Tech Talk

Question: I own a 2002 Subaru Forester. I got a flat and was told that the tire was not repairable. I was told I need to buy four tires even though the other three tires are not worn out yet. Why do I need four tires if only one is bad?

Answer: Your Subaru is all wheel drive. The front & rear tires are connected together through the transmission. The tires should be the same size on all four wheels to prevent excessive wear on the all wheel drive system.
 If the any of the tires are a different circumference than the others they will not rotate at the same speed putting pressure on the drive train. This can lead to excessive wear or breakage if the difference is too severe. That is why on any all wheel drive vehicle the tires should always be replaced as a set of four and never one at a time.

 

As a technician I see too many cars that are poorly maintained. It seems as though people don’t have the time or money for proper maintenance but can some how afford the tow bill and extra expense of a breakdown. This makes no sense to me. Has no one has heard the saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? Cars require a lot of maintenance for sure, but with cost of new cars, how can we not take care of the car we have? I know I sure can’t afford a new car every couple years. And with gas prices as they are how can you justify driving a car that’s getting poor gas mileage just because its over due for a tune up?
Maybe it is a lack of understanding your cars needs. Your car may not have feelings, but it sure does have needs. Such as oil changes, tune ups, transmission fluid changes, tire rotations, wheel alignments, timing belt replacements, coolant flushes and the list goes on and on.
 When was the last time you have read your car owner’s manual? Or have you ever read the owners manual at all? Just last week I had a gentleman bring his car to the shop with over 120,000 miles on it. During our conversation I learned that the timing belt on his car had never been replaced. The recommended replacement interval for his car is 60,000 miles as noted in the owner’s manual. He was totally unaware that the timing belt should have been replaced at all. I was absolutely amazed that the belt hadn’t failed yet. Just goes to show how durable cars can be. If that timing belt had failed the cost of repair would have been in the thousands of dollars, instead of the hundreds of dollars it cost to replace as normal maintenance.            
The next item I would like to rant about is warranties. It seems as though people buy an extended warranty thinking that it will cover anything that there car needs. Unfortunately this is not true. Routine maintenance is not covered by the warranty. Warranties are intended to cover major failures of parts not considered wear items. Wear items consist of anything listed in the owner’s manual as routine maintenance and also include such things as brake pads, brake rotors & tires. Emission control devices are usually not covered by extended warranties.
 Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t have anything against warranties. I do a fair amount of warranty work. I just seem to always be the bearer of bad news when someone comes in for a repair thinking that it would be covered by the warranty only to find out that part is not covered. Always remember what the large print gives, the small print can take away, so read your warranty contract carefully.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this. I just wanted to get this of my chest.

If you have any comments or questions you can e mail me at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or send a letter to 753 Brattleboro Rd Hinsdale NH 03451     

 

Some of you may be contemplating buying a used car with your tax refund. I highly recommend having a pre-purchase inspection performed by your mechanic. That car may be shiny and great looking on the outside, but have serious problems just waiting to take a big chunk out of your wallet later.
With all the flooding last year the possibility of buying a previously flooded car is greater than you think. Getting a Car Fax report is helpful in that regard but if the vehicle was not covered by insurance the damage history may not show up on the report. One sign of flood damage is a high water mark in the trunk or under the dash. Corroded electrical connections can be an indication of flooding but are very hard to detect. Malfunctioning electrical components such as power door locks & windows that do not function normally can be a sign of trouble.  
Other things to look for are crash damage, look for runs or dirt in the paint, slight mismatched colors from one body panel to another. Clamp marks on the rocker panel pinch welds indicate that the vehicle has been on a frame-straightening machine. I can’t think of any other reason to clamp a car to a frame-straightening machine other than to repair crash damage. Cars that have been properly repaired after a crash can give many years of trouble free life the key is that the car was properly repaired.
Just as important as crash or flood history is maintenance history. If the used car you are looking at buying was poorly maintained you could expect much higher than normal repair costs in the future. Even a car with only 60,000 miles on the odometer can suffer from lack of maintenance. A car with 60,000 miles could needs brakes, timing belt, tune up, fluid changes etc. the maintenance and repair costs could run into a substantial amount of money. This is when the pre-purchase inspection becomes invaluable. A competent technician can spot signs of neglect right away.
When you are looking at a used car to buy, check that all the windows go up and down properly. Do the doors open, close and lock? Check the operation of the cruise control, sunroof and air conditioner if equipped. Listen for any abnormal noises. Does the car pull to one side? Is the steering wheel not straight when driving on a straight stretch of road? These are indications of a wheel alignment problem.
Keep in mind used cars are not new so you should expect some minor problems, but you should know as best as you can before buying what to expect for expenses in the near future. You can use this information as a bargaining point when negotiating the purchase price.
A major misconception when buying a used car is that the extended warranty that you paid so much for will cover anything that the car might need so a pre-purchase inspection is not needed. That is absolutely wrong. I think that there are more things that go wrong with used cars that are not covered than that are covered by the warranty. I personally will not buy an extended warranty. I feel the likely hood of having problems with the vehicle that are covered by the warranty, are unlikely to exceed the purchase price of the warranty. Assuming a thorough pre-purchase inspection was performed and the car is properly maintained.                  
  Another misconception is the “certified” used car. Certified by whom? The same dealer that is selling you the car, that’s who. You don’t suppose there may be a slight conflict of interest there. “Certified” cars should be inspected by an unbiased technician just as any other used car.

What do you think of when the time of year comes for your annual motor vehicle safety inspection? Most people I talk with want to come in for “a sticker”. Does anyone know what the purpose of a motor vehicle safety inspection is for? The word safety stands out for me. When you bring your car in for the annual inspection, the vehicle should be checked over very thoroughly for anything that could render the vehicle unsafe. Such things as brakes, steering, suspension, tires, exhaust, lights, horn etc. On all 1996 and newer cars we check for emission control system failures also. Some of you out there apparently think that having breathable air is not an important issue, based on some of the responses I get when the idea of an emission’s test is mentioned.
This past month I have seen an extremely high rejection rate for cars & trucks coming in for inspection. These are safety-related rejections, things that have the potential to kill some one. Most people never consider their car as a killer, but it can be, if not maintained properly. Let me give you a hypothetical situation. You are driving your car at fifty miles per hour on a two-lane road, (a daily occurrence for most of us) and a tie rod end failed causing you to loose control of your car and swerve into an oncoming car, also traveling at fifty miles per hour. What do you suppose the outcome would be? Not good that’s for sure. The potential for loss of life is high and major injury is almost guaranteed. Air bags are good but there is no substitute for proper vehicle maintenance.   
I hear about motor vehicle accidents in the news from time to time. The most common statement I here is the “car lost control”. The fact is the car doesn’t have control, a car cant drive it self. The operator of the car has control, not the car. I wonder how many of the accidents were the “car lost control” were related to a mechanical failure. When an airplane crashes, the national transportation safety board performs an extensive investigation into the cause of the crash. Including analyzing the mechanical systems on the aircraft to determine if the crash was caused by mechanical failure. Rarely does anyone thoroughly check the mechanical systems of a car after an accident.
The next time you take your car in for “a sticker” remember what you are paying for is the assurance that your car is safe for you to drive. And for those of you who have a friend that will just “give you a sticker” without checking the car properly, shame on you. You put the safety of everyone on the road at risk.        


Question: Every winter I have my car checked over to make sure that it will be ready for the cold. I was told my coolant is pure antifreeze and should be flushed. Isn’t it better to have pure antifreeze rather than watered down? 
                                Lisa K.
                                Greenfield MA.   

Answer: In this area coolant should be mixed 50% antifreeze 50% water. This mix will protect against freezing down to –34F, which is sufficient for New England winters.
Pure antifreeze will not extract heat from the engine as well as water. Pure water will freeze in winter and will not protect from corrosion of the internal cooling system components. A 50% mix ratio provides the best compromise for year round use.
Cars with standard antifreeze should be flushed every 2 years to prevent corrosion. Many new vehicles are equipped with extended life antifreeze that doesn’t need flushing for 5 years or more, unless standard antifreeze has been added to the system.    
Pure antifreeze in a cooling system may indicate a leaky system that has been regularly topped off with pure antifreeze.   

Question: My car is a 1992 Saturn, there is a severe shimmy in the right front axle. Is this dangerous? Any idea of the repair cost?

Answer: Your Saturn is front wheel drive and has 2 constant velocity joints on each axle. Also called CV joints, your car may have a bad CV joint. The usual symptoms are clicking when turning and vibration when accelerating. Some other possible causes of shimmying are bad or out of balance tires, worn balljoints, worn tie rod ends or worn out struts. I recommend that bring your car to your mechanic as soon as possible, as some of these problems can be very dangerous. As to cost that can only be determined after a proper diagnosis of the problem. Whatever the cost please do not drive your car if it is determined that the car is unsafe to drive. You would be putting you and other motorists at risk.         

Hi, I have a 2004 Honda Element that requires a certain amount of scheduled maintenance (and I love 45 miles from the dealer). Question is, can I have this car serviced locally, and will this satisfy the car manufacturer's requirements? Thanks, J. Moran, Brattleboro, Vt.


The simple answer to your question is yes, but the required maintenance must be performed properly and must be fully documented with the VIN (vehicle identification number) mileage and date of service. I recommend keeping a file with documentation of all services performed on the vehicle. At our shop we keep all our customer service and repair records in our computer, which can be printed out at any time.
I suggest that you find a local shop that you are comfortable with. This cuts down on any confusion as to what services have been performed and what hasn’t. If you aren’t good at record keeping they should have your vehicles service history on file.
One of the most common areas of confusion is related to timing belt replacements. Most timing belts should be replaced every 60,000 miles. We see cars in our shop with 80, 90, or 100,000 miles and when asked if the timing belt has been replaced, the customer answers with a blank stare, having no idea if one of the ten shops that service their car has replaced the timing belt. Then the question comes, “can you look at it to see if looks OK”. The answer to that question is usually yes we can look, but a timing belt can look good on the outside and still fail, as timing belts can deteriorate on the inside. Many times I have removed a broken timing belt that looks good, except that it is broken.
By having only one shop service your car, they can tailor the maintenance to your car needs. Maintenance requirements vary with driving conditions. Such as the difference of driving a bumpy gravel road three miles to and from work daily, to commuting fifty miles on the highway daily. These two very different situations will have two very different maintenance requirements.
You do not have to take your car to the dealer. In fact I believe you can get better service at an independent repair shop.

Question: I have 1 1998 Subaru Legacy, the check engine light is on. Should I just put tape over the light?

Answer: The simple answer is no. An illuminated check engine light indicates a malfunction in the engine management system. The problem could range from a simple fuel evaporative system leak such as a loose gas cap, to a serious misfire problem that may cause damage to expensive components such as the catalytic converter. If the check engine light is flashing this indicates that serious damage to the catalytic converter is likely. You should bring your car in for repair immediately.
        Unfortunately the only way to determine the seriousness of the problem is to have your technician connect a scan tool to the vehicle and retrieve the fault codes stored in the cars computer. These codes only indicate the malfunctioning system, not the exact problem. The technician will then be able to perform the needed tests to diagnose the specific problem and estimate the repair cost. Only then can you make an informed decision on weather to repair the vehicle or not. If you decide not to repair the problem, keep in mind that if another malfunction of a more serious nature occurs you will be unaware of the second malfunction, as the check engine light is already on.
In most states an illuminated check engine light will result is a rejection when performing a state inspection. One common misconception is that the light is only emissions related and unimportant. This is simply not true. If your check engine light was on in the past and the problem was minor does not mean that the next time the light comes on it will be the same reason.
 I always recommend repairing any problem that causes the check engine light to come on regardless if it is a minor problem or not. Keep in mind a minor problem is usually inexpensive to repair, while a major problem will get expensive if not dealt with soon

Question: I have a 2001 VW Jetta diesel with 164,000 miles on it. When I took it to my mechanic for a belt noise he told be the serpentine belt was bad. But he also asked me when I last had the timing belt replaced. I bought the car used and have no idea when or if the timing belt was replaced. He said I should replace it because the car has an interference engine. What is an interference engine and what should I do, as the timing belt job is expensive?
                            Janice Powers
                            Bellows Falls VT         

Answer: Simply put the timing belt connects the camshaft to the crankshaft keeping their movement in time with each other. An interference engine is an engine designed in such a way that if the timing belt breaks, the valves will interfere with the movement of the piston. When this happens, the valves stop moving and the pistons do not, causing the pistons to hit any valve that is not in the closed position. The damage to the engine can be catastrophic, causing repair cost to run into the thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately the only way to prevent timing belt failure is to replace them on regular mileage schedule. As timing belt condition cannot be determined by visual inspection. My recommendation is replace the timing belt, as the possible alternative is even more expensive.
I would like to thank everyone for the great questions. Please keep the questions coming, and remember their is no such thing as a stupid question.


Question: I have a 1998 Buick Regal, the car is in great shape, but every 2-3 weeks I need to add oil.
The engine only has 89,000 miles on it. Is it burning oil? Should I get rid of it?


Answer: There are basically two things that can cause oil loss. The engine could be leaking the oil or burning oil. The first step is to determine which problem your car has.
  To check for leaks, look the engine over closely with a light such as a flashlight. Look for any signs of oil both on top of the engine and under the car. You can also put paper under the engine area after you park the car and check for drips. If you find that the engine is leaking you must then find the source of the leak, this can be a bit trickier as oil tends to travel. You can have a leak on one side of the engine on top and have it drip off the opposite side from the bottom. If you suspect a leak, take the car to your technician for further inspection, as there are many tools and techniques available to pinpoint oil leaks.    
If all is dry, the engine may be burning oil. This may be caused by worn piston rings, or valve seals. Look for signs of blue smoke from the tail pipe when starting the car or while driving. If the engine smokes only on startup the problem may be worn valve seals. If the engine smokes all the time, I would suspect worn piston rings.
The problem could simply be is a stuck positive crankcase ventilation valve, commonly know as a PCV valve. This could cause leakage and oil burning by allowing excessive pressure to build up in the engine. The PCV valve can easily be removed and checked.
Before getting rid of the car you should at least get the problem diagnosed and estimated as the repair may be much cheaper than a new car, unless you are looking for an excuse to buy a new car. If so, by all means indulge yourself. 

Question: I recently moved to the area with my 1999 Honda Civic. I need my timing belt replaced. When I asked for an estimate I was asked if I ever had my water pump replaced. What does that have to do with my timing belt?

                                                                                         Leon Wells


Answer: The timing belt drives the water pump on your Civic. The labor to replace the water pump during the timing belt job will be minimal (usually one hour or less). If the water pump were to fail on a later date the labor would be 3-4 hours and damage to the timing belt and engine may occur.
 I always recommend water pump replacement with any timing belt job when the timing belt drives the water pump. 


Question: I own a 2001 VW Jetta TDI and have been using biodiesel fuel. Someone told me that using biodiesel will void the warranty and may damage the engine. I was told the fuel tank needs to be drained and flushed to clean out all the biodiesel and refilled with regular diesel, is this true? 


Answer: Not only will biodiesel not void the warranty or damage the engine, biodiesel is actually a better fuel for your diesel than regular diesel.
    Biodiesel has higher lubricity than regular diesel, meaning biodiesel will lubricate the fuel injection pump & injectors better than regular diesel. Biodiesel also has a cleaning effect on the fuel system, keeping the fuel system cleaner than regular diesel.
Biodiesel is friendlier on our environment by producing substantially fewer emissions than regular diesel. Biodiesel is a domestically produced renewable product that will help reduce our reliance on foreign oil.
For more information on biodiesel go to www.biodiesel.org  

Question: I have A 95 Ford Contour, and lately it has been loosing power significantly when I go up hills. When I am at a stoplight with my foot on the brakes, it seems to idle high (higher than normal). Help!

                                    C. Daigle

Answer: You may more than one problem with your Ford. I suspect that your high idle when stopped is a vacuum leak, that is unmetered air is entering the engine causing an increase in idle speed. This could be from a number of sources such as torn or loose vacuum hoses, failed brake booster diaphragm, or leaking gasket. The loss of power could be caused many things, including restricted exhaust or catalytic converter, poor combustion due to worn spark plugs, plugged fuel or air filters. I suggest you bring your car to your technician as soon as possible. The longer you wait the more damage you can do to your car and the repairs become more expensive.                         

Question: I have an older Toyota pickup that has no heat. I have changed both the radiator and thermostat. The antifreeze proportions are correct. The system has no heater core leaks or any other leaks. Where do I go from here?
                            RJ Haskins

Answer: Check the operation of the heater valve to make sure that it opening and allowing coolant to flow through the heater core. Make sure the heater core is not plugged or restricted internally. Check the ducting inside the truck to make sure that air is flowing across the heater core. Check for debris blocking airflow, such as leaves, rodent nests etc. Please write back and let me now what you found.        

Question: I brought my car to the shop for an oil change, and was told that my car needed a brake fluid change. I have never heard of such a thing. Is this necessary or am I getting sold something that I don’t really need?
 

    Answer: Brake fluid is hydroscopic, that is brake fluid will absorb water. Over time the brake fluid becomes contaminated with water and will begin to cause corrosion to occur in the brakes hydraulic system causing premature failure of your cars brake system. The brake fluid in your car should be changed every 2 years to prevent this from happening.

Question: I have a 2001 Chevy Tahoe when I step on the brakes it shakes, the shake is worse at high speeds. What is causing this?

Answer: I suspect that your Tahoe has a warped brake rotor. A binding brake caliper may cause this. You should have your vehicles brakes inspected. The brake rotors may need to be resurfaced or replaced and the cause of the warpage corrected to prevent further problems.       

Question: When I took my car in to have my snow tires put on, I was told my brakes are dry, and should be serviced. I was told that no parts were needed, the brakes just needed to be cleaned & lubricated. Why is this necessary?

Answer: The brake system on today’s cars very dependable, and can last 60,000 miles or more. Over time, Newengland winters can cause rust and corrosion to build up on the brake calipers and drum brake linkage causing them to bind and not work freely, this will cause premature wear of the brake pads & shoes and reduce braking efficiency. By servicing the brakes, the rust and corrosion is removed and lubricant is applied to allow proper movement of the brake pads & shoes. This will ensure long life and proper brake performance. I recommend servicing brakes ever 15,000 miles.   

Question: The battery in my 1998 Subaru Legacy keeps going dead. I have replaced the battery and the alternator, and the battery still keeps going dead.

Answer: Your problem may be an excessive draw on the battery when the vehicle is not running. This draw is called a parasitic draw. A small amount of electricity is needed to run the clock and computer memory. The maximum amount of draw should be about 30 miliamps, any more than that will drain the battery at a higher rate than normal use of the car will recharge. The charging system should be tested, even with a new alternator, as you could have an electrical problem preventing the electrical current from reaching the battery. Proper diagnosis will prevent the unnecessary replacement of good components.    

Question: I have a 2003 Toyota Corolla and I went to have snow tires put on. I was told that must buy four tires not just two for the front. My car is front wheel drive why should I put snow tires on the back? Am I getting ripped off?

Answer: No you are not getting ripped off. Cars are engineered to handle in a predictable manner, with a slight amount of under steer, when the vehicle reached its traction limit in a corner the front of the vehicle should slide first. If you put snow tires on the front only, in slippery conditions the rear of the car will slide long before the front causing the car to handle unpredictably, and cause sudden loss of control. You should never put snow tires only on the front of a car.

Question: My car pulls to the right while driving. I have had an alignment done twice, and it still pulls. What is wrong?

Answer: Assuming that the car was aligned properly, your problem may be due to a tire problem. Your car may have one tire that has a higher rolling resistance than the others causing the car to pull in the direction of the tire with the most resistance.  To test for this problem swap the left front tire to the right front and the right front tire to left front, drive the car. If the car now pulls to the left the problem is a tire problem. If there is no change swap the rear tire left to right the same as the front and drive again. If there is still no change I suggest having the alignment reevaluated as something may have been overlooked. Keep in mind that the roads we drive on are not flat all roads have a crown, that is the center of the road is higher than the shoulders for drainage and this crown may cause a slight drift to the right on some roads.

Question: When I brought my car in for service, my mechanic recommended a tire rotation. Why do the tires need rotating?

Answer: The tires on the front wear differently than the tires on the back. By rotating the tires every 3,000 to 6,000 miles the tires will wear more evenly. You can double the life of your tires by regular rotation, proper tire pressure and proper alignment.