A few predictions for 2012, I know I am late with them but wanted a few things to shake out before making a guess.The Dodge dart will wake up Ford and GM, the Focus and the Cruze are OK but they are not a MOPAR.Electric and EV will not take off like the manufactures hoped they would just too expensive and added expensive of charging stations are a hindrance. They need to do something about battery replacement costs also. If Ford can live up to the Fusions gas mileage claims, the mid forties, they will scare the rice burners and further set back the Hybrids. The V-6 will become the engine of choice for full size pickups and we will see a return of mid size. Nissans Frontier made a huge sales increase in 2011. The Ranger, slightly larger, and the Colorado will see a comeback, maybe not till 2013 but we are going to see a resurgence in mid size trucks. Saab is gone and sadly so are there parts supplies, several off brand companies have made an effort to purchase the company without any success. More computer apps will move into the automotive accessory list. Techs out there get prepared now. The days of nuts and bolts mechanics are numbered, the day of the geek tech is here. The new Corvette will flop, to spendy not enough bling for the buck. The shortage of qualified technicians will continue and to hire and pay those that are qualified will drive the cost of repair even higher. Shops are not that far from needing a computer Geek, I doubt if Best Buys Geek Squad can fill this need.

Front turn signal bulb out on my 2001 Dakota. Piece of cake it’s only a bulb. Little did I know? After a trip to the local parts store to buy a bulb, which are only available in 2 packs, when I need the second one I can never find it. Reaching behind the headlamp assembly I discovered the bulb does not have enough clearance to be removed from the case. I proceeded to remove the entire headlamp assembly. Should have stopped here and went to a shop. I have over 40 years experience tearing things apart and reassembling them but this was a nightmare. It has been unseasonably warm here but at 40% plastic is not designed to snap apart. I will admit I should have searched for some instructions before going any further but it was just a bulb right. Upon disassembly I discovered it is designed to snap apart the head lamp assembly from the mount, but at 40% this is not easily done. Also the headlamp adjusting screws were rusted into the plastic retainer, if I had researched instructions I would not have had to remove them. The repair is not that bad once you understand how it is assembled. 3 bolts and a ball joint snap and the whole assembly is easily removed. A large hairpin retainer at the top and a small screw at the bottom and the mount is separated from the assembly. I did end up replacing both bulbs and the side marker light, reassembly was easy except for snapping the ball joint back in to place. I even ended up with the headlamp alignment on the money. So the moral of the story is no matter how simple a repair looks read the instructions first, I probably won’t to old to change my ways now, besides you learn from tearing apart more then is required.

Wandering through a shop the other day, there still are a few that will let me wander around, I noticed a few things.The toolboxes are huge, they are bigger then a park model home in Phoenix and many are equipped with a laptop computer. With the computer controlled systems and cramped engine compartments today’s techs need a variety of tools to repair modern vehicles. They were also spotless and waxed to a shine, with the $ they have invested this is not surprising. I am sure many have 30 to 50 K invested and this may be a low estimate. I also noticed a manual on replacing batteries. It listed the necessary steps to take before disconnecting a battery and how to reprogram the accessories after installation. On some models this list is extensive. The power windows require reprogramming on some models. The numbers of fluid flush and replacement machines were also numerous. Tire repair and replacement also requires more than just a tire machine and a balancer. Special tire machines are required so the expensive rims are not damaged. TPMS also need reprogramming, and no longer just a simple plug is stuck in a tire. Installing a belt may also require special tools as stretch to fit belts are becoming the norm. The dollars they charge per hour for repair dont seem quite as excessive as they did before my tour.Whatever happened to replacing the rear tires, I burnt the tread off of last night, on a manual tire machine, replacing a belt with a crescent wrench and putting some 50 cent gas in my tank.

Just saw an invoice from a local dealership for replacing a cabin air filter, $69. No wonder the auto repair shops are hurting for business. At the worst you have to remove the glove box which is about 4 screws at the most but usually it is a couple clips and the filter is replaced. I will have to say that the dealerships are slowly becoming the repair place of choice, for 2 reasons. Today’s vehicles are becoming dependent on information to repair, special tools, test equipment, and techs with considerable training and skills. Many of the independent repair shops either cannot afford or don’t have access to many of these. So there quality of repairs is suffering, making the dealership the place of choice. I recently had the intake manifold gasket replaced on my Bonneville and had to return to have a antifreeze leak repaired, they replaced a connector at no charge but I still have a slight leak and will have to return again. A nuisance to say the least. I thought this was going to be a place to go for repairs but maybe not. They overfilled my crankcase at the last oil change this should have given me a hint.Really don’t know what the answer is. The right to information act is a beginning but far from becoming a reality. The price of test equipment is not going down, and the availability is always going to be a problem. A lab scope is almost a necessity to diagnosis any ignition or fuel problem and a scanner has been for some time, there price is going down however but there uses are limited.

Now that I own a crew cab there is very little storage in the cab. Last year I carried a small box and the cables and tow rope were loose. Northland tool had a small shipping box on sale that was perfect for storing everything. Turned out to be a little heavy but will work fine.Then I took a look at what I had in the box. A orange revolving warning light left over from the days we had wreckers and I would go out to help on calls. Why do I still carry this? An assortment of tools, really what repairs could I do on the road, a few tools are all that I would ever need. A spot light that I have used on occasion only problem is it no longer works. Booster cables tow rope small shovel are staying but I am cleaning out a bunch of stuff. After looking at what I was carrying I asked myself what repairs can be done on the road on the modern vehicle. The answer is very few. I couldn’t even replace the belt on my Bonneville as you have to jack up the engine. Replace the alternator would be possible but other than that fuses, relays and a few others but not very many. I put a timing chain in a pickup on the road once, replace the timing belt, I am not even sure I could do that in my garage even if my back was OK.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps drivers to avoid crashes by limiting the danger of skidding and losing control as a result of over-correcting the steering. ESC becomes active when a driver loses control of their car. It uses computer controlled technology to apply individual brakes and help bring the car safely under control. ABS and Traction control are integral components of an ESC system. Every car with ESC has ABS and Traction Control, those with ABS and Traction control do not always have ESC.I would like to first state I am not a big fan of ABS, true I am a control freak and I like to be in control of my vehicle. I know that ABS will help me maintain control in a skid, ESC will help in a slide and Traction Control will help me if I get stuck. I just like to be able to do some of this myself, the computer may perform with more efficiency and safer but I would like the ability to make a choice here. I don’t like to just stomp and steer. Research has shown that ESC can reduce passenger car crashes by 25% and SUV by 51%, that is by more than 12. I think many of the SUV’s on the road today are an accident waiting for a place to happen. The manufactures are trying to make them ride like a car and they are to top heavy to perform violent maneuvers whether they are on purpose or by accident. One instance I think ESC would help is when hitting the shoulder. I just don’t see the advantage on ice or snow. When my wife got her Bonneville stuck last winter we had to turn off the traction control to get it out and I know when I slid into a car, a few years ago with my Bonneville, at about 3 MPH I could have stopped quicker without ABS.I think drivers need to drive smarter and not depend on a computer system to get them out of trouble however I am glad my Grandkids will have many of these features available when they start driving.

With the leaves falling and the mornings turning cooler I felt it was time to pop for tires on the wife’s Bonneville. I knew the Goodyear Eagles did not have enough tread to keep her from getting stuck this winter. Actually 2 of them were fairly new but the other 2 were getting down on tread and they were not that great in snow to start with, also I could buy 4 tires for the price of 2 Eagles. Having owned my own shops for years I am not used to shopping for tires. After a lot of internet searching and a few phone calls I decided on the Goodyear Assurance Comfortred Touring. Did not need the Touring but they only came in her size in the Touring. Originally I was going to stick with Toyo but heard a few bad experiences with them recently. After shopping for the best buy I purchased 4 on sale from sears after a $80 rebate and free mounting, balancing, valve stems and bead seal which many shops charged for I think I got a good deal. Don’t see why shops would charge for bead seal on aluminum rims it sounds like a invitation for trouble.The tires have been great fantastic ride, quiet and are holding air. We will see how they do in snow but they are very highly rated. After the Eagles anything would be better. I was surprised they did not try to sell me nitrogen for a couple bucks I may have tried it. One thing that impressed me was they put chrome sleeves and valve stems on and it really dressed up the wheels.

Hot weather seems to bring on 2 types of repair, the major being the cooling system, and followed closely by transmission. Don’t panic if you are having transmission problems chances are it may only be a solenoid or low fluid. Be sure to check your owner’s manual on how to check the fluid level they vary greatly. If the fluid is OK but looks dark I would take it to a tranny shop and have it scanned, if no codes are present then have them drop the pan and check for debris. There should be NC for a code and road test. If there are no debris in the pan then have them change the filter fill with fluid and recheck. Be certain they use the correct fluid for your vehicle. For instance some Chrysler transmissions are so finicky about fluid that only Mopar ATF Plus 3, Type 7176 will perform correctly. If the fluid looks extremely bad then and only then would I consider a flush and fill, usually if it is this bad there will be some debris in the pan and most tranny shops will be able to tell if you need a rebuild or not, bad news is they usually will. Many shops will install a rebuild and repair your transmission when they have time for a flat fee. This is a simple way to go and usually is about the same cost as a rebuild. I don’t recommend used transmissions due to the cost of R&R and you don’t know how long they have sat around. Remember don’t panic until the service writer comes at you with a clipboard and smile. Also at any time you have the option to stop the process and get a second opinion, or estimate. In many parts of the country prices vary greatly locally, they are about the same where I live except for one shop that tells you up front they may use some used parts, I have used them on several occasions and have had good luck, but shops like this are hard to find.

With the recent rash of floods and bad weather around there is going to be flood damaged vehicles on the market. Most reputable dealers will not knowingly touch a flooded vehicle with a 10 foot pole. So how do you know if a car has been flooded? Carpeting is the item that usually causes the most problems. Lift up the carpeting and check the pad this is impossible to get clean after a flood, also if it has been replaced check further.Smells are an indication of problems, after sitting in the sun for awhile there will be a noticeable odor. Or too much of a scent can also be a clue. Of course a carfax should always be checked before buying any vehicle but there are other sources National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and VINCheck from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Remember through that not all repairs are reported. Most insurance companies will total a car if the floorboards are flooded some will only total if the dash is touched by water. With the number of computers in today’s cars many are installed under the seats so I think the floorboards should be a industry standard. If the deal sounds to good to be true it probably is. Whenever you buy a vehicle it is a good idea to know the reason it is being sold, there are many good deals out there brought on by financial problems, and other reasons. Many are also sold because they have problems or have had a history of repairs. There are also many overpriced vehicles that the seller could not get what they wanted dollar wise for there trade in and decided to sell it themselves. There is also the vehicles that the owner owes more than it is worth and trying to dump it. Always check Kelly or several other sources fro true value, I don’t think you should ever pay over private party price if buying from a dealer or more then trade if buying from a private party. O f course there is the exception of the car you really fall in love with but here again be careful and use common sense.

A Happy New year to one and all