Humble Mechanic – Page 35 – Humble Mechanic

Should You Stay or Should You Go, Is Waiting for a Car Repair the Best Choice

Is it better to wait with your car, or should you drop it off for repair?This is a really big point of contention in the shop. From the service advisors to the technicians, everyone has an opinion, and they are all right, just ask them. 😉

Like anything, there are pros and cons to each. From a mechanic’s point of view, dropping it off is best. It takes any time pressure off of us and lets us be thorough. It also keeps a service advisor from bothering a mechanic while they are trying to work. I will save my opinion for the end. 🙂

Let’s take a look at some pros and cons a customer might experience,

Pros to waiting at the dealer

You will generally get done faster if you are there waiting
Most dealer have free snacks
I can’t imagine a dealer not having WIFI, at least you can get work done
It is a great place to meet folks. I talked to a customer that met his girlfriend in our waiting room. How cool is that!
There will be no back and forth on the phone if the mechanic finds something wrong with your car.
If they do find something wrong with your can, you have an easy out if you DON’T want to fix your car. “Sorry I can’t wait that long”.
If something is wrong, you can see it yourself. Even if you don’t know what you are looking at, it will help to see something the problem, and prevent unneeded services
You can test drive the newest coolest cars
You have leverage to getting a better deal. Asking for a coupon or a loaner car so needed repairs can get completed. You won’t have that if you drop your car off.

Cons to waiting at the dealer

You are stuck waiting at the dealer.
It can get boring waiting, if the waiting room is lame
There is a chance that a salesman will try to sell you a new car~only a con if you don’t want a new car
You might get stuck longer if your car needs further repairs
Again, YOU ARE STUCK there.
You might have better things to do than wait
Mechanics might rush through the job

Like I said there are some good and some bad about waiting. What about your other choice, leaving your car? Pros and Cons~~~GO!

Pros to dropping your car off

You are not stuck at the dealer in a boring waiting room
This will give the mechanics more time to do their job as thorough as they can.
If the mechanic needs to contact a “help line” for assistance, they are free to do so.
You just might get a car wash(no promise)
If gives the mechanic a chance to earn the money you are paying. It keeps most of us from getting fussy.

Cons to dropping your car off

You have to make arrangements for a ride twice
You can rent a car, but that adds to the bill
There will be multiple phone calls, emails, texts no matter what
There will be even more phone calls if the mechanic finds something wrong
You have to get your car by the time they close, or “No Car For You”(are soup Nazi joke lame)
They might take their sweet time, and push your car until the end of the day.
You BETTER trust your mechanic, you can’t see a problem like you could if you were there.(If you have been following my advise, that is not an issue) 😉

When I wrote that out, I really did make a strong case for waiting on your car didn’t I. To me, it doesn’t really matter. Yep, I not mind either way. If you want to drop your car off awesome! If you want to come and hang out while I work on your car, that is cool too. I strive to do the same job either way.

Just remember, it is YOUR choice. If you wait, do not get mad when it takes a little longer then you thought. 🙂

What do you guys think? Do you prefer to wait for your car at the dealer? What is your main reason? How can dealers make the waiting room better? Hit me with what you got!

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March 27, 2012/54 Comments/by Charles

Humble Mechanic

Rapid Fire Q&A about Cars with Humble Mechanic

Happy Monday everyone! As you know, today is my first day back in action. I had a great few days off, but it feels nice to be working on cars again. Anyway, I was thinking of something a little different today. I am doing a “Rapid Fire” question and answer post. These are mostly questions that have come in from Humble Mechanic Facebook page.And GO~

James~ Why do some car models stay in production forever (911, Beetle, Accord) while others only last for a few years before a similar but slightly different one replaces it?

Good question. I think it largely depends on sales. If a model sells really well, there is no need to update right away. There cold also be an issue with manufacturing parts to keep up demand for another year. Also changes in D.O.T. regulations and auto industry standards can force a design change. The switch from OBD I to OBD II is the reason there was no Jeep Wrangler in 1996, and the 1997 was totally redesigned

Craig ~ When is that Audi r8 tdi coming?

Soon I hope. The more TDIs we have on the road, the more R&D will go in to improving the technology. That will drive prices down so normal folks like us can afford it.

Benjamin ~what does a Chevy volt run in the quarter? 😉

Probably pretty quick. Electric motors have high torque and it is available instantly. You just might not make it much further than 1/4 mile. Especially if you have the heat on. Right Nissan??

Glenn ~1. In today’s car world, what can the “average” person actually maintain on their car? Years ago I was able to do a lot , now I’m lost under the hood.
2. Who do you trust to maintain your car, OTHER then yourself ?

1)The “average” can do a lot, but chooses not to. I usually recommend everyone know how to,
Change a tire
Change their wiper blades
Check all the fluid in the car(if that is applicable)
Check tire pressure
Beyond that, knowing how to change engine air and pollen filter is really good. Also knowing how to replace all the bulbs in your car is an awesome skill.
2) I am not a fan of letting anyone else work on my car. It really stresses me out. If I had to, i would interview the mechanic working on my car.

Brandon~ i was just wondering what your thoughts are on the upcoming Jetta Hybrid

I think the technology is really cool. VW tested the design with the Hybrid Touareg. I am a little concerned with reliability, but that comes with any design change. The one good point, there are some die hard hybrid fans, so that might open up a new and different customer base for VW.

Jeff~ What is your honest opinion about 2012 VW Passat made in U.S. and do you think VW will be reliable as a Honda? Thanks 🙂

So far the Passat has been great. The majority of the technology in the Passat has been in other VWs for a few years. The only system that is really new is the Urea injection for the TDI. We will have to see how that performs long term. As far as compared to the Honda,time will tell. All German cars are DRIVERS cars, that usually comes with more maintenance, and more service, but we shale see.

Jeremy~I’ve heard all VW dealer shops do is check the computer (previous blog posts noted that it’s NOT just that) and determine whether or not THEY will install a NEW tranny or send you elsewhere for a rebuild or used or whatever… what’s your take on it?

I would love to say that every mechanic goes through all the steps every time, but that is just not true. Transmission, especially automatic, can be really tough. You basically break it down into 3 categories, Electric, hydraulic, and mechanical. From there, you just plug away until you get close to an answer.
The fact is, most techs just check faults, and replace the trans. We don’t do much rebuild at the dealer level, its just as much to rebuild as it is to replace.

Steven ~ Just got a flat on my new 2012 Touareg…is a new tire covered?

Odds are that tire would not be covered under VW warranty. VW does not warranty tires. Any warranty on a tire would come from the tire manufacturer, like Michelin. The only way a flat would be covered is if the rim or the valve stem had a manufacturer defect. They will not cover outside influence, or damage. I have seen very few tires/flats covered under warranty. I have seen the dealer pay for repairs for brand new cars, or for really great customers, but it doesn’t happen that often.

Well, that pretty much round out the questions that I have. What do you guys think of this format? Is this something you would like me to do again? Feel free to post in the comment section and tell me what you think. If you have a question you want me to answer, you can Contact Me, or email me at Charles (at) hollerhomestead.com

Also, you might have noticed that the header is different. Does it blend with the back round too much, or is it good? One last thing, I added an archive section on the right side of the page. You can go back and check out some of my earlier posts. Some are really bad, so its funny to read.

March 26, 2012/5 Comments/by Charles

Humble Mechanic

Recap of Vacation Week

Hey everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying a nice Saturday. It’s warm and raining here. As you know, I have been on vacation from work this past week. I just wanted to give you a little recap of my week off…In no particular order.

Interview
On Wednesday, I was featured on a really cool automation blog. Matt over at CashDollar.biz and I talk about car technology. We get a little more techie than I normally do here, but I think it turned out pretty great. Swing by and check it out.

Video
I hope everyone got to see yesterdays video post. It is just a quick video showing you How to check and replace a fuse. I did that video after a conversation with a customer, who had no idea how to replace a fuse. Remember, we all start somewhere.

Article Mention
An article I wrote a while back was mentioned on a preparedness site called Prepsted.com. Shawn wrote a really post about vehicle maintenance, and brief How-to on changing oil. Head over and check out Shawn’s site. He has TONS of great information on homesteading, and some around the house tips.

Around my house
Since our travel plans were cancelled, I used the time off to work around the house. My big accomplishment was getting a blueberry patch started and finished. I know its not cars stuff, but just something else I am into.

POST POST POST
I love the weeks where I can get 5 good posts done. I also had some time to work on another site. It is not fully up and running yet, but as soon as it is, I will let you guys know.

I will be back in the shop next week. I am looking forward to getting back to wrenching, but I have enjoyed the hell out of being off work. Not to mention the fact that I will be catching up for about 2 weeks. 😉

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Charles

March 24, 2012/5 Comments/by Charles

Humble Mechanic, Video

Checking and Replacing Fuses on Your Car VIDEO

Ok, to some of you this might be a really simple thing. Lets remember that at some point ALL of us had to learn this.

I shot this video after a conversation with a customer. Like I said in the video, a customer brought her car in because the 12v outlet was not working. This is actually something that happens a lot. I replaced the fuse and pulled the car around. I put a couple of extra fuses in her ashtray so that if this happened again, she could just replace it, and save a trip in to the dealer.

When I showed her the fuse that needed to be replaced, she looked at me like I was stupid(a look I know very well) 😉 Well I showed her exactly how to replace the fuse. It really hit me and made me fell like an ass. I mean, its just fuse right. Well, there was a time when I had no idea what that meant. So here is how you check a fuse with a test light. This is not the only way to check fuses, but it is one the of fastest, and I think, the easiest.

Oh, that is not the test light I use at work. I have that for use at the house.I also recommend keeping a few extra fuses in your car just in case.

Hey, if you have not checked out Pinterest, it is a pretty cool site. It has replaced my bookmarking on my computer. If you need an invite, let me know, I will hook it up! I hope you guys have an awesome weekend! I will be fighting my allergies all weekend!

March 23, 2012/5 Comments/by Charles

Humble Mechanic

A Vehicle’s Safety is More than Just Seatbelts

We have all seen the commercials on TV. They show those dummies smashing into the steering wheel, or going through the windshield. I don’t think that anyone can argue the fact the seat belts can save lives.

That however, is only one of many safety features on cars. We can break them down into 2 different categories, Active and Passive. An active safety system covers systems that are used to PREVENT you from getting into a crash. Passive safety systems are what we generally think of when we think vehicle safety, like seat belts.

Active Safety
This can be something as simple as a clean windshield, or as advanced as vehicle Electronic Stability Control. The one system in the group we do think about is our ABS Anit-lock Braking System. Unless you drive something like a Smart car, newer vehicles have some type of ABS. This system does exactly what it’s name says, it prevents the brakes from locking. This can help you control the vehicle better during a reduced traction stop. Other systems like traction control, are active safety systems. Some vehicles have even more, but those are the major players.

Passive Safety
I find it funny that Passive Safety is what I think of when I think of vehicle safety; 😉 This is the good stuff! We all know about seat belts, and airbags but there is so much more to it than just those. Did you know that the buttons on your radio are built with your safety in mind? Or that the dashboard is soft so if you bounce your face off of it, it won’t hurt so bad?

Safety is built into every aspect of your car.

The engine mounts are made to brake in a certain way, so the engine drops down instead
This is a close up of the safety stitching in a seat belt

of being pushed into the cabin of the car.
The fenders(all body panels really) have crumple zones, these zones are meant to control the rate the collapse, that will absorb much of the impact
Knobs and buttons are meant to break away, nothing worse than the radio button being jammed into your knee.
The angle of the head rest is made to prevent your head from snapping back
Not only are seat belts stitched in a way that allows them to stretch, but they also have an explosive charge to retract them. Heck seat belts are a post on their own.
If you drive a convertible, you have some type of roll over protection. Please do not roll over in your convertible.
Electrical cut off, all cars have a way to terminate the vehicles electrical connections. Otherwise the fuel pump can continue to run after a crash.

Pretty much everything about your car is designed to perform a specific way in the event of a crash. They are made to extend the time of a crash, usually measured in milliseconds.The longer a crash takes, the less impact is felt by occupants. Basically we want our car to absorb the impact not us.

Some manufacturers are much better at this design than others. Its not just because I work for VW, but I truly believe VWs are some of the safest cars on the road. There have been many times that if I was driving another car, I would have gotten in an accident. Thank goodness for the top quality brakes in my Passat.

I was also, unfortunately, able to experience a couple of safety features first hand a few years ago. My wife and I were in our 2000 Civic. To save the boring parts, I rear ended a Chevy Tahoe. Needless to say our Civic didn’t fair so well. Both airbags deployed. Due to Honda’s lack of being awesome, We got stuck in the car. The way that I hit the guy, the battery was smashed. The power locks did not work. It was dark, and the air in the car was full of airbag dust. I could not find the manual lock release. It felt like forever before we were able to get out of the car.

I had not realized how important some simple safety features would be. See in a Volkswagen, when you pull the inner door handle twice, the door will open, not on a Honda. When you get in a crash in a VW, the doors automatically unlock, and the hazard lights come on, not on a Honda. Its the little things right!

When you get in your car today, look around at some of the things in your car. Now picture that they have your safety in mind. Unless you drive a Honda 😉 I am totally kidding about the Honda. I am thankful that we were able to walk away from a totaled vehicle. Oh, and the Tahoe, had about $900 damage. The estimate for our Civic was about $11,000.

Here is a picture of the front of our Civic.

March 21, 2012/10 Comments/by Charles

Humble Mechanic

Simple and Cheap First Aid Kit for Your Car

Hey guys, I wanted to give you a slightly different perspective today. My good friend Kristin is medical professional. I was able to sweet talk her into writing a post for us. We get to hear from her about building a small med kit for your car. PLEASE post any questions you have for Kristin in the comments below. AND thank her for the great information that she has given us!

Hello, my name is Kristin. Charles asked if I would write a blog post for him about a simple first aid kit to put in your car in case you come across an emergency and want to help out before the EMT’s get there. I have been a CMA, Certified Medical Assistant, for the past six years and I have always carried a first aid kit in my vehicle and unfortunately I have had to use it on several occasions. I will include pictures of my kit so you can see how easy and simple it can be to put together.

First and foremost you should take a first aid and CPR class through a local organization like the Red Cross, they are cheap and could save someone’s life and if you are going to help in an emergency it is good to know what to do. A charged cell phone is also a vital item to have so that you can call for help and get the professionals to the scene.

The kit does not have to be anything fancy or expensive the professionals will have all the good equipment to help the person, you are just trying to keep them stable until someone can arrive. I have my kit in a small tool box that I purchased on sale for about ten dollars, there are also a few larger items that won’t fit in the box but are easily stored in your trunk.

Gloves are very important and should be worn at all times when touching someone else especially if they are bleeding.
Alcohol pads, preferably individually wrapped ones, are good to have to clean up any blood or to get debris out of wounds.
A bottle of aspirin is a cheap thing that could literally save someone’s life; again a first aid course so you know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack is helpful.
I keep some Band-Aids in my kit just for small cuts, the ones I have are latex free but I don’t know if this is really necessary, I just don’t want to do more harm to someone if they have an allergy.
I also keep some cheap dollar store feminine pads in my kit, this may seem strange but they are good for wrapping larger wounds and are absorbent and cheaper than getting a bunch of large gauze.
I have some tape, wrap and some old t-shirts in my kit to use for wrapping splints or to attach the absorbent material to the person.
A flashlight can be an important part of the kit if you are stopping at night or need to check someone’s eyes. You should already have a flashlight in your kit that the Humble Mechanic showed you in the post “Building an Affordable Tool Kit for Your Car”.
The parts of the kit that will probably not fit in your kit are a couple of towels or blankets and some large wooden sticks that they use to stir five gallon paint buckets with at Lowes or Home Depot.

You may have some of these items already and most of these items can be bought at a Dollar Store for very cheap or obtained for free. The most expensive part of my kit is a CPR mask, this is not necessary really unless you are planning to do mouth to mouth , I have never had to do mouth to mouth on anyone and they now have a hands only version of CPR that would work well until an ambulance can arrive.

I hope this is has been helpful so you can put together a cheap kit that could make you feel more comfortable stopping at a scene and helping. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section and I will try and answer them. ~Kristin Donadeo, CMA

Thanks Kristin~ This is not the last you guys will hear about this topic. 😉 I will be building 2(one for each car) and show you guys how easy and affordable this car be!

Here is the complete kit!

March 20, 2012/15 Comments/by Charles