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Auto Repair: The Top Ten Mistakes Made by Your Mechanic
Number One: Not confirming the concern. Confirming a repair concern is a basic diagnostic principle frequently overlooked. To fix a problem, the first thing one must do is recognize it.
Number Two: Insufficient Road Testing. The importance of a thorough road test (even for an oil change) is well documented in automotive training manuals. Yet, many technicians consider driving the vehicle into the shop good enough.
Number Three: Misdiagnosing. For the above reasons and a multitude of others, your vehicle is misdiagnosed more often than not. Mechanics will spend hours chasing the wrong problem, wasting your time and money.
Number Four: Throwing parts at a problem. To compensate for lack of skills, mechanics often just throw parts at the problem in the hope of getting lucky. It’s common to hear mechanics say:
I replaced this, this, this, and that, and the problem’s still not fixed.
This goes right back to mistake number one: confirm the problem with diagnostics, then proceed.
Number Five: Not addressing primary concerns first. Technicians often spend an inordinate amount of time looking for easy sells that will fatten their paychecks. There’s nothing wrong with this provided there’s no charge for the inspection, it doesn’t conflict with your time, and the upsell suggestions are valid (they’re frequently not). However, this type of free inspection and the subsequent upselling too often overshadows the primary concern. So…what’s wrong with my car?
Number Six: Overconfidence. Too often unqualified technicians get in over their heads. Rather than defer to a more experienced technician or facility, they often keep going and do more harm. How’s it go…The road to hell is paved with good intentions?
Number Seven: Taking shortcuts. In the ongoing effort to beat the clock, technicians will create a host of problems: breaking parts, snapping bolts, short circuiting sensitive electronics. Refer to Auto Repair: How Can They Screw Up an Oil Change @ RepairTrust.com or EzineArticles.com for a great discussion.
Number Eight: Poor Repairs. Whether through incompetence or laziness, mechanics frequently don’t do repairs correctly. It’s often sloppy work. Forgotten bolts, parts not lined up correctly, or components not re-installed properly are common. It gets worse with computer repairs: incorrect software programming, coding, and resynchronization protocols are just a few.
Number Nine: Not confirming repairs. After a repair it’s important to re-check to ensure that the problem is indeed fixed. Too often parts are thrown in and the car is pulled out only to pull in another victim.
Number Ten: Making a mess. If the above nine mistakes weren’t bad enough, there are now greasy fingerprints on the hood and steering wheel, and two big greasy boot marks on the carpet.
What to Do When Your Car’s Check Engine Light is On
Everyone who has ever owned a car has experienced the confusion and even panic which can arrive when your check engine light suddenly comes on. A lot of us immediately think of pulling over and calling for a tow! This is usually not necessary, but what exactly should you do if it comes on?
Most of us simply keep driving for months after the check engine light goes on. A lot of us have heard that it can be something extremely minor (such as a loose gas cap) which can set it off, so we simply keep on driving.
However, a check engine light can also indicate a serious problem. There are many different reasons that it may come on; don’t panic. This light is part of your warning system – and it is just that, a warning that you may need to have something fixed, not that something has already failed.
Take Your Car to the Repair Shop
The best thing to do is to take your car in to have your mechanic assess why the warning light came on. The computer in your car has a component called the ECM (Electronic Control Module) which can assist in diagnosing some of these programs which can cause it to come on. The mechanic at your repair shop can get diagnostic information from the ECM to figure out what is going on with your car.
It really could be something as minor as a loose gas cap. However, it could also be on because your engine is misfiring, something which should be taken care of immediately. It could also be an indicator of overheating or low oil pressure.
The check engine light can also be telling you that some bulbs are malfunctioning – check the other lights on your dashboard to make sure that the bulbs are OK. If they are also lit, you’ve probably found the source of the problem (be sure to have these problems fixed right away).
Of course, you should always try tightening your gas cap. If this does not cause the light to reset, you should take your car in to be examined.
Read Your Owner’s Manual
When you first get a new car, always read the owner’s manual – there will be a section there about what it means if the check engine light comes on. This can narrow down the possibilities, so be sure to read this.
Regular maintenance is the way to prevent it from coming on in the first place. Follow the recommendations of the vehicle’s manufacturer when it comes to servicing your vehicle – an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure, after all.
Don’t Just Ignore It!
Keep in mind that this warning light can mean that there is a serious problem with your vehicle. Don’t ignore it – your computer tracks how long the light has been on and if it is a problem which is a warranty repair condition, you could be stuck with the bill for the repairs if you were negligent in maintaining your vehicle.
Always have your car checked if your check engine light comes on.
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Signs That Your Car Needs A Tune-Up
Hard Starting: This is the most common form of car trouble. It’s usually due to some unperformed maintenance. If the starter cranks the engine, the electrical system is probably okay. The culprit could be a starting sensor (on fuel injected models) or the choke mechanism (on engines with carburetors). Frequently, starting failure can be traced to an electronic component or a computer controlling the ignition system.
Knocking: The noise generally is heard when the engine is under load, such as when accelerating or climbing a hill. While it often may be caused by a thankful of interior gas, ignition knock frequently is a sign your engine needs attention. It also can be caused by a buildup of carbon inside the engine. Lake-model cars are equipped with a knock sensor which ‘hears’ the sound and makes corrective adjustments. But it cannot compensate for a severe malfunction, a condition that can affect engine performance and even damage the engine.
Stalling: This can be caused by incorrect speed adjustments, a malfunctioning sensor or switch, dirty fuel-system parts, worn spark plugs, or other engine deficiencies. Does it stall when hot? Cold? With air conditioning on? To make diagnosis easier, make note of when it happens and advise your technician.
Power Loss: How long since the fuel filter was changed? A dirty filter is a common cause of power loss. As noted under “poor gas mileage”, there can be many causes of this condition, most of which can be located with a diagnostic procedure.
Poor Gas Mileage: By keeping a regular check of gas mileage (miles driven divided by gallons used); you can tell if your engine is losing efficiency. Increased gas consumption may be accompanied by other symptoms listed in this section. Note that poor gas mileage also may be due to: under inflated tires, engine running too cold, transmission malfunction, dragging brakes, misaligned wheels.
Dieseling: This also is known as “after-run”. The engine keeps chugging and coughing for several seconds after the ignition is shut off. Causes can range from inferior gas to excessive idle speed. Carbon in the combustion chamber also may cause dieseling.
Exhaust Odor: The smell of rotten eggs comes from the catalytic converter, part of your car’s emissions-control system. The odor can be due to an engine problem or it can be a sign that your car’s catalytic converter is malfunctioning.
Rough Running: A malfunction in either the fuel or ignition system can cause an engine to run rough. It also can be due to an internal engine condition, such as a bad valve or piston. Does it occur when idling? When accelerating? At all speeds? Your best bet: have a qualified technician perform diagnostic and tune-up services as needed.