Will Your Vehicle Pass the Unavoidable Smog Test?

August 29th, 2010

Most of us have received those registration renewal reminders in the mail that tell us we must prove our vehicle meets the smog requirements before we will receive our registration sticker. For those of you that have been religious about visiting your auto shop for maintenance services, there should be no worries. But if maintenance visits have been infrequent or just plain forgotten, passing that smog test may not be a given!

So, what can you do to improve the chances your vehicle will pass? The most important item is to make sure that your vehicle “check engine” or “service engine soon” warning lights are not on. If they are, your vehicle will automatically be failed, regardless of how well the engine is running. In that case, bring your vehicle to a trusted auto repair/service shop to take care of whatever is responsible for turning on the warning light(s) before making your smog check appointment.

There are many other reasons your vehicle may fail a smog test that may or may not cause the warning light to go on, such as secondary ignition parts, engine oil that is way overdue for changing, engine valves that are out of adjustment, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system problems, etc. Any of these can be avoided if you are keeping up with your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. If you are concerned it won’t pass, that tells me you may not have been on a regular maintenance program. In that case, I recommend that you make an appointment at a good repair facility for whatever service interval is needed plus a thorough, bumper-to-bumper inspection.

By faithfully observing a maintenance program for your vehicle, and if there are no warning lights on, you should pass the smog test the first time. 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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Your Battery Needs Attention, Too

August 1st, 2010

Your car is starting just fine and everything is working as it should, so why be concerned about your battery until it stops working for you?

Here is what you should know: batteries deteriorate over time from normal use, and the condition of a battery should be checked regularly as part of a complete automotive service. This is easily done by performing a load test on the battery using a special piece of equipment that is connected to the battery. This equipment applies an electrical load to the battery for 15 seconds at which time the voltage of the battery is measured. A healthy battery’s voltage needs to be at or above 9.7 volts. If the voltage measures below 9.7 volts, the battery is considered unreliable and may fail to start the vehicle at any time.

It is also important to know that a weak battery causes the vehicle charging system to work harder than designed and will result in the alternator failing sooner, which is a much more expensive repair than replacing the battery.

A competent repair/service facility performs the battery check for their customers and advises them to install a new battery before they become stranded somewhere. During the winter, for example, it is important to know that a healthy battery at 80 degrees outside temperature has only half of its output at 0 (zero) degrees, so it is important to check a battery before traveling in any cold climate.

As for the expense, batteries come in all shapes and sizes and quality levels. Generally, the lower the cost of the battery, the shorter the service life. It is important to purchase a battery that matches your vehicle’s manufacturer-recommended size and power. There is no “one size fits all”. What is inside the battery, called plates, dictates the quality; the size and number of plates in a battery determine how many amps it can deliver, as well as its service life, its warranty and its price.

Lastly, the battery needs to be installed correctly. The cables that connect the battery to the vehicle must be free of corrosion and connected properly. If the cables are connected to the battery in reverse order, the vehicle’s computers will be damaged.

So, yes, even if your vehicle still starts and runs, the battery could be on its last legs, and a good quality, long-lasting battery will cost more.

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The Dealership Alternative

July 26th, 2010

Did you know that 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! A complete version of the Magnuson Moss Act can be found at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm.
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”.

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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