GWM Ute Range

GWM lists a canopy for the Ultra version of its Cannon Ute. And while it also lists a bullbar for the Cannon Ute, it doesn’t specifically mention whether it’s suitable for the Ultra. There may be some body or trim differences that make it unsuitable for the Ultra, so a check with your GWM dealer would be the next step.

The aftermarket also has lots of suppliers who offer both canopies and bull-bars for a huge range of makes and models, so there’s almost certainly something available there, too.

A weird, random grinding noise at low speeds when taking off can sometimes be a result of the anti-lock brakes. It can be a surprise initially, but it doesn’t usually last more than a second or so and is caused by the braking system more or less calibrating itself for the journey ahead. It can also occur in reverse and is usually nothing to worry about.

But you should also probably look further than the braking system. Any grinding or rattling noise can be something as simple as a heat-shield vibrating, or as serious as a major flaw in the transmission or suspension. Either way, it needs to be diagnosed and fixed.

Don’t take no as an answer from the dealership, and don’t be afraid to tackle GWM’s Australian customer service division if you’re not getting anywhere. If there is a problem, then it’s very possibly a warranty issue and is GWM’s problem to fix.

There are a couple of issues here. The first is that your mechanic may not have the correct scanning tool to be able to interrogate the car’s on-board computer to check for fault codes. And without the correct one, you won’t get far down that track. However, it’s worth following that route as it’s the best, most efficient way to find out what’s really going on inside the car.

Ironically, the same scanning tool required will probably also be able to turn the transmission warning light off. But turning the light off is not the solution; you need to know what triggered the warning in the first place and attend to that. Otherwise the light will keep cropping up, regardless of how often you turn it off.

Continuing to drive with a warning light illuminated risks doing more damage to the vehicle in the long run. Something is not right in your car’s driveline and the car knows it. But you’ll need the right mechanic with the right tools to be able to know what the fault is and how to fix it.