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 on them. Much of the knowledge required to be a technician is also required for a parts specialist. However a counter person will require a few additional skills that a technician can survive without.

Most automotive parts people acquired the sales and customer service skills needed to be successful, primarily through on-the-job experience or training.

They may also gain the necessary technical knowledge on the job or through educational programs and practical experience.

Automotive parts personnel must be flexible

Depending on the store the common duties associated with the position may also include delivery of auto parts.

As well as purchasing a variety of supplies, stocking shelves and maintaining satisfactory inventory levels. They also have to adapt to servicing the needs of both old and newer car owners.

Paperwork responsibilities in the automotive parts department can also include preparing purchase orders, scheduling deliveries, assisting in the receipt and storage of materials and supplies, as well as maintaining a relationship with all vendors on the supply side.

An understanding of automotive terminology, as well as how these complicated high tech systems function is also a valuable skill for any good parts counter person.

Did I mention that car mechanics could be tough customers? Well we can and the parts people have to roll with it.

As far as my friend in the auto parts business goes everybody that has had the pleasure of being served by him appreciates his level of dedication.

And if there is one thing that stands out about Jimmy Mayhews more than anything else, is his ability to deliver the correct auto part the first time. This is why his customers turn into raving fans.

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.

2009 Hyundai Accent

Hyundai has created a much nicer looking subcompact with it’s redesign of the Accent. With the exterior having a more traditional round hat like styling, the Hyundai is a winner for most in the styling department.

The interior plays well, but is inferior to that of the Honda Fit. Those interested in the manual version of this car may find the gearbox slightly uncomfortable, but the automatic will likely be the preferred purchase here.

With deals starting at $10,000 for this car, you simply can not go wrong.

2009 Toyota Yaris

The sharpest of all four sub compact cars is the offering by Toyota. The Yaris is very curvy and a short length giving it that sharp style. The 09 sedan model is pictured on the left.

The Yaris holds its own in power within the category, and does catch the customers eye. The one drawback to this subcompact car is the center stack console.

With the yaris, your speedometer is dead center, like the mini cooper, instead of in front of you after your steering wheel.

This could be a deal breaker to some who are accustomed to the traditional location. The interior does have a slightly cheaper feel, but the price reflects this and overall is a great price for your dollar.

09 Nissan Versa

The last of the four main contenders in the subcompact race is the Nissan Versa. A car styled by its Renault roots, you have a heaver subcompact with more power offerings than the other two.

Of all the subcompacts, this car moves out the best with its 1.8 Liter engine. Although this does not help in the gas savings side of the equation.

Also the Versa’s styling is more European, and might lose out on some customers because of this.

The new subcompact car market is exploding right now. But these Popular brand names remain the most popular at the time of this writing.

People know and trust these specific manufactures with the task of making small cars. which one do you think is making the best all around vehicle?

You can find your way back to this blogs home page for more auto repair information. If you would like to see more posts about gas savings I have a few about alternative fuels.

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. The same goes for the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI clean diesel. The 3.0-liter V6 TDI has a De-NOx catalyst with Ad Blue injection. It’s Ad Blue additive ensures that nitrogen oxide is converted into harmless nitrogen and oxygen.

The exhaust system ensures that the Audi TDI meets the strictest emission standards in the world, which is expected in September 2014 takes effect. The Audi Q7 Clean diesel fuel allows an average of 8.9 l/100 km in fuel consumption.

The other engines available for the Audi Q7 are also more efficient. Mainly because of the recovery system that convert mechanical brake and roll energy into electrical energy and stored in the battery. This system provides a lower fuel consumption and therefore lower CO2 emissions (reduction up to 5 g / km).

The 3.0 TDI with 176 kW/240 hp is satisfied with 9.1 l/100 km. Audi Q7 4.2 TDI (250 kW/340 hp) rides on an average of 9.9 l/100 km (was 11.1 l/100 km). The Audi Q7 V 12 TDI (with a power of 368 kW/500 hp) consumes 11.3 l/100km.

The average consumption of the 3.6 FSI petrol version (206 kW/280 hp) is 12.1 l/100 km and the 4.2 FSI V8 is 12.7 l/100 km.

The standard of luxury and top comfort on this Audi. Through the six speed tipronic transmission you control the Quattro permanent four-wheel drive, you have got electronic air conditioning and a good hi end audio system. And if you are not yet fully satisfied, you can opt into a B & O sound system, complete with infotainment system for your navigation, telephone and music.

Audi Q7 4.2 TDI and 6.0 TDI has adaptive air suspension with three preset modes standard. Options like ceramic disc brakes, adaptive cruise control, Audi lane assist, the Audi parking system and comfort seats are made available.

The Q model has also provided a solid platform for Hybrid suv testing and development. One of the most environmentally friendly features of the Audi Q7 Hybrid is a set of solar panels embedded into its (Open Sky) sunroof.

The solar panels provide power for the electronic air conditioning system. This allows the sun’s energy to be converted into a very efficient interior cooling system. The car ac system on the Q7 hybrid has been switched over from hydraulic to electrical operation.

Audi Q7 video

This article and more like them you can find through MyArticleNetwork, and the best of it, it’s free.
Interested in classic bikes? Have a look at: Motor Klassiek

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 in front of you the best possible source of information about your vehicle. You can now have access to the same factory auto repair manual that your dealership level auto mechanic uses.

These online programs only supply free auto repair information in the demonstration area.  But if your vehicle is on the random demo your in luck. You can check out the All-Data Free Demo Here.

This web-based system allows for a constantly updated source of auto repair information. The automobile can be a complex and troublesome mechanical device. Certain vehicles may develop similar problems as the vehicle continues to get older. This is why the online car repair manual is far superior to even the best-printed materials.

Inherent problems come to the surface and are documented in technical service bulletins and posted by the factory. The only way to have access to this information is either through the dealership or a repair manual company that offers an updateable database. All-Data is not the only one.

But it is one that I can show you since they offer a demo. I made a video that walks you through a common car repair so you can see just how useful these auto repair manuals can be.

If you repair your own automobile, you can assure that only the work that is needed will be performed. You can also have the advantage of factory insider information in the form of technical service bulletins. Often these documents tell you exactly what is wrong with your car by symptom or complaint.

These Vehicle specific TSB’s can help you learn from the path traveled by many other professional mechanics before you. Addressing the exact same car problem you are having. The idea being that this information helps you work smarter and just might prevent you from replacing a car part that was not needed.

Even though your goal may be to find free auto repair information take a minute to think about the larger goal. Fixing your car right the first time, for less money with increased reliability might be a better value.

I have a lot to say on this car repair subject. See the other posts in this catogory by visiting the auto repair information section of this blog.

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. Even though CNG is a fossil fuel, it does cost less than regular unleaded fuel. It is also the cleanest alternative fossil fuel.

CNG generates up to 99% less carbon monoxide than gasoline. There is also almost no sulfur dioxide in the emissions as well as greatly reduced hydrocarbons.

CNG vehicles can be safer than most people realize. CNG is highly pressurized at about 3000 psi. But the fuel tanks used are designed to withstand severe crashes.

These CNG tanks are made of a composite material with plastic bladders, wrapped in fiber. They have done extensive testing exposing these tanks to burning and even direct gunfire.

These composite compressed natural gas tanks have passed tests that no sheet-metal gasoline tank would have passed.

Another advantage to CNG is that it generally reduces vehicle maintenance because it burns so much cleaner than liquid gasoline. Also note that natural gas is abundant and readily available in the United States.

Although the infrastructure could use updating to make the retrieval and processing of this gas more efficient.

Disadvantage of CNG

This type of alternative fuel also has a couple of disadvantages. The largest disadvantage of compressed natural gas in the present day is its limited distribution network.

Fuel facilities are needed in greater number than are currently in existence due to the relatively shorter range of CNG powered vehicles.

Also, the space taken up by the CNG fuel tank is considered a disadvantage to most vehicle manufacturers. These fuel tanks can also weigh more than a standard vehicle’s fuel tank.

Another disadvantage of CNG vehicles is the pressures that they run at. As I stated above, the fuel tank pressure is at around 3000 psi. This used to make fueling the tanks a very slow process, although these fueling systems have been recently updated to quicken the refueling of CNG powered vehicles.

So even though both of these types of alternative fuels offer many advantages to the automotive industry. The disadvantage that they are still fossil fuels seems to have killed the development of vehicles that are powered by them.

Leave your comments and opinions in the fields below. Also, let me know what you think the best type of alternative fuel of all time is.

Alternative fuels

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 gaining in popularity, slowly. The ability for the modern diesel engine to meet increasingly tough emissions standards has made this a more viable solution for car manufacturers.

Some of these most recent diesel powered cars are not only able to and meet emission standards. But receive 50 miles to the gallon or more in fuel economy without sacrificing power.

Being able to fuel these vehicles with biodiesel makes the subject even more interesting. Biodiesel fuels are derived from renewable biological sources for use in diesel engines.

Things such as animal fats, recycled restaurant grease, and vegetable oils derived from crops such as soybeans, corn and sunflowers are used in the production of these biodiesel fuels.

Biodiesel fuel can be used directly or be blended with standard diesel fuel. Another advantage of bio diesel is it’s a biodegradable alternative fuel that is non-toxic and free of sulfur. To use biodiesel no engine modifications are needed. And the emissions from the combustion are considerably lower compared to the standard diesel fuels.

Ethanol as an alternative fuel

Last year ethanol-based alcohol fuel was big in the news. Ethanol fuels are derived almost exclusively from corn, although Barley and wheat can also be used. The fuel is formed through fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted to simple sugars. Ethanol provides high quality, low cost octane fuel and is capable of reducing air pollution because it burns cleaner than unleaded gas.

Currently, ethanol is primarily used as an oxygen additive in gasoline, better known as winter blended fuels. Ethanol blended fuels account for approximately 20% of all automotive fuel sold in the United States.

Ethanol blended fuels are approved under the warranties of all major car manufacturers. Another advantage of an ethanol-blended fuel is that it keeps the fuel system clean because it does not leave varnish or gummy deposits like standard gasoline.

Being a type of alcohol, ethanol can absorb moisture in the fuel system and remove it during combustion very similar to a dry gas additive. If water contamination becomes too high it will separate out and fall too the bottom of the vehicle’s fuel tank where it can be removed.

The downside of using an ethanol blended fuel is a slight decrease in fuel economy. This will vary depending on the amount of ethanol blended into the fuel. But as a rule of thumb it is stated that an ethanol blended fuel will receive approximately 2% less fuel economy then straight up gasoline.

Alternative fuels discussion

In this blog post, we discussed two types of alternative fuels. We talked about biodiesel and ethanol blended fuels. My next blog post will address two more types of alternative fueling.

Leave your thoughts and comments about this post as well as ideas for the two types of alternative fuels to be discussed in the next blog post.

You can return to the homepage from this next link and see what else is covered on this auto repair information blog.

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 you think the Actron CP9180 will generally do the job most folks need for DIY auto repairs.

I had been looking at such tools as the Auto Xray AX7000 and Auto ingenuity laptop scanners for their ability to do “manufacturer specific” and “other than powertrain” code diagnostics. Are these not generally a good return on money (bang for the buck) for the DIY car repair guy? I really appreciate your time and thoughts.

By the way, I found that the demo on the Mitchell site, while it showed some good examples of graphics, [I found] less than useful to determine whether I liked the format of their site or not. Sorry if I am rambling I know you are not necessarily an advocate for one online auto repair manuals over the other, I just get off on rants.

Thanks again for the response
George

Online auto repair manuals

Hi George: You make good and true points about online service manuals. They are directly ported from the manufacturer. In extremely complicated diagnosis this can leave the diy auto repair guy out in the cold.

The results you experienced with the Honda vehicle could be different for subscriptions to other make vehicles. The information supplied to all-data depends on the ability of that manufacturer to co operate. And some company’s furnish more information then others.

But there is no better choice for auto repair information that I know of. In fact the online professional automobile manual is far seperior in the way it represents repair diagrams and troubleshooting tree charts. Take a look at this auto repair manuals video for a common repair to see what I mean.

I also find that in some cases I can put on my thinking cap and break out my multimeter to get past a step that they say requires a manufacturer scan tool. Or worst case scenario skip a step in the troubleshooting diagram and see where it leads me.

Diy auto repair scanners

As far as the Actron 9180 it is only about 140$ and does include a snap shot mode and an o2 sensor test. So I consider it a good value. But a laptop scanner has many advantages over it. The main one is the amount of data the laptop car scanner can display at one time.

I do not have a laptop but we do at work. We use the elm scan 5 blue tooth. It is very slick but also can get stuck on some manufacturer specific codes. I find these codes are rare and generic codes are much more common. But the auto repair world is like a box of chocolates ” you never know what your gonna get”

Yes I have told the mitchell people they need to get up to speed and offer a demo like all-data. The e-auto repair system is very similar to alldata it just harder to dig out the information your looking for. But is also ported from the car makers manuals.

Nice talking with you and good luck with your auto repairs.

Mark

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 and whether they are at all necessary or really useful for todays DIY enthusiast. Thanks for the site and in advance for your time in responding to my thoughts. Keep up the good work!

Auto repair answers

Hello George: Thanks for the auto repair questions. When it comes to Mitchells and All-data online manuals both programs are well done and I use both. A good analogy would be some people like Ford trucks and some people like Chevrolet trucks. Both are good vehicles and will carry plywood to a job site!

Currently I use the All-Data auto repair information program at work and the Mitchells Eautorepair for home use. I would give the edge to All-Data because their search function returns more accurate results. This means you can spend less time digging for information and more time fixing cars!

As far as OBD II scanners I am currently recommending the Actron cp9180. It is great for diy car repair and inexpensive as well. Of course it is not as powerful as lets say an OTC genesis but it also doesn’t cost $3,500.

The Actron 9180 gets me through most of my check engine light repairs at home for less than $140. It also reads enhanced diagnostic trouble codes and has a useful snap shot mode. To me this car scan tool is a good value. By the way online auto repair manuals and scan tools work well together to solve many car problems.

Electric hybrid vehicles

The big difference is, instead of a gas engine, this bus has a 5.9 L Cummings ISB common rail diesel engine. This diesel engine is coupled with a hi torque electric motor and power is blended to the wheels through an Alison CVT transmission.

The constant variable transmission is much like driving a snowmobile where you never feel the transmission up shift to the next gear. The transmission changes gear ratios on the fly to provide more speed at the optimum RPMs.

Electric hybrid diesels

Another thing that is different then on many hybrid vehicles is that the diesel engine never shuts off. In the best case scenario when the electric motor is driving the vehicle the diesel engine is still idling. The old transit buses received somewhere around eight to 10 miles per gallon.

The new hybrid electric transit vehicle will double the miles per gallon and should receive 16 to 20 miles per gallon. These specifications are for the ultimate of city driving. A transit bus is a stop and go vehicle and if it is lucky may reach 40 mph a few times during the day. Note that the batteries are on the roof of the electric hybrid vehicle and are recharged by engine braking.

Another interesting part about the diesel side of the vehicle is that this diesel engine manufactured by Cummings meets all of the latest alternative fuels emissions standards. You will not see belching black smoke from the fancy exhaust pipe shown in the picture below. The reason is that the 2009 standards include a particulate filter. This filter will pull most of the carbon from the exhaust being emitted from the tailpipe.

hybrid electric

These particulate filters are new to the market and do require service. I am scheduled for training on this alternative fuels hybrid electric vehicle. But I did poke around and see that the diesel engine and emissions system comes with a regeneration cycle to be performed by the mechanic. When you enter the regeneration cycle, you are basically cleaning the diesel particulate filter.

Hybrid electric maintenance

When I read the maintenance manual about this procedure, it stated that the exhaust gases during this regeneration cycle could reach 1000°F. They stress that you perform the regeneration cycle in a safe area because of this exhaust heat. After I go through some training classes about these electric hybrid vehicles I will add more details.

Another interesting feature to the alternative fuels bus, as you can see in the picture below is that the windshield is massive and in one piece. The front windshield has a slight domed shape that provides better aerodynamics than a standard flat windshield. Also the headlights are halogen high intensity but low power units.

electric vehicle image

This hybrid electric vehicle is packed with new technology including Multiplex systems throughout. This is were about ten different modules communicate with each other via cabling (soon to be fiber optics). Multiplex systems replace wiring harnesses and relays. This is said to have reduced the wieght of the transit bus by more then 200 pounds.

Bringing the total vehicle weight in at 29,000 pounds. This is very impressive for a bus that is 40 foot long and seats just under 50 people and 2 wheel chairs. Also this electric transit vehicle is pre-wired for cameras and traffic light changing satellite systems. Looking at the electronics is similar to looking at electrical systems on the space shuttle.

For more information about interesting vehicles that provide power from something other than straight up gasoline, Please visit my alternative fuels section.

Sometimes air conditioning auto repairs are not as complicated as they may first seem. Let me give you a quick example of what I’m talking about.

A customer recently visited me for a car air conditioning repair. He informed me that the air conditioning stopped working towards the end of the warm weather in 2008.

He thought for sure that this would be an expensive problem and decided to hold off on the diagnosis and repair of the air conditioning system until the warm weather returned. This is probably what most automobile owners would do in this situation.

Automotive air conditioning diagnosis

My first step in any auto repair troubleshooting is to perform a visual inspection. But I let myself down and did not perform this step. In my mind I thought that the Freon had leaked out, and that’s why the compressor was not coming on. This is the most common situation when it comes to automotive air conditioning not blowing cold air.

I connected my manifold Gauges to the air-conditioning system. I found that not only were the pressures the same on both sides as they should be with the compressor off, but the vehicle currently had a full charge of Freon. My customer was buzzing around me trying to figure out why I had a surprised look on my face.

I said to him, I have good news and bad news. The good news is your air-conditioning system is filled with Freon and ready to blow cold air. The bad news is the compressor is not coming on and it is apparently an electrical problem.

My customer said oh my god, not an electrical problem. I said calm down and let me start poking at it and see what I find. I checked the air-conditioning fuse and it was good. So I returned to my normal diagnostic procedure. I performed a visual inspection of the electrical wiring and connectors to the cars a/c system.

Air conditioning auto repairs

A/C Compressor

I had the key on engine off and decided to check for power at the A/C compressor. When I grabbed the electrical connector, which was a two wire simple power and ground connection, the compressor clicked on and engaged. So the problem turned out to be a poor connection to the air-conditioning compressor. No actual parts and a very small amount of labor repaired the A/C system.

But that is not the end of the story. The reason for the poor connection was that the connector was actually damaged. The plastic housing that holds the terminals had a crack in it and allowed the terminals to back out. I question my customer about how strange this was that there was damage to this connector.

My customer said, oh I forgot to tell you. Last year my belt broke and I had it replaced while I was out of town at a local gas station. So actually what happened was when the belt let loose it damaged the air-conditioning compressor electrical connector.

But yet another lesson to be learned about air-conditioning auto repairs. It is not always a good idea to put off diagnosing and repairing this system even if you will not be using it for months. My customer knew that his air was not working and suffered with his dark secret all winter long.

He actually told me that he was dreading that summer was approaching, because he knew the A/C repair would be necessary. So why spend five or six months worrying about something that may be repaired very easily. Also if the situation was different and there was a major A/C leak and the system was left empty for that long, further damage may have occurred and increased his auto repair costs.

This story is one reason that I decided to post a DIY auto air-conditioning repairs section to my new car repair website. You will find many pages that will not only explain the theory of operation, but also discusses common automotive air conditioning problems.

Chevrolet oil leaks are common, but not on my blazer with a trusted 4.3 Liter V-6 engine. I changed my oil this weekend, and to my surprise when I crawled under the engine was soaking wet. I thought to myself, this couldn’t be because my 2004 Chevrolet Blazer ZR2 only has 19,846 miles on her. I performed the oil change and dried up the area and then gave her short run.

Chevrolet Oil Leaks

When I crawled back under the oil pan was wet again. I was able to easily pinpoint the leak at the front timing cover. The 2004 4.3 L V-6 has a composite timing cover. This is one of the reasons that Chevrolet oil leaks are common. But I was very surprised with the extremely low miles on my blazer that even this weak area was leaking oil. But if you look at the picture above, you will see that this was no accident.

Why engines leak oil

Improper assembly at the plant caused this Chevrolet oil leak. You can clearly see that the industrial-strength RTV starts out with a nice thick bead and then it just completely disappears at the lower side of the timing cover. Me being a auto mechanic that worked at Chevrolet dealers for 20 years have seen this before.

What happened to me is that when they ran to bead of silicone the machine ran out of glue. And they assembled the engine anyway even though it was sure to leak oil. Unfortunately for me my base warranty of three years 36,000 miles was up two full years ago. This leaves me to solve the Chevrolet oil leaks on my own. And this is one ugly job.

How to fix Chevrolet oil leak

To solve the Blazer oil leaks, I will have to obviously remove the timing cover. To accomplish this, the engine accessory bracket must be removed from the engine. This means that the power steering pump, alternator and A/C compressor must also be removed. Oh and don’t forget that the water pump must also come off as well. Since the water pump is five years old, it would sure make sense to replace this at the same time as resealing the timing cover.

Also, I found that the power steering pump is leaking, power steering fluid from the front shaft seal. So it looks like I will have to replace the power steering pump as well. I bought this blazer, brand-new in 2004 and paid cash for it because I do not believe in car payments.

If I cannot afford it then I do not buy it is how I roll. But I also wanted to have a vehicle that I can drive in instead of work on. Since I fix cars all day 6 days a week I did not want to also have to work on my own vehicle.

Unfortunately for me, this did not work out. I really liked this truck until this past weekend. In fact, I put up a car domain page all about my blazer ZR2. You can visit that page (opens in a new window) to see additional pictures and my story of how and why I bought this Chevrolet truck.

But sometimes my bitterness subsides, and I look around at the skill level and dedication of my coworkers and I feel proud. This article is intended to shed some light on the professionalism of the average car mechanic. I will also show you some mind blowing advances on the cars of the near future, like intelligent cruise control.

Because electronics play an important part in the operation of all automotive systems, an understanding of electronics is a must for all auto repair mechanics. In fact a needed level of understanding comparable to that of a designer of these complex electrical systems is required. In many cases, a technician is faced with reverse engineering the circuit completely to discover its malfunction.

In addition to mastering the mechanical skills needed to remove, repair and replace faulty  components today’s auto repair mechanic also must be able to diagnose and service the most complicated electronic systems we have ever seen in the auto repair business.

Computers and electronic devices are used to control the engine and its support systems. Because of these complex controls today’s cars and trucks use less fuel, perform better, meet ever-increasing emissions standards and provide a level of safety also never experienced in the automotive industry.

What auto repair mechanics know

Some people just get in their car insert the key, turn and go. This is fine, and this is also why they paid a large amount of money for reliable transportation. I just wanted to identify a few things that happen in this turnkey operation.

Electronic controls are used to activate the shifting in the transmission, eliminate brake lockup in antilock braking systems or ABS. They also improve handling by controlling steering and suspension systems, and even provide a passenger with protection and comfort. The amount of electronics you’re auto repair mechanics are dealing with is increasing with each model year.

Car repair mechanic keeps learning

About 80% of all functions on a vehicle are controlled by electronics. ABS braking systems were once optional on some vehicles, but they are now standard equipment on most. There are automobiles that use 12 or more different computers to control different systems. Separate computers are used to control the engine, the transmission, security systems, instrumentation, climate control, the suspension system, and steering.

The vehicle diagnostic systems now anticipate breakdowns and contact emergency road service and guide technicians through the repair process. We saw the mandate of a third brake light in 1996. The next wave in this automotive technology will be a brake light that increases in brightness and size related to the pressure put on the brake pedal. This will enable following drivers to identify a panic stop situation.

Headlights now have movable reflectors that allow the lights to follow the twists and turns in the road ahead. Automobiles are now available with an infrared system that provides improved vision at night and in bad weather similar to avionic systems.

Auto repair business near future

Many automotive companies are now deploying vehicles with multiple video cameras to view the area all around the vehicle. This will eliminate blind spots and allow seeing below the rear bumper. So you don’t run over the neighbor’s kid when you’re backing out of the driveway.

Intelligent cruise control devices are one of my favorite developing automobile technologies. The vehicles brakes will be automatically applied to maintain a safe distance between the vehicles ahead of you. When the cruise control is engaged this distance will be monitored by a radar system. I’m sure you all share my excitement in this technology. Especially if you have been on a long trip and had to keep disengaging your cruise control in traffic.

Automotive technician of the future

Me, along with my friends in the automotive repair business are going to have to go to school to service these high-tech systems that are not only coming. But in some cases have already been deployed.

So even though I get mad at my boss for sending me on a road call on the Skyway Bridge in the middle of a 60 mile an hour wind and horizontal rain. I do not want to lose sight of the dedication of my car repairing coworkers.

Auto Mechanic

This was an auto repair information blog when I started it two years ago. Things stayed on topic, but changed a little when gas prices started to climb in early 2008. This is also when I purchased the water 4 gas systems and decided to share the details of my project with visitors. In today’s post I wanted to return to the original reason I started this blog. And that was to supply auto repair information for people that like to fix their own cars.

After fielding many questions over the last couple years on my car repair help page I have noticed one very common piece of advice that I continue to dispense. It also happens to be the first step in almost all of my automotive diagnosis procedures that I personally use. And this is the visual inspection. It is very common that I will uncover the cause of the car problem by simply performing a thorough visual inspection.

Auto repair visual inspections

I’m going to provide some examples of what to look for, and some of the most common things that I have found. It would seem that a visual inspection during these winter months are more important then in the summer. But regardless, I perform this procedure as a quick first step in automotive diagnosis no matter what the weather is like.

My first example actually happened yesterday and got me thinking about how I should share this with website visitors. I was working on a 2006 Chevrolet 3500 series van. The driver’s complaint was the check engine light was on.

I scanned the vehicle and found a map sensor code. The first thing I did was perform a visual inspection of the map sensor, the connector and its wiring harness. The first thing I noticed was little black chips of plastic that were laying on the intake manifold. These were obviously pieces from the conduit that protects the map sensor wiring harness.

I followed the harness back and found a spot where a rodent had chewed through not only the protective conduit, but also completely through the ground wire for the map sensor. There was no need for any scientific check engine light diagnosis because it turned out just to be a quick repair of a single wire.

Auto repair diagnosis

Another example of diy car repair diagnosis. My nephew called me from up north and said that he had an ABS light on. I live in Florida now, so I was not able to work on his vehicle. But I did notice in the news that they had recently gone through an ice and snowstorm. So I walked him through some simple steps to do a visual inspection on his own car.

I explained to him where the wheel speed sensors and wiring harnesses were located. When he poked his head around the wheel, he noticed a 15-pound ice burg was stuck and pulling on the wiring harness to his left front wheel speed sensor. Since my nephew is not very mechanically inclined, he was forced to take it in for repair.

But he was armed with the information to provide the service center that saved him Diagnostic time, and also the down time of his vehicle. The weight from the ice and snow that collected on the wiring harness broke the wires where they attach to the sensor head.

Auto repair safety

My nephew would have liked to continue to drive around with the ABS light on as opposed to spending the money on car repairs. In fact, I had to talk to his mother to force the repair to be completed. Antilock brake systems are a fantastic safety feature. During winter weather with ice and snow a properly operating ABS system may save your life or at least prevent damage to your vehicle or other drivers.

In closing I would recommend that when ever you have a warning light on your dash fix it. Either using do it yourself auto repair techniques or a car repair shop. And take a few minutes to perform a thorough visual inspection that is related to your problem. External damage by rodents and road debris can be highly visible and solve your car problems.

My water 4 gas comments section continues to grow. I have kept my promise and posted all comments both good and bad. Even the ones that are filled with hate and directly insult me and my belief in the hydrogen generating system. People get really emotional about this subject. You can review some recent comments down on the right side column. One of the most common statements I get is:  if this thing really worked how come General Motors is not using it. Well, I really don’t have an answer to that. I am just a car mechanic from Florida but I can tell you that I have belonged to the water for gas website and community for 13 months.

For me it has developed into an interesting little hobby. And this is one hobby that has had as many failures as successes. When I built my first hydrogen generator similar to the one pictured here. The first time I turned it on it melted. Needless to say the next generator I built used a glass jar instead of plastic. In my opinion my little test system yielded a few more miles per gallon, which spurred me on to continue my science project.

Water for gas convention

As luck would have it good old Ozzie Freedom, and his road show came to a town near me.

It was an open event that was a lot of fun. Me and my blazer, joined hundreds of other like minded people that built their own HHO generating systems. We shared stories about our trials and tribulations and laughed about our successes and failures. Thousands of believers and nonbelievers attended the HHO games in Manatee County Florida along with a few local government officials and some water4gas scam hungry reporters.

The highlight of the day was when I had a conversation with Mr. freedom. He has installed second-generation water 4 gas system, in his Volkswagen Jetta. This is a diesel powered 1.9 L turbo engine. Good old Ozzy stated that he received 70 miles per gallon on his trip from California to Florida. Keep in mind that a diesel powered Jetta already gets about 50 miles per gallon.

Water4gas improvements

The water 4 gas system installed on this vehicle has a few advances that make his results extremely believable to me. The biggest advancement in my opinion is the use of a pulse width modulated voltage signal to the hydrogen generator. This is the reason that my first test system melted. This pulse width modulated signal also solves the problem of the alternator full fielding and causing a fuel economy-draining load on the engine.

The second big advancement that you can see in the picture provided is that Ozzy’s fuel cell that generates the hydrogen is a large rectangular advanced unit. Another lesson that I learned from my test system is the larger the generator the more the output of hydrogen gas. As I went back to the water for gas website I immediately saw a new marketplace for members. This is an area where they sell ready to go water for gas kits including the pulse width modulated controller.

Now the question is for me do I belly up and pay for a system that has a better chance of yielding large results. Or do I continue down the road of my do-it-yourself science project.

I invite you to leave your comments right here so we can start a fresh discussion. Hate filled, good and bad will all be posted. And also take a minute to review the previous Water4gas posts and comments.

Save the Big Three

So this bridge loan should hold both failing American car manufacturers over until February 2009. This will also allow the new administration to analyze the situation before further actions are taken. But my two phase plan could solve the problem before the end of 2009 and no further Government action would be required. Please hear me out and leave your comments below!

The power of people

A missing piece of the puzzle that I do believe would be helpful is the appointment of a car Czar. I’m not looking for a government official with no automotive experience to take over this position. In fact, there is one candidate that is uniquely qualified for this position. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Lee Iaccoca. This temporary position would be perfect for this retired, but respected automotive executive. I am sure with the right monetary motivation He could be convinced to take the short-term position.

And yes, you could dream about a hybrid powered Kcar rolling out in the United States automotive market by early 2010. And for those younger car buyers, I’m sure we can get a Carroll Shelby Limited Edition turbo hybrid Kcar for them as well. Lee Iaccoca and Carroll Shelby have a long and successful history together. This reunion could jump start the American car economy all by itself. Never under estimate the power of people.

Celebrities for American cars

My second people powered idea for stopping the big three from requesting more money from taxpayers is to assure their success by exploding sales in 2009. I don’t know why this has been overlooked completely. It is the power of the people that will save the American economy and the automotive industry, along with it. If Jennifer Anniston drives a Chevrolet and tells you to get one as well, people will listen.

If Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt purchased a Chrysler minivan to haul their family around American citizens would follow suit. It is time for our celebrities to give back to the people that have given them everything. We worship our celebrities and model our lives after them, Even if it is at a subconscious level. If Brittany Spears sold all of her Mercedes-Benz cars and bought a Cadillac this would have a tremendous effect on the opinions of the car buying public.

I thank my blog reader for hanging in there for the last two posts. I feel much better now that I have expressed my opinion on this subject that is not only close to my heart but attached to my business as a professional auto mechanic working on American made cars and trucks. Please add your opinions below. Even if you disagree!

My next automotive news post

I have received a lot of e-mails asking me to get back on track with both my electric car conversion project as well as my water 4 gas experiment. In my part of the country gas prices are starting to head back up and so is my motivation for returning to both of these projects. Give this page a bookmark and come back after the holidays. I will have some major updates on my water 4 gas experiments. And you will learn why I think this subject about hydrogen on demand returns big in 2009.