Frugal Repair Resources

Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, this damaging the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate. That in turn is a  slow death for a battery.

In my years as a G.M. service technician, most batteries fail during summer or the first cold snap than during cold weather.

Here are a few items to watch for.

: Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

: Look at your volt gauge, ( if you have this option) to make sure that the output is within operating specs.

: If your battery should fail, always replace it with one that’s rated at least as high as the one originally specified.

Being a G.M. Technician really comes in handy when it involves our vehicles. But due to a recent injury, I had to rely on some one else for a repair to my 2007  Impala.

I developed a knock in the front end on bumps which lead me to believe it was a part in the suspension that was worn.

I took it to a National Repair Chain whom I dealt with for the past  30+ years helping them with problem vehicles their Techs couldn’t diagnose.

The service writer had no idea what I do for a living since he was new there, and I didn’t tell him other than I think I have a loose tie rod.

He proceeded to write the repair order and asked, Do you want a 21 point inspection? I figured,” Why Not” . So having completed this step, My ride was waiting and we left. Not more than 2 minutes later he called and started telling me about all the maintenance my vehicle needed, ( Transmission flush, coolant flush, brake flush and an air filter ) I looked at my daughters boyfriend and said “turn around and just drive past the repair facility to see the status of my vehicle. It was in the same spot where I left it.

Now, I called him and told him I was declining on all the items he mentioned, but to go ahead with the oil change and front end.

Here’s the kicker, he assumed that the vehicle which has 73000 miles needed all this, but in fact I just checked the air filter, replaced the cabin filter,and all this was suggested without even pulling in my vehicle.

I checked the transmission fluid earlier in the week , It too was fine, and in the 33 years of service I never sold a brake flush unless the system was contaminated from another fluid being added to the reservoir,and as for the coolant it too was fine due to the fact that it contains  Dex-Cool engine coolant.

( DEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km)

So the next time you take your vehicle in for service work, do yourself a favor and read your owners manual for recommended maintenance and you could possibly save yourself some money!

E-85 is a fuel that contains a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. It is used in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs).  A minimum of 11 Liters (3 gallons) must be put in the tank in order for the vehicle to recognize a re-fueling event. It is not necessary to turn the ignition off in order to have the re-fueling event recognized; however local safety regulations should be followed.

As expected, the running on E-85 drops the mileage by about thirty percent compared to gasoline, since ethanol only has about sixty percent of the energy per unit of gasoline. Running on ethanol also lowers the range of the vehicle as well as the power output unless your vehicle has either a turbo-charger.

So here are just a couple facts to help you decide if you choose to use E-85 fuel. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me and I can point you in the right direction.

Spring is here and now is the time to check a few items to ensure a problem free summer.Whether you’re driving across the country or just around town, check the following vehicle components before  your next trip.

• Wiper blades are very important  in increasing visibility. Replace every six months or when cracked, cut, torn, streaking or chattering.
• Check the tires. A  test to check tire tread depth is to insert a penny into the tread of the tire. If the top of Lincoln’s head sticks out, your tires are starting to show signs of wear and should be replaced. Also check the tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear. IT is a good idea to have the  wheel alignment checked along with the suspension for any signs of wear or corrections needed .

• Changing your vehicles oil and filter every three months or 3,000  is normally the way to go, but newer vehicles have an oil life monitor which automatically calculates driving conditions and in some cases will take you beyond the normal time and or mileage. If this is the case, just be sure to check the levels when you fill your fuel tank. Changing oil regularly is the cheapest thing that can be done to extend the life of your vehicle and keep it running smoothly.
• Get a tune-up if necessary. Tune-ups on modern vehicles should include the following systems: battery, charging and starting, engine mechanical, powertrain control – including onboard diagnostic check, – fuel, ignition and emissions.
• Check all fluids. There are several fluids that require attention, including engine oil, power steering fluid, brake and transmission fluids, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check hoses and belts. A belt that fails can affect the electrical system, air conditioning and power steering, as well as the cooling system.

• Check the brake system, including brake linings, rotors and drums.
• Check the shocks or struts for any signs of  damage, such as leaking, rusting, or dents.

Is it really worth it to drive on a frozen lake and break through ?

The EPA will fine you for every day you are polluting the water. Also, most insurance companies coverage stops when you voluntary drive onto a frozen lake. Being on several recovery jobs for my local fire department, it is a very costly event that can be avoided.

Most people don’t  realize the repercussions when a vehicle falls through the ice. From injury or death, to the enormous bill that is incurred while it’s in there to getting it recovered.

So the next time your thinking about driving out to your favorite fishing spot, is it really worth driving, or walking for safety !

For most people living in the snow belt, it’s hard looking at your vehicle  investment covered in that white, crusty and very annoying thing known as salt. Well not to worry, a quick trip to your local car wash will fix this.

One thing to remember is, save your hard earned money and just do the basic wash. This will take the salt off just as well as the deluxe wash.

Never opt for the underbody flush.  The reason is simple, You don’t want the underbody flush because vehicle manufactures design all your electrical connections to withstand basic water intrusion from everyday driving not the high-pressure like at the carwash.

By selecting the underbody flush, you are exposing these connections to an averege 100 psi of water pressure, which is not found in normal driving conditions. This means you may be turning on a warning lamp on your dash due to water getting into a connector and costing you a trip to your repair facility.

The other reason for the basic wash is wax. Wax is a good thing, but not for your windshield or wipers. It causes streaking and premature failure of  blades.

So the next time you wash your vehicle, take into consideration these tips and you will have some extra money in your pocket !

Most tires are filled with compressed air, which when dry consists of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and 1 percent other gases by volume. Water vapor (humidity) can make up as much as 5 percent of the volume of air under worst-case conditions. Filling your tires with nitrogen mainly does two things: it eliminates moisture, and it replaces skinny oxygen molecules with fat nitrogen molecules, reducing the rate at which compressed gas diffuses through porous tire walls. That means, theoretically at least, that a tire filled with nitrogen retains optimal pressure longer, leading to more uniform tire wear and better gas mileage. The best way to get optimized fuel mileage is to keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s specs. Also take into account of  the temperature outside,cold weather reduces pressure.  In my years of experience (32 +) working on vehicles, I can’t help but to wonder why people waste their hard earned money on glitzy items.

One thing is for sure, most repair facilities neglect to clean the rim of  road debris, and even by-pass installing new valve stems. These two items will cause what is called a rim leak, loosing what you just payed extra for.  So do yourself a favor, install new valves, clean the rims, and by-pass the up-sell and stick with good old air.

If your in need of new tires, visit Tirerack.com

When the system has calculated that oil life has been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL message or light will come on. Change the engine oil as soon as possible within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a year. However, the engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year and at this time the system must be reset. Please be sure to check your fluid levels when you fuel your vehicle.

If the system is ever reset accidentally, change the engine oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since last oil change.

Your vehicle tells you when there is a problem with any number of sensors you have on board by turning on a warning lamp. When you take your vehicle to a repair facility, a fee is charged to check out the failure. This is a diagnostic fee.  Some customers don’t understand why they have to pay this, but in my 32 years of service work I have seen customers come in and get the problem diagnosed, challenge the fee, get the fee waived and leave. The next time you see the vehicle, the problem is either fixed by a another person or has the same problem, with the customer stating the repair didn’t fix it! Well, if the customer chose to pay the diagnostic fee and  have it fixed at the facility that diagnosed it and that repair didn’t  correct the failure, the customer is not liable for the part or parts.

In the long run, when you as a customer pay for a diagnostic fee, it protects not only you, but the technician as well. So do yourself a favor, if you have a problem, leave it to the professionals and a lot of valuable time will be saved leaving extra time for you to do the things you enjoy doing.

Winter is coming, and with that snow is inevitable. You want to make sure your tires are ready. If you have less than 4/32″ left, you should consider replacing them with new ones. Not everyone has the same driving habits so this means one tire may be right for you but not for the next person. Research is the most important step in purchasing a tire for your vehicle. Most individuals purchase a tire because it is lower in price, but come to find out it’s not the right one for them.In the past months, I have noticed drivers are choosing tires for the rebate offered from the tire company and ignored the advice of choosing the right tire for your vehical. if you are not sure about the correct tire, install an OEM replacement. This will ensure a factory adjusted ride.  Here is a site to help you research new tires for your auto, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will give you a very honest opinion!