Will You Pass the Required Smog Test?

Posted on February 6, 2012 by admin

Receiving the registration renewal reminder in the mail is even less welcome when it says a smog test is required. It may be inconvenient, but does not have to be a worry if you have been religious about visiting your auto shop for routine maintenance services.

By faithfully observing a maintenance program for your vehicle, and if there are no warning lights on (Check Engine or Service Engine Soon), you should pass the smog test the first time. Warning lights result in an automatic failure without any further testing being done, so if those lights are on, please take your vehicle to a trusted auto repair shop that can correctly diagnose and fix the cause of the light being displayed. Neglecting vehicle maintenance and then failing the smog test, generally leads to higher repair costs being incurred in order to get the vehicle to pass the second test. Maintenance is always better than repairs!

Your registration renewal notice may direct you to a Test Only station. Test Only stations are what the name implies: no automotive repairs can be performed at one of these stations. If you are not directed to Test Only, you can bring your vehicle anywhere that is a registered test station. Bringing your vehicle to a Test Only station, whether directed there or not, can be a better choice. Test Only stations are usually more objective. They have no incentive for the vehicle to fail, since they are not allowed to perform repairs.

Donna McCord
Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
2037 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043
650-961-0302

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Does My New Car Have to Return to the Dealership for Routine Auto Maintenance?

Posted on November 21, 2011 by admin

We have talked to so many people lately that didn’t know they have a Dealership Alternative, we thought it would be worth reposting this information we shared last year:

You are NOT required to bring your new car back to the dealer for all maintenance and repairs in order to keep your manufacturer’s warranty valid. Many people have been told when they purchase their new vehicle that the warranty will be voided if they have maintenance or repairs performed by an independent shop, but this is not true!

It is actually prohibited by Federal Law for a new car dealer to either deny warranty service or even imply that warranty service will be voided if servicing or repairs are not performed at the dealership. The law is the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975, Title 15, Chapter 50, Section 2301-2312. Look it up for yourself! Look under “Tie-In Sales” Provisions. A Google Search on the Magnuson-Moss Act will also bring up many Web sites that explain this Federal Code in less “legal speak”; this is a good explanation: http://www.mema.org/Document-Vault/PDFs/MEMA-Comments-RE-FTC-Magnuson-MossActReview-Oct-24-2011-FINAL.pdf

Your own car manual even tells you that your vehicle’s maintenance may be performed by any automotive repair establishment or individual without invalidating the manufacturers’ warranty. Look under Vehicle Maintenance and Care, Maintenance Providers, Where to Go for Service and Replacement Parts, just to name a few areas in the manuals where you will find this confirmed.

For example: under Replacement Parts it says “Warranty coverage is not dependent upon the use of any particular brand of replacement parts.” Or, under Maintenance: “When maintenance and repairs are paid for by you, these services may be performed by you or by any automotive service provider you choose.”

Have you ever wondered how well a vehicle is being serviced at a facility whose primary purpose is to sell you a new car every 3 – 5 years? You may prefer a service provider that wants to develop a long-term relationship with you and help your vehicle stay healthy for 10 years or more.

The next time you are told that a new car has to be serviced at the dealer or the warranty will be void, mention the Magnuson-Moss Act (1975), and say “It just isn’t so!”

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Working in the Auto Repair Industry

Posted on November 7, 2011 by admin

So many people have asked me why I am working in the auto repair industry and what brought me here, so here is a part of my story!

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Maintain Your Vehicle; Save Money

Posted on October 16, 2011 by admin

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to keep up with your vehicle’s routine maintenance services! Watch my video below where I share my thoughts!

“>Auto Maintenance“>

Just as it is wise to take good care of our bodies, investing a little time to pay attention to the needs of our cars will result in our cars living a long life for multiple 100′s of thousands of miles. Just changing the oil, although that is critical!, is not enough. Especially with the latest technology being used in modern vehicles, it can be easy to forget regular check ups, so make sure that wherever you do take your car for service has a reminder program in place to help you remember. Your car may seem to be running just fine. But ignoring recommended services at the proper mileage intervals can result in expensive repairs you could have avoided. Of course, the chances for success are greater if a good car regimen begins when your car is new, but starting now is better than not starting at all!

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Guide to Buying a Used Car

Posted on September 26, 2011 by admin

If you have an older car that needs a lot of work to keep it running, you may be thinking about buying a new one. When that is not financially possible for you, a good alternative is to buy a newer, used vehicle. There is always a risk, however, that a used car may end up needing just as much work (or even more) than your current car. To reduce that risk, when you find a used car you want to buy, take it to a trusted repair shop and have it checked out. But before spending money on multiple vehicle inspections, you can do some inspecting on your own. Here are my recommendations:

1. It is usually better to buy a vehicle from a private party than from a car lot. Especially if the car is being sold by the original owner and they have records of the vehicle services that have been done. Vehicles that are sitting on used car lots generally were purchased at auction and will not have their service history with them.

2. Buying the vehicle from the owner also allows you to see/observe how that person may have taken care of the vehicle. For example, if the car is at a personal residence when you look at it, how is the upkeep there? Where is the residence? Near the beach? Possible hidden corrosion. In the hills? Possible extra wear and tear on the drive train and brakes.

3. Service paper work is valuable in order to determine that the important services were done at the right time intervals. This is the most reliable way to determine the likelihood of the vehicle lasting many more miles for the least amount of dollars. Poorly maintained cars cost more over their lifetime. Without the service history, you have no way of knowing, for example, when the oil was last changed.

4. You can inspect the exterior of the vehicle. If the tire tread is worn unevenly, this suggests possible suspension repairs will be needed. Look at the body from different angles in the sun and shade. If the shade of paint looks different on the fender versus the door, for example, it could indicate accident repair.

5. Look under the hood. In the engine compartment, a battery with corrosion, white or green on the terminals alerts you to the possibility that a new battery is needed.

6. Check the vehicle fluids – transmission, power steering, and brake system. Dark or black in color is not good. Engine coolant should not be rusty.

7. Finally, drive the vehicle both around town at slow speeds and on the freeway at higher speed. Any vibrations or noises could mean something is worn out. If you feel vibrations when applying the brakes, it means the brakes need attention.

If the vehicle passes your inspection, then it is a good candidate for a more thorough and complete inspection by a professional.

Donna McCord, Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
650-961-0302
www.deansautomotive.com
www.facebook.com/deansautomotive

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Tires On Cars Should Not Bounce!

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

A new customer recently called us whose friend had observed his vehicle’s tires bouncing “like basketballs” down the freeway! He wondered if this was dangerous.

Yes, this could very well become a dangerous situation. If your vehicle’s tires are not staying in constant contact with the road, control of the vehicle is seriously compromised.

What would cause something like this? Most likely, the bouncing tires indicate worn out or broken shock absorbers. Unfortunately, shock absorbers are one of the most overlooked wear items on vehicles, even though they are the next most important safety items after your brake system. The purpose for shock absorbers is not just to provide a more comfortable ride, but to serve to control the suspension movement so that you, the driver, have more control of your vehicle when braking or steering.

Here’s what can happen if your shock absorbers need to be replaced:

1. Body roll (side to side movement) which adversely impacts handling and control.
2. Loss of traction, which increases stopping distance and negatively affects control and acceleration.
3. Tire cupping/uneven tire wear, which shortens the life and performance of the tires and can cause road noise.
4. Nose dive when brakes are applied, increasing stopping distance, negatively affecting control and can result in premature front brake wear.
5. Bottoming out going over bumps, which negatively affects vehicle handling and control, resulting in premature wear of the suspension components.
6. Acceleration squat (the rear of the vehicle drops upon acceleration), which adversely affects traction, and vehicle handling and control.

In most cases, by the time a vehicle has 50 – 60,000 miles on it, the shocks (or shock absorbers/shock struts) have deteriorated to the point that new shocks will have a noticeable, positive effect on your vehicle’s ride and control.

This wear on your shocks happens so gradually that you may not notice until the shocks are so worn your vehicle is dangerous to drive. About 80% of vehicles in the wrecking yards still have their original shocks, and most were candidates for replacement at least once. If you experience/observe “vibrations” and “bouncing tires” with your vehicle, I encourage you to have your shocks inspected by a shop you trust as soon as possible.

Donna McCord
Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
650-961-0302
www.deansautomotive.com
www.facebook.com/deansautomotive

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New Car? Or Save Money & Keep the One You Have?

Posted on August 11, 2011 by admin

This was first posted a little over a year ago; I think it is worth reposting here to remind us all how to get the most from one of our biggest investments — our cars!

For many of us today, the economic climate is prohibitive to buying a new car. Keeping the car you have healthy, reliable, and fun to drive is not difficult. It just means spending a little time getting to know your car better and following a simple maintenance program. Continue reading →

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Air Conditioning in a Car: When It Doesn’t Blow Cold Enough

Posted on July 28, 2011 by admin

If someone’s air conditioner is not blowing cold enough, we are often asked if it’s because they are low on refrigerant, and will adding more refrigerant to the system solve the problem?  Our answers?

Not necessarily, and No! There are many reasons why your air conditioner may not be working correctly.

For one, temperature controls may not be functioning as they should, which has nothing to do with the system charge (refrigerant level).  If the system charge is low, there is most likely a leak somewhere in the system. This leak allows air and moisture to get into the system as well as loss of refrigerant. If the cause of the leak is not repaired and the air and moisture are not purged from the system, the refrigerant will mix with the moisture and create hydrochloric acid. This acid will deteriorate the components of the system from the inside out. Not good!

If your air conditioning system is not performing correctly, please have it examined by a professional with the correct equipment to both diagnose and repair the system defect. The most critical piece of equipment that is required is a refrigerant identifier. There are only two types of refrigerant that should be in an automobile’s A/C system (depending on the age of the vehicle):  R-12 (older vehicles) or R-134A. If anything else is put into the system, it is considered contaminated and must be removed from the system and handled as contaminated waste. As an example, if your system is using R-12 and another type of refrigerant is added, there is the potential for serious damage to your vehicle.

There is also equipment needed to check the operation of the A/C system that is dedicated to either R-12 or R-134A,  as well as equipment that checks for external leakage of the refrigerant and finds the source of the leak.

Be aware that many quick lubes and repair facilities may be putting the wrong refrigerant into automotive A/C systems because of a lack of knowledge, training, or correct equipment, so don’t hesitate to ask your shop if they are using the correct equipment before they work on your vehicle.

Do you know which A/C refrigerant is the correct one for your car?

 

Donna McCord

Owner, Dean’s Automotive, Inc.

650-961-0302

www.deansautomotive.com

www.facebook.com/deansautomotive

 

 

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Keep Your Air Conditioner (and Yourself) Healthy

Posted on June 20, 2011 by admin

Summer is finally making its appearance with longer and warmer days! Having an air conditioner in your car that is working the way it should suddenly becomes more important.  One of our customers recently came to us because when he turned on his air conditioner, instead of cool air he got warmer air plus a foul smell.

The culprit? His cabin air filter. Even though this filter is a common piece of equipment in today’s vehicles, it is often overlooked during a routine service.  It’s important to understand that failure to change this filter periodically will have adverse effects on the health and safety of the vehicle occupants, reduce the efficiency of the vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system, and even hasten the demise of certain vehicle parts.

This filter is located in the air intake for the passenger compartment and filters dust, pollen, dirt and other allergens from the incoming air. At the same time, it prevents leaves, bugs and corrosive debris from filtering into the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, which would affect performance. The buildup of leaves and debris is usually the cause of the foul smell you are experiencing.

There are different types of cabin filters to fit most vehicles. The standard filter traps most particles larger than 3 microns in size. A better filter is electro-statically charged so that it can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. The best of the cabin air filters contain activated charcoal, which helps remove odors, fumes and gases.

The easiest way to determine if a vehicle has a cabin air filter is to check the owner’s manual or ask a service technician.  These filters are usually located behind the glove box or under the hood near the base of the windshield, and are reasonably easy to change.

The result of not changing the filter is a gradual buildup of contaminants, which will prevent it from properly filtering the incoming air and result in foul smells, bacteria, and allergens entering the passenger compartment. Additionally, when less air is able to pass through a clogged filter, it negatively affects the performance of the air conditioning/heating system and makes the components work harder, leading to a shorter useful life.

Are you aware of the cabin air filter in your car? Do you know when it was last changed?

Donna McCord
Owner
Dean’s Automotive, Inc.
www.deansautomotive.com
www.facebook.com/deansautomotive

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“Cheap” Mobile Automotive Services: Be Careful

Posted on June 13, 2011 by admin

I recently learned from one of our customers that there are ads being run in some of the online classified sites for “cheap”, mobile brake services. Apparently these ads tout coming out to your home or place of business and doing the work for you there at a “discounted price” if you provide the parts.

This is one of those things that drives me crazy! Not only do these types of ads confuse the consumer, but if someone decides to respond, they are putting themselves in a position to be taken advantage of both cost-wise and safety-wise.

If you’re ever tempted to take advantage of such an offer, please first keep these points in mind:

1.      To meet the State of California’s requirements to run a legal auto repair business, the business must pay the California State Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) an annual fee. Most, if not all, the mobile auto repair advertisers on the Internet are operating illegally by not having paid that required fee.

2.      The Bureau of Auto Repair has recently run a sting in Sacramento to address this issue. They scheduled appointments with a number of online advertisers to come to someone’s home and perform brake repairs. They discovered that, in addition to not having paid the fees, a number of these people had active warrants for their arrest or in some cases did not possess legal drivers’ licenses!

Aside from the danger of possibly having someone with an outstanding warrant come to your home, having that same person work on the most important system in your car is probably not a good avenue to take for saving money.

Another point to remember is that when you buy your own auto parts, you may not be getting the correct part needed for your vehicle. Whether the part is right or wrong, once it’s installed, you will not be able to return it for a refund. Note that even repair shops ordering parts for multiple vehicles on a daily basis are frequently delivered the wrong parts, but they can recognize the error before installation takes place; these people who ask you to get your own parts most likely won’t know the difference.

Then, there is the issue of Warranty! How many of these online, illegal auto repair individuals do you believe would provide or, if they do, honor a warranty? Since they rarely provide a home location address for their businesses, if they do not respond to your phone calls, you have little recourse. If any of the parts you provided fail or do not work correctly, you will most likely not get any help with that…they did not provide the parts, so you’re responsible.

The best value for your dollar in auto repair is to take your car to a reputable auto service center with a long history of doing business and a long parts and labor warranty. The established repair shops desire to create long-term relationships with their customers based on trust and quality care, not on one-time, questionable cost savings.

Donna McCord, Owner

Dean’s Automotive, Inc.

650-961-0302

www.facebook.com/deansautomotive

www.deansautomotive.com

Twitter:  @donnamccord

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