Think My Classes Involve Anything Pink....Think Again!

I often wonder what women who come to my classes think they're going to do. Will I show them how to check the air filter but keep their nails from getting chipped? Maybe I'll show them how to get a man to change their tire...or NOT. My classes have not been "dummied down" so that women can understand, and that's what women like about it. I believe that women are very capable of learning how to maintain their vehicles, and I tell them that. It's all about taking the mystique out of car maintenance and empowering them.

This is why I appreciated Kim's blog about her experience in taking one of my classes. Enjoy her blog and then come take my class. Not only will you learn a lot, but you'll have fun as well. I promise :)

Radical Wrencher

How to Jump Your Battery

One of the big questions I always get asked by women in my classes is how to jump their battery. Which cable do I connect first, does it matter? There really is a fear of shocking themselves. I think this is a healthy fear because a battery can be dangerous, but not if you know what you're doing. Watch my quick tip video on how to jump your battery and get back on the road.

How to jump a battery

I would suggest that you pay at least $50 for a jump box, which you can find at most stores that sell automotive products, and keep it in your truck. Don't forget to keep it charged. It won't do you any good if it's dead.

This is a safe and easy way for anyone to jump their vehicle and a great gift idea for someone you care about.

Radical Wrencher

Hey, I Can't Hear My Radio Over That Noise!

Rattles in the dash or that loose tool rolling around in the trunk are usually noises that may prompt you to turn the radio up. However, many noises are an indication that something may be wrong and if left unattended can turn into costly repairs. Mentioning these noises when you take your vehicle in for service may save you money in the long run or simply give you peace of mind that nothing major is wrong. The key to keeping your vehicle running for many years is taking care of items before they break. So don’t turn that radio up, check it out!

Brake noise

There are several noises that you may hear coming from the brakes. The most common would be a rubbing noise while you’re driving with your foot off the brake. For the most part many of these noises are normal. Because brake pads can be made of different types of materials, sometimes the rubbing of the brake pad against the rotor will make noise. Most of the time you may notice this noise goes away once you drive the vehicle for a little bit and everything warms up. If however the noise goes away when you apply the brakes, you should have your brakes checked. It may mean that the brake pads are getting low and the noise you’re hearing is actually the warning devise on the pad doing its job. Any loud clunking or metal scraping noise is not normal and should be checked right away by a service facility.

Belt squeal

Belt noises are only heard when the engine is running. It may go away as the belt warms up, but should be fixed. A common fix for most people is to spray the belt with a belt quieter product. This is not the answer. Belts squeal for a couple different reasons and should be properly attended to. The belt may not be adjusted properly and if loose will make noise. You may also get a noise if a pulley that the belt travels on is not turning properly. A seized pulley will eventually break a belt, so it’s best not to let this noise continue. If you’re not sure how to adjust the belt or check the pulley, take your vehicle to a service station and have a technician look at it.

Noisy Steering

Here’s a noise you hear in a lot of cars as their making turns in a parking lot. This is a load moaning noise that is only heard when you’re turning the steering wheel from one side to the other. This usually indicates a problem with the power steering system. One possibility may be that you have air in your power steering pump. When the power steering fluid gets too low is will suck air into the system causing the noise. You may be able to fix the problem yourself by adding power steering fluid. Keep the cap open, fill to the full line and turn the steering wheel back and forth in full turns until you notice no bubbles coming up from the fluid or the noise goes away. Make sure that you use only the fluid recommended for your vehicle by the manufacturer, or you may cause more damage. When you’re finished make sure the fluid is full to the line and close the cap. If the noise returns you most likely have a leak in the system and should take your vehicle to a service station to have it serviced.

Clicking noise coming from the wheel when turning

This noise is mostly heard when you are driving around a corner. This noise sounds like a clicking coming from the wheel and may go away once the wheels are driving straight again. This is usually an indication of a bad CV Joint. In most cases the boot that covers the joint has ripped and the lubrication for the joint leaks out. This problem should be addressed right away. Leaving this problem could eventually cause the CV Joint to break and the driver would lose control of that particular wheel. It will also be a much more costly repair if the whole CV Joint has to be replaced because of damage.

Tapping in the engine when the vehicle is running

A tapping noise coming from the top of the engine could mean a couple things. The first thing to check would be low oil level. With the engine turned off pull the dipstick and check the level. If the oil is low add more oil while regularly checking the dipstick so as not to over fill. Start the engine and see if the noise goes away. If the oil is at the proper level then you may need to have your valves adjusted. Check your owner’s manual for proper service for a valve adjustment. Many vehicles today have self-adjusting valves, so this may not apply. If this is the case, then you should have your vehicle serviced by a trained technician. Leaving this problem will only create bigger problems down the road.

Lori

To Hybrid or Not

If you're like me and you find yourself recycling, composting, buying green products and figuring out ways to use our energy more wisely, then you've probably thought about a hybrid vehicle. While more and more manufacturers are making hybrid vehicles....unfortunately it's going to be a while before they replace our gas driven motors. I guess the question is, are the hybrids that are available now really saving us money and the environment....or not.

Brandy Schaffels, a contributing writer for Ask Patty wrote this article to answer some of your questions.

What you always wanted to know about hybrid vehicles

This article on How Stuff Works talks about 5 reasons not to buy hybrid.

I like to weigh my options. While I'd like to 'Go Green', it comes with a cost. Sometimes it's more than what you can afford. I would say that if you are contemplating buying a hybrid vehicle...do your research. Make sure you weigh cost, economy, practicability and even how driving where you live will play into it. It's a tough decision...trying to decide what is the right thing for you and the environment. That's when I get on my motorcycle and ride.  Good luck!

Radical Wrencher

Is That Smoke coming Out of My Tailpipe?

In the perfect world, water vapor would be the only thing we see coming out of our tailpipes....but, we're not quite there yet. So what does that smoke mean?

Obviously when it's cold out and you start the vehicle you'll see smoke. This should go away after the vehicle warms up.If you're finding that this smoke continues, then it's time to get it checked out. There are some general reasons why you may have smoke, and the color can help you diagnose your problem.

Here's a pretty good description of some common issues from RepairPal. I also talk about it a little in my video of what to look for when buying a used vehicle.

As always, I recommend that you have a technician properly diagnose your problem. These tips of what to look for will give you an idea of what could be wrong and help steer you in the right direction....and you'll feel like you know a little bit more of what could be wrong. Empower yourself with knowledge and you'll feel more confident when it comes to talking to your service personnel.

Lori

Taking Care of Your Battery

Remember the days when you had to add water to your battery? And not just any water, but distilled. Now our batteries are "maintenance free".....well, for the most part. They still require a little tender love and care if you want to get the maximum life out of them however.

When was the last time you opened up your hood and took a look at your battery? Okay, it may not always be under your hood, check your owner's manual to see if it might be in the trunk or under a seat. Most likely if it's under the hood it's going to get dirtier and should be checked.

What are you looking for? White powder that's caked up around the terminals. It's fairly easy to clean this off by using a simple household product of baking soda and water. All you need is an old toothbrush and a 50/50 mix of the water and baking soda.

Better yet, watch my quick tip video on how to do this yourself. It's easy and a great way to save you money.
Remember, to disconnect the battery you want the key to be off, remove the negative side first and then the positive. When you re-attach the cables you do the opposite, positive first and then the negative.

Battery Cleaning Video

As I always say, don't be afraid to get your hands dirty...it's a great way to learn.

Radical Wrencher

How Old is Your Truck?

I often get asked how old my truck is. Even though it looks nice on the outside, one look inside the cab with it's crank down windows, sliding levers for the heat and vents and few gizmos on the dash makes people wonder. For the record, I drive a 1988 Toyota 4WD truck. It doesn't even have a name really...but it later became the Tacoma.

It now boasts 295,000 miles. Unfortunately a burned valve forced me to replace the engine at 292,000, but I'm not complaining. I remember when I was going back and forth about getting a newer vehicle or replacing the engine. Well, for $3000 a 3yr/100,000 mile warranty, the new engine won hands down. I have loved this truck since I bought it new in '88'. I installed my own A/C, which still works, have had multiple radios..currently Sirius, and even replaced the bench seat for buckets.

Once people find out how old it is they always say "Well, you're a technician so you take care of it". I never really understood this. While it's true, I've done all my own work....it's all about maintaining your vehicle. I haven't done anything special, I just take care of it and fix the things that need to be done. I think the most important thing I did was change the oil every 3000 miles without fail.

I grew up watching my father wash and wax his vehicles so they always looked like new. I understood that if you took care of them, they could last for a long time. That's all I've done. I guess what I'm trying to say is that anyone can keep a vehicle for a long time if they just properly maintain it.

What do I mean by this? Change your oil regularly at the scheduled times. Check your owner's manual if you're not sure when that is. Don't let those little noises become loud expensive fixes. If you decide to keep your vehicle for many years you need to understand that it will cost you money. I suggest that you take that car payment you no longer have and put it in a repair account. This way the money is already there when you need it.

You need to understand that vehicles break down when they get older. If you don't have the tolerance for this, then you should probably try to own a newer vehicle with less repair possibilities. It's true, it's easier for me because most of the time I can fix it myself, but most recently I've moved and currently I don't have access to a shop...so I have to pay like everyone else now.

Sure, there are times that I get frustrated with the nit picky things that go wrong, but my truck owes me nothing. I couldn't replace it for what it gives me, especially for what I'm paying. So think about what kind of person you are. Do you mind doing repairs more frequently to maintain an older vehicle, or is it easier to own something that always has a warranty?

I can't imagine not having my truck. I tell my friends that when it's time, I'll have it crushed. I really can't imagine anyone else driving her after 22 years. Oh and don't worry, that's not going to happen any time soon...she still gets me where I need to go and is worth every penny I paid for her!

Radical Wrencher