all participating Autoworld branches as well as Impala Service Station while stocks last. Call your nearest branch for further details. 

Quality filters give great engine protection and save money

The purpose of a vehicle's filters is to keep out harmful contaminants from the engine.

Contaminants are carried by the air, oil and fuel supplies. Contaminants can be in the form of dust, sand, soot, water or engine-wearing metals. If these contaminants are NOT filtered out, rapid engine wear will occur, or worse, complete engine failure.

It can cost hundreds of thousands of Kwacha to recover from engine failure.

A sub-standard filter will most certainly result in premature wear. On the face of it and to the untrained eye, sub-standard filters may look fine from the outside. This is where the unsuspecting are led astray. In reality, filtration performance far outweighs physical appearance. 

“Sub-standard filters will not adequately protect your engine, which may well result in unnecessary expenditure which could be substantial.”

You are strongly advised to fit the best quality filter to your vehicle. Just follow these simple rules:

1. Always buy a reputable and trusted brand, such as a GUD filter. 
2. Always look for a comprehensive product warranty, as offered by GUD Filters. Other warranties may only replace the filter without covering the damage done to the vehicle’s engine. 
3. Always ensure that the brand you fit to your vehicle meets or exceeds the original equipment specification (as GUD filters do).

Why choose a GUD filter?

• GUD filters give great engine protection
• GUD filters are made with superior quality materials and to the specifications of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)
• GUD filters offer a comprehensive warranty
• GUD filters have an extensive product range and expert technical support
• GUD filters are a reputable and trusted brand with a 65 year track record

“We stock the full range of GUD filters and you can get 15% off from the 3rd to the 9th of September 2015.”

You may also be interested in our other ranges...

Autoworld Stars and Tuff Stuff FC clash on the football pitch!

The intrepid Autoworld Stars football team

At the invitation of Bimbe Trading Company, on Saturday 1st August 2015 Autoworld Stars Football Club (otherwise known as the Keep Zambia Moving team) met Bimbe’s ‘Tuff Stuff’ Football Club in a friendly match. The 60 minute match kicked off at 15.30 hours.

“Bimbe’s Tuff Stuff Team had clearly been training hard for the match, and their ball possession was excellent. But, sensing danger, the Autoworld Stars rapidly built up momentum. Team work, one of the core values of the company, paid off on the pitch!”

Spectators were amazed at the beautiful display of passes from defence, through the mid field and then going forward.In the 18th minute the Tuff Stuff team was shocked to see a well-coordinated pass reach Misheck Zulu who angled the ball confidently towards the goal. The brilliant Bimbe goalie caught the ball but could not stop the goal as he was driven back into the net. It was Autoworld 1 : Bimbe 0! What jubilation from soccer fans and school officials and as if that was not enough, the 26th minute saw another goal by Autoworld from a penalty free kick.

A few seconds before half time, Team Autoworld interchanged passes and much to the amusement of the spectators they confused the Bimbe defenders and scored the third goal. The ball went straight into the bottom corner of the net, with Bimbe’s goal keeper momentarily caught 'napping'.

The second half was not easy for Team Autoworld. Team Bimbe put up a brilliant performance but it seemed they lacked strikers who could beat Autoworld’s able defence. And Team Autoworld’s goalie Njekwa did the job, sealing the goal from the Bimbe team.

“And so it ended... Autoworld Stars 3 : Tuff Stuff FC 0. What a vibrant and well-coordinated game, with every player contributing significantly. Many congratulations to Captain Victor and the Autoworld team!!”

Gomes Nsobe Safari Rally 2015 — sponsored by Autoworld

On 1st August 2015 the Zambia Motorsport Association held its first Motorsport Rally in Ndola in over 20 years. Autoworld hosted and sponsored the scrutineering of the Gomes Nsobe Safari Rally.

This exciting Gomes Nsobe Safari Rally event began at noon at the Autoworld workshop and fitment centre in Ndola. All participating cars were carefully scrutinised for safety and road worthiness. Once the last of the 26 cars had been checked, the event moved to Ndola Motor Cross along the Ndola - Kitwe dual carriageway for the official start at 15.00 hours. The finishing line was Nsobe Game Camp off the Ndola – Kapiri Mposhi road.

Autoworld would like to congratulate the team of Farook Ticklay and Jasmeen Singh for scooping 1st position in the 2015 Gomes Nsobe Safari Rally. They were closely followed by the teams of Muna Singh Jr, Leeroy Gomes, Vyon Pinto, Toofail Dalal, Kumaren Naidu, Azim Ticklay, Mujo Simakoloyi, Yazdaan Ticklay, Wellington Matimba and Kleevan Gomes, who all put up a spirited fight and crossed the finish line.

The Gomes Nsobe Safari Rally team prize went to Ticklay Motorsport Team. Mohammed Essa and Farook Ticklay won first and second ‘power stages’ respectively.

The next Zambia Motorsport Association rally is the 6th National Rally Championship, commonly known as the Monze Rally. It will be held on 12th - 13th September 2015 in Monze, Southern Province.

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August Monthly Specials – Castrol Lubricants

Autoworld stocks a full range of quality lubricants from Castrol, to help keep your vehicle in tip top condition and running efficiently. For six simple tips on how to ensure you have a smooth running engine, see our latest article: What a difference a quality lubricant makes.

The August Monthly Specials start today, Thursday 6 August. Discounted prices for Autoworld’s full range of Castrol lubricants will be valid for one week until Wednesday 12 August 2015.

Monthly Specials are available at all participating Autoworld branches as well as Impala Service Station while stocks last. Call your nearest branch for further details. Contact information for all our branches can be found here.

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