If you’re driving a Dodge around Hamilton or out to Te Awamutu, Ngaruawahia, or Morrinsville, you already know how NZ roads can give cars a hard time. Dodges are built tough, but even a Ram or a Charger isn’t immune to all those speed humps on Peachgrove Road, stop-start crawling down Ulster Street, and potholes popping up around the back roads of Rototuna. Here at Grimmer Motors, we’ve been under the bonnet since 1934, and we’ve seen just about everything—whether you’ve got a late-model Dodge Journey, a classic with left-hand steering, or even a US import that sticks out in the New World carpark.
Our crew works on all sorts: Euro cars like Citroën and Skoda, Japanese Mazdas and Suzukis, but we know our way around Dodges too. We don’t treat every job the same—it comes down to what the car needs and what you actually do with it. Hamilton’s weather is a mixed bag, from foggy school runs in Dinsdale winters to baking traffic queues on Avalon Drive in summer. That means your cooling system cops it, your brakes get hammered, and your battery can struggle too.
Common Dodge Services We Offer
If your Dodge needs a Warrant of Fitness (WOF), an oil change, or brake repairs, we’re onto it. We stick to quality oils and filters—no dodgy parts from goodness knows where—so you know repairs are going to last, whether you’re ferrying kids to Hillcrest or hitting the expressway.
Ignition issues? No worries—one of our techs can sort spark plugs, drive belts, batteries or alternators. Had a customer with a Dodge Ram, wouldn’t start on a frosty morning in Tamahere—turned out to be a battery issue, quick swap, good as gold. We see all sorts: Honda CR-Vs with timing belt worries, BMWs dropping oil after a hard day’s stop-start in The Base’s carpark, so you’re in good company.
Engine getting a bit grumpy? If you need cambelt replacements, head gaskets, tuning or exhaust repairs, we’ll suss it. Cooling issues crop up too—radiators, water pumps, coolant top-ups, thermostats—particularly when you’ve just tackled the main drag through Cambridge on a 28-degree day.
Looking After Your Dodge: What Matters Most
Most Dodges—and pretty much everything else, from Peugeot SUVs to Subaru Outbacks—should get fresh oil and a filter every 8–10,000km. If you’re always up and down River Road, hitting potholes or those rough speed bumps, rotate your tyres at the same time, keeps them lasting longer and makes for smoother handling around Frankton or Melville.
Brakes start squeaking or feel spongy? Could be time for a check or fresh pads. Air filters are often the culprit for sluggish performance, especially if you do lots of runs around the dustier outskirts like Matangi or Gordonton. At around 20,000k, look at coolant flushes, brake inspections, and transmission checks. If you’re racking up big kays, maybe driving to Raglan on weekends, cambelts and spark plugs need more attention. Ignore them too long, and you’re up for a major bill—or worse, stuck on the side of State Highway 1.
Diagnostics & Real-World Repairs
If you’ve got warning lights on the dash, rough idle, weird smoke, or maybe it’s just using too much fuel around Ruakura, we’ve got diagnostics tools to nail the issue fast. Could be something simple, could be more. Either way, spotting problems early saves you hassle and cash in the long run.
Why Locals Keep Coming Back
- Down-to-earth service. We’ve built our rep on honest advice, fair prices, and repairs that last—no sugar-coating or upselling you stuff you don’t need.
- Proper workshop. Modern gear plus a cup of tea or coffee while you wait. Free WiFi for when you’re stuck here getting a WOF sorted.
- Courtesy cars. Need to shoot off to Chartwell or back to work? We can sort you a courtesy car easy as.
- Your car stays safe. Cameras and alarms 24/7—no worries about leaving your pride and joy overnight.
Our team works with everyone—from new drivers with tiny Suzuki Swifts to experienced tradies in Hilux utes, and plenty of women bringing their family SUV in for regular checks. Everyone’s welcome, and everyone gets the same good service. Got a Dodge that needs a bit of TLC? Swing by, have a chat, and we’ll help you get sorted.