Living by the water in Altona
Salt air by the bay
Altona Beach is one of only two swimming beaches in Melbourne's western suburbs, and wetlands line the shore. Salty air speeds up rust on exhaust parts, brake lines and battery terminals, so a car parked near the water deserves a look underneath at every service.
Industry to the north-west
Altona's north-western half is mixed industry, including petrochemical storage, manufacturing and distribution. If the vehicle is a van or ute that works there, mention what it carries and how far it goes in a day.
The Altona Loop
Altona and Westona stations sit on the Altona Loop between Newport and Laverton. A car that only comes out on weekends can greet you with a flat battery on Saturday morning.
Low and flat
At 8 m, Altona is flat, coastal ground. Flat roads are easy on clutches and brakes; the salt is the bigger enemy here.
Mobile or workshop in Altona
At home, a mobile mechanic can clean corroded battery terminals, fit a new battery, do a service by the book or get a non-starter going. Car batteries in Melbourne covers the battery side.
Rust underneath and exhaust work are workshop jobs, because the car needs to be up on a hoist to see it properly. Exhaust and DPF repairs in Melbourne has more.
Where we'd start
Living this close to the beach, we'd rinse the wheel arches and underside with fresh water now and then, and ask the mechanic to check for rust on the exhaust and brake lines at each service. Caught early, surface rust is a small job.