Welcome to Sasha Auto Garage and Car Parts Centre

Just as you prepare yourself and your house to protect it from the cold, your car needs extra preparation to make it through the winter as well. This winter, make sure your car is as prepared as you are.  Old or not, cars need attention.

If anything, ask yourself when you last checked these items. The last thing you need is to get stranded on the highway with the family during the middle of winter. There's no getting around winter. Instead of dreading it, prepare for it. The changing of the seasons is a great time to check out what your car needs to gear up for cold, wet, winter driving conditions. Do this before the first flake falls because small problems you ignored during warmer months could grow worse, leaving you stranded when the temperature plummets. A few simple tips could keep your car running all winter long.

Take your car to Sasha Auto and check out the following:

1.      Inspect your antifreeze while your engine is cold by using a tester to check the mixture for its freeze point. A 50/50 ratio means 50% distilled water and 50% antifreeze, which is sufficient in most climates, except in extreme cold.

2.      Make sure your brake system is in good condition.  Ask mechanics in Sasha Auto to check your brake pads, brake links, brake discs, and top up a brake fluid. It is important to have a good working brake system especially when the road looks like a glass in winter time.

3.      Have your charging system checked at Sasha Auto Centre. Cold weather starts make the vehicle battery work much harder and getting stranded in the cold is no fun!

4.      Change your oil and oil filter. Clean, high quality engine oil goes a long way in protecting the motor in cold start situations. Use the oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

5.      Visually inspect all lights; marker bulbs, tail lights, third level brake lights, especially headlights and driving lights. Daylight savings time requires bulbs to work longer hours.

6.      Tire Tread condition; check it yourself, or have it checked. Winter driving requires good traction in snow and ice. Quality tire tread sheds the snow, ice and road grime more quickly, providing better traction for improved safety. Check your tire pressure regularly, especially in colder temperatures. Follow the recommended PSI found on the driver’s side door post for maximum traction.

7.      Visibility is key to your safety; make sure that your wiper blades are in top condition, to fully clear your windshield, and back window if the vehicle is equipped. Road salt and slush can jeopardize visibility. Use washer fluid containing de-icer and Rain-X Treatment on windows to avoid the chiseling of ice early in the morning.

8.      Inspect your engine’s belts and hoses. Cracked, frayed or worn out rubber won’t stand up to temperature extremes.

9.      Replace the Cabin Air Filter if the vehicle is equipped. Outside contaminants from Fall and Summer driving are stranded in the cabin air filter and running the heater on “high” in the extreme cold only sends the micro-particles deeper into the vehicle.

10.  Protect your vehicle’s paint. Rain, snow and salt are extremely tough on paint. A tough coating of quality car wax will add another barrier in-between road grime and your vehicle’s paint.

You should also  prepare a roadside emergency kit including a flashlight with fresh batteries, a blanket, foodbars, water bottles, cell phone, jumper cables, flares, Fix-a-Flat, HELP Sign, and a first aid kit.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the above points. It’s help you protect yourself and your family on the road in winter time.

One of the most important components in your braking system are the brake pads. They are the parts directly responsible for stopping your car. However, brake pads are not forever, so it's important to understand how brake pads work and when to replace them. 

Brake pads are a part of the disc braking system, which is standard equipment for  vehicles. In a disc braking system, a caliper is situated around the front brake discs of your vehicle (most of a car's stopping force comes from the front tires). The caliper is fitted with brake pads. When you press the brake pedal, the caliper  squeezes the brake pads against the brake disc and the resulting friction slows your vehicle to a stop. 

Brake pads are soft, so that they don't erode the brake disc  while they are in use. Instead, the friction wears away at the brake pad, which is an easily replaceable part. Over time, the brake pads erode away with use and must be periodically replaced. There are a number of variables that affect how often you need to replace your brake pads, but they basically boil down to the model of car you drive and how often/hard you apply your brakes. Generally, brake pads may need to be replaced every 20,000 to 60,000 miles. 

There is however one sure-fire indicator that you need new brake pads: squealing. Brake pads actually have a sort of built-in alarm system to alert you when they need to be replaced. There is a little bit of metal that pokes out of the brake pad. When the pad is worn down enough, this metal comes into contact with your wheel every time the brakes are applied. This creates a squealing or screeching sound every time you apply the brakes. Take warning though: waiting until you can hear your brakes screeching to replace your brake pads is not the best idea. The bit of metal is not exposed to the wheel until there is very little brake pad left. Once you can hear screeching, it generally means that your brake pads have only three or four weeks left before they are completely worn away. 

Without the brake pad, you'll be stopping your car with metal-on-metal friction, which can warp your brake disc, damage your brake system, and cause an expensive repair or even you can't stop your car (it can end with horrible traffic accident). If you hear squealing or notice reduced stopping power, visit Sasha Auto Car Parts and Service Centre right away. Brake pads supply and fit from €49 NOW!!!!

Like winter, the summer driving months have their own unique challenges. While you might not curse a non-working heater, you'll surely be just as unhappy about an AC system that doesn't blow cold - or an engine that overheats. Preparing your car for summer by visiting a Sasha Auto Car Parts and Service Centre is a simple step to save you time, money, and sanity when you are on the road this summer. Taking the necessary precautions will keep your car purring while you wave and laugh as you pass the family stuck on the side of the highway with a car that overheated for the fifteenth time.
1. Tires - A common misconception is that you need new tires for the rainy winter seasons, but in reality, the summer heat can do more damage to tires. If your tires look dry and cracked, have bubbles, or have worn out treads, take your car into a Sasha Auto to either have them fixed or replaced. Once you are confident the tires will last, double check the air pressure to ensure they aren't over or under inflated.
2. Cooling System - The most common breakdown during summer is due to overheating. Have a mechanic examine your cooling system, and be confident you will be able to blast the air conditioning without risk of overheating. You don't want to be that guy cruising up a hillside at 10mph with the heat on high to prevent overheating.
3. Battery - Extreme heat tends to drain battery life, so have your battery tested at Sasha Auto-especially if the battery is more than 3 years old. A visual inspection of the battery will give you an idea of how soon it will die on you. If summer is approaching and you see a lot of moisture or corrosion on the battery, get it replaced or at least inspected by a professional. Asking every stranger you see at a gas station for jumper cables will quickly get annoying on a summer road trip.
4. Fluids - Check your car's manual for an explanation of all the fluids in your car, what they should look like, and how high they should be. Everything from your coolant to windshield wiper fluid should be cleaned and topped off before the summer strikes.
5. Belts and Hoses - Similar to the battery, do a quick visual examination of all of your belts and hoses to see if they are old, cracked, or ready to fail. While the engine is cool, squeeze the hoses to determine their strength and take a close look for any cracks on the engine drive belt.
6. Brakes - A reputable Sasha Auto will be able to tell you how much life is left in your brakes and rotors. Have someone take a look at them before summer arrives because the heat can take a toll on your brake pads, and once those are gone, you will be digging into the rotors; a very expensive repair.
7. Engine Performance - Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended. More often in dusty conditions though. Get engine drive-ability problems (hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc.) corrected at a good shop.
8. Lights - Inspect all lights and bulbs; replace burned out bulbs; periodically clean dirt and insects from all lenses. To prevent scratching, never use a dry rag.
9. Wiper blades -If you've had your wipers for a year or longer or if they aren't making full contact with the windshield, it's time to buy a new set. You don't want to be caught with poor visibility in a surprise downpour.
10. Car Care- Give your vehicle a good wash and wax. Then try to park where shade will cover your car for as long as possible. The best way to protect your exterior is to keep your car out of the sun. In Sasha Auto we offered you a Full Car Valet.

Did you know that below + 7˚C, the rubber molecules in your summer tyres treads progressively harden and freeze? This means the tyre is less able to adapt to the contour of the road surface, which in turn reduces grip levels, to such an extent that when braking on a wet - not icy - road from 50mph, summer tyres will need 40 metres to stop, when winter tyres will stop in 34 metres. It's a big difference and it's surprising how few people know that there is such a fall-off in performance of the tyres we normally buy, just because the weather is colder. Of course, the difference on ice and snow is even greater, as the winter tyres' design cuts through snow and into ice to give a far greater margin of safety than on normal tyres: braking on icy roads from 20mph, summer tyres take 68 metres to stop, while winter tyres will bring you to a halt in 57 metres. 
In many parts of mainland Europe where winter weather conditions are generally more severe and more predictable than in the Ireland it is common practice, or even a legal requirement, for drivers to keep two sets of wheels and tyres - a set of 'summer' tyres and a set of specialist 'winter' tyres. Winter tyres use a tread rubber compound (high silica content) and tread pattern specifically designed to retain flexibility in low temperatures (below +7°C) and give good braking/traction performance on snow/ice as well as on wet roads in cold conditions . The sidewall of a winter tyre will be marked with a symbol showing a snowflake or snow-topped mountains. Winter tyres are not really suited to all year round use though - summer tyres will give better performance when temperatures are higher and roads dry - so two sets of tyres are required if you're going to choose specialist tyres for winter.

Call in today to Sasha Auto to check if you have any inquires or to order your winter tyres.

Every vehicle needs a battery, and Bosch provides them for all kinds of automobiles. Be it a long-distance truck, a commuter bus or even a private sedan, it is covered with Bosch car batteries. There is a wide range of batteries available. If you are a first-time user of the batteries, you will need help in deciding the right one to pick. Sasha Aauto specialist will be glad to help you to pick the right one.

For the noncommercial users, several batteries are available from the S series. For those who drive small cars and use Bosch car batteries, the S3 is a very suitable choice. It is cheap too, very much unlike the S4, which is a favorite of medium luxury car owners. The S4 is also used to power the average car stereo system. There is also a safety provision in the Bosch car batteries that prevent the vehicle's engine from damage. As you can see, it is quite important to make these distinctions.

The S5 is one of the most powerful batteries in this class. If you operate an automobile in extreme temperatures, the S5 is the battery to for. There is also a design feature that minimizes self discharge. Althoutgh it is a bit expensive compared to others, it is also the best in this class of S series. It is clear that Bosch car batteries are many and varied.

Sasha Auto has achieved its uniqueness in motor trade by merging car parts shop and high quality car service. We've been serving our customers in Galway almost 4 years continuously developing and adapting to market demand. By moving to new premises in Riverside Commercial Estate we are able to carry out all activities in the one location from supplying of Parts and Tyres to carrying out comprehensive Servicing, Laser wheel alignment, Exhaust repairs, Alloy wheel repairs, Engine diagnostics and Body work all of which are carried out by our highly trained and qualified technician's. Our motto is” Your Family is your priority - Our Priority is your safety”. Dedication, commitment to quality service, high level of professionalism and product dependability and competitive prices are reasons that underlie our success in the car industry. Through the years of providing superior quality car parts and accessories nationwide, our company is one of the best established independent auto parts retailers and car services. We have a team of professionals fervently working to give you a complete and most competitive service and the best customer support as well. 

Our company upholds its commitment to meet all your car’s needs by continuously replenishing our stock and by continuously improving our services. Thousands of top rated discount car parts are available in our comprehensive inventory, covering parts for all makes and models, both domestic and imported vehicles. Sasha Auto is truly a notable name when it comes to availability, dependability and affordability of high standard replacement car  parts, performance parts, accessories, tyres and car service.  We also carry high quality BOSH car batteries with 3, 4 or 5 years warranty.

It is our customers’ satisfaction over our car parts and services that always inspires us to do better in this business. We build mutually beneficial relationships with our clients by giving them large selection of premium car parts at marked down prices. We offer great prices on all our quality parts and service. 

Before the winter takes hold take some time to maintain your car. Don’t wait for winter to have your battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, tyres, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers, and ignition system checked. Sasha Auto has everything you need.

If it is in need of a service then take it in. Firstly make sure your car tyres are road worthy and in good repair. The condition of your vehicle’s tyres is important. Worn or damaged tyres can hamper your ability to drive safely. In Ireland the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. Especially during winter it makes sense to ensure the tread depth is double that as your tyres will be fighting for grip in rain, snow, and ice. Remember to check tyre air pressure frequently, as it decreases in cold weather. You should also check the tyres for general wear, cracking, bulging, pressure or objects caught in the tread. Sasha Auto offers free tyres check up.

With the clocks gone back this means less light and shorter days so it is vital to check all exterior lights - headlights, indicators, brake lights, reversing light, and fog light. Make sure all are in good working order. Check all the bulbs are working and that all covers are clean and free of grime.

Cold mornings can kill any less than perfect car battery so make sure yours is running on a full charge. Most car batteries have a life span of up to five years. If yours is coming to the end of its life then now is a good time to replace it.

Make sure your windscreen and rear window wipers are fit for purpose. They will have to work harder in the winter to keep your windows clear. To aid them add a quality non freezing washer fluid to the washer reservoir.

Call today to book your car’s next check up on            091 762700      ,  because the crew’s priority is your safety.