Great Car Story: Rachel and her 1964 Mercury Comet

No need to say anymore, just Watch!

Fuel Line hose clamps

Did you know that fuel injection hose clamps are designed differently then regular worm type hose clamps? That worm type clamps as shown in the picture towards the right should not be used on fuel line hoses, and the clamp on the left is the proper one to use on a fuel line?


Listen to the clip of Pat Goss talking about why you can't use a regular worm clamp on a fuel line, as he explains this to caller on his weekly radio show.

Very useful information on small engine repair!

Here is another repair series with Dave Rock talking and showing us about some useful tips on small engine repair. Learn and enjoy!

Consumers reports on auto repair

This week we have Pat Goss again talking about a recent issue in Consumers Reports Magazine on auto repair. Listen as he describes and explains why this report was just not right and unjustified and they need to do a bit more research to get the facts correct!

Click on image below then open to listen.

Air bags, not to be taken lightly!

Here again we have Dave Rock of Davidsfarm, demonstrating just what might happen if an airbag goes off. The first part is not too impressive, but watch what happens on a larger one from a bigger car. Respect air bags!

The reason I posted this one was not so much for fun , but to let everyone know just how powerful those air bags are, please be careful if you choose to work on a car that has one.

Can A bad fuel filter cause an illuminated check engine light?

Here is another clip of Pat Goss talking about what you should do if your read the codes from your computer on your vehicle and the code was a lean fuel mixture code, which referred to an oxygen sensor ?

Also, What happens if a fuel filter gets clogged? Symptoms?

What is a Curbstoner?

Do you know what a Curbstoner is? If you plan on buying a used car you should! Pat Goss answers this one this week in the audio clip below.

Repair costs- What is grid pricing?

If you take your car in for repair you might want to know about a term called Grid pricing. Pat Goss answers this question this week in the following audio clip below.

Neat set of ramps!

What would it be like if you had a great set of secure ramps that also worked as your tailgate so you would never be without your ramps? Check out http://www.handigateramps.com/
Best set of ramps I have seen. Little pricey but worth it! Check out the video, below.

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS)

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) wants to have a dramatic impact on our countries transportation challenges and opportunities. ITS cars will be equipped with advanced sensors, computer processors, onboard displays and communications systems. Cars of the future will become part of an integrated network of connected vehicles and roadways and will warn drivers about unsafe conditions, imminent collisions and excessive curve speeds. This technology is being developed and tested across the country, in places like California, Florida, New York, Michigan, and a number of other states. Some advanced I TS applications, such as navigation systems. Lane departure warnings and backup cameras, are already deployed on higher and automobiles. Within the next decade, some of the technologies listed below will be installed in most vehicles:

Dashboard screens with preloaded debit cards to pay tolls electronically, order meals at the next restaurant or download a movie for the kids to watch in the backseat.

Vibrating seeds alerting you that you're veering into the shoulder or falling asleep.

Warnings if someone is about to run a red light ahead of you. Alerting you about an accident up ahead and providing alternate routes.

*Reference: Motorwatch Journal

How to tell if you or someone you know is a car nut

This week’s blog comes from The Car Doctor, Ron Ananian’s blog. I thought it was pretty good, see for yourself!



These all start with "You might be a car nut if..."

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1. Buying gas for the car is something similar to a religious event. It has to be purchased not only from the same brand but the SAME station. Higher initiates to the order always use the same pump as well. Deviations can occur but not without separation anxiety.

2. You have given your car a name. Perhaps "Minty" if its green or "Bosco" if you consider it a childhood friend. People that do this are known to pace the waiting room of repair shops as the car is serviced hoping that it pulls through the operation.

3. When you park your vehicle you point it nose out so you can have the quick release of the open road sensation when you start out in the morning. Starting your car in this manner is similar to the Batmobile as the checklist is either verbally or mentally gone through prior to launch. "Power to the batteries, turbines to speed" and all that stuff...

4. Your car is cleaner than your house. And shines brighter than the sun from the wax and polish. You refuse to take it to a car wash except on the coldest days and even then you need to hand dry and talk nice to her since you feel bad for getting "the baby" wet and cold.

5. When you park your car you always take that last spot at the mall WAY over at the FAR side. It takes you 20 minutes to get to the front door of the mall. Higher initiates don't even take their car to the mall, they have a beater (if you're a car nut you know what a beater is) for that. And if you do park your car at the mall it takes you at least 3 attempts to leave her because you have OCD and check the door locks several times. (or is this just me???)

6. You own at least 2 cars that you use yourself. One is the "good" car, the other is the "beater". (see #5 for a better explanation and deeper understanding) that you keep handy to drive just in case it rains OR you have to go to the mall to park.

7. When family and friends talk about storage cases and cabinets for their collectibles (dolls, stamps, etc) you dream of the day you can build a multi level climate controlled parking garage. (attached to the house). When you were a kid collecting Matchbox cars was a passion that you carry with you today but only in full scale.

8. You refuse to remove the paper floor mats from the car after it has been detailed and cleaned until they are almost worn through. You also have purchased 2 sets of floor mats; one for good weather and the other for bad. In either case you may also lay a small rug sample from the local carpet store over the mats to keep them clean forever. Allowing your shoes to actually touch the floor mats is sacrilege and something akin to your parents letting you sit on the plastic covered couch in the living room. You remember being told "Go sit in the family room, the living room is for company only. " (Although you have a hard time remembering company using that room either.)

9. Your idea of a great family vacation is a road trip from any part of the world to Detroit to visit GM, Ford or Chrysler corporate headquarters for the guided tour. If you're lucky you squeeze in a tour of an automobile assembly plant too as a side trip en route. Your family however wants to go somewhere silly like Hawaii or Bermuda.

10. Your #1 mission in life is to keep the memory of the muscle car era alive by petitioning the EPA to do away with CAFE and other fuel economy ratings. You want them to rate cars strictly by horse power and cubic inches (not liters, by the way).

11. Your trunk contains enough emergency equipment to operate a small country or command an armored division. Everything from blankets, food, CB radios, flares and spare batteries are just a sample of what can be found in your trunk. (all neatly stacked and organized by the way). Snow shovels in early spring or late summer are not uncommon just in case you take a trip to the North country and are caught short by an unexpected snow storm or your significant other has to fight off the bears to keep the car safe.

And last, you ARE a car nut if at least 3 or more of the previous 11 statements are applicable to you and yours. You most likely have a few old license plates nailed to the garage at home.

Extended warranties-What does Pat Goss say?

This week Pat Goss talks about an extended warranty service that he likes in the following audio clip. Perhaps you have heard about it. The site is

http://www.carchex.com/

Pat Goss- 94 years of mistakes!

This week I have a clip of Pat Goss talking about automobiles and advice excerpted from the preface of Audels Automobile Guide copyrighted 1915. It was proper in 1915 and it still is in 2009. To me that is amazing!

How to set cam timing and fix bent valves- Unconventional!

If you liked the video shown awhile back on repairing a small gasoline engine, you might be interested in this one. Let me just say it is unconventional, but you be the judge if it is something you might try sometime! The author of the video really seems to know his stuff. Tell us what you think about this one on our mailing list!

BMW Studies Car-to-Car Communication

On a frosty morning, imagine if the car 100 feet ahead of you could somehow alert you to black ice on an off-ramp. You'd slow down, and your car's electronic stability system could even take preliminary steps to anticipate the situation.

Car-to-car communication, the next step in safety technology. The Center for Automotive Research have discusses this for years. There is even a federal program called Intelligent Transportation Systems. According to VP of engineering Tom Baloga, BMW's progress toward car-to-car communication is moving forward very well. U.S. automakers have agreed upon a standardized frequency 5.9 GHz regardless of the car. 5.9 GHz is the same frequency European cars use. The car is going to act like a data-collection probe. The car's location will be transmitted to other cars and to an infrastructure. This data will be used to identify traffic flow, slippery conditions, and bottlenecks.

Maintenance crews could find pothole-ridden areas based on suspension kinematics data, while salt crews could deduce which streets were especially icy using data from antilock braking or electronic stability systems.
Naturally, there's another side to this: How much do you want on the public record about your car and, by extension, your driving habits?

Care to comment on this, tell us on the mailing list by making a posting!

Could you pass a Chinese driving test?

These are unedited questions and answers from China's "Road Traffic Safety Rules and Regulations, Exam Reference Manual (2004 edition)," English-language version.

Professional Shop of the week award

This weekend one of our list member technicians, namely Mike Nixon’s shop that he works at was nominated for the “Professional shop of the week award” given out every week on nationally syndicated car talk show, “Bobby Likis CarClinic”.

Lo and behold, his shop Won this week! Listen to the clip as Bobby Likis describes the shop, technicians and the history of the shop on his weekly radio show.

Congratulations to everyone at Caton Auto Clinic Mall!

Fixing ignition on old Briggs Stratton engines

I know there are lots of pre 1982 Briggs & Stratton lawn mowers out there that have conventional ignition points and condensor setup, and all they might need is a simple fix to the ignition, because there is no spark. Take a look at this video from "DavidsFarm" as I thought he did a pretty good job of explaining all this. I especially like the part where the camera chases down the flywheel as Dave puts it on the ground (edge up)and it starts to roll down the driveway! If you like it let us know on the mailing list and I will put up some others by Dave! The guy really knows those small engine repairs, plus amazingly a whole lot more!.

Pat Goss- repair scams you need to watch out for!

Here Pat Goss talk about why need to go beyond manufacturers service recommendations and look for aftermarket service intervals. He also gives an example of why you need to beware of services that need to be performed and shops that try to steer you away from the more expensive service to one that costs less, because that is the service they want to sell you.



The example he gives“My owner’s manual requires a valve adjustment every fifteen thousand miles, but my mechanic says that unless they’re noisy I shouldn’t waste my money. Should I, or shouldn’t I?”


Listen by clicking on the image below , then open

Adding Acetone to your gasoline

I have heard that adding Acetone to your gas tank can improve your Gas Mileage? Is this so and can it hurt anything?

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Listen as automotive host Bobby Likis explains this to a caller on his weekly car show "CarClinic". Here Bobby describes what acetone in fuel does , why you should not use it and alternatives to keep your vehicle in top running condition with its greatest MPG.