Road Salt & Your Vehicle | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

We're always talking about rust and corrosion created by road salt and other chemicals used to de-ice the  roads in the winter. Most of the references are about the damage to brake and fuel lines and undercar suspension parts (trailing arms etc.). But recently a 2004 Chrysler Sebring with 74,000 miles on the odometer came in with a complaint about a "banging" sound from the rear and it demonstrated how pervasive and insidious these chemicals are.

As this photo shows salt (white discoloration) had gotten to the very top of the left rear strut and weakened the bracket that holds the strut to the vehicle. A broken piece of the strut bracket is visible in the picture. The failure was creating the noise that our customer's passengers who were riding in the rear seat complained about.

This kind of damage is never seen, but makes even experienced repair people wonder how much other automotive infrastructure has been compromised in the yearly effort to keep the roadways passable. Maybe it's time for a new standard for the materials used in vehicles or better yet some R & D on non corrosive chemicals to combat ice and snow.

Salt Damaged Rear Strut
Copyright 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

     

TPMS Sensors Have Changed Tire Care | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

Here to stay - Six model years have passed since Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors became mandatory for vehicles sold in the U.S. In the auto repair industry there are differing stances on their significance. These opinions range from denial to complete acceptance. The cold hard fact is that their use is considered a safety feature so they are no more likely to go away than are seat belts or airbags.

Consumer friendly- What could be more clear than responding to a dashboard warning light? The easy answer is "nothing" but that assumes that the driver of the vehicle knows what the symbol is and what it looks like. The telltale for low tire pressure is a yellow cross section of a tire with an exclamation point in the center. In a recent study performed by Schrader, a company that makes tire valves, 42 % of the respondents could not identify the symbol and ten percent said they have ignored it.

False positives ?- In climates that have seasonal changes in temperature, it is not unusual for colder weather to cause the light to appear. This, of course, is a good thing since it means the system is working as designed.

But drivers not familiar with the light or those not understanding how it works tend to consider the light a nuisance since it requires confirming that the tire is low by manually checking the pressure and inflating the tires to the proper level.

Costs involved - With technology comes expense, the expected life of the batteries that power TPMS sensors is approximately five years. They are not cheap in most cases replacing them can cost between $75 and $150 with installation labor. Some systems require re-learning after each tire rotation which generates additional expense. The facts are that the system works. What price is too much to pay for safety? 

TPMS Sensor

Copyright  2014 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

       

What You Should Know About a Timing Belt | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

Not all vehicles have Timing Belts - Some have Chains.

Timing Belts are assigned a replacement interval in both miles and months by the car maker.

Automotive fluids of any type (coolant, motor oil, trans fluid etc.) are the enemy of the Timing Belt. Exposure to these reduces life and causes Premature Failure.

The type of engine you have- free wheeling or interference- makes a difference if your Timing Belt fails.
Free Wheeling- you are disabled but not destroyed. Interference - get your checkbook.

Timing Belts get hard, crack, wear out, lose teeth and wear out on the edges.

When you purchase a vehicle it is important to know if it has a Timing Belt and if it does when it was last replaced.

You should always replace your water pump when you replace your Timing Belt.

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Joe & Tony's Hosts Tire Care Clinic | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

On April 12th we hosted an auto care clinic focused on tires. The event was co-sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and the Money School. There were about fifteen attendees and the two hours were very informative.

Kevin Fritsch, a Goodyear field sales representative, discussed Basic Tire Knowledge from tire inflation to the advantages and disadvantages of run-flat tires. The discussion generated numerous questions form the participants which served as a springboard for an in-depth consideration of recognizing issues with your tires and knowing when to investigate, repair or replace.

TPMS was of interest to all who attended. Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems have been required original equipment since the 2008 model year. We talked about the history of TPMS, how the systems work and the pluses and minuses in terms of convenience and cost. The need to use plastic tire caps and to avoid the use of fix-a-flat was also covered.

Patches vs Plugs - The importance of inspecting the inside of a tire that is losing air was stressed. The superiority of an inside patch/plug combination over a string type plug that is installed from the exterior of the tire was demonstrated with a cross-section of a tire which showed the two methods.

More to Come - We hope that this is the first of many efforts to inform you about your vehicles. We believe in transparency and the idea that in auto repair knowledge is power.

Tire Flat Spot
Copyright 2014 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

         

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
Copyright Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

Batteries Are Tougher to Forecast Than the Weather

Batteries can be deceiving. Short of having them professionally evaluated, there are very few ways to tell if a battery is on the verge of failure. Here are some tips to stay on top of the condition of your battery and avoid roadside assistance.

Know your battery- It is important to record when your battery was replaced. Since all batteries are rated by their projected life expectancy and their warranty is tied to that projection, it makes sense to know how old your battery is and what kind of guarantee you have.

Keep it corrosion free - The accumulation of corrosion on a battery terminal can cause a failure to start that might be misdiagnosed as a battery problem. Have the battery checked for corrosion each time you get an oil change and keep the battery clean.

Take the load off - It is a good idea to turn off your car's accessories prior to shutting the car's motor off. This would include the wipers, radio, air conditioning and of course the lights. This way the battery's power can be applied solely to starting the vehicle on your next trip. Also, make sure that your cell phone is not charging while the engine is off.

Replacement should be OEM quality-  When replacing your battery confirm that the replacement is the equal of the original battery in terms of cold cranking amps and reserve capacity. The Original Equipment Manufacturer's recommendation reflects the electrical demand needed to operate the vehicle optimally and should be followed when replacing the battery.