I just found out that my old shop was up for lease and the thought crossed my mind if I would entertain the idea of going back into the repair business and if so for what reasons. I know I miss the daily interaction with people whether they were customers employees or suppliers. I also miss the day to day challenges of auto repair and this is something that gets more challenging every day. one more reason that you may find kind of strange is that there are all kinds of cool new tools out there and I don’t have a reason to but them. Then I remember that I am no spring chicken with a bad back and several other health problems and so there goes another great idea out the window. I do enjoy maintaining this web site and several other answer sites that I am involved with. I also babysit my Grandchildren on occasion and I enjoy this immensely in fact I have thought of a site dedicated to grand parenting.
Dumb Moves By The Auto Industry
There have been times over the past several decades when it seemed that General Motors had a monopoly on dumb moves. Not just now. I say that not just because its North American market share seems to have touched bottom at 23.5% in the first half of the year, moving up since. The main reason GM looks comparatively intelligent these days is not merely that its cars and trucks are greatly improved, but that its competitors are making some very unintelligent decisions. Three that come to mind involve Ford, some Japanese firms and Chrysler.Ford Motor (nyse: F – news – people ) has made clear that it will create a look or design theme for all its cars around the world. So when a fellow from Manchuria sees an American Ford or a German Ford, he can say, even in Manchurian, “That’s a Ford.” If an American traveling in Manchuria sees a Chinese Ford, he can say, “That’s a Ford.”This is not a simple exercise, like putting the same label on soda cans. We’re talking about battles among designers, the retooling of factories and the spending of hundreds of millions, maybe billions, of dollars over time to do it. News source: Forbes And why? Is that Manchurian going to be more likely to buy a Ford if he sees a German Ford with a similar grille? Is even one American more likely to buy a Ford if, when touring in China, he sees the same grille? We used to believe that it was better that foreigners, like the Germans, didn’t know that one of their auto companies was owned by outsiders, meaning us Americans.Some luxury cars do have a universal look, for example the Mercedes and the BMW. But those are German cars, not global cars meant to fit every national taste. The German attitude is: “This is German. If you like it, fine; if you don’t, you are too dumb to know better.” That’s not the American approach.Now every Ford carries the name “Ford,” so the fellow from Manchuria will know an American Ford when he sees the name. But there’s no reason to think the design that pleases him will please me. In fact, more often than not, Ford’s European designs don’t please Americans. I can go through a half-century of Ford flops, such as the Contour and Mystique, which were European-designed Fords built in America, and the Merkur and Scorpio, European Fords imported here. Even the Focus, the smallest Ford built here, came from a European design and is disappointing.It would be wiser to spend the time and money creating designs that fit each market. Yes, this costs more in design, tooling and parts. But how much is saved by losing customers who don’t like the global look?Also a good nominee for a Bad Idea Award: building a new car plant with new workers and having them build a completely new design. That’s asking for trouble. Still, that is what Nissan (nasdaq: NSANY – news – people ) did in Mississippi and Toyota (nyse: TM – news – people ) did in Texas. Sure enough, they have had trouble: Even Consumer Reports panned some of the new Toyota trucks from Texas. Wouldn’t it be better to build a brand-new vehicle in an older plant, with experienced workers, and build a car you know how to build in a new plant? The cost to the Toyota and Nissan reputations has been terrible.Lastly, my list of bad moves includes a plan by Chrysler Corp. to combine its Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep nameplates under one showroom. If you have a Chrysler dealer that sells 1,000 cars a year and a Dodge dealer that sells 1,000 cars a year and a Jeep dealer that sells 500, and you put them all under one roof, you don’t get 2,500 sales. You get maybe 1,800.Why? There usually are physical limits on how many cars may be sold and serviced in one location, for one thing.Second, put them together and you have 25 different vehicles. Go find a sales person who can really know so many. Worse, some of these vehicles are mechanically similar–the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro, both sport utilities; the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger, both sedans.You’ll note that Chrysler has started cutting vehicles, including some good ones like the Dodge Magnum, a sleek, low-slung station wagon. They have their problems, but I would say inept marketing was the real issue. If Chrysler kills too many products, it won’t have much to sell.Lest I be accused of being a sourpuss, here’s my good-news prediction:Next year will be better for the industry than this year, maybe 10% above 2007’s expected 16.1 million vehicle sales. Despite the troubled housing market, credit problems and Fuel prices, low unemployment and fairly low interest rates will keep buyers coming out. And General Motors (nyse: GM – news – people ) will continue its turnaround.
NASCAR Tean Auction Pictures
Interesting picture for NASCAR fans [url”>http://www.gavelauction.com/upcoming.htm
Blue Book For Car repair
PRLEAP.COM) San Francisco, CA – December 3, 2007 FairBenjamin (www.fairbenjamin.com), similar to a blue book for car repair, today opened its online price database to a nationwide audience. FairBenjamin gives motorists peace of mind that the prices charged by their local mechanic for parts and labor, are in a word– fair. FairBenjamin provides the most comprehensive repair estimates — ranging from brakes to motor replacement — for free to the general public. Because of the growing complexities under the hood of the modern car, many Americans feel disadvantaged when discussing car repair with a repair shop. When the family car has mechanical problems, it is a challenge to find the most appropriate and qualified technician at a fair price. “Sometimes even good cars behave badly, so we’ve also made preliminary diagnoses available in a way that is simple, and actually kind of fun,” says Benjamin Picard, founder of FairBenjamin. “Just answer a couple questions online, and voilà , problem diagnosed, fair repair estimate given in real-time, and introduction to great mechanic made! And you’re likely going to save a significant amount of time and money by connecting with the right mechanic first.” Need a second opinion? Connect with other consumers who own the same car at FairBenjamin, ask for a referral from other local car owners, share repair experiences and even prices. Picard continued “FairBenjamin is geared to the family car and community driven. Unbiased, transparent, and freely flowing repair information is our strength.” About FairBenjamin FairBenjamin is your trusted friend for car repair. FairBenjamin was founded in 2007 to give motorists peace of mind and access to great mechanics. The FairBenjamin service is US patent pending. For more information on the company, investor inquires, or to receive a fair repair estimate, visit [url”>www.fairbenjamin.com. News source: PR Leap
Shady Brake Services
Now comes the shady part of brake services. As I mentioned in the intro, brakes have become a commodity – everyone does them. Every Val-Pack or Advo that comes to my house has coupons in it for brake services. They are advertised everywhere and it is always deceptive. Call a few auto repair shops and ask about brake prices and you will never get an apples to apples comparison. Most people don’t even know how to compare or what questions to ask. Many shops, knowing that people are calling around to get the best deal, will never quote a price over the phone but encourage you to come in for the free brake inspection.So, let me give you a few examples of brake specials and what you get for it. There is a national chain that advertises brakes for $89.99, pads and labor. If you read the small print and can read between the lines, this price is for what is commonly referred to in the industry as a “pad slap.” A quick mechanic can “slap” pads on the front wheels and have you driving out in about 20 minutes. First of all, a quality brake pad is going to cost the shop between $29 to $45. When you add wages and other overhead, some shops will actually lose money on this job. Therefore, a much cheaper pad is used. In fact, the fine print says that the price is for organic or NAO (non-asbestos organic) pads. Two problems here. First of all, most vehicles do not call for organic pads. When you come in for your brake job you will be told that this price does not apply to you because the manufacturer calls for semi-metallic, or even ceramic pads. Second, if you are adamant about using the organic pads, they will wear down your rotors like crazy. Besides, these pads are almost guaranteed to make noise, its just part of their nature. They also create a lot of brake dust – not nice for pretty rims.Moving on, this brake service normally does not include resurfacing the rotors or drums. Some say that resurfacing is not necessary if the rotor or drum is smooth. However, that rotor is married to the surface of the pad. There are fine imperfections created between the two that must be removed. Our belief is that a rotor or drum should be resurfaced every time pads or shoes are replaced to improve contact. Not doing so will result in faster and more uneven pad wear.Additionally, this quick pad slap may result in the mechanic not lubricating or adjusting any of the hardware. This is more likely than not, due to the nature of the service being offered, and we see it all the time in our shop with stuck caliper pins.Also, this service does not include a fluid flush to remove contaminants from the brake system.Lastly, the disclaimer: “applies to most vehicles.” This is important. This service will not apply to a 4×4 vehicle or trucks with dual wheels in the rear. There are certain Accords and Civics, for example, that have a “trapped rotor” requiring extensive labor to remove the rotor. The offer probably will not apply to luxury vehicles, especially German cars on which it is difficult to find aftermarket brake pads. Be prepared for the worst when responding to these coupons. The service advisor may begin with a high estimate to give him room to come down substantially in price and still get your business. It is a terrible way to do business, I think.Therefore, I normally call this type of service a “bait and switch.” You are lured by the cheap brake job (and it is cheap) and will normally be upsold and offered an estimate two to three times the coupon amount. If you are calling around, use the information you have learned in the previous posts and ask the right questions to make sure you are making a good comparison. Even better, find a shop that you trust so that you never have to worry about a diagnosis or an estimate.When you ask for a phone estimate, make sure the advisor knows the year, make, and model of your vehicle, and if it is 4×4 as well. Be wary of any shop giving you phone estimates without asking you this critical information.Good questions to ask when getting an estimate:Is the price per axle, or all four wheels? What brand and line of brake pads are you using? Does the price include resurfacing rotors/drums? Does the price include a fluid flush? What kind of warranty do you offer on parts and labor? News source: Fix My Car
New Battery Technology
HOUSTON – Energy company Exxon Mobil said Wednesday it will present technology next month aimed at improving the efficiency and affordability of electronic and hybrid automobiles.The company said it has co developed new film technology with Japanese affiliate Tonen Chemical that could allow lithium-ion batteries to be used in vehicles.Lithium-ion batteries are currently used in cell phones, laptop computers and other consumer electronics, however, several auto makers are working to adapt them to vehicles. The most widely sold gas-electric hybrid car, Toyota Motor Corp. (nyse: TM – news – people )’s Prius, uses a nickel-metal hydride battery.Exxon said it is working with battery manufacturers to adapt the technology for use vehicles. The company is scheduled to present the technology at the Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition in Anaheim, Calif. in the first week of December.Shares of Exxon Mobil (nyse: XOM – news – people ) rose 81 cents to $87.19 in morning trading. News source: Forbes
ON STAR to China
SHANGHAI, China – General Motors Corp. and its Chinese automotive partner SAIC are forming a joint venture that will bring GM’s Onstar dashboard technology to China.The $46 million joint venture – Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. – is the first for GM subsidiary OnStar outside North America, the companies said. It will provide vehicle safety, security and telecommunications services in China similar to those available in the U.S. and Canada, GM said.The services will be made available first in vehicles made by Shanghai GM, a GM joint venture with SAIC (nyse: SAI – news – people ), which is short for Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. They include automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, handsfree phone calling, vehicle diagnostics and turn-by-turn navigation, it said.GM is hoping the technological whistles and bells it will offer through the joint venture beginning in 2009 will give it an edge in China’s increasingly competitive market.”We believe this will bring new growth points for Shanghai GM,” Kevin Wale, president of General Motors (nyse: GM – news – people ) China Group. “Telematics is a star industry,” he told reporters.”We expect OnStar to have a similar impact in China as in the U.S.,” he said.OnStar and SAIC each own 40 percent of the joint venture, with Shanghai GM owning the remaining 20 percent. Shanghai GM is a 50-50 joint venture of GM-SAIC.Once the OnStar joint venture rolls out its products, Shanghai GM’s major vehicles will all be configured to use the hardware and software needed for its services, said Chet Huber, OnStar’s president. He said further study was needed to determine if OnStar would be offered as standard or optional equipment.In North America, OnStar has “basically terminated” arrangements to run its services on non-GM vehicles, Huber said. But the joint venture is leaving open the option to offer OnStar on other brand vehicles in China.OnStar and a first-year subscription fee are standard on most of GM’s 2008 vehicles in North America. After the first year, vehicle owners pay a subscription fee. The company was set up in 1995 and after early efforts to make it a mobile link to the Internet, its services now are promoted as a safety measure.Asked whether the Chinese government, which tends to demand strict regulatory control over technology and telecommunications, would allow OnStar to operate as intended, Wale said he expected no problems.Although China’s own telecommunications and vehicle services infrastructure is still developing, feasibility studies showed that the services the company intends to offer can be made available across all of China, Huber said.GM shares rose 31 cents to $28.70 in morning trading Thursday in New
Hot Rod Club
Few things are as exciting and rewarding as taking a kid to a car show or teaching a child how to wrench on a car. The passing on of knowledge and experience gained is something all street machine enthusiasts should take part in as they learn new things and meet new enthusiasts. This is especially important when it involves the youth in our hobby. The National Street Machine Club celebrates youth involvement and their enthusiasm for street machines by featuring a young rodder in each issue of Street Thunder magazine. The Youth Rides column is a place for young enthusiasts to share their passion for the hobby, to explain what led to their interest in cars, and to show off what they’ve been learning or working on in the garage as they grow their automotive knowledge. The column is written about youth by youth, which makes it unique. Do you know of a young street machine enthusiast or are you one yourself? If so, we’d like to learn more! We’re always interested in hearing the stories behind young rodders and learning of their dreams and automotive aspirations. If you’re under 25 years-old and are working on a traditional hot rod, custom, muscle car, classic truck, or late-model American street machine (or know a young enthusiast who is), let us know! You can send details, contact information, or even a complete story with high quality photos to us by mail to: National Street Machine Club — Youth Rides, P.O. Box 3515, Minnetonka, MN 55343 or by e-mail to: [email protected]. Be sure to check out the January/February 2008 issue of Street Thunder magazine to learn about another one of the NSMC’s promising youth.
10 Mechanic Gifte
1. Roadside Emergency KitJC PenneyIf you’re in charge of auto maintenance in your household, there’s no excuse for being without a proper emergency kit. Every vehicle should have one, but you don’t need to spend a bundle to get the peace of mind that comes with having the tools you need to get out of a jam. This kit includes a swivel head flashlight with stand, booster cables, air compressor, pair of cotton gloves to keep it clean, a tire gauge, hose tape and a four-socket wrench. Even the case is useful with the reflective safety triangle. Safety first! Just $30.00!Buy It Now! 2. Open End Wrench Settylertools.comAnyone attempting to perform their own auto repairs or maintenance needs a proper set of open end wrenches. This set from Craftsman is the perfect starter set. Your home mechanic can use these to get their tool kit started. Since they’re Craftsman tools, you can exchange them at any Sears store if one of them ever breaks. I’ve had Craftsman wrenches for decades that look almost new. Comes with both metric and SAE wrenches.3. Screwdriver Settylertools.comNo tool kit is even a start before it contains a selection of screwdrivers. We all have a few oddball screwdrivers around the house, but to get into auto repair and maintenance you’ll need a good selection of sizes and types made by a company you can trust. Craftsman has the screwdriver pretty much figured out. And with Craftsman, you’re protected for life. If (when) you break the tip off one of the drivers, you can trade it for a new one at any Sears. This starter set of 8 screwdrivers is available for a killer price – less than $15! Don’t wait until it’s too late, buy this set for your home mechanic today. 4. Fluorescent Work Lightamazon.comThe fluorescent shop light changed the way professional mechanics operate. They are bright, cool, and very durable. Since they don’t get hot, fluorescent work lights don’t pose a fire hazard. I have yet to see an LED work light that comes even close to doing the job. Every mechanic needs a work light for seeing into the recesses of the engine bay or underneath the car. This light features a 25-foot cord and even has a built in plug, so it doubles as an extension cord for your official shop daiquiri mixer.5. Mechanics Tool Boxtylertools.comThat lame orange tool box in the garage won’t do anymore. If there’s a serious mechanic in the house, there should be a serious tool box. If you’re not ready for the $5000 Snap-On stack yet, this affordable Stack-On tool box is great. It’s plastic for light weight, but has metal reinforcements in the bottom and at the handle, where it counts. Plus the diamond plate front says, “I’m changing my oil, and I mean business.” 6. The Bone-ster Creeperamazon.comThe creeper is nothing new. It’s easier to roll underneath a car than to slither. But the creeper hasn’t changed much in decades. That is, until Pegasus introduced the Bone-ster. Sure, it performs the same function as the rest, but the comfort level is beyond compare! If you need to creep, and I think you do need to creep, you should be lying in this comfortable bone to do it. Super durable and easy to use, the Bone-ster is the real deal. American made so you know it will last. 7. Torque Wrenchtylertools.comIf you’re planning to do any auto repairs, you’ll need a torque wrench. Without a torque wrench, you risk damaging your car’s expensive parts. Every shop has one. This Craftsman torque wrench features a dial type torque setting. The rod type may seem like a good deal since they’re around half the price, but they are a serious pain to use, and much less precise than the dial handle type. It’s easy to say you’ll get a torque wrench later, but one overtightened bolt will change your mind. Buy one today, for sure.8. OBDII Code Scannertooltopia.comCars today are as much computer as steel. To properly diagnose and troubleshoot you need to be able to read the trouble codes (DTCs) your car saves. If your Check Engine light is on, you need a code reader to get to the source of the problem. This unit will give you an instant readout from any OBD-II equipped vehicle (post 1996). Besides providing the codes, this reader can reset the Check Engine light. Very handy.9. Hex Wrench SetToolsPlusThanks to their high torque capabilities, the hex bolt is commonly found in automobiles. Also known as the Allen bolt, these are used on everything from the starter to the gear shift knob. This means every tool box should have a set of hex wrenches. This t-handle set is ergonomic and allows for lots of strength when twisting off tough bolts. It even comes with an easy to reference display case. Another tool box essential! 10. Ratchet Wrench and Socket Settylertools.comThe ratchet is the backbone of any mechanic’s tool arsenal. You’ll find yourself reaching for your ratchet wrench and sockets more often than any other tool in the box. That’s why it’s so important to have a set on hand. This Craftsman set is the perfect starter kit, with both 3/8″ and 1/4″ drive sockets, a driver, a 1/4″ adapter and an organized case. Nobody doing auto repair and maintenance can get by without the ratchet. Give somebody the jump on their tool kit. News source: Auto Repair About
House Ready For Winter?
some maintenance efforts indoors. This month also provides an opportunity to see if your hard work during earlier months paid off — nothing tests waterproofing efforts like a hard November rain.Maintain large appliancesAs the holiday season begins, make sure your appliances are prepared for the demands you will place on them.Pull your refrigerator from the wall and clean the condenser coils in back with a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Also, vacuum dust from the front lower grille and clean the drip pan and the drain leading to it (if your unit has one).Clean the oven and stove drip pans on your electric range. Clean the surface burner on your gas stove to ensure proper flame level.De-stench your in-sink garbage disposal by packing it with ice cubes and 1/4 cup of baking soda; then turn it on. After the ice-grinding noise stops, pour a kettle full of boiling water into the sink.Check the dishwasher strainer and washer arm; clean if necessary.Clean and maintain closetsGo to your closets and perform these two simple tests: Can you see floor space, and can you easily close the door? If the answer to either one of these questions is no, clean your closet. Cramped closets can provide haven for pests, too-full racks can break free from walls, and sliding doors can be derailed by too much stuff. Add compartments and hanging racks at different levels to utilize more space.Maintain woodworkNovember is a good month to repair and reglue woodwork, since indoor air is at its driest. If you are regluing wobbly dining room chairs, clamp during drying by wrapping a rope tightly around the perimeter of the legs. Be sure to protect wood surfaces with cardboard before tightening rope. Try using toothpaste on white water stains on wood surfaces. Once the stain is removed, polish with furniture polish. Use paste wax and elbow grease to put a new sheen on wood furniture.Clear leaves from guttersCleaning gutters is a slimy job, but the task will protect your siding and basement from expensive water damage. Don long rubber gloves, grab a gallon bucket and scoop leaves into the bucket by hand. Trying to use a garden trowel or other device just makes the task more cumbersome and can damage gutters. Blast the scum from the bottom of the gutter with a hose equipped with a pressure nozzle. If it doesn’t drain well, feed your running hose up the pipe to knock loose the clog. Dump the contents of the bucket on your compost pile and pat yourself on the back for a dirty job well done.Speaking of leaves …Check some other places where accumulated leaves can be a problem. If leaves are piled in the valleys of your roof, they can retain water and initiate leaks. Walk your property with a shovel and clear drainage ditches and culverts of leaf buildup. Also, a moderate amount of leaves on a lawn can provide a natural mulch, but if large amounts are left to soak up winter rains, they will smother the grass beneath them. Have problem trees trimmedNow that you’ve cleaned your gutters, you know which trees are dumping leaves on your roof, shading it enough to encourage moss, and close enough to cause serious damage should they lose a branch in a storm. Trees are dormant this time of the year and can withstand extensive pruning. Decide which ones need cutting back and hire a professional to do the job. This is not a do-it-yourself task if the trees you are looking at are high enough to affect your roof. Trimming large trees is a dangerous job that should be left to an expert.Maintain moistureHeaters, especially forced air and wood stoves, can rob a home of humidity. A touch of moisture in the air makes heated air feel warmer, so you can keep the heat at a slightly lower temperature if your humidity is balanced. If your woodwork is cracking or your skin seems excessively dry, you need more moisture in your home. A furnace-mounted humidifier is likely the answer if your home has central forced-air heat and other measures don’t moisten things up. If you have a wood stove, put a teakettle (nonwhistling!) on it and add water regularly (check it daily to make sure the water hasn’t evaporated away). If you prefer not to go by feel, buy an inexpensive instrument called a hygrometer that measures humidity.Maintain pools down southFor most of the country, pools are out of sight and out of mind during November. But if you live in sunny southern climes, this month marks the beginning of the dry season and the time to begin any pool maintenance job that requires emptying the pool. If a pool is emptied when groundwater levels are high, it can “float” and damage itself. So if you’re fortunate enough to live in a place where you can actually enjoy your pool in December, consider having major maintenance like replastering done this time of year.Check your sump pumpSome unfinished basements in wet areas have sump pumps installed. These pumps switch on automatically when ground water levels rise, eliminating basement water before it becomes a problem. If you have one, make sure it is in good working order before the rainy season starts.Buy foam-cup covers for outdoor faucetsBe prepared to protect your spigots when the weather gets chilly and flirts with going below the freezing level. The foam cups are commonly sold at hardware stores and provide a cheap insurance policy that will help keep exposed pipes from freezing. News source: MSN