Quips From a Former Service Advisor?

Well, I'm no longer a Service Advisor, though I'm still getting emails to recruit me as such. Thank you to all who have read this blog. Maybe there is still helpful information here for others.

Attention To The One in a Thousand Who Want To Beat Me Up Over Costs.

Let's get something straight. I don't want to rip you off, and I don't want to lose my job (unless you've got an uncle who has an amazing opening for a strapping young go-getter like myself.) See, I can't make things happen for free. If you want my techs to do a job, generally, there is a labour charge attached. I just can't wrap my head around how many people think that because something doesn't take a lot of time, it should automatically be free. This would be like me going to an upholstery shop with some fabric, stuffing and thread, and expecting a free cushion because I supplied the parts. We all have to eat, and the way we make our bread and butter differs. The real numbers behind most shops aren't fun, once you factor in overheads, tools and equipment and wage costs, things add up. Please don't expect me to have your "5 second" job completed at no cost, the accountants are watching from the shadows.

There's Fluid In Them There Brake Lines!

Remember that murder mystery you watched growing up? The one where the victim was in a terrible accident because someone cut the brake lines? What does that mean to you? Allow me. Most of the brake lines on your vehicle are likely made of rigid metal tubing that runs from the master cylinder under your hood to each wheel well of the car. Often the metal line will connect to a rubberized hose that continues the journey to your calipers, unless you have drum brakes. When you push the brake pedal, the master cylinder pushes against the fluid in the lines, causing the caliper or wheel cylinder to react and pushing the brake linings against the friction surface. If the lines were cut, there would be no reaction at the wheels to the action at the brake pedal. How should you maintain this system? Other than the obvious need for good brake linings and friction surfaces, the brake fluid should be flushed every so often as it, like other fluids, breaks down over time. Most auto shops can test the condition of your brake fluid with copper content test strips. Maintaining this system can prevent nature from cutting your brake lines!

Nitrogen & You!

You may have green caps on your valve stems. More and more frequently new cars are rolling off the lot with Nitrogen in their tires. Some tire shops offer it, so what does it do? Well the theory goes that the Nitrogen molecules are ever so slightly larger than those of the oxygen in air, so they won't escape through the rubber as quickly and easily as air. The marketing also suggests that the tire pressure will be more stable throughout temperature ranges. Not only does this mean ambient temperatures, tires heat up significantly under heavy strain. Aircraft undergo extreme cold and loads and use Nitrogen. Nascar uses Nitrogen in their tires, where temps can exceed 90 degrees C. Maintaining tire pressures at these temperature extremes is integral to the success and safety of all involved. Maybe your car doesn't see such stresses, but theoretically a maintained tire pressure will improve fuel mileage over the long haul. The added benefit that some marketing references is a reduction of oxidation of the tire inner liner. This could also ring true on untreated surfaces of wheels within the tire, and on TPMS components which may be sensitive to oxidation. Is it worth it? If the benefits are of value to you, then perhaps.

What You Don't Know About Your Check Engine Light.

When the check engine lamp lights on your dash, do you know what it means? I don't. Your computer stores fault codes for a variety of reasons, most of them related to emissions sensors. The computer is constantly redefining how much fuel to feed the engine, and when to deliver spark. It does this based on data programmed to it by the vehicle manufacturer, and uses many sensors in the engine bay and exhaust to update it on the conditions the engine is experiencing. Under these conditions, it will modify the fuel rate and ignition advance as required, to a point. If the check engine lamp is lit, the computer has determined that the feedback from a sensor is not in line with what it has been programmed to expect. This can result in poor performance and fuel economy. What needs to be done? Someone has to "pull codes," by hooking up a special computer to the car that can interpret the codes. This is only part of the process. I have met many people who think that because the computer registers an irregular signal from an oxygen sensor that the sensor must be replaced. It is entirely possible that the irregular signal may be presented because of other issues. Perhaps there is an exhaust leak upstream of the sensor, or the engine is not operating as expected. This must be physically diagnosed. So, scan for codes, have diagnosed by someone educated in automotive operations. As a side note, if your check engine lamp is flashing, stop driving the car. A flashing check engine lamp indicates a significant misfire, and the unburnt fuel from the misfiring cylinder(s) can go straight to your catalytic converter(s) and cause premature failure. The repair costs may become overwhelming, so it is recommended to have towed to a trusted service center for a proper diagnosis.

Snow Traction!

It's almost winter. Time to get those tires changed over. People are increasingly aware of the need for good winter tires on their vehicle(s). If you are looking at winter tires, remember to put them on in sets of four. Having mixed tire types can lead to dangerous driving situations. Look online, many sites offer customer reviews so you can choose the best tires for your ride without relying on the manufacturer's marketing program.

Rubber-Stamp Isn't A Verb Here.

Importing a vehicle under 15 years old to Canada? It might be a good investment, but please do your research first! Many folks jump in blindfolded and expect everything to work in their favour. The onus is on the importer to provide documentation to the agencies involved. For the best information from the people who handle the program, head over to www.riv.ca