Jerry, My
car just failed the smog test. Does the shop that failed the car have to fix
it? D.S., Cambria
Jerry, I brought my car
into the shop for a smog test. When it failed the test, the repair
shop gave me an estimate to repair my car. I told them to go ahead
and do it. But when I picked up the car, I was shocked with a bill that was
twice as much as I approved. Can they do that?
D.B. Cambria
D.B., There could be many
reasons why the final bill is more than what you were originally
quoted. For example, the cost of parts could have been quoted
incorrectly. Or, when they disassembled your car, maybe they found something
else wrong and fixed it while they were there. But the bottom line is
this: every time the price of the repair goes up, the shop must call you and tell you what they found, why it should be fixed
right now, and how much extra it is going to cost. Otherwise, you are only
responsible to pay the amount that you originally approved – nothing more.
Jerry, My check engine light is on. Is there a way to turn off the light myself, or do I have to pay someone to turn it off? D.B., Cambria
Dear D.B., If you disconnect the battery, the check engine light will go off; however it may come right back on. Also, if you need to pass a smog test and the vehicle is a 96 or newer, the computer knows that you disconnected the battery and you car will automatically fail the test. But most importantly, the light could be on because there is a problem that can cause expensive damage to your vehicle. So I recommend you have a computer scan performed to determine why the light is on in the first place.
Jerry, My “maintenance required” light is on. What does it mean and will it affect my smog test? E.V., Cambria
EV, You can still pass the smog test with the maintenance required light on (but not with the “check engine” light on). The maintenance required light has a different meaning for each car. The first maintenance required light was a mileage counter that turned the light on at 60k miles. At that time, you were supposed to have the emission components tested. But in reality, there was nothing to test because all the emission parts last much longer then 60k miles, so you just turned off the light. Today, the light comes on every 3-5k miles and it means it is time to change your oil. For most cars it is very easy to turn off the light. Just read the owners manual, and it will tell you how.
Jerry, My seatbelt is broken. Can I get that fixed? C.E., Cambria
C.E., Most likely the belt would have to be replaced as opposed to fixing it. Because of liability issues, there are no replacement parts available for seatbelts. The entire unit must be replaced. Your mechanic would need to know which belt is broken – driver, center, passenger, back, etc. the vehicle identification number, and the color of the belt. But, if you happen to own a Honda – you are in luck – because Honda warranties their seatbelts for life, even if you bought a used car!
Jerry, my driver’s side window just dropped and now I hear the motor, but the window does not go up. What happened? R.M., Cambria
Dear R.M., The window’s motor is attached to the window regulator which makes the glass go up and down. There are two types of regulators, one has cables and wheels and it is very common for the cables to break. If that’s the case, the only repair is to replace the regulator. The other style is an arm that goes up and down and sometimes the window mounts separate from that arm. With this style, you can re-glue the window to the mounts.
Jerry, My BMW is overheating. Do you think I might need a new thermostat? S.B., Cambria.
Dear S.B., The first thing to check is the coolant level. Check that first thing in the morning before starting your car (NEVER check coolant level on a hot car). If the coolant level is fine, we need to make sure the car is actually overheating and it’s not just a problem with the temperature sending unit or the gauge. Next we test the thermostat and the water pump. Many BMW models have plastic impellers in the water pump. When that plastic breaks, the coolant stops circulating and the car will overheat.
Jerry, I just changed my fuel filter on my diesel truck and now I can't get it to start. What is wrong? D.B., Cambria.
D.B., It sounds like you installed the fuel filter empty. Diesel engines will not run with air in the fuel system. When you change the fuel filter, you must fill it up with diesel fuel or diesel injection cleaner. To get your truck started now, crank the engine for 3-4 seconds, wait 10 seconds, and then crank the engine again. If your battery is getting low, install a battery charger or remove the fuse for the glow plugs. Go through this routine three or four times and your truck should start.
Jerry, the plastic covers under my engine broke. Do I have to replace them? D.M., Cambria.
Dear D.M., Since you did not tell me what kind of vehicle
you have, I will say in general -- you don't have to replace the covers. The covers are there to keep road debris and
water off of your engine. And if your engine leaks oil, the covers will delay
the oil from getting on your driveway.
The covers are mostly on Japanese and European cars. But if you remove the covers on some Camaros
and Firebirds, the car can overheat.
Jerry, My check engine light is on and I need a brake job.
Can a mobile mechanic take care of that? J.R., Cambria
J.R., The computer needed for the check engine light is a small, handheld and portable device. With the advancement in battery technology tools (most
tools that used to be powered by big air compressors are now powered by rechargeable batteries), 90% of all repairs can be done at your home or work. This generally saves you
quite a bit of money on your repairs because you don’t have to pay for the
overhead of a shop. If, however, you ever do need a repair that is too
extensive to be done at your home or work, a reputable mobile mechanic should refer
you to a trustworthy shop at no cost to you.
Jerry, when I apply the brakes, I hear a squeaky noise. Do I need new brakes? P.W., Cambria
Dear P.W., The answer is a resounding “maybe”. Noisy brakes are a common complaint. At one time, brakes were made with asbestos and when they squeaked, that almost always meant that you needed new brakes. Then they created semi-metallic brake pads, which have flakes of metal mixed in the pad. When the semi-metallic pads get hot, the high metal content make a high-pitched squeaky noise. These days, we have ceramic pads which are quieter, but more expensive; and ceramic pads are not available for every car. So the bottom line is this: the only way to make sure YOUR car needs brakes is to visibly inspect them. Then you’ll know if the pads are worn out, and if it’s time to install new ones.