How to Claim Against a Pothole

How To Claim Against A Pothole

Potholes are a common sight on many roads within the UK, especially around springtime. No matter how hard we try to avoid them, there is always that one pothole that catches us off-guard. If you are fortunate enough to leave a hit pothole with all coils and tyres in tacked, then you can drive off with little concern.

However, if you have been made a victim by a nasty pothole that has left you with a deflated tyre or broken coils, you can claim compensation.

 Collect the Evidence

The first action that you should take after hitting a pothole is to collect all the evidence possible from the scene. This includes the exact location of the pothole, photographs showing the pothole and any photos of any damage caused when you hit it.

If safe to do so, return to the pothole with a ruler or measuring tape. Place the ruler or measuring tape in the bottom of the hole and take a photograph. By doing this, it illustrates how deep the pothole is. 

Report the Pothole

Once you have collected all the evidence you now need to report the pothole to your highways agency or local authority. They are responsible for maintaining the roads in your local area and will need to organise a repair in due course.

Keep Your Receipts

It is unlikely that you will be compensated before you need your car back on the road.

This means that you will need to pay to get any damages fixed before receiving any possible money. Once your car has been fixed, ensure that you get a receipt for all work carried out to repair the damage, this will vital evidence in your case.

 Make A Claim

Each local authority has a specific protocol when it comes to claiming against a pothole. Contact your local council to find out what information they require and start the claim proceedings.

I’ve Submitted A Claim – What Now?

Now that you have submitted your claim, you may be starting to consider what you can do if you aren’t happy with your compensation offer or rejection.

I’ve Received A Pothole Offer I’m Not Happy With

You may feel that you have no control over what the council can offer you, but this is not the case. Don’t be afraid to negotiate costs of repairs with your local authority

My Pothole Claim Was Rejected – What Can I Do?

If your pothole claim has been rejected, you may be able to appeal the claim. Put in a request for the council’s road inspection reports. Once you have them you can check to see if they have followed the process as required. If the claim hasn’t followed protocol you can appeal for a review.

My Local Authority Still Aren’t Paying for The Pothole Damage

If you are struggling to reach a resolution with your local authority you can take your pothole claim to a small claims court. Seek legal advice before going down this route. If your legal team are in support of your claim and believe they can help you get the compensation you can further pursue your claim for your pothole damages.

Cold Morning Tips: How To Safely Clear Your Window Screen

How To Defrost Your Car Windows Quickly And Safely

Winter is coming, and based on reports it's going to be a cold one!

As temperatures are already dropping, get ready for the dreaded morning routine of thawing your car before you can drive off to work. We look at some of the best tips to defrost your window quickly and safely!

Tips

• Use a scraper, be careful to hold the scraper at an angle and to not scratch or damage your glass. If the ice is too thick for this to be effective, try combining it with some other options below.
• Use a card if you don’t have a scraper in a pinch. Make sure to choose a more disposable card though, such as a loyalty card. Do not risk bending your credit card or drivers licence!
•  Use a de-icer, available in aerosol or spray forms, leave the spray to sink into the ice for a couple minutes before you go in with a scraper and it should be a lot easier.
• Use your car heater, turn the heating up all of the way, and aim the fans at your windows. This will start the ice defrosting from the inside and will really help when you come to scrape it off!
• Lukewarm water, use the water to soften up the ice as you scrape at it. Be careful to only use lukewarm water and not hot.
• A solution of rubbing alcohol and water, one part water to two parts alcohol is supposed to clear the ice right up!

What Not To Do

•  Do not use boiling water! It is tempting to want to get rid of the ice as soon as possible, but boiling water will cause the glass to change temperatures dramatically which causes cracks or weakness in the glass.
• Don’t use anything sharp. Don’t chip away at the ice with a sharp object, this will chip or scratch your glass.
• Do not drive, this seems obvious but do not start driving and hope the glass will clear up quickly. This is not only dangerous but it’s against the law.
• Don’t leave your car running as you go inside, there are reports every year of people getting their cars stolen as they were inside waiting for them to heat up.

Prevention

To prevent ice build-up try using something to cover your windows at night to reduce the amount of ice on there by the morning. You can get tarps or window covers, but even a folded sheet will help. Getting a ‘night before de-icer’ is also a good option, spray it on the windows as you park up for the night and in the morning you will have less or no ice! Or try getting a de-icer for your window cleaning solution, to similar effects, this should help prevent the ice building up. They coat the window in a film and help prevent the ice sticking. 

6 Car Parts & Their Uses

When it comes to motoring many of us know that operating a car involves the correct fuel, oil and yearly maintenance. If your mechanical expertise does not extend much further than this, you have come to the right place. We have put together the 6 most common car parts and explain what they do.

Looking for a Vauxhall car part? Get in contact with MegaVaux today! Specialising in Vauxhall car parts, we will either have the part your looking for in stock or order it for you.

Engine

The car engine is the heart beat behind everything. Found within your engine bay, the car engine works by allowing fuel and air to filter into the engines cylinders. When the fuel and air feeds into the cylinders a small combustion takes place. The combustion causes a rapid expansion of gases in the form of heat which in turn creates the motion.

Ignition

When you turn the ignition switch on, you are allowing a current to flow to the battery. The ignition system generates a high voltage and sends it directly to each sparkplug. This ignites the fuel-air mixture in the engines combustion chambers, causing the combustion with the engine.

Muffler

Under your car you can find a metal container, which contains a series of sub-chambers inside. The muffler helps to reduce the overall engine noise.

Alternator

The alternator is responsible for all the electrics within your car. The alternator turns a magnet which sits within a wired coil. This rotating movement of the drive belt get turned into electricity, which produces a voltage to charge the cars battery. The car battery is then able to power all the cars electrical components, such as headlights, brake lights and internal electrics.

Radiator

The engine produces a lot of heat when it’s running, meaning that it needs a radiator to keep it at an optimum temperature. The radiator is located at the front of the car. It allows fresh air to run over and through all the radiator fins. The fins on the radiator are used to help absorb excess heat to ensure that car doesn’t overheat. Coolant is pumped through the engine block and into the radiator and picks up heat from the engine.

Transmission

The cars transmission ensures that the correct amount of power and torque goes from the engine to the wheels. This allows you to drive within different gear ratios according to the speed of the road. To shift between gears your engine and transmission must disconnect temporarily. When you push the clutch in your engine is disconnecting from the transmission.

Can Vauxhalls Take The New E10 Fuel?

What is the new E10 Fuel?

The government is drafting plans to introduce a new E10 fuel to the UK. This fuel is already rolled out in other countries including Germany and France. E10 is a ‘biofuel’ – it is regular unleaded petrol made with 10% ethanol instead of the usual 5%. Which is hoped to be 2% less pollutive than usual unleaded petrol. The bioethanol in the fuel absorbs some of the carbon dioxide emitted which is why E10 is considered greener.

The problem with E10 is it cannot go into every petrol car as standard. Many older cars will be unable to run on the new eco-fuel, and this has delayed the release of E10 in the UK. Any car produced after 2011 will be E10 compatible – but many popular cars from just before this time, that are still on our roads, will be unable to change fuel. The official advice is that any car predating 2002 is unlikely to be compatible and are advised not to try as it can damage your vehicle.

Vauxhall has previously said, “E10 fuel can be used in all petrol-engine Vauxhall vehicles except models with the 2.2-litre direct-injection petrol engine (code Z22YH) used in Vectra, Signum, and Zafira.”

Check out The First Peak At The Brand-New styling For The Vauxhall Range

Yesterday we were treated to a sneak peak of the Vauxhall GT X Experimental brand concept.

This is the new futuristic design that’s going to be a vision of Vauxhalls next decade of cars from 2019. Vauxhall is hoping this modern design direction will revamp the brand. Vauxhall’s Vice-President of design Mark Adams has said: “Design will be at the heart of everything that we do in the future. It will truly differentiate the Vauxhall brand, and make it sharper and more relevant to our core values.”

Photos By Vauxhall

While the images leave a lot to the imagination, what’s under the sheet gives us an idea of the shape of the new range, suggesting an updated hatchback body. Whilst the modern lights and general look appears similar to other ‘futuristic’ style cars such as other electric or hybrid models. Vauxhall has explained these lights are called ‘Vizors’ and will be a prominent feature on the future range.

Overall Vauxhall has said the new range “will embrace its core values – British, Ingenious, Progressive and Approachable – and provide a template for the future design of its production cars”.

What do you think is this a good direction for Vauxhall? Let us know in the comments!

Vauxhaull – 25 Years of the Corsa

The Corsa model turns 25 this year! To celebrate this achievement Vauxhall released a list of 25 things you may not have known about the Corsa, Check it out below!

As the iconic Corsa turns 25, here’s 25 things you may not know about it 

1. The original Corsa was introduced in an advert with supermodels Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista 
2. It was once claimed that about 70% of learners make their first car purchase the same model as they pass their test in^[1]
3. Vauxhall has sold two million Corsas in the UK and 9.86 million globally
4. ‘Corsa’ means ‘race’ in Italian
5. When Arctic Monkeys signed a publishing deal with EMI publishing, lead vocalist Alex Turner celebrated by buying a Vauxhall Corsa 
6. The Corsa replaced the much-loved Vauxhall Nova
7. Matt Smith sold his Corsa on eBay for £6.3k, donating the fee to children’s charity Starlight
8. Tinie Tempah, boxer Nicola Adams and ex-Doctor Who actor Matt Smith all bought the Corsa as their first car
9. The most popular latest Corsa colour bought is the Grey, with 45,050 Grey Corsas currently on British roads
10. The original model sold for £7,195, with the price rising by just £3,850 in 25 years. Assuming an annual inflation rate of 2%, it would be less expensive now than in 1993
11. Vauxhall has sold 20,000 Corsas to UK police forces in the past ten years
12. Original Corsa designer Richard Shaw still works at Vauxhall, working through the ranks to Chief Designer for Interiors
13. Famous celebs involved in campaigns for the Corsa include Sean Paul, Claudia Schiffer, James Martin and fictional rock band, The C’mons
14. Vauxhall has supplied thousands of Corsas to driving schools including BSM, Red and Hitachi Capital
15. British artist Alex Chinneck designed a gravity-defying illusionary artwork which saw the artist suspend a Corsa fifteen feet in the air at London’s Southbank Centre
16. Vauxhall renamed its yellow colour to Maddox Yellow to show support for pensioner Peter Maddox, whose yellow Corsa was vandalised
17. The Corsa is one of the most popular used cars bought, with 63,000 sold each year through Network Q, the best place to buy a used Vauxhall
18. Over 100 models of the Corsa have featured in the annual Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair at locations across the UK for the past 13 years
19. The latest generation of the Corsa is available in 13 colours 
20. Some Corsa models have a hidden shark on the hinge of the glove compartment
21. Unusual Corsa models have included a convertible version and a sporty pick-up
22. In 2014, the prototype fourth-generation Corsa was in gear to win the Guinness World Record for the “Largest GPS Drawing” 
23. Vauxhall created a pair of bespoke headphones in the shape of a Corsa to help launch the fifth year of the UK Beatbox Championships in 2011
24. The Corsa previously shared some of the same parts with a sports car, the Lotus Elise
25. A new electric Corsa model will be launching in 2019 – Vauxhall’s first electric Corsa. Which you can read about here!

For all Corsa parts, no matter which of the models you have from the last 25 years visit MegaVaux

Beware of Corsa Cannibals

There has been a wave of thefts among the Midlands and North East, as ‘Corsa cannibals’ are stripping Vauxhall Corsa’s. The thieves are stealing parts in the night while the cars are parked outside their owners’ house, some were even on drives. The cannibals are targeting the Corsa model due to their popularity, and the price that these parts will go for on the black market, as there is such high demand. The cannibals have been causing havoc, as people wake up in the mornings to find their bumpers missing or front ends completely dissembled! Which means expensive replacements for anyone targeted. Parts taken include bonnets, bumpers, grills and lights. These thieves have been described as highly skilled to remove these parts so quickly without damaging them, mechanics say this type of work could be done in as little as 10 minutes if someone knows what they’re doing.

This is the second wave of crimes like this, as this craze started back in 2013, during which over 500 Corsa’s were targeted in Bedfordshire. Police believed this was an organised crime network, that proved to be very profitable. A Vauxhall spokesperson has said that the cars are being targeted specifically as the Corsa models are very popular among younger drivers. The young inexperienced drivers are more prone to crashes, with the stolen parts being sold for replacements of damaged parts.

Police have warned owners of Corsa’s to be careful where they park to avoid the cannibals, preferably in a secure location, with CCVT, where thieves will be unable to get to the bonnet. Vauxhall has since teamed up with the police to try and catch these cannibals.

If you’re not a Corsa cannibal, you can get your Corsa Spare Parts with us at Megavaux.

When is it Time to Scrap Your Car?

If the worst should happen and your car fails its MOT test, what should you do?
If your car has failed on an issue that is easily fixed, then its nothing to worry about, either take it to a mechanic or if it is something you can fix yourself then check out our range of Vauxhall and Opel new, used or reconditioned car parts today. Whether the part you're seeking is big or small, you'll find it here!

If the problem is an expensive one, but fairly simple, then it’s time to think about how reliable the car is. If this is the first problem and it should have many more years left in it then it’ll probably be worth repairing in the long run as its cheaper than getting a brand-new car. However, if your car is older and has failed due to more complex problems such as corrosion, engine failure or brake faults, or has had recurring problems, then the cost of repair may be more than what the car is actually worth. If this is the case for you, then scrapping your car is generally the next option to take.


If you're in the UK, and live in areas such as Nottingham, Derby, Leicester or Coventry, we suggest scrapping your car with us at Megavaux as we offer Vehicle Recycling Solutions, with free collection in the UK! 

MOT Changes Could Cost You £2500 And 3 Points!

There are new changes to the MOT test coming into effect on the 20th May 2018 find out here how to avoid the new harsher punishments!

The new criteria is in aid of making Britain’s cars more environmentally friendly as tougher emissions tests are enforced, from now on things like smoke can fail your car immediately, especially for diesel cars! If smoke is coming out of the exhaust this is classed as a major fault, even if this is due to a diesel particulate filter.

The main change, however, is that any faults will now be rated into one of three categories – dangerous major and minor:

• Minor faults are classed as issues that have no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment 
• Major faults will be any issues where the car is thought to be less safe and have an impact on the environment 
• Dangerous faults, however, pose an immediate risk to road safety and have an impact on the environment.

New rules state that if you take your car for an MOT before it runs out and then fails you cannot keep driving until the old one runs out, this will result in a £2500 fine! This was due to motorists taking their car in early to check if work needed doing, however, the new rules mean it will be registered as unroadworthy immediately no matter how long is left on the old MOT.

Among the new tests will include checks for Steering, breaking and lighting. Even small cracks in your wing mirror or windscreen can mean you fail under new rules.

In a quote from the RAC they have criticised the new changes "Rather than MOT failures simply being black and white, the new system creates the potential for confusion as testers will have to make a judgment as to whether faults are 'Dangerous', 'Major' or 'Minor'” RAC spokesman Simon Williams

Fix up your car before the test date with Megavaux spare parts!

Vauxhalls Comeback Corsa! Fully Electric Corsa’s announced for 2019

A brand new Electric Corsa has been announced for Launch in 2019 and set to go into production 2020. Following in the footsteps of other successful electric cars such as Renault Zoe, Citroën CZero, and Nissan Leaf, Vauxhall is hoping to be a top competitor in the EV market.

The new Corsa is Expected to be a big hit and Vauxhall hope it’ll put them comfortably back in profits after a terrible 2017 for the company. The new Corsa was announced as part of the companies PACE! recovery plan aiming to set them back into profits by 2020. Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller, said: “This plan is paramount for the company, to protect our employees against headwinds and turn Opel/Vauxhall into a sustainable, profitable, electrified, and global company.”

A fully electric Corsa is a big step in their plan to have every Vauxhall and Opel model at least partially electric by 2024, the Corsa pioneering a move that sees 3 other electric models Vauxhall and Opel have announced coming out and including their Flextreme model (pictured below?). There’s also expected to be a hybrid version of the Grandland X as this model is currently based on the EMP2 platform. Greener cars on the market can only be a good thing with electric cars giving off 50% less CO2 emissions throughout its lifetime than a diesel. There has been no information yet about the range the new Corsa will be able to do however it’s been estimated it’ll be above 200 miles.

We’ll have to wait till 2019 to find out, however, if you’re looking for Corsa spare parts now find them online and with ease ant MegaVaux.

Vauxhall News - Vauxhall Pass 100,000 Insignia Orders

The all-new Insignia has only been on the market for less than a year but this month has been one for celebration for Vauxhall and Opel as they have reached the 100,000-order milestone for the popular model.

The latest Insignia range is powered by a portfolio of turbocharged, four-cylinder, diesel and petrol engines from 1.5 to 2.0-litre, combined with a choice of six-speed manual or six and eight-speed automatic transmissions.

The most powerful diesel and petrol engines are also offered with innovative torque vectoring all-wheel drive. Buyers benefit from numerous state-of-the-art technologies, such as adaptive cruise control (which automatically adjusts the speed to follow the vehicle in front according to the selected following distance), IntelliLux LED matrix headlights (which automatically adapt to every traffic situation) and ergonomic seats certified by the back-specialists from Aktion Gesunder Rücken (AGR).

You can also benefit from a  moderate cost of ownership compared with its competitors in the high-volume and premium segments.

So, if you're tempted to ditch your old car for something a little bit more special don't forget you can easily scrap your car at Megavaux, all information can be found on our homepage.

Upcoming MOT Test? Our Tips for Avoiding Fails & Knowing When It's Time to Scrap Your Car

It's the annual event that no car owner looks forward to, the dreaded MOT test! According to the DVLA, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, one in every three cars will fail there MOT test - a worrying statistic that only increases our dread when it comes to booking our cars in.
But, did you know that the majority of cars actually and fail their MOT due to easily avoidable problems, such as headlights, hazard lights and indicators failures? Simple repairs can often be fixed without a mechanic before your MOT takes place, so in order to avoid unnecessary frustration and expense, we thought we'd share some easy ways that you can avoid simple faults and failed MOT tests!

Our tips to avoiding MOT fails

Check that all your lights and bulbs are working correctly. This includes headlights, rear lights, indicator lights, hazard lights and brake lights. If the bulbs have blown, follow your manual instructions to replace them.

Check your tyres! You should be aware that the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, if your tyres tread depth is below this then it may consequently be an automatic fine, and even a fine

Whilst looking at your tyre's tread depth, be sure to check the pressure too, and that they’re not damaged or worn in any way

Test your brakes, hand brakes and your steering wheel

Your view from the driver's seat should not be obstructed in anyway - ensure that you check the wiper blades for damage

Your registration plate must be easily readable and if you have had a special personalised plate made, ensure it meets DVLA requirements

Your VIN number should match the number in your log book 

Test your horn in a suitable location and at a suitable time

However, despite how much you look after your car prior to its MOT test, we know that sometimes there are just certain problems that cannot be fixed at home. What happens then?

When is it time to scrap your car?

So you've had your MOT test and your car has unfortunately failed, what happens next? If your car is new and has failed on an issue that is easily fixed with a mechanic, then you may be willing to pay for repair but, if your car is older and has failed due to more complex problems such as corrosion, engine failure or brake faults, then the cost of repair may be more than what the car is actually worth. If this is the case for you, then scrapping your car is generally the next option to take.
If you're in the UK, and live in areas such as Nottingham, Derby, Leicester or Coventry, we suggest scrapping your car with scrap your car online. Their easy-to-use, online quote form makes the process of scrapping your car hassle-free and the quickest it's ever been. Not only that, Scrap Your Car Online offer the best value for money when it comes to your unwanted motor, and will even come and pick it up for you, at a time that is convenient.

Want to repair your car? Search our range of Vauxhall and Opel new, used or reconditioned car parts today. Having been around for many years, it's safe to say we know our stuff when it comes to all things Vauxhall! Whether the part you're seeking is big or small, you'll find it here!