If the brakes or the temperature gauge feel wrong on the range
Pull over somewhere safe, away from the traffic, and switch off. Put the hazard lights on and call roadside assistance if you have it. Don't carry on down a long descent on brakes that have gone soft, and don't open the radiator cap on a hot engine. If anyone is hurt or in danger, call 000.
Repairs that Cairns roads and weather bring
Floodwater
Monsoonal rain floods the Barron and Mulgrave Rivers in a big year, and after Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 the Barron went past its 1977 record. RACQ says driving through floodwater can spray water into the air intake and ruin the motor. If the car went through water or sat in it, say so in the note, because it changes what the mechanic checks first.
Down the Gillies and Kuranda ranges
The Gillies Range Road drops 800 m in 19 km. RAA says brake fade happens when the brake fluid boils, and RACQ says brake fluid pulls water from the air, which lowers its boiling point. A soft pedal or a hot smell coming down the range is a reason to stop and have the brakes looked at.
Heat and the cooling system
RACQ says hot weather adds stress to a cooling system, and even a minor leak may fail under pressure. A long climb on a hot afternoon is a hard test for a tired radiator or hose. If the temperature needle starts rising, pull over somewhere safe and switch off.
Sand and salt from the Cape
After beach driving, RACQ says to clean the sand and saltwater off the underbody as soon as you can to avoid rust and corrosion. Rusted brake lines and suspension parts become repair jobs, so it's worth having a look underneath after a trip.
How a repair should go
The mechanic finds the cause first, then gives you an estimate in writing before starting. Under the Australian Consumer Law, the repair has to be done with due care and skill, be fit for any purpose you made clear, and be finished within a reasonable time if no time was agreed.
If the car is still under the maker's warranty, an independent repair doesn't by itself void it. The regulators' guide does say a defect an independent repairer causes is unlikely to be covered by the maker's warranty, so the remedy for that comes from the repairer.
Parts don't have to carry the maker's badge. RAC WA, citing the ACCC, says they must be fit for purpose, so ask what's going in and why.
Ask the mechanic before you say yes
- What did you find, and how sure are you that it's the cause?
- If the car's been in water, what have you checked so far, and what can't you see yet?
- Which parts are going in, and are they right for this car?
- If you find something else once you're in there, will you ring me before doing it?
- How long will you need the car?
Our take
We'd write the symptoms down as soon as they start: when it happens, hot or cold, uphill or down, wet or dry. In Cairns those details often point straight at the cause, and they save the mechanic time hunting for it. Then we'd wait for the written estimate before saying yes.