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We recently discovered a collapsible, disposable gas can at an auto parts store. The company claims that you can store this mostly cardboard container under your seat, then expand it to use as an emergency gas can. Interesting idea, but will it work? Is it safe? We put it to the test.
What Exactly Is This Thing?
Itzagascan, they tell you right in the name what it is. But will it really work? Safety is an issue when dealing with any type of fuel, so is this thing safe to use?
Itzagascan comes fully collapsed. It's about the thickness of a magazine. There are instructions printed on the outside describing how to assemble the can, how to fill it, and how to be safe with it. Sure, they got it to work under controlled conditions in some lab, but we wanted to see what you would be dealing with if you trusted this package that was stuffed under your car seat.
Putting it to the Test
We tested Itzagascan for leaks and found none.
photo by Matt Wright, 2008Unfolding Itzagascan was easy. You insert a couple of tabs into a couple of slots, then inflate the plastic bladder inside and you're ready to fill it up. We took the can to the gas station and put 3/4 of a gallon in there. I think it ran around $14. So far so good, it filled right up, and sealed nicely. We put the filled can in the back of a pick up to simulate what would happen as you were taking the gas can back to your stranded car. No leaks. Then we used the can to put gas into the tank. it worked better than the $35 plastic can we bought in a pinch one night at a convenient store. Itzagascan's plastic filler tube fits nicely into the car's filler neck. While the new safety caps on plastic cans make it almost impossible to put gas in the tank without making a huge mess, our cardboard can was drip free. Amazing! Just to take the point further, we decided to fill it back up and let it sit to see if it would develop any leaks. While the company says never to leave the can filled for more than 24 hours, we kept it in a safe, well ventilated spot so we could see how it went. Here we are, more than a week later, and there's a dry floor underneath Itzagascan.
The Verdict
Itzagascan gets two big thumbs up. It weighs nothing, costs nothing, and takes up no space in your car or truck. But in a pinch it gets you out of trouble just as well as any pricey gas can. It was easy to use, very clean, and seemed completely safe when used according to the directions on the package. It's safe to say this is a revolution in dealing with roadside emergencies. Just when you think there are no more good ideas out there, somebody throws Itzagascan at you and you realize there can still be genius around any corner. Get one today, it's a great addition to your personal roadside assistance kit.
 News source: About Auto Repair
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As customers, women play a significant role in the field of auto repair. While they make up just more than half of the US population, they deliver up to two-thirds of the vehicles brought in for maintenance or repair, according to Volvo.
However, the number of female technicians is another matter entirely. Out in the shop or up front where they could work as service writers or as service managers, women are significantly underrepresented in the field. "I think this is because [car repair] has never been considered a woman's field, but that is changing," says Jennifer Tio, president of the Car Care Council's Women's Board.
Old Methodology
For years, auto mechanics have been overwhelmingly male. Both men and women who have considered employment in the field have noted that the work was physically taxing, involving frequent heavy lifting and often requiring brute strength. It was dirty work, too. Mechanics could always be spotted by the grease and dirt under their fingernails.
Times Have Changed
Today's cars are different, and they require different approaches to servicing them. Mechanical systems that once required more muscle than intelligence to fix have become far more reliable and less needy of a mechanic's attention. Today, car problems are more likely to be caused by a defective electronic sensor than a bad transmission. As Wade Hoyt, Toyota's northeastern public relations manager, puts it, "The world of auto repair has gone from nuts and bolts to ohms and volts."
Auto service is now a brain game. Even the title of the people doing the work has changed -- mechanics are now technicians. For many in the field, this transition has been difficult or even impossible. People skilled with a wrench may be stymied by a computer or voltmeter.
Auto service departments increasingly need people with technical training in electronics, and the physical barriers women may have once felt when entering the field have largely disappeared.
Women Are Responding
Drawn by good pay and ample challenges, there are now more female auto technicians than ever. "Over the last five years, we've seen an increase in the number of women [training to be auto technicians], but the number still isn't where we'd like to see it," says Mark Berardi, an admissions representative for the New England Technical Institute, a private vocational school that trains auto technicians.
For those who do enter the field, the prospects are bright, according to Berardi. "There is absolutely a strong demand," he says. "Service stations and dealers want to diversify." They've noticed that most of their customers are women.
The Car Care Council has also seen more women noticing the auto repair field. "Last year, the Car Care Council's Women's Board gave out its first scholarships, and we had many applicants," Tio says. "Auto repair is becoming much more of a high tech field, and many women are becoming ASE certified."
Today, there is no reason why female auto technicians cannot be just as successful as, or even more successful than, male auto technicians. "The females in our program run circles around some of the guys," Berardi says. He also notes that women often do much better with the communications skills increasingly necessary to succeed in the field.
"This is a terrific, well-paying career for women," Tio says. "I've been in the field for 18 years, and I've seen tremendous growth [in opportunities for women]."
Think auto repair may be for you? Learn how to break into the field.
News source: Monster Comm cast
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Like any specialized field, auto repair has its own unique set of abbreviations. Used by professionals, the abbreviations can seem to create a completely different language. This can be frustrating for car owners who may not understand what’s being said and who find themselves too embarrassed to ask questions on their meaning.
While you should always ask any question that pops in your head especially when dealing with something as important as auto repair, you can ease the embarrassment by studying up on some of the more common auto repair abbreviations.
Now many car owners will encounter only specific abbreviations, usually ones dealing with parts. These abbreviations will probably be used when discussing the replacement of damaged items of your car and may even show up on your bill.
OEM- Original Equipment Manufacturer. This simply means that the part is certified new by the manufacturer of the car. This is important for those owners wanting only new parts and that need an assurance of that fact.
QRP- Quality Replacement Part. When mechanics use “QRP” it is used as a euphemism. What this really means is that the part is an aftermarket part.
A/M- Aftermarket. An A/M is a part not made by the manufacturer of your vehicle.
Now other abbreviations will be used when dealing with the actual maintenance of the vehicle. These abbreviations are second nature to many mechanics who may use them absent mindedly even to customers.
A/F Ratio- Air/Fuel Ratio or Air to Fuel Ratio. A proper A/F Ratio is needed to properly start the car.
CAT- Catalytic Converter. Back in the 1970s the United States started strengthening EPA standards concerning internal combustion engines. The CAT is used to turn toxic by products into something a little less toxic.
DFI- Digital Fuel Injector. Fuel Injectors replaced carburetors back in the 1980s. The DFI relies on high pressure to mix the fuel and air where carburetors used low pressure.
DTC- Diagnostic Trouble Code. As the name suggests, the DTC helps to identify any problems. The mechanic reads the DTC with the help of a scanner tool. The DTC consists of 5 digits.
FIPL- Fuel Injector Pump Lever. This piece of equipment insures the continued operation and performance of the fuel injector pump. The fuel injector pump is responsible for getting the fuel from the tank to the injectors. This is critical for the vehicles continued performance.
GPS- Global Positioning System. These systems are becoming more and more popular and are even featured in many of the newer model cars. Should there be something wrong with the GPS then you need to make sure that the mechanic understands how to work on it.
hp- Horsepower. Horsepower is a measurement of power and is usually used to refer to trucks and some SUVs.
Now, there are certainly numerous other abbreviations beyond what is listed here which you will no doubt hear while having your car service It is always a good idea to learn at least a handful of abbreviations before heading to a mechanic. A little knowledge goes a long way, after all, and by displaying some know how you will be able to understand the lingo and jargon of the auto repair shop.
News source: Car Service
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A car is an important investment, and next to owning a home, it is probably one of the most important investments you will ever have. With this being the case, it is vital to understand your vehicle and its servicing needs so you can protect your investment.
Many vehicles, no matter the type, manufacturer, or even year, will have common servicing needs that will pop up over the lifetime of the car. By knowing these common ailments, you will be able to identify and fix any problems that may arise.
Check Engine Light
The check engine light is the scourge of the DIY mechanic and, well, for anyone else as well. The reason is that this little light will come on for any number of reasons no matter how minor the problem is. This makes the check engine light really discouraging for those wishing to diagnosis the problem. Many car owners will just ignore the light all together instead of going to a repair garage. As long as the check engine light is not accompanied by other problem lights, strange smells, or odd noises, ignoring it should not cause any further damage. However, you can never be sure of that.
The only way to tell what the check engine light is trying to tell you is by scanning the car’s computer for problem codes. These codes; all new cars and many of the older models will have this capability, will tell the mechanic where and what the problem is. A problem with the check engine light is actually one of the more common auto repair issues.
Car Won’t Start
An aggravating problem with a number of causes and solutions is when the car just will not start. The most common remedies of this problem is to make sure the key is in the ignition and you actually started the car, but this tactic just may not be enough to solve the issue.
A car that won’t start can suffer from a few different ailments which can be discovered by following a few logical steps. The car must first go through a series of steps before starting; a problem with any of these steps can cause the car to fail to start.
If the engine fails to crank, then it can not start of course. The cause of this can be anything from a bad battery to a coolant leak. Now, if the engine cranks but does not start the culprit can be a lack of fuel, spark, or compression.
Engine Stalls
An engine that stalls is a common problem and is certainly frustrating especially if it only stalls occasionally. Overall, an engine needs three things to idle without stalling.
These three requirements are:
A Good Spark
A Good Idle Speed
A Good Fuel/Air Ratio
Without those the engine will stall. Diagnosing the cause of a stalling engine may require scanning for trouble codes or by observing when the engine stalls and finding a pattern, if any, of the problem.
AC Doesn’t Work
A malfunctioning air conditioner can be especially problematic for those drivers living in areas that are exceptionally hot or humid. Not only can this, but a problem with the air conditioning be a sign of some other problem. When troubleshooting AC problems look first is the refrigerant which may have leaked out. By patching the leak and filling the refrigerant the problem is solved.
However, if the AC is still having a problem you will need to check the pressure and the wiring.
Cars are high performance machines and will encounter problems from time to time. The trick is to identify these problems and repair them quickly to avoid any future malfunctions that will more then likely, be worse. Car owners should not be surprise to learn that Mazda service problems may be similar to their Toyota or other types of cars. This is beneficial as it makes identifing the more common vehicle problems easier for both trained mechanics and for those do it yourselfers.
News source: Car Service
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-- Drive slowly in and around school and residential areas. Pay extra
attention near schools during the morning and afternoon hours.
-- Obey school zone speed limit signs and come to a complete stop at all
intersections.
-- Always stop for school buses that are loading, or unloading students.
-- Drive with headlights on so children and other drivers can see you.
-- Drive without distractions. Don't use cell phones, eat, apply make
up, or shave.
-- Scan between parked cars as children could dart into the street near
school zones, playgrounds, bus stops and in neighborhoods
-- Children under age 10 should not cross the street alone.
-- Cross only at corners so drivers can see you.
-- Always use a crosswalk when available. But remember that painted
lines can't stop cars.
-- Cross only on the new green light, so you have time to cross safely.
-- Use the intersection walk/don't walk push-button. Cross with the
-- Keep your bicycle in good mechanical condition.
-- Obey all traffic rules and signs.
-- Walk your bike across busy intersections.
-- Be sure the road is clear before entering.
-- Always ride single file and watch for opening car doors.
-- Use the safest route to your destination. Avoid busy streets and
intersections.
-- Don't carry passengers.
-- For safety, all riders should wear a helmet.
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Men vs. Women: The Oil Change
No matter what side of the chromosomal match you stand on, there's no denying that men and women have different ways of going about the same task. There's a reason for the old tale of the man refusing to ask for directions -- it's true. Never is the difference more apparent than in the case of the oil change. Here's a play-by-play of the man-vs-woman oil change.
Women:
Stop at Starbuck's on the way to the Super-Lube, order a decaf skim latte but go for a dab of whipped cream because you've been good.
Sit in waiting room watching CNN and sipping delicious coffee drink.
Twenty minutes later, pay with AMEX for the Sky Miles and leave with the job done and the whole day ahead of you.
Men:
Go to AutoZone and drop $47 for oil, a new filter, kitty litter, and a talking tire gauge (damned impulse-buy rack gets you every time).
Go home, drive car onto oil change ramps and change into your college game-day shirt, which now feels like a size extra-medium.
Discover you forgot to empty your last oil change from the oil container, so drive to back of Super-Lube and beg them to take your old oil. Get dirty look from 17-year-old punk and tell yourself what you'd do to him if he was 18.
Drive home, back on ramps, then detour to fridge for a cold one.
Gather tools and slide newly-emptied recycling container under oil pan. Realize you grabbed the wrong spanner to remove the oil drain plug, so you decide to use Vise-Grips since you're already on your back.
Unscrew drain plug, but fumble with it and soak forearm in not-quite-cool-yet motor oil. Lose drain plug in recycle container since you removed the screen to use for your failed bio-diesel lawnmower experiment.
Have another cold drink to mourn failed bio-diesel lawnmower experiment and wait for oil to drain from engine.
Look for oil filter wrench, but give up and stab filter with a screwdriver, then twist it off. Install new oil filter, making sure to apply a thin layer of new oil to the gasket.
Almost done, remove oil cap and pour first quart into engine. Quickly realize your forgot to replace the oil drain plug. Race to reinstall plug with wrong wrench and skin knuckles on motor mount. Bang head on A-arm in reaction.
Shoot across driveway on creeper and begin cussing fit. Throw wrenches into yard, then crawl through flower bed trying to find correct wrench for oil drain plug. Time for another cold drink (yeah, we mean beer).
Tighten plug and add remaining oil. Watch wife pull into driveway with the smug look of efficiency on her face. Carry groceries into house. Smile, she bought more beer.
Of course, all of that can be avoided by checking out our tutorial on changing your own oil. There's no substitute for good preparation. News source: About Auto Repair
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Mechanic shortages and find technitions is the new challenge in auto repair and service. What have you done to protect yourself? Tips from an insider.
Mechanic Shortages? You Bet. Nothing is more serious than Labor issues. In Arizona the incoming Governor is poised to try to train skilled labor and set the bar higher for those jobs, which need filling. Everything from constructions to maintenance. For every 10 mechanics that leave or retire only three enter the market. Thus supply and demand is dictating increased wages, but not very much and certainly not as much as expected. Some is offset by low wage payers such as Wal-Mart oil changing technicians on the low end. But the Wyoming Automotive technical Institute tells me that there are many high paying jobs waiting for every graduate as a matter of fact they could never fill all the openings across the nation, they would need 10 campuses? Perhaps The University of Phoenix or some other technical college may fill the gap, but we need people now. Yes, our company, the Oil Change Guys needs them and so does the rest of the industry.
The National Institute for Service Excellence has certified 430,000 mechanics so far, but many are already mechanics switching jobs and getting the certificate, same with the ASE program. One bulletin board in the Oil Change Industry is hammering on Wal-Mart for secretly visiting their facilities and leaving "come to work at Wal-Mart" cards around the shop, offering benefits, better hours, stock, etc. Quick Lubes are already seeing a price war brewing and some will not admit lost market share, but they have lost customers and should probably not blame the oil interval challenge or the economy as much and look at the big box store competition.
Training on the low end for technicians to change oil is fairly easy, but a no-knowledge individual hurts production time and stands around and moves too slow, for at least a week or so, hurting volumes, sales and time to change. Most facilities are partnering skilled with unskilled in a mentoring program for one to tow weeks in the beginning, which usually has good results, we recommend a trainee to ride shot gun for one month before taking the truck units or van out by themselves on a scheduled fleet oil change route. It is serious business because whether fixed or mobile, you really live or die by efficiency.
The average number of cars for the industry at a fixed facility is 41.1 cars a day based on a survey with plus, minus 10% accuracy done by National Oil News. I guess that sounds about right. However if you have a lube bay with competition down the street and a Super Wal-Mart, things could get a lot worse. We have seen prices as low as $10.99, but with average cost of goods sold at a Lube Facility estimated at $7.75 to $8.50 without labor or building where is the profit? There would not be any. So Wal-Mart is hoping for those oil change customers who spend an average of $82.22 during their one and one half hour wait to buy stuff in the store even if the average Wal-Mart is charging $12.99 for the oil change and making basically $ .50 on the oil change itself. Ouch.
So what does this say to you, if you have labor, which runs slow or is not trained? It means do not expect high volumes, happy customers and repeats every 3000 miles. With G-4 coming and Jiffy Lube bundling everything in an 8-Bay facility with even engine overhauls. Where are you going to find labor? You are not, you will have to find nice. Polite, smart and good personality kids and train them yourself and then pay them enough to keep them. How much? You make the call based on your area.
News source: 10000 Articles
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A car ding repair is easy to do if you have a good auto ding repair kit. Such repair kits are not so expensive; about $30 and it’s really easy to used. Such automobile ding repair kids can be purchased at most stores selling car parts or car accessories. The task you have to do is to pull or remove glue from the surface on all panels of the vehicle and most of these cheap ding repair items for sale today are really working for this purpose if the dents or dings are not too big. For small and medium dents or dings, ding puller devices provides a simple, cost efficient removal. Fortunately there is no need to access the underside of the panel.
We see a trend today that more and more vehicle manufactures are using light gauge sheet metal in the construction of vehicles. In fact, it is not difficult to dent many new cars by simply leaning against them. The nice things about these dent/ding out, glue puller kits are that they give the do-it-your-selfers and car amateur enthusiasts a professional option to expensive dent removal services.
There are also different kinds of ding or dent repair kit and each of them offers a tool for specific damage. So you must know which repair kit you need for fixing your specific problem. This is no big deal however, because the only thing you have to do is to tell the sales person in the auto part or accessory store what you'll need to do and he or she will find the dent fix kit for your needs. To cover yourself completely, you can buy several of them, thus having a tool for any ding or dent problem your car might incur. If you purchase three different ding or dent fix kits, you'll have what you need for all types of dent repair.
How to use these kits? Here is what you do:
apply a bead of glue to the pulling nib
affix the nib to the lowest area of the dent you're going to fix
the ding repair tool slips over the threaded stud
a wing nut tool is threaded down pulling the metal up
as soon as the dent is pulled out, a couple of drops of a release agent that normally is included in the kit is applied to the glue and the pulling nib will come right off.
These dent fix kits are inexpensive and easy to use and they will not damage your factory finish.
News source: AUTOTIPZ
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Talking on the cell phone.
This is a no brainer why would you chat on your cell when you are driving with kids in the car or at any time for that matter. I think the nonuse of turn signals which I have noticed lately is a direct result of one hand being tied up holding a cell phone.
Stalling car repairs.
So the brakes are making a little noise. They can wait till I get this tank of gas paid for. A car has to stop if it doesn’t start that is a problem if it doesn’t stop that is a major problem.
Sleep at home not on the road,
even being the slightest bit drowsy can cause a lapse in judgment and can also cause you to be more confident in a situation then you should be if you are tired.
Eating on the road.
Yes drive throughs are convenient when you have kids in the car but when you leave the drive through do not keep driving pull over and park. Most places have a neat and clean parking lot to snack in.
Fighting Kids
Either let them fight or have a tantrum pull over to take care of it . Do not turn around or check them in the mirror; do not take your eyes off the road to attend to the children.
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Not only are Americans buying fewer vehicles as gasoline prices soar, they are putting the brakes on spending to repair the rides they have.
Much to the dismay of repair shops and auto-parts retailers, the fact owners are hanging on to their cars and trucks longer hasn't meant more repairs on aging vehicles.
The shock of $4-per-gallon gasoline and a bleak overall economy have drivers spending less time on the road, which means they are able to cut back on regular maintenance. Fewer miles also mean fewer accidents, eating into another major revenue stream for repair shops.
Add to that the generally improved quality of vehicles, and the biggest players in automotive parts and service stand to lose billions of dollars.
AutoNation Inc., the nation's largest auto retailer, recently said a decline in parts and service was partly to blame for a 33% slide in second-quarter net income. A decline in new-vehicle sales was the biggest driver.
"Consumers are more cautious, and they seem to be putting off some of their maintenance-type spending," AutoNation Chief Operating Officer Mike Maroone said. "Discretionary repairs are being put off."
Auto retailers have come to depend more on work paid for by customers rather than through manufacturer warranties as vehicle quality has improved. Customer-paid jobs often are either maintenance work or repairs following an accident.
AutoNation's customer-paid business was down 2% in the second quarter, while the warranty business fell 5.5%.
Sonic Automotive Inc. said this month that declining service and parts revenue factored into the company's decision to cut its earnings forecast for the year. On Tuesday, Sonic reported that second-quarter earnings from continuing operations slid to $20.1 million from $28.8 million.
News source: WSJ online
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At the auto parts store recently I saw these automatic tire pressure monitoring caps on the impulse buy rack near the register. I'd seen them before, but never thought to pick any up since my wife and I religiously check our tire pressure -- you can save a lot of gas, you know! This time I decided to grab a set to see if they worked, or if they did anything at all.
The tire pressure monitoring caps are set to a specific tire pressure, which cannot be adjusted. They sell the caps with a number of preset pressures, so you should be able to find one that fits your application. The preset pressure is printed on the top of the cap nice and big so even a station attendant will know how you prefer to inflate your tires.
So I grabbed a set and put them on one of our cars. They go right on, all you do is screw them on instead of your regular black valve caps. This set was calibrated to 36 psi. Before we installed the smart caps we set one tire to 36 psi, one to 30 psi, and another to 25 psi. We screwed the caps on and who would've guessed, they worked! Just like they claimed, the cap on the 36 psi tire indicated green, meaning it was filled correctly. The tire set to 30 psi showed half-green, indicating a tire needing air, and the tire with only 25 psi showed no green at all, telling you that you need air immediately.
I have to say that I was impressed with the simplicity and low cost of these useful accessories. Tire pressure is one of the most neglected maintenance items, and something like this can turn a chore into a no-brainer. As long as you can deal with what I consider to be an ugly appearance, they seem to be great.
News source: About Auto Repair
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Once there were four auto mechanics: Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron. They all went to the Columbia School of Automotive Engineering together, and they all began their careers on the same day at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair.
Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron shared a common dream: Each wished someday to work on a race car at the Indianapolis 500.
After their first week at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a subscription to Autos & Axles, the auto industry’s leading trade publication?”
But, alas, Honest Ed’s Auto Repair refused to pay for such a subscription.
“Why don’t we get a subscription ourselves?” suggested Aaron.
“Are you crazy?” responded Manny, Moe and Jacques. “A&A is expensive! Why, we each would have to give up one beer per week to pay for it! We’ll just wait until we’re making lots of money in Indianapolis, and then we’ll get a subscription.”
“Well,” said Aaron, “then I’ll get a subscription all by myself.” And so he did.
After their first month at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron thought, “It sure would be terrific to have a copy of THE ART OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, by the legendary mechanic, ‘Mercedes Mike’ St. Michaels!”
But the book was very expensive and, alas, Honest Ed said there just wasn’t money in the budget to purchase it.
“I know!” exclaimed Aaron. “Let’s each pitch in a few bucks and buy it ourselves!”
“Are you nuts?” replied Manny, Moe and Jacques. “Why spend good money to learn what we already know? We’ll wait until we’re famous mechanics at Indy, and then we’ll write our own book!”
“Well,” said Aaron, “then I’ll buy the book myself.” And so he did.
One day after their first six months at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Aaron said, “Hey, guys! Look at the ad for this new wrench! I understand they’ve just started using this at Indy! Why don’t we get one?”
“Have you taken leave of your senses?” chortled Manny, Moe and Jacques. “You know Honest Ed will never pay for it.”
“Why don’t we pay for it ourselves? It’ll give us a big advantage over all the other repair shops in town.”
Manny, Moe and Jacques exchanged a weary look. “We’ve got better things to do with our money,” they said. “Once we get to Indianapolis, then we can buy all the fancy wrenches we want. But knowing what a sucker you are, you’ll probably go ahead and get it yourself.”
And so he did.
One evening after their first year at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Manny, Moe and Jacques came upon Aaron in Repair Bay #2.
“Hey, Aaron,” they said. “C’mon, we’re going down to the Pump & Piston to get good ’n’ drunk.”
“No, thanks,” said Aaron. “I’m trying to figure out a faster and better way to service automatic transmissions.”
“Why?” demanded Manny, Moe and Jacques.
“That way I could do a better job for Honest Ed and for our customers.”
“What’s your point?” asked Manny.
“Why bother?” snorted Moe.
“We’ll be working faster than anybody in the world when we’re at Indy,” insisted Jacques. “But if you want to stay here and play with transmissions, go right ahead.”
So Aaron stayed behind and missed out on an evening that was so much fun that Manny, Moe and Jacques threw up for the next three days.
A year and a half after they started at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, an excited Aaron came upon Manny, Moe and Jacques and said, “Hey, guys! Guess what! There’s going to be a big Auto Mechanics Convention next month, and all the best mechanics from Indy will be there to demonstrate —”
And at this, Aaron stopped. Suddenly he became aware of the expressions on Manny, Moe and Jacques’ faces, and he realized they were laughing at him.
He turned and, still holding his convention registration form, walked away.
“Have a good time at the big con-VEN-tion!” Manny, Moe and Jacques guffawed.
Several years have passed since that first day when the four novice mechanics began working together.
Manny, Moe and Jacques still work at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair.
They still laugh at suckers who buy books about auto repair, fools who subscribe to automotive trade publications, and jerks who attend automotive seminars and conventions.
And every year they receive a postcard from Aaron... postmarked, “Indianapolis.”
News source: DanODay
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Spark plug wires are pretty durable. They aren't a moving part so they don't wear out too often. A careful inspection of your plug wires can avoid any problems.
The only thing that can really go wrong with a plug wire is a break in the insulation. The insulation (the rubber on the outside of the wire) keeps the electricity where it needs to be so it sparks on the inside of your engine, not someplace else before it gets there. If the insulation is cracked, the spark will jump off the wire, or arc, onto something metal under the hood.
An arcing plug wire can cause a weak spark or no spark at all in the cylinder with the bad wire. This makes your car run rough and can affect your gas mileage. It can also cause unburned fuel to pass into the exhaust system where it can harm your catalytic convertor. There have even been stories that involve both a fuel leak and an arcing plug wire, resulting in a fire! It can happen.
A good time to check your wires would be while you change your spark plugs. So do a quick inspection and save yourself some headache. Here's how:
With your engine off, start at the distributor end of the plug wire and work your way toward the plug end. You're looking for anything that is not smooth, pliable rubber. Bend the wires slightly to be sure no cracks appear. Check the boots at the distributor end of the wires to be sure they are not torn or cracked. Finally, check the wires at the spark plug end one at a time by pulling it off the plug and inspecting the end for any tears or cracks. Also look to be sure there is no burning or darkening of the end.
If you find any damage, it's time to buy a new set. They can be as little as $20 or as much as $100+ for a set depending on your application. It's worth the cost, though. A bad plug wire can be a little monster, it can even trigger your Check Engine Light.
News source: About Auto Repair News source: About Auto Repair
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Smart car repairs are changing the way customers have vehicles serviced at auto body shops. The acronym SMART stands for Small, Medium Area Repair Technique. This revolutionary car repair technique is saving customers’ money by repairing only damaged areas of a vehicle. There is no longer a need to repair an entire vehicle surface for a scratch on the bumper or a dent on the door panel. All vehicles experience the need for repairs somewhere down the line.
Dents and scratches can damage more than the exterior of the vehicle. There can be considerable damage done to the monetary value of the vehicle as well. For this reason, it is highly advisable that car repairs be completed as soon as possible to prevent any further damage from occurring.
Smart car repair services aide fleet operators, car hire services, car dealerships and consumers in obtaining inexpensive auto body work. This can be routine maintenance or large repairs caused by big dents or other exterior vehicle damage. Many utilize the services of a smart car repair shop for touch up work for cars, vans and motorcycles.
A variety of car repairs can be completed utilizing this revolutionary technique. A few items on the list include:
Scratches to door panels Scratches to front and back bumpers Scratches to wheel arches Dents to any portion of the vehicle exterior Smart car repairs are not limited to the cosmetic exterior of a vehicle. Interior blemishes can also be repaired. These include rips in the upholstery, small holes in plastic trim, windscreen chips and cigarette burns to seats, dashboard or other interior structures.
Repairs are limited to the damaged areas of the vehicle only. This dramatically cuts down on the cost of auto body work as it creates less time consuming repair projects. Specially designed paints and chemical based paints can be matched virtually identically to existing paint. This eliminates the need to repaint the entire vehicle for a repair job in a tiny portion of the vehicle.
This special paint dries in half the time of stock auto body shop paints. Repairs are done on site and all products needed are in stock. These two components alone significantly contribute to the dramatic cost saving methods of smart car repairs.
Some of the costliest auto body repairs lie in damaged or broken bumpers and spoilers. Smart car repair utilizes plastic welding and finishing techniques on the original vehicle pieces. This process eliminates the need for auto body shops to send out for replacement parts. In return, customers are not stuck paying a bill that includes costs for the down time between ordering replacement parts and having them installed on the vehicle.
Moving inside the vehicle, fabrics and upholstery can be repaired without needing to remove all of the interior fabrics, vinyl and leather. Cigarette burns, stains and spills brought on by everyday vehicle use can easily be repaired at little cost to the customer.
Smart car repairs are changing the way auto body shops do business in the future.
News source: Delco 2007
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Wallets are getting tighter these days. Even for those of us who aren't affected by economic woes, the price of gas will have you down right squinchy! A recent article quotes one shop owners saying his regular maintenance business is down because car owners are deciding to hold off because they are spending so much on gas. We know the gas prices are killing you, but don't skimp on your regular maintenance! It may seem like you're saving money, but maintenance is what keeps your car out of the shop. Skipping important maintenance jobs will end up costing you more money in the long run, and that doesn't make much sense at all.
So what's the answer? Do it yourself! Most regular maintenance jobs are quick, easy and inexpensive. We can show you how to get them done, so you have no excuse. Performing your own scheduled maintenance can save money in many ways, but you'll also be getting to know your car or truck better. This means you can catch problems before they get out of hand and you'll be able to communicate much better with your mechanic should something need serious repair.
News source: Auto Repair.com
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Q: My 2006 PT Cruiser got struck head on by a bolt of lightning on May 19, 2008. I had the car towed to the largest certified Chrysler dealer in Pensacola, Fl. It is now July 5, and it is not ready. I call every two to three days and am told that they are waiting for parts. They replace one part, and find another problem. I am concerned that a problem or two could exist after I pick up the car. Of particular interest to me are the airbags. How can they be tested? Please advise what I can do. Many thanks.
John Messerli
A: Wow! When lightning
strikes a vehicle the results can vary widely. Considerable damage will likely occur to electronic modules and devices, in addition to wiring, as the bolt of lightning can contain up to 2 billion volts. What s surprising is that occupants inside a struck vehicle are relatively safe as long as they re not touching door handles or other metal parts. Many folks believe it s because of the rubber tires but it s actually due to the metal vehicle body directing the charge across its surface, similar to a Faraday cage (a conductive shield surrounding a protected area from static charge or lightning), and to the ground below through the tires. Corvette, Cadillac XLR and Saturn (pre-2008 and except Saturn Relay) owners are not afforded the same level of protection due to the use of composite body panels in their vehicles.
Component damage can be readily apparent and sometimes take time to rear its head perhaps in a month
or longer. My hope is your insurance company is familiar with this concern and will step up should future problems develop. It may be impossible to say for certain if a future failed component may fall under Chrysler s warranty or was due to this incident. Hopefully you won t be inconvenienced while the decision is juggled.
I can appreciate your concern about the SRS (airbag) system. It does have self-diagnostic capability, which checks for general controller competency, complete and non-shorted circuits and installed components. It s difficult to know if the diagnostics are good enough to detect all possible faults in the controller, as the system doesn t become truly active until the instant it s needed. My hunch is the airbags could be trusted, as well as system wiring, as long as the SRS malfunction indicator stays off. It s the controller I d wonder about. Perhaps with enough persuasion this part could be renewed, if it hasn t been already.
I m sorry to not be of more help. This is an unusual and iffy situation that I thought would be of interest to other readers. Please stay in touch so we can all learn from your experience.
News source: Mercury News
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A new stainless steel tool box from Kobalt has a MP3 and satellite ready sound system and a fridge. What next a portable AC unit. Some of these boxes are getting to be so heavy they almost need a small motor to move them from place to place. I remember when we used to get upset about some stupid thing in the shop and we would say that’s why they put wheels on tool boxes so that are easy to move to a new shop. Today it requires a flatbed to move them. Don’t get me wrong the proper tool is a absolute necessity and as complicated as today’s vehicles are becoming today’s techs need all the help they can get and you might as well be comfortable as well. I remember my first box was a 3 drawer craftsman and I had to spread out my tools to make it look full. Now I have 3 drawers just for test equipment and I am retired. Sorry couldn’t find a price for the box.
News source: Kobals tools
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Office Depot &Old Spice going with Tony to Hass. I knew he was waving that Old Spice towel around for a reason. I would assume he is buying equipment only as I am sure he will gut the employee part of the business. I wonder if Zippy will go along. Apparently part of the deal was Home Depot had to stay at JGR or they would not release him. With the down turn in the economy and slow home building and repairs this sounded like a good deal to me. After Carl Edwards slapped Office Depot in the face I would suspect they are willing to step up to the plate and dump a ton of money which Tony will need to be successful. He has had a long term deal with Old Spice. I am sure it will take few years and a lot of dollars to make this a successful team but I think Tony is capable of hiring people to obtain this goal.
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On first glance, hydrogen seems to be the ideal fuel for automobiles and other vehicles. It doesn't seem like one could get any cleaner burning, since hydrogen burns (oxidizes) to form simply water vapor. Nothing else! No pollution! What a seeming advancement over our current internal combustion engines that put thousands of tons of pollutants into the Earth's atmosphere, as well as giving off massive amounts of heat that contribute to global warming, and many other environmental problems.
Hydrogen (H2) plus Oxygen (O) makes H2O, water, or actually, water vapor, at higher temperatures. And Hydrogen is actually capable of nearly meeting those high expectations.
And there is even a concept, and somewhat of a device, called a Fuel Cell (originally conceptualized in the 1830s), which can use this reaction to generate electricity. During the 1960s, NASA developed Fuel Cells which produced electricity for spacecraft. They worked reliably and fine, but they were horrendously expensive. There have been people trying to make inexpensive versions ever since! In the early 1990s, some breakthroughs were found. The concept of a Fuel Cell is actually pretty simple. You provide a supply of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas (which is usually from the air) which are separate, with a unique barrier between them. The simplest version of a Fuel Cell is to allow the NUCLEUS of the hydrogen atom to pass through the barrier while not allowing the electron to also pass through. The electron is then caused to follow some DIFFERENT path to eventually get to where the nucleus had gone to, where the end result will be water molecules. The electrons are negatively charged, and when they are forced to follow that alternate path, they are MOVING CHARGE which is the same as an electric current. In words, it therefore seems quite simple to have a Fuel Cell produce electricity. However, in practical terms, there are lots of complications! It may still be ten or twenty years before any reliable technology will exist which has tolerable cost.
But Hydrogen itself has an ENORMOUS disadvantage, as well as many smaller ones. It cannot really be considered a "fuel" at all! Yes, it IS, but it isn't! It IS because of the exothermic chemical reaction described here. It ISN'T because it does not occur naturally. We have such an attachment to petroleum and natural gas and coal and uranium BECAUSE they exist naturally. We actually have the technology to manufacture petroleum, but it would be so involved and expensive to do that it would never be worth it. Hydrogen is very different. It is so chemically reactive that it IMMEDIATELY combines with nearly any other atom (ion, actually) that happens to be near it. So there is NO natural supply of Hydrogen, anywhere on Earth.
Read on at the link this is one of the most informative sites on hydrogen
Crew Chief
News source: MB-Soft
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10. Two lap penalty for “rough, but extremely funny and satisfying” driving.
9. With the whole “Mo” lawsuit going on, you can’t punish the only living symbol of NASCAR “diversity!”
8. Make him run The Coke Zero 400 at Daytona without fenders on his car.
7. Have him write a handwritten apology to every single Kyle Busch fan and pay for postage…wait a minute…that’s no punishment!
6. Require Juan to hand write a personal note to every single driver, owner, and fan who has thanked him. That should make him think twice next time!
5. Start limiting the amount of “social time” he is spending with Jimmy Spencer.
4. Punishment for what? He did nothing wrong!
3. Make Juan Pablo count all the profits Brian France will realize from
JPM rivalries with other drivers.
2. During the remainder of the 2008 season, require him to put his arm around Kyle Busch’s shoulder and repeat, “Say hello to my little friend,” for a new series of NASCAR promotional commercials.
1. Award him 100 Bonus Points for “actions detrimental to Kyle Busch!”
News source: Frontstretch
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