Auto Repair Information Blog

Online Auto Parts

What about the auto parts counter person. In a previous post I sent a little respect out to the auto repair mechanics of the world.

This led my friend to feel slighted, as his department was completely ignored during my previous post.

So in the interests of fair play this post is about the automotive part specialist.  A parts counter person can have several different duties  and is commonly called a materials person or specialist.

These dedicated people are found in nearly all car dealerships, as well as both retail and wholesale auto parts stores.

They sell auto parts directly to the customer and issue materials and supplies to car repair mechanics in both body shops and automobile service centers.

My friend, Jim M who is a parts counter person is friendly, professional, and very efficient when working with mechanics and customers.

About automotive part specialists

This career is an excellent alternative for those who know about cars but would rather not work Read the rest of this entry »

Lets just say you had to pick out a new subcompact car. I promise not to hold you to it. Just wondering if you were in the market, which one of these models would make you sign on the dotted line?

Please leave your selection and why you think its a winner in the comments area.  You can also say you would rather walk if you would never own one.

Why should you take the time to care about the small car market? With gas prices on the rise again, many people are jumping from their sport utility vehicles and into small subcompact cars.

As long as the gas price roller coaster rides keep happening, these car buyers will surrender their bigger vehicles for the compact cars. Until one day the tiny car will be in the majority of registered vehicles.

Is there an appeal to the small cars other than the gas savings? Absolutely! The cheap feel associated to subcompacts of decades ago is not the case today, as even today’s subcompacts are similar in size to the cars from that era.

What offerings are out there for subcompacts today? Keep reading to see the four main front runners in the subcompact scene, including the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris and last but not least the Nissan Versa.

09 Honda Fit

The Honda Fit becomes a favorite in the new subcompact car game with its 1.5 liter engine, great fuel economy and Honda reliability. It comes in two different styles.

The 2005-2008 Model which has a more boxy shape and the 2009+ Fit that is more curvy and cute.

The Honda Fit draws criticism good and bad, as with it’s styling you have more so a Love or Hate relationship. Interior wise is going to be more of a favorite for many.

Offering a magic seat and loads of space the interior does not have the stigma of cheap and small. As the styling suggests, it does have the Mini Minivan look, but for the price you are getting a great value. Read the rest of this entry »

The Audi Q7 is not only a great sports utility vehicle but has also turned into a fantastic platform for testing new automotive technology.

The Designers at Audi have been able to plug many already successful components from the A6 into this flexible SUV platform. A great Audi Q7 video has been added at the end of this short post for your viewing pleasure.

By iCar Automotive News

The Audi Q7 is giant. It is much wider, longer and even taller than the Volkswagen Tuareg. You will have to be careful with the large rear doors that need to be opened carefully in tight parking spots. The back of the Q7 is very elegant with flush-mounted tail lights and smooth European flowing body lines.

The Audi Q7, the company presented at the Shanghai Car Show has a different updated look. But not only the exterior has changed, technically the car has undergone some changes too.

The fuel consumption is reduced on all the models. The press release talks about the fact that the new Audi is also available with the cleanest diesel technology in the world, the TDI clean diesel.

What’s changed? The grille is the most significant one. The new models come with vertical bars with high chrome finish that gives the German Suv an extra luxury look. The bottom section may be painted in black or gray and the bumpers were changed. When the lights go on the street lights up in cool blue glow.

This is because the Audi Q7 is equipped with Xenon lighting. Also an optional adaptive system with Xenon lights is offered. This means the headlights rotate with the steering angle. All around, the new Audi is equipped with the latest LED lighting for an impressive image at night.

Extra Audi efficiency

All gasoline and diesel engines for the new Audi Q7 have direct fuel injection. Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes Diy auto mechanics will spend a lot of time looking for free auto repair information. I mean who doesn’t like free. But what if all that time spent brings poor quality information and poor results.

Personally I would rather spend a few bucks to receive the best possible information and know at least my time and effort was heading in the right direction. Let me give you a quick example of this scenario.

Free auto repair information forums

I use to go to the popular automotive forums and try to help people with their auto repair questions. I noticed a common trend about these free car forums. A lot of people dispensing advice may mean well, but in some cases, the advice was very poor and in some instances harmful to the vehicle.

It was also very hard for the Diy auto mechanic who posted the specific question to pick out a quality answer from the massive amount of responses. The problem with using this method is that the people responding to your car repair questions may not actually be knowledgeable about the subject at hand.

But what if you did not need outside help because you had Read the rest of this entry »

Two types of alternative fuel that I would like to discuss would be LPG or liquid petroleum gas. And also CNG compressed natural gas.

Back 10 or 20 years ago, these two types of fuels were at the leading edge of most alternative fuel programs and were considered to be the wave of the future.

I was so convinced of this that I studied and became certified in CNG powered vehicles. Although both of these fuels are extremely interesting they are still both fossil fuels. This would seem to be the main reason that interest has faded in both of these types of fuels.

First, we will discuss LPG or liquid petroleum gas. Fuel grade LP is almost pure propane with a small amount of butane, which is why many people simply refer to it as propane.

They call this LP because it is stored as a liquid in a pressurized bottle. The most common containers look just like the one that’s mounted to your propane barbecue grill.
You will also find many forklifts that still use this type of fuel. The LPG tanks that are mounted on the forklifts will look more like a beer keg.

Propane or liquid petroleum gas is perfect for a forklift that operates inside of a large warehouse.

These types of alternative fuel burn clean because the fuel is vaporized at atmospheric temperatures and pressures. This means that it emits less hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

These properties also allow for easy engine start up even in the coldest climates. This is probably why we will continue to see LPG powered forklifts operating in warehouses.

Even though LP gas is a good alternative to unleaded gasoline is still a fossil fuel. Therefore, you will probably not see the automotive industry develop this environmentally friendly fuel into a possible solution for the future.

More alternative fuel types

Compressed natural gas vehicles offer some advantages over their gasoline-powered counterparts. Read the rest of this entry »

Alternative fuels are discussed on several pages of this blog. I thought it was time to fire up a discussion about why alternative fuel is necessary and more information about some of the popular types.

A concern of fossil fuel inventories reaching record lows and increased emissions standards for automobiles has led to an explosion in alternative fuel research. There are many factors to be considered when determining a viable source of alternative fuel.

These will include engine emissions, cost, fuel availability, safety, engine life and being able to build an infrastructure to deliver this combustible fuel.

Alternative fueled vehicles

Many vehicles on the road are designed to use something other than gasoline as fuel. These are commonly referred to as dedicated vehicles or multiple fuel vehicles. Dedicated vehicles are those designed to use one particular type of alternative fuel such as diesel.

Multiple fuel vehicles are designed to use more than one fuel. Some of these bi fuel vehicles will have separate fuel tanks and can operate on one or the other.

Flexible fuel vehicles can operate solely on alcohol-based fuel, unleaded gasoline, or a mixture of the two. This property gives the driver flexibility and convenience when refueling the tank.

Types of alternative fuel

Diesel fuel vehicles are Read the rest of this entry »

Repair diagram

Thanks for the response about online auto repair manuals. I understand what you mean about All-Data and Mitchells in reference to their auto repair information quality. I had looked at the two, and tried the “demo” on All-Data which actually let me view (as you know) actual info like I would get in a subscription to a particular vehicle.

The one downside I [thought] was when I looked up DTC’s and test procedures for them it always referred to the Manufacturer or Dealer type scan tool. Even though it listed, in one place, a choice of tools (manufacturer/dealer, other, etc) to view this info for, it said that info was not available for any except the Manufacturer style [dedicated] diagnostic tool?

I got to this by clicking on the online auto repair manuals “Honda demo” since my daughter has a Honda (older than the demo, but I was looking to see what all it included). I then clicked on Powertrain Management and then Computers and Control Systems all these along the left column.

Then I clicked on Reading and Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes under “Testing and Inspection” in the right column. This brought me to a page which had links to With Manufacturers Scan Tool, With Generic Scan Tool, Without Scan Tool and “Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes”.

If I click on Using Generic Scan Tool, I get the page saying the Manufacturer doesn’t provide auto repair information for this. While it may be painfully obvious to most, I wasn’t sure the info would all work with a tool like the Actron CP9180 or the AutoXray AX6000 or such.

You raised another topic related to online auto repair manuals. You said Read the rest of this entry »

Auto repair manual questions and answers. These next couple of posts will address some frequently asked questions about why I recommend using online car repair manuals.

This next question is actually from a Diy car mechanic that would like to know what brand I recommend and why.

He also would like some information on auto scan tools. He asks what is a good choice for home car repairs. The actual conversation is posted below for you to review.

Auto repair manual questions

Question and Comment: I found your Great car site recently. I believe it was linked off somewhere else or found it off a search engine regarding OBD or auto repair information but can’t remember. I have read many of your pages and gave it a bookmark. You can be sure I will return to read the rest soon.

A car question for you; on one page you talk about and link to the Mitchell e Auto Repair online manuals, and on your Auto Repair Manuals page, you advocate All-Data repair diagrams website.

I have not used either one and my question is which do you like better from the aspect of a non professional but reasonably accomplished Diy car repair mechanic? I did auto mechanic work professionally till about 1981.

I then went to work for the Government in other non automotive specialty areas. I have not done major car repairs since, but have performed most of the minor repair work on my own vehicles when time permitted. I have not really kept up with the OBD II or electronic management systems which were just coming to fruition when I quit the automotive profession.

I am also interested in your take on OBD Scan tools which have the “enhanced code” capabilities Read the rest of this entry »