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

How To Protect Yourself From Injury In Case Of An Accident.

I just saw the aftermath of an accident. From the looks of it, a small SUV had either failed to stop, or not seen the oncoming car before it pulled across an intersection. The end result was an ugly t-bone. Kudos to the folks who jumped into action, helping the vehicle occupants and guiding traffic. I believe everyone ended up being okay. The situation also reminded me that SRS systems do save lives. Chances are your vehicle has multiple safety systems that, when functioning properly, can be the difference between a minor scrape or serious injury, or worse. If your ABS lamp is lit on your dash, there is a fault in the system and your brakes will operate in standard mode. In an emergency stop, your wheels may lock up leaving you without steering control. ABS helps you to change course while trying to stop by preventing your wheels from fully locking up. If your SRS lamp is lit, there is a fault in the system and your airbags will not deploy in an accident. The implications are immediately obvious of you observe a crash scene where airbags have been deployed. I wouldn't want to see one where they didn't. The good news is that these systems can be serviced. If your lamp is lit, see your trusted service center to have these faults checked and fixed.

You've Been Approved!

The shop I work for is part of a larger chain that offers its own branded credit card. From time to time they try to drum up more sales in the auto shop by having promotional finance rates on repair bills over x number of dollars. I rarely spend time pondering the complexities of my customer's finances, but today I found myself thinking about how dangerous credit can be to some folks. I suspect the majority of people have felt uncomfortable after realizing they had spent more on their credit cards or other loans than previously anticipated. With some common sense this can be avoided, but what about those who feel compelled to spend because they fear something is dangerous on their vehicle? What's worse, what if it isn't? If my car were in a repair shop, and the mechanic told me it needed ball joints, tie rods, struts and an alignment, and I didn't know any better, what could I do? I don't keep $1000 aside in an emergency car fund(admittedly I should). A credit card with a special rate may be just the ticket to getting my car safely back on the road. If the shop wasn't truthful and just wanted to make a buck, I could be an easy target with a shiny new limited time offer low-rate credit card itching to buy. Thankfully, my technicians are honorable folks who wouldn't take advantage of such a situation(I often double check their diagnosis' to better advise customers in their repair decisions). I guess my conclusion is that special rate credit cards can be beneficial in a pinch for ill-maintained cars, but being prepared for automotive disaster by having some cash in savings earmarked for car repairs is better. Regular maintenance by a garage you trust should help prevent surprises, but ultimately, parts do wear out.

Can You Do Me A Favor?

I like to assume things will be quick, but usually, they aren't. I also like to prepare myself for these eventualities. This isn't a normal mindset. Today I wasn't working, but I happened to be at the shop where I work. My boss asked me to do him a favor by boosting a truck with a dead battery. I found the booster pack and headed outside. There sat the truck which had become a part of the landscape. I can only assume the owner forgot it existed, but was given a tip that it might be his. First problem: The hood would not release. The owner and myself spend several minutes pulling cables, fonzi-ing the hood, and after I retrieved some tools, poking and prying until by mere fluke the hood chose to open. Second problem: The booster pack was dead. No problem. Booster cables work, when used by a competent individual. Third problem: Am I competent? I don't own a magic 8 ball, so we may never know. As the man drove away, I thought about all the "quick jobs" I hand my technicians in a week. It is rarely my idea that the job be quick, as I believe a job done right is better than a job done hurriedly, but these days, folks expect a job done well, in a hurry, for the best price. The compromise is difficult to choose, especially when techs are distracted by "quick jobs."