Last week after work my wife and I were going to go out for a date night. (A very rare occurrence when you have two small children) My wife had swapped vehicles with her mother, who was babysitting our children. I hopped in the driver’s seat and did not go more than 10 feet before I realized that something in the steering of my mother in-law’s Lexus ES300 was drastically wrong, the steering wheel started shaking violently as the vehicle started to move forward.
My wife said she had not noticed anything wrong with the car. “What?!?” I exclaimed. The car was not safe to drive at anything over walking speed. Upon returning the car that night to my mother in-law, she too said she felt no problem.
An inspection revealed that the front tire was coming apart and could have led to a blow-out that might have caused a serious accident.
The next day, my father brought his Toyota Corolla in for front brakes. When driving the vehicle, Phil, the shop foreman noticed that the Air bag light was on, he asked my father how long the light had been on. “Oh a couple of months”.
Am I in the twilight zone? Two potentially serious car problems that could have caused serious harm or death were either not noticed or ignored.
This got me thinking about how safe are your vehicles?
Most automotive repair shops do not road test your car when you bring it in for an oil and filter change. Because of this the shop has no way of knowing of any drivability problems your vehicle might be having. It is best to let your mechanic know if you have any dash warning lights on or your vehicle is not riding the way it should so it can get a proper road test.
You and your family’s safety are extremely important to the staff at Ken’s Quality Auto Repair.
Don’t panic if you see any of my family members driving down the road. Their cars are safe and road worthy again!
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Indiana Jones and The Last Collectible:
Grab your hat and bull whip! Your going to need it!
The hinges creek as you pry open the garage door. Nobody has ventured into that dark pit known as your garage in a long time. You can barely make out the form under all the boxes and junk that is piled on it, hiding the object of your desire from 20 plus years ago. There, covered in all its cob web glory is your old car.
Before you can get close, you twist your ankle tripping over a booby-trap, in the form of your child’s bike, that was lying on the ground. You bang your knee on the bumper as you try to move junk off your buried treasury. A mouse scurries away but thankfully, no snakes! After what seems like hours of digging, the car is ready to be driven out of the garage.
What are you going to do with this antique?
The first step is to determine if your vehicle really is a collectible. Old muscle cars built before 1970 are definitely collectible. A Yugo or AMC Gremlin with a quarter of a million miles on it is not. If that first car of yours turns out not to be a valuable classic, you will have to do some digging to find out the value of it. Look at Kelly Blue Book, Auto Trader and the Recycler Online to get a general idea of the value of your vehicle. Once you determine a price, make sure that you are up for entering the treacherous waters of selling a used vehicle.
· Selling an old car can be a hassle. The seller (you) is responsible to get the vehicle smog certified.
· People will call at all hours telling you they cannot live without buying your old car and then they never show up or call after you have spent half the day waiting for them.
· Be careful about letting people test drive your vehicle. You are responsible if they crash it on the test drive! (I’ve had a couple of scary drivers take my car for a test run.)
· After negotiating a price for your prized Ford Pinto accept only cash or a certified bank check that you verify is good, never ever accept a personal check.
· Get a photocopy of their drivers license. If they do not have a license, do not sell the car to them! Even if you fill out a release of liability form and that person does not register the vehicle in their name, you will be sent the $300.00 ticket when they run a red light and a camera records it. (I learned this lesson the hard way!)
· Instead of selling it, maybe that not-quite-collectible car could make a good starter car for that child of yours that leaves there bike lying around unused. As long as they are not embarrassed to be seen in a vehicle that was considered old before they were born, hand over the keys. What is the worst thing Junior can do to the car?
· One last option is to donate the car to charity or worthy cause. They will usually come pick it up at your house, as long as you have the DMV title.
Congratulations!!! You have navigated your way through the hazardous maze of selling a used car and come out alive. You are a true adventurer.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
The hinges creek as you pry open the garage door. Nobody has ventured into that dark pit known as your garage in a long time. You can barely make out the form under all the boxes and junk that is piled on it, hiding the object of your desire from 20 plus years ago. There, covered in all its cob web glory is your old car.
Before you can get close, you twist your ankle tripping over a booby-trap, in the form of your child’s bike, that was lying on the ground. You bang your knee on the bumper as you try to move junk off your buried treasury. A mouse scurries away but thankfully, no snakes! After what seems like hours of digging, the car is ready to be driven out of the garage.
What are you going to do with this antique?
The first step is to determine if your vehicle really is a collectible. Old muscle cars built before 1970 are definitely collectible. A Yugo or AMC Gremlin with a quarter of a million miles on it is not. If that first car of yours turns out not to be a valuable classic, you will have to do some digging to find out the value of it. Look at Kelly Blue Book, Auto Trader and the Recycler Online to get a general idea of the value of your vehicle. Once you determine a price, make sure that you are up for entering the treacherous waters of selling a used vehicle.
· Selling an old car can be a hassle. The seller (you) is responsible to get the vehicle smog certified.
· People will call at all hours telling you they cannot live without buying your old car and then they never show up or call after you have spent half the day waiting for them.
· Be careful about letting people test drive your vehicle. You are responsible if they crash it on the test drive! (I’ve had a couple of scary drivers take my car for a test run.)
· After negotiating a price for your prized Ford Pinto accept only cash or a certified bank check that you verify is good, never ever accept a personal check.
· Get a photocopy of their drivers license. If they do not have a license, do not sell the car to them! Even if you fill out a release of liability form and that person does not register the vehicle in their name, you will be sent the $300.00 ticket when they run a red light and a camera records it. (I learned this lesson the hard way!)
· Instead of selling it, maybe that not-quite-collectible car could make a good starter car for that child of yours that leaves there bike lying around unused. As long as they are not embarrassed to be seen in a vehicle that was considered old before they were born, hand over the keys. What is the worst thing Junior can do to the car?
· One last option is to donate the car to charity or worthy cause. They will usually come pick it up at your house, as long as you have the DMV title.
Congratulations!!! You have navigated your way through the hazardous maze of selling a used car and come out alive. You are a true adventurer.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Thursday, March 13, 2008
When lightning met Sally
Sometimes when you catch sight of your true love it grips your heart like a good set of tires grips the road.
That’s how it was for Sally and Me. When I saw those sleek low profile black wall tires of hers, I knew she was the car for me! She, well, sorta, kinda, fell for me in that court room, as she was trying to get me incarcerated.
When I’m not racing in the Piston Cup series, my favorite thing is for Sally and I to go for a little race. I mean drive through the same tight windy roads where we fell in love with each other.
If you’re like me, falling in love can leave you a little weak in the side walls.
When that feeling comes over me I TURN to my friend Luigi who runs the world famous tire shop Casa Della Tire right here in Radiator Springs. Luigi is so passionate about tires and he knows exactly which tire is needed for any situation. Why, if it wasn’t for Luigi and his dependable tire buster Guido being in my pit crew I would not have, almost, won the Piston Cup.
Give us your SPIN on the matter Luigi; “Tires and brakes are the most important part of your car, from a safety stand point. Since Luigi only sells tires, that’s what I’ll be talking about. To get the most out of your tires the air pressure should be checked on a regular basis, Luigi likes to recommend checking it monthly. The correct air pressure recommendation appears in your owner’s manual, the sticker on the doorjamb or glove compartment door. Use an accurate gauge to check the tire pressure. If the valve stem has a little green cap, then that the tire is filled with nitrogen. If the air pressure is low you will need to go back to a tire store to have nitrogen added.
Nitrogen helps your tires last longer and may help your vehicle get better fuel mileage.
Your vehicle tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles. The rear tires are brought to the front and the front tires are crossed before they are installed on the rear of the vehicle.
Luigi says nothing shows your tires love like keeping them filled with air and rotated.
This next step is a little tricky. You are going to need to get on your hands and knees and look at the tread of the tire. What you are looking for is that the very inside of the tire tread matches the very outside of the tread if one side is worn down more than the other, that indicates that the vehicle is out of alignment and its wrecking your beautiful tires, which Luigi thinks is criminal.
Rub your hand across the tread, it should feel concave and smooth, if it has cupping in it, that indicates your shocks or struts are worn out or your tires are out of balance. At this point the tires might be wrecked. You better get to Luigi’s Casa Della Tires pronto.
If the tire tread feels feathered, that means the steering angle called toe is out of specifications, and the vehicle is out of alignment.
Any bubbles or tread separation is a very dangerous condition, call Mater to install your spare or tow you to a tire store."
Thanks for the information Luigi. I have to ROLL! I am so going to take my favorite Porsche out to dinner. Ka-chow!
Next week we are going to help you get a winning pit crew. It is also the last episode in our “Cars” trilogy.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit http://www.kensqualityauto.com/ or call 805-494-4344
That’s how it was for Sally and Me. When I saw those sleek low profile black wall tires of hers, I knew she was the car for me! She, well, sorta, kinda, fell for me in that court room, as she was trying to get me incarcerated.
When I’m not racing in the Piston Cup series, my favorite thing is for Sally and I to go for a little race. I mean drive through the same tight windy roads where we fell in love with each other.
If you’re like me, falling in love can leave you a little weak in the side walls.
When that feeling comes over me I TURN to my friend Luigi who runs the world famous tire shop Casa Della Tire right here in Radiator Springs. Luigi is so passionate about tires and he knows exactly which tire is needed for any situation. Why, if it wasn’t for Luigi and his dependable tire buster Guido being in my pit crew I would not have, almost, won the Piston Cup.
Give us your SPIN on the matter Luigi; “Tires and brakes are the most important part of your car, from a safety stand point. Since Luigi only sells tires, that’s what I’ll be talking about. To get the most out of your tires the air pressure should be checked on a regular basis, Luigi likes to recommend checking it monthly. The correct air pressure recommendation appears in your owner’s manual, the sticker on the doorjamb or glove compartment door. Use an accurate gauge to check the tire pressure. If the valve stem has a little green cap, then that the tire is filled with nitrogen. If the air pressure is low you will need to go back to a tire store to have nitrogen added.
Nitrogen helps your tires last longer and may help your vehicle get better fuel mileage.
Your vehicle tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles. The rear tires are brought to the front and the front tires are crossed before they are installed on the rear of the vehicle.
Luigi says nothing shows your tires love like keeping them filled with air and rotated.
This next step is a little tricky. You are going to need to get on your hands and knees and look at the tread of the tire. What you are looking for is that the very inside of the tire tread matches the very outside of the tread if one side is worn down more than the other, that indicates that the vehicle is out of alignment and its wrecking your beautiful tires, which Luigi thinks is criminal.
Rub your hand across the tread, it should feel concave and smooth, if it has cupping in it, that indicates your shocks or struts are worn out or your tires are out of balance. At this point the tires might be wrecked. You better get to Luigi’s Casa Della Tires pronto.
If the tire tread feels feathered, that means the steering angle called toe is out of specifications, and the vehicle is out of alignment.
Any bubbles or tread separation is a very dangerous condition, call Mater to install your spare or tow you to a tire store."
Thanks for the information Luigi. I have to ROLL! I am so going to take my favorite Porsche out to dinner. Ka-chow!
Next week we are going to help you get a winning pit crew. It is also the last episode in our “Cars” trilogy.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit http://www.kensqualityauto.com/ or call 805-494-4344
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Rev up your motor with Lightning McQueen
Do you ever feel like you are not firing on all cylinders? Well, between me and you, I have to admit that I occasionally have that problem. It’s embarrassing because “I’m a precision instrument of speed and aerodynamics. I Am A Very Famous Race Car.”
When that feeling comes over me, I turn to my new friends from Radiator Springs to help me get passed the low power blues and back in the race of my life.
My best buddy, Mater, is always there to lend a helping hand, but when I need maximum power, I have him go fetch Dr. Hudson, Doctor of internal combustion, who just happens to be a wizard at tweaking engines to produce the best fuel mileage and lots of horse power.
You don’t become a three time winner of the prestigious Piston Cup without having a couple of tricks up your fender. I am going to have Doc fill us in.
“I hate to admit it, but these new fangled vehicles are superior to us older (more mature) models. They can go 4 times longer between tune-ups and use fewer parts, thanks to the use of on-board computers that precisely control the electronic fuel injection system.
In my day you were lucky to get 15,000 miles on a set of plugs. Today’s vehicles use precious metal in their spark plugs, either iridium or platinum, and they can last up to 120,000 miles before they need to be replaced. These motors usually have individual ignition coils which produce very high electrical voltage, but they make it harder for the technicians to gain access to the spark plugs.
A lot of clean air is needed inside the engine to mix with the gasoline. This air /fuel mixture is then ignited by an electrical spark from the spark plug. It is the job of the air filter to remove any dirt or contaminants from the air. The air filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles, or sooner, if the vehicle is driven in a dusty environment, like Radiator Springs.
The fuel injectors are made to such tight tolerances that even a little speck of dirt could wreak havoc on an injector. That’s why it’s so important to replace the fuel filter between 90,000 and 100,000 miles.
The last part of the tune-up is to connect a diagnostic computer to the vehicle’s computer and run a series of tests to check that the sensors on the motor are within factory specifications, and reset the maintenance light. That’s the business end of a tune-up, but what does that mean to you drivers? How about restoring the chirp in your tires and lowering tail pipe emissions which will help you get through that dreaded smog test. Ya’ll will be floating like a Cadillac, stinging like a Beemer. Aw, Shucks, I almost forgot, it will give you improved gas mileage, which now a days is huge, considering when I was a young hot-rod, premium was 20 cents a gallon!
There you have it. Whether you’re the rookie of the year, Lightning McQueen, who’s trying to win the Piston Cup or you’re just racing to get to work on time, you need your vehicle to run like a highly tuned racing machine.
“Remember it’s not just a race, it’s the Piston Cup.”
Stay TUNED until next week when romance is in the air.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
When that feeling comes over me, I turn to my new friends from Radiator Springs to help me get passed the low power blues and back in the race of my life.
My best buddy, Mater, is always there to lend a helping hand, but when I need maximum power, I have him go fetch Dr. Hudson, Doctor of internal combustion, who just happens to be a wizard at tweaking engines to produce the best fuel mileage and lots of horse power.
You don’t become a three time winner of the prestigious Piston Cup without having a couple of tricks up your fender. I am going to have Doc fill us in.
“I hate to admit it, but these new fangled vehicles are superior to us older (more mature) models. They can go 4 times longer between tune-ups and use fewer parts, thanks to the use of on-board computers that precisely control the electronic fuel injection system.
In my day you were lucky to get 15,000 miles on a set of plugs. Today’s vehicles use precious metal in their spark plugs, either iridium or platinum, and they can last up to 120,000 miles before they need to be replaced. These motors usually have individual ignition coils which produce very high electrical voltage, but they make it harder for the technicians to gain access to the spark plugs.
A lot of clean air is needed inside the engine to mix with the gasoline. This air /fuel mixture is then ignited by an electrical spark from the spark plug. It is the job of the air filter to remove any dirt or contaminants from the air. The air filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles, or sooner, if the vehicle is driven in a dusty environment, like Radiator Springs.
The fuel injectors are made to such tight tolerances that even a little speck of dirt could wreak havoc on an injector. That’s why it’s so important to replace the fuel filter between 90,000 and 100,000 miles.
The last part of the tune-up is to connect a diagnostic computer to the vehicle’s computer and run a series of tests to check that the sensors on the motor are within factory specifications, and reset the maintenance light. That’s the business end of a tune-up, but what does that mean to you drivers? How about restoring the chirp in your tires and lowering tail pipe emissions which will help you get through that dreaded smog test. Ya’ll will be floating like a Cadillac, stinging like a Beemer. Aw, Shucks, I almost forgot, it will give you improved gas mileage, which now a days is huge, considering when I was a young hot-rod, premium was 20 cents a gallon!
There you have it. Whether you’re the rookie of the year, Lightning McQueen, who’s trying to win the Piston Cup or you’re just racing to get to work on time, you need your vehicle to run like a highly tuned racing machine.
“Remember it’s not just a race, it’s the Piston Cup.”
Stay TUNED until next week when romance is in the air.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Skidding into the Taillight Zone:
When you are in your car, do you hear noises that nobody else hears? If so, you might be stuck in an alternate automotive dimension, known as the Taillight Zone, where noises are not what they seem to be.
It’s been a long day at work. The only thing on your mind as you put your car keys in the ignition is getting home, eating dinner and relaxing. You turn the key, just like you have done hundreds of times in the past, yet today is different. A loud high pitched squealing sound jars you back to the reality of you and your vehicle sitting in the company parking lot. You immediately shut the motor off and look around hoping that horrid noise was coming from somebody else’s car. You gingerly turn the key and the motor literally starts screaming at you. You shut the car off and call for a tow truck. An hour goes by before the tow truck pulls into the parking lot and out hops a rather large man with the name ‘Bubba’ on his shirt. Your vehicle is hooked up to the tow truck and you two are off to the auto repair shop. You get to the auto shop just as the technician is about to leave for the evening. You tell him your story as Bubba unloads the car. The technician wanders over to the vehicle and turns the key. The motor starts right up without that horrid sound. What the heck is going on? After several tries the car is still starting up normally. The tow truck driver is looking at you as if you’re crazy, while you’re paying him. “Really, it was making a loud noise,” you exclaim. You decide to drive the car home. By the time you arrive home your dinner is cold and you are too up-tight to relax, so it’s off to bed.
It’s a beautiful day as you walk out to your car. The drama of last night has been all but forgotten as you turn the ignition key. Screeching comes from somewhere under the hood. The towing company is called again, and the car is headed back to the auto shop. You call your boss and explain why you’re going to be late to work. Upon arrival at the auto shop, last nights scene is re-played as the technician starts up the vehicle with no problems. Argh! Either your car is trying to push you over the edge, or you have entered that dreaded parallel universe, known as the Taillight Zone. Two days later, the auto repair shop calls you with the news that, after many tries, the technician was finally able to duplicate the noise. It turns out that the water pump bearings make a loud noise only on very cold start-ups, after the vehicle has not been used for over 8 hours. The technician replaces the water pump and the noise is gone.
Congratulations! You have successfully accelerated out of the Taillight Zone.
To be able to properly diagnose a noise from a vehicle, it is important to duplicate the exact conditions under which the noise occurs. If the noise is usually heard after the vehicle has been sitting all day or night, or when left outside in the cold, the same condition needs to be replicated by the technician. If perhaps it only happens when driving 65 mph on the freeway, the technician will have to take a test drive on the freeway to be able to duplicate the noise. Sometimes, there is more than one noise coming from a vehicle. To avoid having the technician spend a lot of time tracking down and repairing a different noise, it is best to either show the technician or take him for a test drive to make sure he hears the same noise you do.
Noises can be tricky to hear and isolate. Be prepared to leave you vehicle for a couple of days.
We have a special edition coming your way with Lightning McQueen and the whole gang from Radiator Springs.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions, please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
It’s been a long day at work. The only thing on your mind as you put your car keys in the ignition is getting home, eating dinner and relaxing. You turn the key, just like you have done hundreds of times in the past, yet today is different. A loud high pitched squealing sound jars you back to the reality of you and your vehicle sitting in the company parking lot. You immediately shut the motor off and look around hoping that horrid noise was coming from somebody else’s car. You gingerly turn the key and the motor literally starts screaming at you. You shut the car off and call for a tow truck. An hour goes by before the tow truck pulls into the parking lot and out hops a rather large man with the name ‘Bubba’ on his shirt. Your vehicle is hooked up to the tow truck and you two are off to the auto repair shop. You get to the auto shop just as the technician is about to leave for the evening. You tell him your story as Bubba unloads the car. The technician wanders over to the vehicle and turns the key. The motor starts right up without that horrid sound. What the heck is going on? After several tries the car is still starting up normally. The tow truck driver is looking at you as if you’re crazy, while you’re paying him. “Really, it was making a loud noise,” you exclaim. You decide to drive the car home. By the time you arrive home your dinner is cold and you are too up-tight to relax, so it’s off to bed.
It’s a beautiful day as you walk out to your car. The drama of last night has been all but forgotten as you turn the ignition key. Screeching comes from somewhere under the hood. The towing company is called again, and the car is headed back to the auto shop. You call your boss and explain why you’re going to be late to work. Upon arrival at the auto shop, last nights scene is re-played as the technician starts up the vehicle with no problems. Argh! Either your car is trying to push you over the edge, or you have entered that dreaded parallel universe, known as the Taillight Zone. Two days later, the auto repair shop calls you with the news that, after many tries, the technician was finally able to duplicate the noise. It turns out that the water pump bearings make a loud noise only on very cold start-ups, after the vehicle has not been used for over 8 hours. The technician replaces the water pump and the noise is gone.
Congratulations! You have successfully accelerated out of the Taillight Zone.
To be able to properly diagnose a noise from a vehicle, it is important to duplicate the exact conditions under which the noise occurs. If the noise is usually heard after the vehicle has been sitting all day or night, or when left outside in the cold, the same condition needs to be replicated by the technician. If perhaps it only happens when driving 65 mph on the freeway, the technician will have to take a test drive on the freeway to be able to duplicate the noise. Sometimes, there is more than one noise coming from a vehicle. To avoid having the technician spend a lot of time tracking down and repairing a different noise, it is best to either show the technician or take him for a test drive to make sure he hears the same noise you do.
Noises can be tricky to hear and isolate. Be prepared to leave you vehicle for a couple of days.
We have a special edition coming your way with Lightning McQueen and the whole gang from Radiator Springs.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions, please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Mr. T predicts pain…If you skip that oil change.
I pity the fool that does not maintain his or her vehicle. Not changing your oil and filter will beat up your car’s motor as quickly as I beat up that chump, Rocky Balboa, in our first fight.
I have learned a lot after being the boxing heavy weight champion of the world and my five tours of duty with the A-team. Heck, they even made toys in my image and a breakfast cereal.
So listen UP!! I am giving you sound advice when I tell you that a vehicle is nothing more than a mechanical object that will fall apart if simple maintenance guide lines are not followed.
The motor oil in your car is the life blood of the engine, just like our blood is to us. A thin film of oil keeps metal parts from rubbing together and getting damaged. Heck, if while driving your car, it ran out of oil or lost oil pressure, the motor would be severely damaged in just a few minutes.
The first thing you should do is plan what mileage and time intervals your vehicle’s oil and filter should be changed. Most people are not aware that the stop and start driving they do while sitting on that giant parking lot known as the 101 and 405 freeways, or the short distance driving to pick up and drop off the kids at school is considered severe duty driving by the vehicle manufacturer. This severe driving can cause the motor oil to break down, sludging the inside of the motor with black tarry goop. I personally have my vehicle’s oil and filter changed every 5,000 miles, or six months, whichever comes first.
The next step of the plan is to decide which type of oil and filter I want to use on my ride. The best oil filter is the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) but there are other high quality brands. Avoid the cheapy ones. They can internally come apart or leak. I also have my auto mechanic install a new gasket on the drain plug, so there will not be any of those pesky little oil drops that can mess up my driveway. I make sure that I only use the weight of oil (viscosity) that the motor was designed for. If the wrong weight oil is used it can cause poor fuel mileage or turn on the check-engine light. If I want to pamper my car, I’ll spring for the best oil, which is synthetic. It offers superior protection over conventional motor oil, but the intervals for changing it are the same.
The last part of the plan is to have a competent automotive shop do the oil change. They have vehicle hoists that lift your car up, so the mechanic can perform at least a 25 point inspection, where brakes and tires are inspected and vital fluids are checked and topped up if needed.
Even though I do not advise it, if you have a hankering to change your own oil and filter, make sure you take the old oil and filter to a collection center. It is hazardous waste and can damage our beautiful environment.
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
My mama taught me not to be a fool by neglecting to get my oil and filter changed. You can bet that when I pick my Mom up, my car will not be breaking down with her in it. “That’s treating her right.”
(Check out my song, “Treat your mother right” on You-Tube.)
If you hear noises that nobody else hears, you might be stuck in an alternate dimension known as the Taillight Zone. Next week we will help you escape the Zone.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions, please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit http://www.kensqualityauto.com/ or call 805-494-4344
I have learned a lot after being the boxing heavy weight champion of the world and my five tours of duty with the A-team. Heck, they even made toys in my image and a breakfast cereal.
So listen UP!! I am giving you sound advice when I tell you that a vehicle is nothing more than a mechanical object that will fall apart if simple maintenance guide lines are not followed.
The motor oil in your car is the life blood of the engine, just like our blood is to us. A thin film of oil keeps metal parts from rubbing together and getting damaged. Heck, if while driving your car, it ran out of oil or lost oil pressure, the motor would be severely damaged in just a few minutes.
The first thing you should do is plan what mileage and time intervals your vehicle’s oil and filter should be changed. Most people are not aware that the stop and start driving they do while sitting on that giant parking lot known as the 101 and 405 freeways, or the short distance driving to pick up and drop off the kids at school is considered severe duty driving by the vehicle manufacturer. This severe driving can cause the motor oil to break down, sludging the inside of the motor with black tarry goop. I personally have my vehicle’s oil and filter changed every 5,000 miles, or six months, whichever comes first.
The next step of the plan is to decide which type of oil and filter I want to use on my ride. The best oil filter is the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) but there are other high quality brands. Avoid the cheapy ones. They can internally come apart or leak. I also have my auto mechanic install a new gasket on the drain plug, so there will not be any of those pesky little oil drops that can mess up my driveway. I make sure that I only use the weight of oil (viscosity) that the motor was designed for. If the wrong weight oil is used it can cause poor fuel mileage or turn on the check-engine light. If I want to pamper my car, I’ll spring for the best oil, which is synthetic. It offers superior protection over conventional motor oil, but the intervals for changing it are the same.
The last part of the plan is to have a competent automotive shop do the oil change. They have vehicle hoists that lift your car up, so the mechanic can perform at least a 25 point inspection, where brakes and tires are inspected and vital fluids are checked and topped up if needed.
Even though I do not advise it, if you have a hankering to change your own oil and filter, make sure you take the old oil and filter to a collection center. It is hazardous waste and can damage our beautiful environment.
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
My mama taught me not to be a fool by neglecting to get my oil and filter changed. You can bet that when I pick my Mom up, my car will not be breaking down with her in it. “That’s treating her right.”
(Check out my song, “Treat your mother right” on You-Tube.)
If you hear noises that nobody else hears, you might be stuck in an alternate dimension known as the Taillight Zone. Next week we will help you escape the Zone.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Ken’s Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions, please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit http://www.kensqualityauto.com/ or call 805-494-4344
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Never Say, “Never Be Without Your Anti-Lock Brakes”:
Never Say, “Never Be Without Your Anti-Lock Brakes”:
You never know when a beautiful woman, in an evening gown, is going to be tied up in the middle of the road, forcing you to slam on your brakes.
It was a long night. I had been so busy gambling in the Casino
Royale, with an evil banker, fighting off two men armed with machetes, getting poisoned and going into cardiac arrest, to give much notice to the ABS light on the dash that was flashing at me as I chased down the abductors of my beautiful companion.
My name is Bond, James Bond. Also known as 007. Licensed to thrill! It’s almost an everyday occurrence for me to be involved in a high speed chase. But an odd thing happened this time when I slammed on my brakes. Instead of stopping, I skidded out of control. I missed hitting the woman but crashed and rolled over in my Aston Martin. This crash left me in a rather painful situation and in the hands of the evil banker.
Upon my recovery, I wanted to learn what caused the anti-lock brakes to fail and what could I do to prevent this happening in the future.
I turned to Q for insight into how anti-lock braking works on modern cars.
I am going to sit back and drink a martini. Shaken, not stirred, and let Q explain it to you.
“Well, for starters James, the agency is not happy with you totaling out a 300k Aston Martin DBR, but never-the-less, I will explain to you the workings of anti-lock brakes and why it is one of the best automotive gadgets that has been invented in a long time. You see James, each wheel has a sensor that is connected to a computer. When a wheel starts to lock up, in a fraction of a second, the computer will release the brake on that wheel until it stops locking up and then reapply the brake. This release-reapply of the brakes might happen 15 times per second. When the anti-lock brake warning light is on the system is not operational. You should have known, James, that without the anti-lock brakes working you would only have the conventional brakes. When you were racing down the highway and you slammed on your brakes to avoid running over your friend, who was lying prostrate in the middle of the highway, it caused the wheels to stop spinning and lock up. The tires skidded along the pavement, resulting in a loss of steering control and you wrecking the car. It could have resulted in serious injury or death. Now, if the anti-lock system had been working correctly when you slammed on the brakes, the car would not have locked up the wheels and you would have remained in control of the steering able to steer the car around the young lady.
Something to think about James, when making a high speed panic stop. The brake pedal and the vehicle may shake violently when the pedal is held down. DON’T PANIC! This is how the system is designed to work. There you have it James, the basics of anti-lock brakes.
Do you want to be able to stay calm and cool like our favorite agent when you have to panic stop?
Find an open deserted parking lot and slam on the brakes. Get a feel for how the anti-lock brakes feel in a panic stop, so you remain in control of your vehicle.
Next week Mr.T will tell us why changing the oil and filter is so important to the life of your car’s motor.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit http://www.kensqualityauto.com/ or call 805-494-4344
You never know when a beautiful woman, in an evening gown, is going to be tied up in the middle of the road, forcing you to slam on your brakes.
It was a long night. I had been so busy gambling in the Casino
Royale, with an evil banker, fighting off two men armed with machetes, getting poisoned and going into cardiac arrest, to give much notice to the ABS light on the dash that was flashing at me as I chased down the abductors of my beautiful companion.
My name is Bond, James Bond. Also known as 007. Licensed to thrill! It’s almost an everyday occurrence for me to be involved in a high speed chase. But an odd thing happened this time when I slammed on my brakes. Instead of stopping, I skidded out of control. I missed hitting the woman but crashed and rolled over in my Aston Martin. This crash left me in a rather painful situation and in the hands of the evil banker.
Upon my recovery, I wanted to learn what caused the anti-lock brakes to fail and what could I do to prevent this happening in the future.
I turned to Q for insight into how anti-lock braking works on modern cars.
I am going to sit back and drink a martini. Shaken, not stirred, and let Q explain it to you.
“Well, for starters James, the agency is not happy with you totaling out a 300k Aston Martin DBR, but never-the-less, I will explain to you the workings of anti-lock brakes and why it is one of the best automotive gadgets that has been invented in a long time. You see James, each wheel has a sensor that is connected to a computer. When a wheel starts to lock up, in a fraction of a second, the computer will release the brake on that wheel until it stops locking up and then reapply the brake. This release-reapply of the brakes might happen 15 times per second. When the anti-lock brake warning light is on the system is not operational. You should have known, James, that without the anti-lock brakes working you would only have the conventional brakes. When you were racing down the highway and you slammed on your brakes to avoid running over your friend, who was lying prostrate in the middle of the highway, it caused the wheels to stop spinning and lock up. The tires skidded along the pavement, resulting in a loss of steering control and you wrecking the car. It could have resulted in serious injury or death. Now, if the anti-lock system had been working correctly when you slammed on the brakes, the car would not have locked up the wheels and you would have remained in control of the steering able to steer the car around the young lady.
Something to think about James, when making a high speed panic stop. The brake pedal and the vehicle may shake violently when the pedal is held down. DON’T PANIC! This is how the system is designed to work. There you have it James, the basics of anti-lock brakes.
Do you want to be able to stay calm and cool like our favorite agent when you have to panic stop?
Find an open deserted parking lot and slam on the brakes. Get a feel for how the anti-lock brakes feel in a panic stop, so you remain in control of your vehicle.
Next week Mr.T will tell us why changing the oil and filter is so important to the life of your car’s motor.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit http://www.kensqualityauto.com/ or call 805-494-4344
Holy smokes, Batman!…The Batmobile’s check-engine light is flashing:
Holy smokes, Batman!…The Batmobile’s check-engine light is flashing:
It’s another night fighting crime in Gotham city. Commissioner Gordon had called you earlier on the Bat Phone, informing you that the Joker was robbing another bank.
The power of the Batmobile’s turbine pushes you and your crime fighting partner Robin back in your seats as you race out of the Bat Cave at high speed. As you pull up to Gotham’s First National Bank the Joker and his henchmen are making their escape in the Joker Mobile. The Batmobile starts to lose power and stumble as you try to catch the Joker. “Holy smokes Batman! The yellow check-engine light is on” yells Robin. It’s no use. You must abort the chase as the Batmobiles once powerful motor is barely running. Using your two-way walkie talkie from your utility belt you call your faithful butler, Alfred, to bring the limousine to tow you back to the Bat Cave.
You, Robin and Alfred must diagnose and repair the cause of the yellow check-engine light as soon as possible, before the Joker steals more of the citizens of Gotham’s money.
Alfred connects the Master Tech computer to the on-board diagnostic connector of the Batmobile to access the trouble codes that were logged into the Batmobile’s computer when the check engine light went on. The vehicle’s computer or ECM controls the operation of the engine and transmission. It takes information from various engine and transmission sensors and checks the data against parameters that are programmed from the factory. If a sensor reads outside of its parameter, the computer will cause the check engine light to go on, to warn the vehicle driver of a potential problem. When a check engine light is on the vehicle will automatically fail the California smog inspection.
The diagnostic trouble code stored in the Batmobile’s computer is a number P0-0300 which indicates cylinder number three and number five are misfiring.
You instruct Robin on the proper way of testing the ignition coils and spark plugs.
“Eureka, Batman! We have found the problem,” Robin enthusiastically announces. The ignition coil that makes the spark for cylinders three and five has stopped producing the high energy voltage required to ignite the air/fuel mixture in the cylinders.
With a “Bam” and a “Thud” the new coil is installed. The trouble codes are erased from the computer’s memory.
With the Batmobile’s turbine running smooth and the crime fighting Caped Crusader back in action, the evil element of Gotham City’s underworld will not be able to terrorize the innocent civilians.
Next week we will check in with Bond, James Bond and see what happens when the ABS light goes on in the Aston Martin.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions, please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
It’s another night fighting crime in Gotham city. Commissioner Gordon had called you earlier on the Bat Phone, informing you that the Joker was robbing another bank.
The power of the Batmobile’s turbine pushes you and your crime fighting partner Robin back in your seats as you race out of the Bat Cave at high speed. As you pull up to Gotham’s First National Bank the Joker and his henchmen are making their escape in the Joker Mobile. The Batmobile starts to lose power and stumble as you try to catch the Joker. “Holy smokes Batman! The yellow check-engine light is on” yells Robin. It’s no use. You must abort the chase as the Batmobiles once powerful motor is barely running. Using your two-way walkie talkie from your utility belt you call your faithful butler, Alfred, to bring the limousine to tow you back to the Bat Cave.
You, Robin and Alfred must diagnose and repair the cause of the yellow check-engine light as soon as possible, before the Joker steals more of the citizens of Gotham’s money.
Alfred connects the Master Tech computer to the on-board diagnostic connector of the Batmobile to access the trouble codes that were logged into the Batmobile’s computer when the check engine light went on. The vehicle’s computer or ECM controls the operation of the engine and transmission. It takes information from various engine and transmission sensors and checks the data against parameters that are programmed from the factory. If a sensor reads outside of its parameter, the computer will cause the check engine light to go on, to warn the vehicle driver of a potential problem. When a check engine light is on the vehicle will automatically fail the California smog inspection.
The diagnostic trouble code stored in the Batmobile’s computer is a number P0-0300 which indicates cylinder number three and number five are misfiring.
You instruct Robin on the proper way of testing the ignition coils and spark plugs.
“Eureka, Batman! We have found the problem,” Robin enthusiastically announces. The ignition coil that makes the spark for cylinders three and five has stopped producing the high energy voltage required to ignite the air/fuel mixture in the cylinders.
With a “Bam” and a “Thud” the new coil is installed. The trouble codes are erased from the computer’s memory.
With the Batmobile’s turbine running smooth and the crime fighting Caped Crusader back in action, the evil element of Gotham City’s underworld will not be able to terrorize the innocent civilians.
Next week we will check in with Bond, James Bond and see what happens when the ABS light goes on in the Aston Martin.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine, the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks, where we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions, please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Monday, February 11, 2008
Mission Repair:
“Good morning, Mr. Phelps,
You’re mission, should you decide to accept it, is to determine why the car’s temperature gauge is going into the red. You will have help from your team of automotive professionals. You will have thirty seconds, before the vehicle overheats and self destructs”.
Your Mission Repair Force is being sent on a covert mission to determine what is responsible for the sudden increase in vehicles overheating on the roadways.
The first step is to have a closer look at one of these overheating vehicles and interrogate the vehicle driver. A little sodium pentothal (truth serum) does the trick of getting the driver of the vehicle to confess to not having maintained the vehicle’s cooling system and waiting until the car started overheating before shutting off the motor. We can only hope that the motor did not sustain serious damage.
A bit of research by your team of secret agents reveals that an internal combustion engine produces a lot of heat. It is the cooling system’s job to dissipate that heat into the atmosphere, keeping the motor running cool and at the correct operating temperature.
You start with a careful inspection of the vehicles cooling system, which is performed only after making sure that the engine is cold before removing the radiator cap. (Scalding burns can occur if opening a radiator cap when the vehicle is hot and under pressure.) The vehicle’s coolant level is very low.
But where would the coolant sneak off to? A pressure test reveals the fluid holding ability of the radiator has been compromised. (In non-spy terms, it has a crack that’s leaking coolant.)
Most cars since the early 90’s have radiators that are made of plastic tanks and aluminum fins. They usually last between 10-12 years before the plastic tanks start cracking and leaking. Non-classified documents (owner’s manual) inform the driver of the vehicle that the coolant should be changed every two years and an inspection of the cooling system should be performed at the same time.
A new radiator and a set of radiator hoses are located. Your team informs you that there usually is no extra labor charge to replace the hoses at the same time as the radiator. Because the vehicle was overheated, it’s a good idea to replace the thermostat, since this regulates the flow of coolant to the radiator, maintaining a steady operating temperature. A thorough flush of the cooling system is done and the new radiator, hoses and thermostat are installed. Coolant typically comes full strength and must be diluted with water in a 50/50 mix. Mission Repair Force members are careful to clean up any spilled coolant since its toxic to humans and pets.
You start the vehicle and check the operation of the cooling fans. A Block- Check is done to make sure the cylinder head gaskets were not damaged when the vehicle overheated.
Your team has made the world a safer place for stranded motorists.
Next week we will check in with Batman and what he does when the check engine light goes on in the Batmobile.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
You’re mission, should you decide to accept it, is to determine why the car’s temperature gauge is going into the red. You will have help from your team of automotive professionals. You will have thirty seconds, before the vehicle overheats and self destructs”.
Your Mission Repair Force is being sent on a covert mission to determine what is responsible for the sudden increase in vehicles overheating on the roadways.
The first step is to have a closer look at one of these overheating vehicles and interrogate the vehicle driver. A little sodium pentothal (truth serum) does the trick of getting the driver of the vehicle to confess to not having maintained the vehicle’s cooling system and waiting until the car started overheating before shutting off the motor. We can only hope that the motor did not sustain serious damage.
A bit of research by your team of secret agents reveals that an internal combustion engine produces a lot of heat. It is the cooling system’s job to dissipate that heat into the atmosphere, keeping the motor running cool and at the correct operating temperature.
You start with a careful inspection of the vehicles cooling system, which is performed only after making sure that the engine is cold before removing the radiator cap. (Scalding burns can occur if opening a radiator cap when the vehicle is hot and under pressure.) The vehicle’s coolant level is very low.
But where would the coolant sneak off to? A pressure test reveals the fluid holding ability of the radiator has been compromised. (In non-spy terms, it has a crack that’s leaking coolant.)
Most cars since the early 90’s have radiators that are made of plastic tanks and aluminum fins. They usually last between 10-12 years before the plastic tanks start cracking and leaking. Non-classified documents (owner’s manual) inform the driver of the vehicle that the coolant should be changed every two years and an inspection of the cooling system should be performed at the same time.
A new radiator and a set of radiator hoses are located. Your team informs you that there usually is no extra labor charge to replace the hoses at the same time as the radiator. Because the vehicle was overheated, it’s a good idea to replace the thermostat, since this regulates the flow of coolant to the radiator, maintaining a steady operating temperature. A thorough flush of the cooling system is done and the new radiator, hoses and thermostat are installed. Coolant typically comes full strength and must be diluted with water in a 50/50 mix. Mission Repair Force members are careful to clean up any spilled coolant since its toxic to humans and pets.
You start the vehicle and check the operation of the cooling fans. A Block- Check is done to make sure the cylinder head gaskets were not damaged when the vehicle overheated.
Your team has made the world a safer place for stranded motorists.
Next week we will check in with Batman and what he does when the check engine light goes on in the Batmobile.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Magnum…what’s wrong with the Ferrari?
There’s nothing like racing around Hawaii in a bright red Ferrari chasing down bad guys and clues. That’s your exciting life as Hawaii’s top private investigator, until the brake warning light comes on and you have to explain to Higgins that you did not damage the Ferrari, or void its warranty.
During a stake-out, when tailing one of Hawaii’s notorious underworld figures, Two Ton Tony, the brake warning light on the dash went on. It doesn’t take a good detective to realize that driving with worn out or defective brakes can cause serious injury or death.
In a dire situation, needing the Ferrari repaired before bringing it back to the estate, short on money you bring it to your buddy T.C. Even though he is a helicopter pilot and not a certified Ferrari mechanic he jumps right into trying to figure out what went wrong.
T.C. first checks to make sure that in your haste to follow Two Ton Tony, that you did not leave the parking brake partially engaged. This will cause the light to go on and possibly burn up the rear brakes, if the vehicle is driven over a couple of miles.
T.C. then checks the brake fluid. Brake fluid level will go down as the brake pads wear. There is a sensor in the brake master cylinder that will turn the brake warning light on when the fluid level falls below minimum.
The parking brake was not on and the brake fluid was very low. Your buddy is stumped. It is time to call in favors and have Rick take the car to the auto repair shop that repairs all of the King Kamehameha country club’s fleet of limousines.
The auto repair shop immediately lifts the vehicle in the air and removes all four tires, which is the only way to properly inspect and determine why the brake fluid was low. A leak in the brake hydraulic system is very dangerous and would result in a spongy feeling brake pedal or no brake pedal at all.
The good news is that the inspection revealed that the brake hoses were in good condition no leakage from them, the brake master cylinder or brake calipers. The front brakes were worn down to 25% of friction material remaining.
A deal was struck and the front brakes were replaced. You would escape Higgins wrath this time. With the information from the stake out that you gave to Five-0, Two Ton Tony will be doing 10 to 20 years of hard time.
Next week we will show you it’s not an impossible mission to determine why your vehicle is overheating.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
During a stake-out, when tailing one of Hawaii’s notorious underworld figures, Two Ton Tony, the brake warning light on the dash went on. It doesn’t take a good detective to realize that driving with worn out or defective brakes can cause serious injury or death.
In a dire situation, needing the Ferrari repaired before bringing it back to the estate, short on money you bring it to your buddy T.C. Even though he is a helicopter pilot and not a certified Ferrari mechanic he jumps right into trying to figure out what went wrong.
T.C. first checks to make sure that in your haste to follow Two Ton Tony, that you did not leave the parking brake partially engaged. This will cause the light to go on and possibly burn up the rear brakes, if the vehicle is driven over a couple of miles.
T.C. then checks the brake fluid. Brake fluid level will go down as the brake pads wear. There is a sensor in the brake master cylinder that will turn the brake warning light on when the fluid level falls below minimum.
The parking brake was not on and the brake fluid was very low. Your buddy is stumped. It is time to call in favors and have Rick take the car to the auto repair shop that repairs all of the King Kamehameha country club’s fleet of limousines.
The auto repair shop immediately lifts the vehicle in the air and removes all four tires, which is the only way to properly inspect and determine why the brake fluid was low. A leak in the brake hydraulic system is very dangerous and would result in a spongy feeling brake pedal or no brake pedal at all.
The good news is that the inspection revealed that the brake hoses were in good condition no leakage from them, the brake master cylinder or brake calipers. The front brakes were worn down to 25% of friction material remaining.
A deal was struck and the front brakes were replaced. You would escape Higgins wrath this time. With the information from the stake out that you gave to Five-0, Two Ton Tony will be doing 10 to 20 years of hard time.
Next week we will show you it’s not an impossible mission to determine why your vehicle is overheating.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Back To The….Auto Shop
The terrorists pull up in a Volkswagen bus armed with a surface to surface missile. It is time to make a quick exit. A turn of your Deloreans ignition key results in a click, not the satisfying roar of a motor starting.
Sweat starts pouring as you frantically try to start the car. On the third try the motor barely cranks and starts, you throw the car into gear and in a flash you are gone.
What went wrong with the Delorean and why would it not start?
My technical expertise is a little rusty on flux capacitors and the 1.21 Jiga-watts that they require.
We better go back to the…. auto repair shop and figure it out to get you back home!
Unless you have an Old model T ford with a hand crank out front, all modern vehicles have a starting and charging system. We are going to look at the charging system.
Doc Brown will explain to us how to diagnose a charging system failure.
“Every vehicle owner will eventually not be able to start their vehicle because of a dead battery. Lights left on, listening to the radio with the vehicle off, a bad alternator or just an old battery can leave you stuck, hopeful not in a dangerous situation.
“When driving, if the charging light on the dash comes on that usually means that the alternator which produces electricity to run the vehicle and charge the battery has stopped producing the necessary voltage to keep charging the battery. Turn off the sound system, air conditioner and any electrical devices. Your vehicle is running off the battery. When the battery is drained the vehicle will stop. So, we want to conserve electricity to get the vehicle off the freeway and to a repair shop immediately.
“If you hop in your vehicle and nothing happens when you turn the key, turn on your headlights. If the lights do not come on or are very dim your battery does not have enough electricity in it and you will need to get a jump start. Unless you immediately find that a dome light was left on, take your vehicle to have the charging system tested to determine why the battery died.
“If your lights are bright and the car won’t start, you possibly have a bad starter”.
In a future article we will go over how to safely jump start your vehicle. As Dr Frankenstein said “We can bring it back to life”
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Sweat starts pouring as you frantically try to start the car. On the third try the motor barely cranks and starts, you throw the car into gear and in a flash you are gone.
What went wrong with the Delorean and why would it not start?
My technical expertise is a little rusty on flux capacitors and the 1.21 Jiga-watts that they require.
We better go back to the…. auto repair shop and figure it out to get you back home!
Unless you have an Old model T ford with a hand crank out front, all modern vehicles have a starting and charging system. We are going to look at the charging system.
Doc Brown will explain to us how to diagnose a charging system failure.
“Every vehicle owner will eventually not be able to start their vehicle because of a dead battery. Lights left on, listening to the radio with the vehicle off, a bad alternator or just an old battery can leave you stuck, hopeful not in a dangerous situation.
“When driving, if the charging light on the dash comes on that usually means that the alternator which produces electricity to run the vehicle and charge the battery has stopped producing the necessary voltage to keep charging the battery. Turn off the sound system, air conditioner and any electrical devices. Your vehicle is running off the battery. When the battery is drained the vehicle will stop. So, we want to conserve electricity to get the vehicle off the freeway and to a repair shop immediately.
“If you hop in your vehicle and nothing happens when you turn the key, turn on your headlights. If the lights do not come on or are very dim your battery does not have enough electricity in it and you will need to get a jump start. Unless you immediately find that a dome light was left on, take your vehicle to have the charging system tested to determine why the battery died.
“If your lights are bright and the car won’t start, you possibly have a bad starter”.
In a future article we will go over how to safely jump start your vehicle. As Dr Frankenstein said “We can bring it back to life”
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
Is my car going to blow up? That red light on the dash is flashing at me.
Does your typical day have you running to pick up your daughter from school, drop your son off at soccer practice and race home to make a meeting? Half way through your own version of NASCAR racing the red light on the dash starts flashing at you.
In the back of your mind you hear Scotty from Star Trek telling you “Captain, she’s about to blow! You have to shut her down! We’re losing power and we have lost our warp drive!
No-can-do Scotty. You need to make your meeting. So, you floor the gas pedal, as if the whole Klingon fleet was chasing you.
Why is that light flashing at you anyways? This is one of the most frequently asked questions at my auto repair shop.
The average late model car has more warning lights and buzzers than the 1967 version of the Enterprise.
Even Scotty, with all his genius, would have to update his diagnostic equipment and get additional technical training to work on these highly complex vehicles.
The most important light from a mechanical stand point is the oil pressure light. Heed Scotty’s warning. If this light goes on, you have about 15 seconds before you’re calling a tow truck, and then I am telling you that your car needs a new motor. Pull the car over immediately and SHUT IT OFF! (I have seen more then a couple of cars that needed new motors because the driver refused to pull it over on the freeway and tried to get to an exit). Check the oil level and add as necessary until the dipstick shows the proper level.
After the oil level is restored, start the vehicle and the light should go out within 10 seconds. At this point it is safe to drive. The vehicle should still be inspected by a repair shop to determine where the oil went. Did the oil leak out or has it not been serviced in a long…long time?
If the light is still on after adding oil, shut off the motor and have it towed to a repair shop to have diagnosed why your vehicle has no oil pressure.
Next week we will tell you what to do when your Flux Capacitor stops fluxing.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
In the back of your mind you hear Scotty from Star Trek telling you “Captain, she’s about to blow! You have to shut her down! We’re losing power and we have lost our warp drive!
No-can-do Scotty. You need to make your meeting. So, you floor the gas pedal, as if the whole Klingon fleet was chasing you.
Why is that light flashing at you anyways? This is one of the most frequently asked questions at my auto repair shop.
The average late model car has more warning lights and buzzers than the 1967 version of the Enterprise.
Even Scotty, with all his genius, would have to update his diagnostic equipment and get additional technical training to work on these highly complex vehicles.
The most important light from a mechanical stand point is the oil pressure light. Heed Scotty’s warning. If this light goes on, you have about 15 seconds before you’re calling a tow truck, and then I am telling you that your car needs a new motor. Pull the car over immediately and SHUT IT OFF! (I have seen more then a couple of cars that needed new motors because the driver refused to pull it over on the freeway and tried to get to an exit). Check the oil level and add as necessary until the dipstick shows the proper level.
After the oil level is restored, start the vehicle and the light should go out within 10 seconds. At this point it is safe to drive. The vehicle should still be inspected by a repair shop to determine where the oil went. Did the oil leak out or has it not been serviced in a long…long time?
If the light is still on after adding oil, shut off the motor and have it towed to a repair shop to have diagnosed why your vehicle has no oil pressure.
Next week we will tell you what to do when your Flux Capacitor stops fluxing.
I hope this article helps you. I am Ken Levine the owner of Kens Quality Auto Repair in Thousand Oaks were we specialize in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. If you have any car questions please e-mail me at kq@verizon.net, visit www.kensqualityauto.com or call 805-494-4344
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