I have some clients that say this: I do not want to go to the dealer.
Why?
The dealer has all the cool tools, great parts and factory trained mechanics. So why not go to the dealer. They know everything about the car you drive. It must be a great place.
I have worked in three dealerships. Everyone of them was challenging. Shop politics, back stabbing, steeling work from each other, breaking things to flag warranty time, high mechanic turn over and the list goes on. In short, it sucked.
Because I have morals, I never did very well at the dealership level. I did not play along with the shop games, politics and shady ways to flag time.
I did have an advantage, I could work on anything that rolled. I always had work when everyone else was standing around. In the long run I still made my pay check, but I did it the hard way, I worked for it.
I like working at a family owned repair shop.
Clients like the family owned repair shops because they get better overall service. A family shop is a great place to go for all your repair and maintenance needs. A family repair shop works on anything that rolls. Any year and model, we do not mind. A family owned shop can do everything the dealer can do. A family repair shop offers you a personal touch.
A family shop will always be a better place than the dealer, because we care about you.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
I have at least 2 cars a month that need a water pump replaced ASAP. If a water pump is leaking, you risk over heating your engine. An overheating condition can destroy an engine in less than couple of minuets.
If the engine over heats from coolant loss, repair costs can get ugly fast.
This leaking Nissan water pump was changed before engine damage could happen, the leaky pump was noticed during the oil change service. Regular service visits can prevent bigger failures.
The best time to replace a leaking water pump is before engine damage occurs.
This is a no brainer. At least we would think that is the case.
On the web, you can find many auto forums that say, do not get ripped off by replacing parts before they break. Yes and No. Most forums are 50% helpful. Populated by wannabe mechanics or shade tree D.I.Y. guys and you can get advise that will cost you more in the long run.
So are you getting ripped off if you can prevent a bigger failure?
This mess is from an Audi A6. The water pump failed and caused the engine to over heat. The repairs totaled $6,400.00 because a $86.00 water pump failed at 39,000 miles.
Sometimes it is Ok to replace a part before it is 100% broken.
Would you fly in an airplane, if you knew the ground crew waited till an engine part was 100% broken before they replaced it? > No! <
If I knew the airplane could break down when it was at 30,000 feet, I would never want to fly at all.
Preventative maintenance is just what it implies. Fix it before it fails.
I have a BMW client that comes in every 45,000 miles to replace the water pump, upper radiator hose, thermostat and coolant. This is because the water pump life span is about 50,000 miles and the client does not want to have any breakdowns. The above repair is only $590.00, but an engine replacement is around $9,000.00. The client understands the value and loves his car.
Water pumps do not have to leak to cause engine damage. This Volvo S80 water pump has a broken impeller. Repairs for this condition can range from $550.00 to $6000.00. It all depends on how hot the engine gets.
Yes, I know cars do not fly, but many states have safety inspections to keep cars in a safe working order. Brakes, tires, lights, steering, suspension and drive train parts must be in good working condition. If the car needs repairs, you do not drive the car till it pass’ inspection.
I do not like to wait till my car is broken down on the side of the road to take action. Maintenance is required to keep everything ship-shape and ready for the road.
This water pump caused over heating damage and the engine needed replacement because the over heating melted the pistons to the cylinder walls. The car was only 2 years old with 47,000 miles on the clock.
I like to see our clients in at least twice a year for service, but they can stop in anytime to get free air in the tires. Our clients know they are welcome to stop in anytime for a quick under hood check. A quick look costs nothing, but could save you big.
You do not have to wait till the next oil change to pop the hood.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
I just replaced my tires last month. Well, sort of.
The client in question, did replace the tires on this month, but it was 3 years ago this month. Time just zips by, and I have this happen to many clients, they lose track of when they last visited the shop. That is why we mail out reminders to clients, so they come in for service regularly.
I see 4 to 5 cars a week that need tires. So why do drivers wait till the tire fails? Why wait till you are on the side of the road.
I blame it on an old school idea, the myth is that Abraham Lincoln’s head is a good judge of tread depth. In the last couple years I have seen many automotive articles on tire wear and when it’s time to replace the worn out rubber.
Penny @ 2/32″ of an inch vs a Quarter @ 4/32″ of an inch.
When you use a penny to judge the tread depth, you are waiting too long to replace your tires. Waiting till your tires are at 2/32″ of an inch to replace them puts you at risk of hydroplaning in wet conditions.
Hydroplaning; “Verb” To slide uncontrollably on the wet surface of a road : a motorist whose car hydroplaned and crashed into a tree.
Many tires may still have tread in the center, but may be worn at the edge, or worse. Your tires could be age cracked, or have cuts on the side wall from hitting curbs. You must look at the condition of the entire tire, not just the thread thickness.
I know, I live in Arizona. It never rains in Arizona, right? Well the fact is, yes, it does rain in Arizona just not very often. But when it does rain, all the oil in the road rises to the top of the wet surface. That makes the road very slick. Any tire at 2/32″ of an inch will slip, slide and lose traction very easy in that type of wet condition.
So I like to use a Quarter, I keep one in my pocket to show clients how important thickness is when the road is wet. A Quarter will give you 4/32″ or 1/8 th of an inch of tread thickness. I use 4/32″ of an inch as a guideline for tire wear. Many tests have shown that tires worn to 4/32″ of an inch will still grip the wet road and bring your car to a safe stop.
The video below is showing a tire that is worn too much, it needs replacement now. If you look at the center of the tire you can see the tread is still thick enough that it could give the owner the idea the tire is still good. The client did not think the tread was that bad till I showed him up close how cracked and worn the tire was. In fact all 4 tires looked just like the one in the video clip. He only came in to get the fluids checked and the tires aired up because he was going on a trip in the morning.
So as your tire wears down below 4/32″ it will start to lose traction when the road is wet. Tests on tires looking at tire wear vs wet traction showed that at 3/32″ of an inch the wet stopping distances starts to increase by 15 to 50%.
At 2/32″ of an inch almost all the tires tested showed the cars using over double the amount of distance to stop. That is almost 100% more stopping distance needed when the road is wet. Replacing your tires at 4/32″ is a good idea. Think safety first.
By the way the client was very happy we found this before he had a break down. With 4 new tire an oil change and new wiper blades he was ready for his trip.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
An engine miss fire feels like a bumping sensation. Most of the time, this is noticed by the driver when accelerating. A miss fire condition may cause the Check Engine Light to turn on or start flashing at you.
This is a spark plug with carbon tracking. The dark black lines running left to right in the center of the image is a carbon trail caused by a faulty spark plug wire. This type of condition will cause a single cylinder miss fire.
If an engine miss fire condition is causing poor tail pipe emissions, the check engine light will start to flash on and off.
When you see the check engine light flashing at you, do not continue to drive the car. Get it in for repairs right away. The catalytic converter maybe damaged if you continue to drive the car with the check engine light flashing.
A Catalytic Converter damaged by a miss fire condition. A miss fire condition will melt down a converter very quickly.
A catalytic converter is not chump change. On a Nissan Pathfinder, I just replaced both front catalytic converters on the Nissan and it was related to a miss fire condition. It was over $1,400.00 just for the dealer cats.
This set of worn spark plugs was causing a DTC P0300 on a Ford 4.2 V6. The plugs are 8 years old with 102,000 miles of use. The engine needed more parts than just spark plugs. This set of plugs also shows oil build up, the engine was due for a valve job on top of all the other needs.
If the check engine light is flashing, get it in for repairs!
OBD2 cars today can store a code that will direct the mechanic to look at a specific area.
A good example of this is when you have a DTC P0302 miss fire detected on cylinder #2, you have a place to look (cylinder #2 has a miss fire). You just have to look at things that would affect cylinder #2.
Oil fouled spark plug, this plug was causing a single cylinder miss fire. (DTC P0304)
On a DTC P0300, this is a random miss fire condition that could be caused by anything. Anything that changes the air/fuel mixture to all of the cylinders in the engine at the same time.
A dirty MAF sensor can cause this type of change to all the cylinders.
MAF: Mass Air Flow Sensor, is a sensor that takes reading of the incoming air into the engine and sends a signal to the computer. The signal is used to make fuel system, cam timing and ignition timing adjustments.
The driver may not feel the engine miss fire with a DTC P0300, but the driver should see the check engine light turn on. Other things the driver may notice. The engine may feel like it is not responding crisply or the driver may notice that the fuel economy has been poor.
A couple other things that can cause a DTC P0300. Poor engine compression or an engine that is out of time due to a faulty timing belt or timing chain. A large centrally located vacuüm leak or a restricted exhaust system.
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DTC P0300 Defined: Random Cylinder Miss Fire, this condition could be caused by any parts attached to the engine or parts inside the engine. You have to look for any condition that will change the air/fuel mixture, spark or compression to all the cylinders at the same time.
DTC P0301 Defined: Miss Fire on cylinder #1 or any cylinder that the code lists. (P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304) The last number in the DTC is pointing to the cylinder that set the code.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
I see many cars that need love, but I find it odd when you show someone how bad something is and they still feel it is not needed. That is just crazy.
It is the clients choice to do what they want, when they want, but waiting till it is broken just does not pay off in the long run. Preventing a break down saves time and money.
This filter was from a Toyota Sequoia. It was over due and blocking the air flow.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
I have clients that keep the car they drive at (A+) ready for the road condition. Everything is in good shape and the car looks and operates just like new.
At the opposite end of the scale is the fix it when it breaks clients. Most of the time this kind of car is not ugly on the outside, but it is in need of love under the hood.
Every car will need repairs someday.
Waiting till it breaks and you are at the side of the road is no fun. Only fixing things when they break will cost more in the long run. It may not feel like it at first, but if you put the numbers on paper they add up to more over time.
Starting a repair savings fund at your bank is one way to plan for future repair needs. I have three clients, that use a change jug. All spare change goes in and stays in till it’s time to service the car. Basic maintenance costs less than you think.
Getting your car repaired is as fun as going to the doctor, but If you plan for the repairs needed, it will take the sting out of the visit.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
When your mom said, comb your hair and brush your teeth, did you do it?
Most kids do not listen to mom or dad. They respond as if they are listening, but it went in one ear and out the other.
Selective listening is what this is called.
As you get older you may grow out of it. I have car owners that selective listen all the time. They only hear what they want and the rest falls to the floor.
Part 1: Recently a young woman (mid 20’s) was in denile about the cars needs. It was explained three times, in different ways. She just did not understand why the car needed repair. The client only wanted to hear what she wanted to hear, she did not listen.
Part 2: Three days later the car came in on the hook, broken. The client was mad.
Why did my car break down?
When we explained what happened, she said, how can that be, you just checked it out and said nothing was wrong. After reprinting the last invoice and showing her the area outlining the needed cooling system repair, it finally hit her. The car needed repairs on the last visit and she did not listen.
Listening is an art. To get good at listening, you have to practice doing it.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
I have many cars come in every year with rat or field mice damage. The little critters chew up wires and hoses, damaging your car or worse causing a health hazard by getting into the A/C system. If you have a car that sits for the season, the little critters can cause hundreds of dollars of damage in just a couple of weeks.
On many cars, critters can get up into the small spaces and start building nests. The video above is showcasing what I did to stop field mouse from nesting in a Lexus A/C system air intake passage. The client had replaced the cabin air filter 6 times in 4 months. I had to make a repair inside the A/C case related to the damage so this is what I did to keep the critter out of the inlet passage.
Rats and field mice can damage a wire harness in hours. One way to combat them is to use an ultra sonic pest repel unit, if your car is parked for storage this works the best. Local hardware stores have them and you can find them on Amazon. You have to plug them into a 110 volt power outlet, but if you can use this product, it is effective.
Wire and hose repairs we do at the shop, are wrapped up with rat tape. Rat tape has a spicy kick to it. It has a hot pepper additive in the tape that makes the rat think twice about chewing on it. Rat tape works about 90% of the time.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
When a DTC is stored in the PCM, (Power-train Control Module) you would figure that the stored code would point directly to the fault or the engine would run poorly.
Some codes will be very specific to a sensor or fault condition.
DTC P0102 is a simple code with a very specific fault condition. The MAF signal is low during engine operation. The normal idle frequency of a good GM MAF is around 2100 to 2500 hertz.
The code will most commonly set anytime the hertz signal drops below 1200 hertz during engine operation.
This condition is easy to check with a lab scope or a OE level scan tool. I do not recommend to DIY this type of intermittent fault unless you have the correct tools. It is easy to cause more harm than good or replace parts that are still good.
If the condition is intermittent it could take time to duplicate the fault. Many parts houses will sell you a MAF sensor as the most common part replaced. When the condition is intermittent you have to duplicate the condition to I.D. the real cause. The MAF sensors can go bad, but MAF sensors are not the most common failure part.
Do not buy a re-manufactured MAF, ever!
A man-made or age related failure is more common with an intermittent fault. I see many damaged electrical connectors, faulty Idle Air Control Valve, poor handling of the wire harness during service work, damage to the MAF sensor, poor quality accident repairs, faulty chassis grounds or age related circuit failures may cause an intermittent conditions.
This dirty throttle chamber was causing the clients issue. The build up was cutting off the air and causing the engine to dip so low in RPM that it would go into a stall when coming to a hard stop.
One week earlyer I had a Buick Park Ave that had the same code, but it had a bad MAF sensor. Testing is the best way to know what is faulty. If you have a check engine light on. Stop in to the shop and let us take a look.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
A client asked a question about the hours billed on a repair order. Jill is the clients name and Jill’s question is simple. She does not know what the hours of labor indicates in real-time. One hour of time on a clock is 60 minuets, that is easy. Divide 60 minuets by 10.
(60 divided by 10 = 6 minuets or .1 hours of labor)
Labor time on an auto repair invoice is calculated in tenths of an hour (.1 hours = 6 minuets) Some clients never look at the hours of labor, just the total at the bottom.
The time it takes to remove, repair and replace the parts is called a labor operation. Every repair on a vehicle is calculated this way. A labor guide is used to look up the labor for a repair. Every car is different and will have different billable hours for similar tasks. A water pump R/R on a V8 rear wheel drive car is different from a V6 front wheel drive car.
Now let’s look at Jill’s invoice labor. She had an oil change @ .3 hours and a tire rotation @ .2 hours. So the labor for her visit was .5 hours (x) the shop rate = total labor billed.
Now this is how some clients get confused. Jill was at the shop for about an hour but the time on the job was .5 hours not 1.0 or a full hour.
Doing the paper work takes time and some of the time is used just waiting for the oil to drain out. The billed hours, are for the work preformed on the vehicle during the visit at the shop. Billable labor is easier to understand that your phone bill, but if you have questions about labor stop in at the shop anytime during the weekdays.
It’s all good under the hood. Anthony Xavier ASE Master Technician
copyright: All rights reserved @ HeyAnthonyAZ.com 2013
