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

             

Complaints in Auto Repair -The Why and How | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

Every couple of years the Better Business Bureau releases statistics on the inquiries and complaints that they receive from consumers. The latest figures are for 2012 and don't reflect well on the auto repair industry.

Background - The BBB fielded more than 1.75 million inquiries in the "Auto Repair & Service" category. It was the fourth most frequent request made by the the public. In 2012 there were over 117 million reports issued by the BBB. When complaints filed against auto repair facilities are compared to other businesses, repair shops ranked ninth with 14,002 complaints filed, of which 9284 were settled which is just about 2/3 of the complaints filed.

Reasons - There are numerous ways to disappoint consumers when it comes to their cars. Vehicles are not repaired competently ; they are misdiagnosed or maybe the repair isn't completed when promised. The stakes are high when the family vehicle is involved, because it can impact the ability to get to work or move family members to appointments some of which may incur monetary penalties when missed.

Why - The auto repair environment can easily lend itself to misunderstanding. Its nomenclature is full of acronyms which are difficult for the industry to keep up with and must seem like an alphabet soup of indiscriminate terms to consumers. The separation of job functions between the service writer and technician adds a level of interpretation before a description of the vehicle's problems is relayed to the owner and therefore is susceptible to misinterpretation.

Considerations - In the review driven retail world that prevails today it is important that all parties involved conduct themselves in a civil manner and avoid personalizing the dispute. Consumers should look for transparency in their interaction with the auto repair facility and the shop should attempt to identify with the feelings of vulnerability the customer perceives. Everyone should try to strip away any chance for misunderstanding and negotiate in good faith.   

Copyright 2014 Joe & Tony's Service Inc. All Rights Reserved 

     

When to Change Your Oil | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

All the rules have changed concerning the frequency of oil changes. The new thinking has been brought about by the oil life monitoring systems that car makers have devised to go along with the new extended drain (Full Synthetic) oils they have begun to use. So is the need to change oil every 3,500 miles a thing of the past?

Vehicle requirements - The first step is to consult your owner's manual for the correct type of oil needed for your vehicle. This will include the viscosity - something like 0W20 or 5W30 and whether the oil needs to be a full synthetic like MobilOne or if a synthetic blend is ok. It will also designate the API service designation usually represented by two letters like - SN.

Oil life reminders - Vehicles equipped with oil life monitoring systems use either a icon on the dashboard or a text message displayed on the Driver Information Center. The system may use a percentage of oil life left or just the appearance of the light to alert the driver that it's time for the oil to be changed.

How the systems work - The most sophisticated systems compare your driving style to an algorithm that
in turn estimates the amount of life left on your oil. The indicator then comes on or your oil life percentage decreases accordingly. Other systems are nothing more than flags that come on when you have reached a preset mileage interval. They are a high tech equivalent of the oil change sticker placed on your windshield.
Both types of systems must be reset when the oil is changed to have any meaning. The method for resetting the system is usually in your owner's manual.

Eyes on your vehicle -  Nothing is better than a trusted and competent auto service provider taking a look at your car or truck at regular intervals. Traditionally, this has been at the time of the oil change. If your car maker has decided that due to the type of oil you are using (e.g. Full Synthetic) it's OK to go 7,500 miles between changes, we feel that is what you should do but there are two things to remember:

1. Don't push the mileage limit
2. Make sure your vehicle is looked at periodically by someone you trust  

Copyright 2014, John DeCostanza

     

Rating Your Auto Repair Facility | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

If you rely on reviews to choose the shop that repairs your vehicle, you can understand the need to offer feedback about your experience. It is about paying the system forward whether it reflects positively or negatively on your provider. So here are some areas that we believe are fair game for evaluation.

General business practices - This covers everything from phone etiquette to honoring your privacy. Are you getting what you tend to expect from any business? Are they responding to your inquiries promptly and explaining the services that your vehicle needs in easy to understand terms? Did you have a good feeling about the experience and were your needs met?

Accuracy of diagnosis - This is the big one and of course the reason why you are there in the first place. If the shop fails to meet your expectations or if it met and/or exceeded them then comment is appropriate. The question is whether your concern about your vehicle has been addressed and resolved to your satisfaction.If, however, you arrived at the facility for a tire repair and the shop was the bearer of bad news and could only offer a replacement, this is not their fault and doesn't merit a negative review.

Resolution of problems- When you are working on a machine as complex as an automobile, there will be times that the fix does not work out on the first attempt. This, in itself, is not grounds for trashing the shop in the form of a negative review. There are, however, some things that we feel that you should expect when you are returning for the same problem. First is that the shop should treat your return as a priority and be willing to revisit your repair as soon as is convenient to you. The shop should also be willing to "work with you" to arrive at a mutually agreeable resolution.

When repairs go south everyone becomes stressed out, if the repair facility is making an earnest attempt to resolve the problem, a negative review should not be used as leverage to pressure the facility. Likewise, a shop should not offer incentives for positive reviews beyond the way they treat each and every patron.          

        

Tire for Repair
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