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We advise that our workshop will be closed for the Christmas period from midday Friday the 23rd of December and reopening on Monday the 15th of January

We advise that our workshop will be closed for the Christmas period from the close of business on Thursday the 21st of December and reopening on Monday the 8th of January

We advise that our workshop will be closed for the Christmas period from the close of business on Friday the 20th of December and reopening on Monday 6th January.

Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs is serving the South for over 35 years with honest car service and competitive prices on your automotive spare parts and repairs.

The service centre has extensive machinery on site for rebuilding engines and gear boxes as well as head facing, valve grinding, flywheel and brake disc machining, along with exhaust and steering repairs or replacements. Keep in mind, we include a cooling system check with all our services. At Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs you will find that customer satisfaction is the first priority at our car service. 

Car service also available on Saturdays by appointment.

Call the experts at Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs in Hackham. We can perform fully qualified log book servicing on a wide range of makes and models including: Holden, Ford, Mazda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Audi, Hyundai, Honda, Kia - and many more. Maintaining regular service intervals ensures your vehicle not only functions at it's top capability, but also maintains the new car warranty.  We don't have to have a physical log book in order to do a Log Book Service - it just means we follow the manufacturers guidelines. We can certainly provide you with a log book to help you record your cars service history, which will be a benefit if you ever decide to sell your vehicle. Want to know more about log book servicing - click here. Many people believe they must go back to a car dealership for New Car Log Book servicing in order to maintain the warranty. Actually, the ACCC have consistently confirmed that under Australian Law, you are free to have your car service carried out by a mechanic or service centre of your choice provided they are qualified to do so. See our video to learn more.  An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure and this is particularly the case with cars. In fact it is why vehicle manufacturers specify regular log book services at the intervals they do. Whether it involves topping up the brake or transmission fluid, checking the serpentine belts, replacing the brake pads, or simply inspecting the shock absorbers, the actual tasks carried out in each individual log book service will vary from car to car. Regular log book services by a qualified mechanic will also help ensure that your cars warranty will be upheld. The expert team at Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs are fully qualified to conduct your vehicle's next Log Book Service and only, so contact us today and book it in. 

Log book servicing ensures that your vehicle's warranty will be upheld. The expert team at Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs in Hackham are fully qualified to conduct your vehicle's next Log Book Service...

Log Book Servicing 

Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs are the right choice for new car service in Hackham.  You always have the choice of where your vehicle is serviced, maintained and repaired, at competitive prices, without voiding either the manufacturers warranty or your rights under the Consumer Guarantee. You do not have to take the car back to the dealership who sold it to you for service or repairs. Provided the work is overseen to the manufacturers specifications by a suitably skilled person and uses tolerable quality parts and fluids, the warranty stands.  With Repco Authorised Service you can tick all the boxes. Every Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs mechanic is fully qualified and Auto-Tech trained, giving them access to Australia's leading provider of automotive technical information and training. This means Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs mechanics are kept fully up to date with the latest in automotive service techniques and are able to service your new car without voiding the warranty. Repco branded parts & products are manufactured to stringent Repco quality standards, and are covered by the Repco Nationwide Warranty, giving you added protection. Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs will also only ever use fluids and lubricants that meet the specifications of the original car manufacturer. If you already own a new car or are thinking of purchasing one, make sure you clearly understand where your statutory rights begin and end Make sure you are aware of the differences between manufacturer, statutory and extended warranties to avoid making the wrong selection when it comes to servicing your new car. You are automatically covered by a statutory warranty, also known as a Consumer Guarantee, under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and this statutory protection can never be superseded by manufacturer or express warranties (which are offered by the car maker and car dealer respectively). A lack of disclosure requirements on car dealers at the point of sale regarding these contracts can easily lead the consumer into making a choice to be bound by a long term contract without access to all of the details needed to make a properly informed decision. So when purchasing a new vehicle, be on guard for new car dealers who may try to include “express” or “extended” warranties, often for free. As a general rule these ‘extra' warranties may include quite comprehensive restrictions or provisions, and are not always what they are cracked up to be. Many times these promises provide no real additional benefits not already given by the consumer's basic statutory rights and can tie the unwary buyer into a long term agreement with the dealership that sold the car. Such promises are very unlikely to focus on the potential negative aspects involved with taking a new car back to the dealer for service or repair. This includes how far you will need to go to get your car serviced or longer waiting times due to fewer available service locations or mechanics. Check out our frequently asked questions below for more information on New Car Service and warranties. If you need to know more, the AAAA website and ACCC website have some great information too. New Car Service Frequently asked questions What is a consumer guarantee? Under Australian Consumer Law (ACL), you are protected by a Consumer Guarantee which takes into account purchase price, realistic expectations of when a failure might occur, advertising claims and the conditions under which a vehicle should operate. Previously known as a Statutory Warranty, the Consumer Guarantee does not have a specific time limit associated with it nor can it ever be replaced by a manufacturers warranty, which is in addition to the Consumer Guarantee. What is a manufacturers warranty? Manufacturers warranties are essentially a promise to the buyer that the new vehicle will be free from defects for a specific time and that any such defects will entitle buyers to a repair or other compensation. According to the Competition and Consumer Act (2010), such warranties cannot state that a vehicle must be returned to an authorised dealer for service. What is an express or extended warranty? Often new car dealers will try to include "express" or "extended" warranties, sometimes for free, in the purchase of your new vehicle. These ‘extra' warranties are in addition to the manufacturers warranty and may include quite specific restrictions or provisions, usually in unclear or confusing language. Many of these contracts actually provide little or no additional benefits over and above the consumer's basic statutory rights and can tie the unwary buyer into a long term agreement with a specific car dealership. Extended warranties can (and often do) restrict you to a specific dealership, which can have its drawbacks. Can Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs service my new car without voiding the warranty? There is no requirement to service your car at a manufacturer’s dealership to preserve; Any manufacturer’s warranty (that may apply to your vehicle). Any state or territory based statutory warranty (that may apply to your vehicle). Your rights to Consumer Guarantees (formerly known as implied statutory warranties). What steps will Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs take to protect my warranty? Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs are fully qualified to carry out log book servicing, and we ensure all work is performed according to the manufacturer’s specifications, using appropriate quality parts, fluids and lubricants where required - meaning the manufacturer's warranty remains intact. In addition, all work carried out by Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs is backed by the Repco Authorised Service Nationwide Warranty. Can Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs stamp my logbook? Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs can and will stamp your log book to verify the work has been conducted by fully qualified staff according to manufacturer’s specifications, using appropriate quality parts, fluids & lubricants. Will having my car serviced with Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs help maintain the value? It goes without saying that a vehicle that has been well taken care of will maintain its value better than a poorly maintained one. Proof of a regular, properly adhered to service schedule will add further supporting evidence the car is in good condition. In addition to maintaining your warranty with correct service procedures, Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs will stamp your logbook, which can prove invaluable should you ever decide to sell the car. What about extended warranty or service plans? Motor vehicle dealers sometimes offer their own extended (or express) warranties on vehicles. These extra warranties often begin after the manufacturer’s warranty and may stipulate that the vehicle must be serviced by the actual dealer offering the warranty. They are generally within their right to impose this condition, but the buyer should beware, such warranties are not always what they seem. Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs will be happy to advise you on the conditions and relative value before you commit to any service plan.

Did you know that you get to choose where your vehicle is serviced, maintained and repaired, at competitive prices. Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs can service your new car using quality parts and fluids, preserving your warranty…

The right choice for new car service in Hackham

For Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) service in the Hackham area, bring your car into Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs. We provide high quality EFI servicing and can help you sort out many electronic fuel injector and fuel related problems. Poor fuel economy or excessive petrol consumption, trouble starting the engine or intermittent functioning and general poor performance all indicate a possible need for an EFI service. EFI Service may be required when your fuel economy seems to have dropped or your car does not seem to be performing at its peak efficiency. Reduced performance ability of engine valves resulting from formation of carbon deposits leads to increased fuel consumption. Additive type fuel cleaners do not fix the problem because they only clean the injectors, but generally do not effectively remove the carbon building up on the valves. These deposits can also can build up in the more crucial areas of the fuel system causing further problems. What little benefit you do get from such products is usually marginal and generally short lived. A proper Electronic Fuel Injection service, conducted by qualified mechanics, helps to ensure that the catalytic converter, the fuel and intake systems, engine valves and combustion chambers are all properly cleaned and are still in a serviceable condition. Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs mechanics are Auto-Tech trained and use the right equipment to ensure the best results for you and your car. Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs have the experience, skills and know how to identify, diagnose and solve even complex EFI issues and get your car performing the way it should. So if your fuel economy is not what it should be, or the car is running rough or in "Limp mode" bring it into our Hackham workshop for an EFI service today. What is EFI? EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) systems in modern cars generally consist of a high pressure fuel delivery system which is governed by a specialised electronic control unit known as the ECU. A myriad of sensors continually update the data available to the ECU which in turn uses this data to calculate the correct mixture of air and fuel the engine requires to perform most efficiently. This can help reduce fuel costs and minimise exhaust emissions, saving you money and also helping the environment. This makes regular checking of the EFI system well worth the effort even when there is a lack of apparent problems. When do I need an EFI service? If the car is ‘running rough' at idle, you seem to be experiencing unusually poor fuel economy or your engine exhibits a classic 'backfire' there is a pretty good chance there could be a problem with your EFI, or Electronic Fuel Injection System. When the engine runs for a short while after switching off the ignition it is yet another classic symptom which could indicate your electronic fuel injection may need a service. An apparent increase in fuel use or noticeable decrease in performance may also be related to an EFI based issue. EFI problems can sometimes be relatively simple, such as contaminated fuel from letting a fuel tank become completely empty or a clogged fuel injector. Sometimes however, the problem lies well hidden, deep within the highly sophisticated EFI System. Our Hackham car service workshop is equipped with the specialised, advanced diagnostic testing equipment needed to be able to diagnose, service and repair your EFI. Regular servicing or inspection of your Electronic Fuel Injection System will help your car perform more efficiently and save you money at the pump. That's real Peace of Mind. Given the complex nature of modern fuel injection systems, a qualified mechanic with specialised diagnostic equipment is best placed to service or repair your EFI. How Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs diagnose & fix EFI problems Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs use special computer Diagnostic equipment to test your car's ECU (electronic control unit). The ECU is essentially a central computer which controls (amongst other things) the fuel injection process by taking information from the many sensors spread throughout the vehicle and making “decisions” based on pre-programmed inputs. The ECU can ‘self-diagnose' faults and send out special fault codes which our diagnostic scan equipment is then able to extract and interpret.  Quite often, the ECU is being given ‘wrong' information by faulty sensors or other environmental factors and this is when we have to call upon our expert knowledge and advanced diagnostic training to correctly identify the problem.  Electronic probe testing and visual inspections can be made of your car's sensors, throttle valve, fuel filter, fuel pump and fuel injectors to make sure they are working correctly  Any leaks must be identified and repaired without delay - Air leaks will seriously affect performance and fuel economy and can cause severe damage to engine components. It goes without saying you don't want fuel leaking out either!  Over time, Fuel lines, filters and valves can become clogged with contaminants or tank sediments so they'll need to be cleaned and on occasion replaced. Where necessary, some components can be unclogged using special flushing compounds.  Sensors (or the lines connecting them to the ECU) which are faulty or damaged may need to be fixed or replaced. While your car technically might be able to function without some of these sensors, they all keep track of information that is vital to the efficiency, performance and safety of your vehicle. Your engines ECU may prevent running of the vehicle until they are functioning correctly or it may trigger the vehicle into a state of basic operation known as ‘limp mode' What is 'limp mode'? When your cars electronic control unit (ECU) encounters data which is incorrect (or outside of known value ranges) or which it cannot process, it will set a fault code and initiate some form of warning. When such problems occur in major vehicle systems it can trigger what is known as 'Limp Mode'. As the Fuel system of a car is considered a major system, faulty or failing sensor or lines may trigger this safety function. Limp Mode is designed to allow you to get a car to a safe location (off the road) and can protect both you and the car from serious problems that could arise from continued 'normal' operation of the vehicle. If you find your car enters limp mode you should pull over immediately and get it checked over by a qualified mechanic asap, even if the computer 'resets' itself. Cars can act quite erratically in Limp Mode. Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs can help diagnose if the issue is an EFI related problem or if you need to look elsewhere for the cause of the cars behaviour.

For Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) service in the Hackham area, bring your car into Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs. EFI servicing can help you sort out an array of fuel and electronic fuel injector related problems…

Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)

Keep your cool, without global warming. A proactive car air conditioning approach to protecting our environment.  As Australia begins phasing down HFC use (from January 2018), many new vehicle manufacturers may be switching to new air conditioning systems using the more environmentally friendly refrigerant R-1234yf, instead of R-134a. The benefits of using R-1234yf "Twelve Thirty Four", as R-1234yf is sometimes known, is an HFO type refrigerant delivering high performance, resulting in a more efficient air-conditioning system, fewer emissions and reduced fuel consumption. Hydrofluoroolefins (HFO's) have a double carbon bond meaning they trap less heat in the atmosphere than Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's) and break down faster. Importantly, R-1234yf systems are specifically engineered to prevent refrigerant leakage and loss, including into the interior of the vehicle. The leakage of refrigerants contributes considerably to greenhouse gases. Why the switch? Older type refrigerants accumulate in the upper atmosphere as greenhouse gases and contribute significantly to Global Warming for a considerable time. In the mid-'90s, the old R-12 (or Freon), which takes a long time to break down into a non-greenhouse gas, was replaced with R134a, which breaks down much quicker. R-1234yf takes that improvement to the next level, breaking down in less than half the time of R-134a (and a fraction of the time R-12 can take). R-134a will remain in use for some time and a licensed mechanic can still service R-134a air con systems, but new vehicles will likely use the new systems with R-1234yf. Some already are. Irrespective of what type of refrigerant your car air conditioner uses, a car service workshop undertaking air conditioner service must have the right knowledge and equipment to handle these gases responsibly. You should always take your car to a mechanic with the skills and specialist equipment to undertake air conditioning service safely and correctly.

There's a new gas in town

Trust, experience & knowledge ... You can rely on your Local and Independent Repco Authorised Service centre, Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs to service and repair your vehicle. As a Repco Authorised Service centre, Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs use quality parts and lubricants and employ state of the art diagnostic equipment and repair methods. What’s more, our fully qualified technicians have access to the latest service information, bulletins and training through the Australia wide Repco Auto Tech program. We provide a full range of automotive services right here in Hackham and surrounding areas, all backed by our Repco Authorised Service Nationwide Warranty and fully supported at over 500 Service Centres right across Australia. So rest assured - your car is in safe hands.

As a Repco Authorised Service centre, we use quality parts and lubricants and employ state of the art diagnostic equipment and repair methods.

Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs - Our expertise & knowledge

Modern radiator coolants not only protect your car from overheating, or the fluid from freezing, they also protect the radiator system from corrosion. Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs in Hackham are very knowledgeable and experienced in looking after these systems.  It is recommended that you exchange your radiator coolant fluid every two years or 40,000 km's whichever comes first. However the size of the engine, the climate in your area, the age of your current coolant, and the total miles that have been driven can all affect the need to replace the coolant in your radiator. Knowing when to replenish your radiator fluid isn't always easy - obviously, when it has gone a dirty brown colour it's a sign it probably needs to be flushed and replaced - however even fresh-looking coolant could have lost its corrosion protection properties and without measuring its reserve alkalinity there's no signal that it is no longer protecting your vehicle components, and it could even be doing more damage than good. Maintaining good coolant means your radiator system will be much better protected from corrosion and will have a longer life span, it will help prevent you from having to replace expensive engine components. At Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs in Hackham at your request, we will perform a full 65 Point Vehicle Inspection report for free as part of any minor, major or log book service. Part of this inspection includes checking the level and condition of coolant in your system and the written report will advise you if we feel a radiator flush, fluid replacement or any repairs are required to maintain the performance of your vehicle.

Even if it looks clean, your coolant still might need replacing!

Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs

Cars are our passion.

Log Book Servicing

The right choice for new car service in Hackham

Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)

There's a new gas in town

Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs - Our expertise & knowledge

Radiator Coolant