How to Get Under the Skin of Your Auto Technician | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

Every profession encounters consumer quirks that frustrate the practitioners and auto repair technicians are no different. In spite of the popular perception that the industry is only interested in selling unneeded services in an effort to boost ticket size, most auto repair shops are competent and honest. However, that isn't to say that there are not certain car owner practices that get under the skin and elevate the blood pressure of mechanics. Here are some of the big ones!

1. Giving incomplete or false information about the problem with the vehicle
2. Not disclosing that another repair facility has previously worked on the same problem
3. Failing to provide the wheel lock socket needed to remove your vehicle's wheels
4. Not preparing for the auto repair visit by removing excessive trash from the vehicle
5. Bringing your vehicle in for repairs with very little gas in the tank or with expired tags
6. Requesting additional service after the previously requested work has been completed
7. Asking that used parts be used to repair your vehicle
8. Not responding to update calls from service writers thus holding up the repair 

The main concern of the auto technicians who I know is getting the car or truck repaired right the first time. Sometimes they are the bearers of bad news for which they are not responsible, but the information is associated with the experience and makes the perception of the episode similar to a dental visit. By avoiding these auto repair-consumer pitfalls you may stay on the right side of the person servicing your vehicle. 

Wheel Lock Key/Socket

10 Things You May Not Know About Tires| Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

1.) You may not have a spare tire.
 Some late model vehicles are only supplied with some variation of a pump and a repair kit in the form of an aerosol can filled with a chemical stop leak.

2.) Your right tires are probably lower in inflation than the tires mounted on the driver's side.
From experience (50 Years Actually) we have consistently noted that when vehicles come in for oil changes the passenger side tires are lower in pressure. We have attributed this to hitting curbs while parallel parking.

3.) The week and year your tire was manufactured is on the side of the tire.
Look for a box with a four digit number inside, [2414] would mean that your tire was made during the 24th week of 2014. By the way, 6 years is said to be retirement age in the life of a tire.

4.) Most tire punctures occur after rain storms.
We repair more tires after rain events because the storm water carries all types of foreign objects and debris into the roadway. Hail storms can also be good for business because the roofers doing repairs or replacements are notoriously careless about leaving nails in their wake.

5.) Spare tires lose air pressure while stored in your trunk.
Temperature variances, moisture and humidity take their toll on the inflation of your spare. Taking a trip and don't remember the last time you looked at the spare? Check before leaving home!

6.) Tires have makes and models just like automobiles.
This becomes important if you have to replace a single tire. In this case, the tire must match the tire on the other side of the vehicle - exactly. So if you are replacing a tire on the left front of your vehicle it must be the same as the one on the right. For example, if the tire is a Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max you can not replace it with a Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread, even if the size and speed rating match.

7.) The correct tire pressure for your vehicle is not found on the tire.
The tire pressure mentioned on the tire is the maximum pressure. The right pressure for your tires is found on a decal located on the driver's door pillar. This pressure must be maintained to keep your low tire out. The only exception is space saver spare tires, which say in large letters INFLATE TO 60 PSI (in most cases).

8.)  Remaining tread is not the only consideration when deciding to replace tires.
As previously mentioned, age can be a factor. Also cracking,dry rotting and damage can also be determining conditions that may exist.

9.) Always insist on an inside patch when repairing a tire.
Inside patches require the tire to be removed from the rim, which gives the technician a chance to inspect the interior of the tire for additional damage. For example, a nail entering a tire near the outside edge may be long enough to be tearing up the sidewall from the inside. This very dangerous scenario would never be uncovered if the tire is repair with a plug applied from the outside.

10.) It takes very little driving on a completely flat tire to destroy it. 
If you don't want to replace a flat tire, immediately safely pull to the side of the roadway and call for assistance. The inside of a tire can be ruined by the tire rim- if you drive a matter of feet.    

Tire Sidewall Damage by Puncture at the Edge

With Winter Comes Rust & Corrosion | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

The ill effects of highway treatments are very evident in the undercar area of your vehicle. Brine, road salt and calcium and magnesium chloride are all used to deice roads. What they all have in common is their harmful reaction to your vehicle's metal components. The most vulnerable part of your vehicle is the part that faces the roadway. It's here that the fuel and brake lines and various suspension parts (not to mention the frame itself) live.

So how can you combat nature's war on your vehicle's metal? According to Popular Mechanics the car makers try by treating their cars with different rust preventative chemicals but over time the protection gets blown away as your vehicle speeds down the highway. What they do think is effective is to rinse or wash your car often, including the undercarriage. Another suggestion is to identify the drain holes at the bottom of doors and the frame itself. These drains prevent water from laying in the cavity of the part and rusting it from the inside out.

So the idea is to keep the drains free of debris by using a pipe cleaner or similar object to open the holes.It is also recommended to dry out the cracks, crevices, and depressions of the steel parts of the vehicle. Sound impossible? It is, but don't feel bad because it's not unusual for the car manufacturers to resort to recalls to replace poorly designed components that retain water and fail prematurely. So the takeaway is to keep your car clean as best you can including under the vehicle.

The attached photo shows the badly rusted brake lines from a Chevy Tahoe that graced our shop recently.

Badly Rusted Brake Lines

What Is an Automotive Diagnosis ? | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

In the medical arena, the definition of a diagnosis is pretty clear cut - you go to a trained professional and are told what ails you. In the automotive industry, the lines have been blurred. The availability of on-line advice and parts store willingness to scan a vehicle free of charge has changed the driving public's perception of the most important first step in the repair of a vehicle.

Auto repair facilities themselves subscribe to databases that aggregate repair information from shops worldwide. Those same shops belong to automotive forums, trade groups and have accumulated relationships within their communities all of which they use to inform their decisions about what is needed to repair your car. But the written or spoken word (to date) has never, by itself, repaired a vehicle.

All accurate information is helpful in the hands of a committed technician whose first priority has become the most expedient and economical repair of your vehicle. It is the notion that one piece of information whether acquired from an online source, water cooler talk, or a first-cousin once removed can be a magic bullet, which causes angina for technicians. Unfortunately, that "one piece" of data is just that and does not constitute a diagnosis much less a repair path.

A true diagnosis combines information from a number of sources including the owner's experiences and perceptions, measurable data of the vehicle's performance gleaned in real-time through the use of sophisticated diagnostic equipment and a look at the vehicle's Achilles Heels which is available through industry repair aggregators. But this only generates a theory, not a diagnosis not to mention a repair.

The diagnosis then needs to be verified. Technicians use a number of methods to confirm a suspected failure ranging from manipulating a component through the use of a tool to something as low-tech as a wiggle test. Remember, all this effort is going into a diagnosis- the first step. So, when you are certain that you know you have struck diagnostic gold on the internet, be reminded of that old saw, "When you're carrying a hammer everything looks like a nail."      



 

 

Vehicle Conditions That You Can't Tolerate | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

We would like to see you always respond to deficiencies in your vehicle. That's what we do- make those things right. However, we do understand that there is competition for your available funds and that sometimes auto repair and servicing must take a back seat to  a clogged sewer line or moving expenses. But sometimes you must push car problems to the top of the list or take it off the road.

So when do you have to make a choice between getting your car fixed and walking to work? Please understand that this is not an all-inclusive list, but rather some problems that you may experience and not realize their gravity.

• Fuel Leak- The odor of fuel must be tended to immediately. If it's under the hood there are numerous sources of ignition ranging from the heat of the engine to hundreds of electrical connections. If it's an exterior leak the ignition could be almost anything in the nearby environment.  
• Bald Tire- Driving on a badly compromised tire is like walking around with the pin pulled on a hand grenade. It's only a matter of time before something is going to happen and it can't be good. Bulges in tires, visible steel cord, ply separations and smooth tires should all trigger the same sense of concern.
• Flashing Check Engine Light- The Malfunction Indicator Lamp or Check Engine Light is designed to illuminate when a diagnostic trouble code is set in your vehicle's Powertrain Control module or computer. If the light is on constantly it's important to know the cause, but if it begins to blink you should pull over and get the car towed. The higher level of concern that is represented when the light begins to flash could mean that damage to the engine is imminent.
• Low Oil or High Temp Indicator- The low oil light is signified by an oil bottle. When it lights up, safely drive to the side of the road or to a service facility and check and add motor oil before resuming your trip. If the "Hot" light comes on or the temperature gauge goes up to "H" you must stop driving the vehicle and get it towed. The mechanical consequences of running a car while hot far exceed any inconvenience that might be incurred.

There are more instances when vehicles should not be driven, many of which are signaled by  noise or visible evidence such as a leaking fluid. The point is that care should be taken to be aware of what's going on with your vehicle and respond accordingly. 

Bald Tire with Cord Showing on Edges

             

Knowing When You Need Help | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

Every driver has had experiences when a decision has to be made as to whether to continue on or seek help. I was reminded of this one morning this week when I was greeted by a Chevy HHR that wasn't there when I left the night before. The owner called to say she had gotten a message on her Driver Information Center that said, " Car Slowing Down Can't Get Traction."

She prudently heeded the DIC message by pulling to the side of the road and ultimately calling for a tow truck. She did this while taking note of the conditions of the failure and eventually conveying them accurately to us. The result was that no one was endangered and the vehicle problem was resolved with no further damage to the vehicle.

The tension between attempting to reach our destination and seeking help was demonstrated to me when my wife and I were traveling to Virginia this past Christmas Eve. In six lanes of stop and go traffic on the Capitol Beltway (I-495) our Tucson's transmission went south and like the HHR would not accelerate. What to do? The answer was to ease our way from the fast lane to the nearest exit and work something out. This whole experience gave me a much better appreciation of our customers' stress over vehicle failure episodes.

By comparison, consider the "tire" pictured here or should I say the remnants of it? The entire sidewall is gone and only the tread area remains. This only happens when a tire is driven flat for miles and the wheel cuts away the tire 's rubber. What could have the driver been thinking? Could the cost of a tow truck or the prospect of being late for an appointment have been the reason he would continue on? And what danger was he imposing on himself, his passengers and those on the road with him that day?

Copyright 2016 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

   

How to Select a Battery

Replacing a battery isn't as clear cut as it used to be, vital memory can be lost in the process, affecting everything from radio presets to important KAM (Keep Alive Memory). The newer vehicles need a continuous stream of power to protect this data and special devices may have to be attached to do so. But if you are a dedicated DIYer here's one of my most popular articles originally published on Yahoo Voices. By the way, if you replace a battery preemptively (prior to a failure) we do not charge a labor charge for the replacement on most vehicles.

                                                        How to Select a Battery

BCI stands for Battery Council International. Now you can forget that bit of information because the industry just uses the term BCI when referring to a type of battery cataloging system for cars. What the BCI or battery group number allows you to do is to determine the length, width, height as well as the terminal configuration of your car’s battery.

This is helpful when confirming that the replacement battery that you have selected is a direct match to the one you are replacing. Here’s what you do. Find the catalog number for your existing battery. It will say something like 8475 if it’s sold by NAPA. What this is telling you is that this battery is in the 75 BCI group and carries an 84-month warranty. Now measure your battery and record the dimensions. Next go to batteryweb.com  and click on BCI Group Sizes to confirm your decoding of the catalog number. Always move the battery so that the terminals are closest to you to correctly determine the position of the positive and negative terminals. So you will find that 8475 ends up being a side terminal battery with the positive terminal on the left.

Now that you know that the battery will fit and the cables will reach and tighten properly, let’s make sure that your battery selection is going to start the car. Look for CCA or CA on the battery, these stand for cold cranking amps and cranking amps respectively. These ratings indicate the battery’s ability to turn over your car’s engine in stressful conditions – the higher the rating the better. CCA is just a higher standard than CA. We’re looking for a battery with a rating that equals the one you’re replacing or fulfills the requirement as listed in your owner’s manual.

The final rating that appears on the battery is RC which stands for reserve capacity. The battery manufacturers have thought of everything including the hapless possibility that your vehicle might have to run all of its accessories solely off the battery. So reserve capacity is a rating in minutes of how long the battery could sustain that condition if the alternator or its belt failed.

Even though cold weather is associated with car battery replacement, probably because of the visceral reaction of seeing the service truck in your driveway during a snow storm, heat-related issues are just as destructive to batteries. So whether you’re trying to replace your battery wearing a winter coat or a tee shirt, start first with the numbers that you find on the battery to make the job easier.