Make your Family Taxi more Family Friendly

With the ongoing pressure to be everywhere and get everything done, it's easy to lose your cool. What you may not realise is there are a whole range of things that can add up to make your car a more toxic environment.
Learn more about these common causes of added stress while driving and how you can reduce them!

Did you know the air inside our cars has been found to have a much higher concentration of pollutants than the air just outside the vehicle - up to 10 times, in some cases?

Protect your family from allergy causing pollutants.
These pollutants can trigger headaches, nausea and general fatigue for you and your family. Those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems are especially at risk when exposed to a concentration of pollutants. Improving the air quality in your car can be as simple as asking a mechanic to change your cabin air filter the next time you take your car in for a service.

To ensure their effectiveness, cabin air filters should be replaced approximately every 15,000 km or at least once a year. Cabin air filters also help prevent odours and keep the interior of your car cleaner by filtering out dust and dirt. For best results, Repco Authorised Service workshops use and recommend high quality Ryco Cabin Air Filters.   Learn how a cabin air filter helps protect your family with ourCabin Air AutoFacts video

If you suspect your car may need a new filter, visit your local Repco Authorised Service and we can check and replace your cabin air filter for you.

Is your car making you sick? Dealing with a nasty smell in your car? This could be caused by a build-up of bacteria in your car’s vents that not only make trips in the car unpleasant but can also cause health issues. If car air fresheners aren’t doing the trick, ask your local Repco Authorised Service about a treatmentto kill the bacteria in your car and eliminate that nasty smell.
Learn more about the bacteria in your car here

In Australia, a properly working air conditioner is vital to keeping your family comfortable all year round. Not only that, being too cold or too hot in the car can seriously affect your mood as well as your concentration on the roads.

Air conditioning systems contain a myriad of hoses and seals that can dry out or crack, which could lead to coolant leaks and poor performance. In addition to regular servicing, running your car air conditioning during the winter months also helps to maintain the system in good working order. If you're unsure about the state of your cars air conditioning, ask your mechanic to check it the next time you pop into your local service centre.
View our Air Conditioning AutoFacts video to learn more

When driving the kids to school feels more like an upper body gym workout, it's time to book your vehicle in for a suspension and steering service. The key role of well-performing car suspension and steering is to provide stability, good handling and ultimately, safety. A regular suspension and steering service will ensure your family's comfort.
Plus, did you know your suspension system plays a critical part in braking safely?
View our Shock Absorbers AutoFacts video to learn more

While all cases of motion sickness can't be prevented, here are some ways you can prevent or lessen the severity of motion sickness...

• Do not read while travelling in the car
• Try keeping your gaze fixed on the horizon, or, on a fixed point
• Sit in the front passenger seat
• Open a vent or window to get some fresh air
• Watch your food consumption - Avoid excessive food or drink that may make you feel unwell

If these tips don't work and driving isn't a pleasure anymore, get it into your local Repco Authorised Service centre to get your steering and suspension checked.

A professional wheel alignment will not only ensure your tyres last longer and your car handles well and safely, but it also has the added benefit of reducing fatigue while driving.

• Uneven or accelerated wear on the edges of your tyres. Usually caused by a toe out or toe in condition
• The steering has a "mushy" feel or has become less responsive. While poor steering can be caused by wheel alignment it may be linked to a more serious problem behind the wheel that needs professional diagnosis
• It your cars steering wheel is not returning to the dead ahead position or pulls to one side

While poor steering can be caused by wheel alignment, it may be linked to a more serious problem behind the wheel that needs professional diagnosis. 

• Hitting curbs
• Driving over speed bumps with excess speed
• Hitting potholes
• Getting into an accident - Even the littlest bump can misalign your wheels

If you think your car may need a wheel alignment, visit your local Repco Authorised Service, we can test and adjust your wheel alignment.

Let's face it, not being able to see clearly while you’re driving is another added stress you just don't need! Are you getting headaches from eye strain behind the wheel? Eye strain can be caused by poor visibility bought on by bad weather or light conditions.
Being able to see clearly on the road is critical to safe driving. So, if you notice your wiper blades are less than optimal or any of your lights are blown, it is important to get them replaced right away. In some cases, standard headlights can be replaced by higher quality globes that can improve your driving experience when dark.
See our Wiper Blade AutoFacts for more information

Nothing is more stressful than a car that won't turn over! Make sure you don't get caught out with a flat battery on a cold and dreary morning! Your car battery is an important element of your car; the source of energy to start your ignition and provide power to your car accessories. But short trip driving, such as driving the kids to and from school, can give your car battery less time to re-charge, making it more likely to go flat. Besides not being able to start your car, other signs your battery is on the way out are corrosion and stains around the battery terminals and ageing. If you think your car battery isn’t performing like it usually does, visit your local Repco Authorised Service and we’ll make sure you’re fully charged and ready to go.Book an appointment with your local service centre today

What could be more important than ensuring the safety of your family? Sadly, too many children in Australia are harmed in car crashes each year because of incorrectly fitted child restraints. New regulations and legislation have successfully been passed making it compulsory for children under the age of seven to be securely seated in an appropriate and certified child restraint. These laws have been created to increase child safety while driving and vary depending on which state you’re based in.

Click on the links below to see your specific state-based Child Car Seat Laws.
SA - QLD - ACT - NSW - NT - WA - TAS - VIC

Worrying about the safety and reliability of your vehicle can subconsciously increase your stress levels without you even realising. It’s hard enough to keep your focus on the road with the kids in the car, morning traffic and all the other immediate matters vying for your attention.

We help you stay Zen behind the wheel by providing peace of mind knowing that your car is serviced correctly and ready to help keep you safe in an emergency situation.

One of the ways we can help is by making sure your car’s braking system is in safe working order so you can stop in time when you need to. Whatever part of your brakes need a service our Repco Auto-Tech trained technicians are fully qualified to inspect, repair or replace your brake system. If you feel your brakes are not performing correctly, you shouldn’ t wait – have your brakes inspected at your local Repco Authorised Service today.

Find out more about 5 Warning Signs your Brakes need servicing or our Safe-T-Stop Brake Testing Services