The Importance of Voltage as in Your Vehicle's Battery | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

We all are very familiar with the impact of low voltage on our cell phones. So take that chaos and multiply it by 30-100 which is the number of micro-processors that  a 2010 NY Times article estimated are in today's cars and trucks. This estimate precedes the onslaught of factory installed infotainment systems in cars, so I'm sure you get where I'm going. But then again maybe you don't.

What I'm proposing is a new way to look at replacing the battery in your vehicle. The old way is to milk every day that you possibly can out of the power supply that starts your vehicle and helps to run all its computers. Car batteries can be purchased with warranties of anywhere from 48 to 84 months, but the fact is that most batteries fail at about the 48 month mark depending on where you live. This reality is the reason that a well respected consumer publication recommends that in hot climates owners begin to test their batteries' condition every year beginning at 2 years old and in cold climates beginning at 4 years. Yes that's right, sweltering heat is harder on batteries than freezing cold.

The point of all this is that it may be penny wise and dollar foolish to squeeze an extra day or two out of your car's battery. Since a lack of available voltage could trigger a diagnostic trouble code and illuminate your check engine light, you should consider a marginal battery a threat to your vehicle's diagnostic system. Although the initial check of your vehicle's condition would include an evaluation of battery health, why not eliminate exposure to a misdiagnosis and all the angst that goes with it.

The cost of diagnosing an erratic code could exceed the money saved by extending the replacement time of your battery by a few weeks.

Have your battery tested as it ages
Copyright 2015 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.  

 

NHTSA Decides No Recall on Rusting Brake Lines | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) has ended a multi-year investigation into 1999-2003 full sized pickup trucks and sport utilities vehicles which have experienced brake line failures. The government agency has decided the problem is due to "end of life wear out" and will not be recalling the subject vehicles.

The lines that NHTSA looked at carry brake fluid throughout the brake system and play the primary role in the hydraulic functionality of the brakes. Fluid in the lines is responsible for applying pressure to the mechanical brake parts that stop the vehicle. Lines compromised by rust and corrosion eventually leak and result in loss of pressure greatly increasing stopping distances. If this condition is not addressed all the fluid is lost resulting in no brakes.

NHTSA offered consumers in the "Salt Belt" (a list of 20 states & DC where deicing preparations are applied to roadways) suggestions to "protect against brake pipe corrosion in older vehicles". They are: 1.) Periodically remove from the undercarriage of your vehicle road salt that leads to corrosion
       2.) Monitor your brake system and the undercarriage components
       3.) Replace the entire brake pipe assembly at any sign of scaling or flaking

The agency also describes what to do if you experience a brake failure while driving. These instructions can be viewed at NHTSA Brake Corrosion Press Release.

Comment -As covered in the last blog post and reinforced here by NHTSA,  there is no substitution   for a trained eye periodically looking over your vehicle.

Dripping Brake Line Copyright 2015 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

           

Reasons to Maintain Your Vehicle

J.D. Power's Automotion Blog forecasted that the average new vehicle transaction price for March 2015 would be $30,530, which would be a record for the month of March. Median income adjusted for inflation has been hovering around $52,000 in recent years. The math indicates that we are plunking down nearly 59% of a year's wages when we give the salesman the OK to place the happy tags on our new ride. This makes a case for maintaining a vehicle. Some of the other reasons are...

200,000 Miles is the New 100,000 Miles - Admittedly, we don't see an abundance of brand new cars since the the first 36 months and 36,000 miles are covered by the new car warranty. But the odometer readings we do see actually make a case for vigilant maintenance, since the best way to maximize your investment is to exploit the 200,000 mile potential your vehicle can achieve.

Longer Power Train Warranties- Hyundai broke new ground when, many years ago, it introduced the 100,000 Mile/10 Year power train warranty. Today the decision appears to have been prescient since the average age of the national fleet is 11 years. The stickler here is that you have to maintain the vehicle per the manufacturer's specifications to avail yourself of warranty coverage- no service history, no warranty.

Higher used car values - It is no secret that selling used cars is profitable - think CarMax
CarSense and Autotrader. So how could you use that knowledge to your advantage? Yes, by diligently maintaining your vehicle. Don't consider it a transportation device, instead think of it as an investment. Make deposits into it in the form of oil changes, inspections and scheduled maintenance and think of your technician as a vehicular adviser who is there to protect your nest egg.

The Golden Rule- If self interest doesn't motivate you to keep up on your car, consider this. I have always been struck by the democracy of the road. Find a vehicle, register it, insure it and you can enjoy the same rights as everyone else as long you follow the rules of the road. Your piece could be a Mazda 2 or a Hennessey Venom GT and you're equal on the roadway. But isn't there an inherent responsibility that comes with that freedom? Of course there is, and it's the regard you must have for yourself, your passengers and the guy in the other lane on I-95. That regard is shown when you seek regular and competent advice about your vehicle.

Rusted Rear Suspension Copyright 2015 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.  

 

             


     

How I Sold the Best Car I Ever Owned | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

One of the benefits of working in an auto repair shop is that you are on the front lines of the used car market. Without much effort, you know who is in the market to buy and who would like to sell a vehicle. So over the years I have purchased a number of cars from customers and likewise have sold a few to other clients.

A 1975 Mercury Monarch and a 1985 Chevy Caprice Classic were OK buys for me. They provided sound transportation and maintained their integrity in terms of appearance and reliability for the duration of my ownership. I sold the Chevy to another customer who drove it for a number of years without spending much on repairs. Unlike stocks, when it comes to cars, past performance can be a guarantee of future results, as long as they are properly maintained.

But without a doubt the best car I ever owned was purchased from a little old lady in 1979. When she owned the car she would drive by to have me check the gas gauge and inquire whether she should fill up or wait. Usually I would tell her to wait and try to use up her current inventory, because I was concerned that the gas would “go bad”. All the details of this 1969 Chevy Nova are burned into my brain, because she decided to sell it to me when it turned 10 years old when it had only been driven 1500 miles.

No, I didn’t forget a zero, in a decade the owner had barely driven the car beyond the inspection lanes and back and undoubtedly could have taken a taxi as cheaply on all of her jaunts. So how do you establish the value of a car that has been driven so few miles? We called the Chevrolet dealership and arrived at something that made sense to both parties and I became the proud owner of a two door, glacier blue Nova with a standard transmission and a 6 cylinder engine. On the showroom floor its price tag was less than $2500.

What made it the best car I ever owned? It’s simplicity. Although its amenities were non-existent, the vehicle’s Spartan functionality provided reliable transportation and it didn’t put up much of a fuss when something went wrong. When is the last time you raised the hood of a car and could actually see the pavement below?

But like many things in life, everything has a time and the tipping point for the Nova was a growing family that required a vehicle with two more doors. This brings me to the other reason that this Chevy is so memorable. I did indeed sell it to another customer. Let’s call him Len.

Len was a very good customer, who was well appreciated, but in today’s jargon  he would earn the label “high maintenance”. I was anxious to move the Nova and mentioned it to Len contrary to the advice of my co-workers. He said we had a deal as long as I agreed to teach his 20 something son how to operate the stick shift. So one Saturday we found a parking lot that had a couple of elevated grades on which we could simulate preventing the car from rolling back at stop lights and with Len kibitzing from the back seat we practiced and practiced.

Of course, on Monday morning everyone wanted to know how my tutorial had gone. Without any hesitation I told them, “Len said it was a deal.” I didn’t mention that he was insisting that I have the clutch replaced prior to the sale.         

Suspension Often Forgotten But Much Appreciated When Replaced | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

In my role at the repair shop I don't often road test vehicles before and after repair procedures, but I have found that I really enjoy driving one that has had suspension work performed on it. To me there is nothing that improves the driving experience more than the sense of control and ease of handling that renewed suspension parts offer the driver.

Insidious degrading- The gradual wear process that occurs in the suspension of a vehicle accounts for the reason why these parts are often neglected until a noise or a catastrophic failure occurs. Over time, the rubber bushings in control arms and ball joints degrade. They are of course susceptible to load driven wear and tear, but contaminants like oil and road grime take their toll as well.

Attention grabbing sound- The first sign that makes the driver aware of a problem is usually a "clunking" or "banging" sound. As those rubber bushings go away after years of driving, two metal parts that were previously separated by rubber begin to contact each other when the vehicle's suspension is stressed by going over irregularities in the road like a speed bump or a pothole. This produces the noise that alerts you to the failure.

Clicking noise- One part of the suspension that can produce a "clicking" noise when it fails is the sway bar links also called stabilizer links. These parts connect the front or rear (if so equipped) sway bar to the suspension. When the links break a vehicle may lean more on turns and signal its condition with a rattling sound.

As we pointed out in our previous post the senses are important when evaluating the condition of your vehicle. In the case of suspension problems, hearing plays a very important part in your ability to convey what ails your vehicle to the service facility. Try to describe the type of noise, where it is coming from and when it is evident such as when going over a bump or when the brakes are applied.

Failed Control Arms (Complete Arm & Failed Bushing Views)
Copyright Joe & Tony's Service Inc. 2014 

    

  

   

Keeping Track of Your Car with Your Senses | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

Not every automotive diagnostic tool comes with an expensive price tag or an instruction list that requires an engineering degree to decipher. Especially for consumers whose involvement will end when they drop the vehicle off for repair, the most important tools are their senses. Relying on what you see, hear, or smell in describing your automotive concerns is always the best first step in getting your car or truck back to its reliable self.

Sight - Describing what you see in very specific terms makes diagnosis much easier. If it is a fluid leak, note the color, location and when during the driving cycle it appears. If a part doesn't seem to line up right or appears to be leaning be sure to mention it. Inspect your tires for foreign objects like nails, screws and shards of glass or pointy stones embedded in the tires. Occasionally check your lights for burned out bulbs.

Hearing - Clues to what is wrong with your car often come through your ears. From the rapid ticking of a turn signal indicator to the high pitched squeal of a brake pad sensor, sound is your friend when it comes to problems with your vehicle. Describe to the best of your ability the type sound you hear and when you hear it during the driving cycle (Starting Out, Accelerating, or Cruising).

Smell - Everybody knows what un-burned or raw gas smells like. When you smell that odor around your vehicle you should be very concerned. Whether under the hood or externally from a fuel line or a tank, dripping gas represents a clear and present danger and should be resolved immediately. You should never smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle. If your exhaust system leaks exhaust fumes can migrate into the cabin. There have been press reports of children being overcome from breathing fumes when they fell asleep in the back seat of a car stuck in traffic. The lack of vehicle movement increases the danger, so assume that the resolution of exhaust fumes is a high priority.      

Damaged Honda Odyssey Motor Oil Pan
Copyright 2014 Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

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