What is Proper Tire Pressure for My Vehicle?

One of the most common mistakes in checking tire pressure is thinking that the correct pressure for your vehicle is posted on the tire. I get this answer a lot when I teach my classes. Many people assume that this is where it would be printed.

What you have to remember is that tires are made by the manufacturer for many different types of vehicles. Car manufacturers pay engineers a lot of money to figure out how the weight of a vehicle affects fuel economy and many other factors. Tire pressure plays into this factor. So, depending on the weight, size and other important information, tire pressure is determined by each different vehicle.

Therefore you will always find the tire pressure for your vehicle located on your vehicle or in your owner's manual. Usually there will be a label located on the inside of the driver's door giving you this information. I've also seen them inside the glove box, on the inside of the gas door or center console. Look around, it's there somewhere.

Proper tire inflation not only affects fuel economy, but also helps prevent uneven or early tire wear. There's also a safety concern if the tire pressure is too low. If you look at a tire you'll see that there are a lot of numbers and letters posted on the side wall. All of these numbers mean something. While you don't need to memorize them, it's a good idea to know what they mean. Here are a couple sites that will help explain more about all of those numbers. How Stuff Works is a great website with a lot of vehicle information. I caution you not to read this at work, it's hard to get off this site, it's so interesting.

Another great site is Tire Rack, not only can you get some great information about tires, but you can purchase them at pretty good prices. They even work with installers in your area so that if you need new tires they send them directly to the shop.

One of the things I teach in my class is how to use a tire pressure gauge. I think it's important for everyone to keep one of these in their vehicle. If you're not sure how to use it, ask someone to show you. It's not hard and will help you keep your tires in good shape for a long and healthy life.

As we say in the motorcycle world, keep the rubber side down and be pro-active in learning about the things you can do on your vehicle and do them yourself. It's a great way to understand your vehicle.

Radical Wrencher

How Much Did You Say?

The other day while I was driving I heard an ad on the radio for a brake job. It was a male salesman telling a woman that she could get a brake job done and only pay half for the brake pads. I actually started to laugh.

The woman in the ad was excited and couldn't wait to bring her vehicle in. The problem with this ad, in my opinion, is that the brake pads are not the expensive part...it's the labor. This is the kind of thing that you have to be careful with when getting your vehicle serviced.

The ad makes it sound like such a good deal, but you should ask how much it will cost and how much of a discount that is off of the regular price. Later that night I was having dinner with a group of women friends. We meet monthly and the conversation is all over the map. Many of us have known each other for 10 years or more. I told them about the ad and asked what they thought. They said that one of their complaints is not knowing what it "should" cost to have work done.

Great point. So what do you do when you need work done and the shop quotes you a price? Here are a couple of sites you can check out. One that I like is called repair pal. You put in your vehicle, your zip code and pick the type of work you need to have done and they give you an estimate for parts and labor for your area. It's a great resource to at least get an idea of the amount you might be expected to pay. Now remember, shops can charge whatever they want. If you don't like their price, shop around.

If you just want to see what parts cost I would recommend looking at Rockauto. I buy a lot of parts from them. You put in your vehicle and then look up the parts. This will give you an idea of whether the shop is making too much money on the parts they're selling you.

I don't know about you, but for me money is tight. I want the work done on my vehicle to be the best deal I can get without compromising quality and workmanship. So the next time someone tries to sell you a good deal, check it out, it may not be such a bargain.

www.ladiesstartyourengines.com

What to Check Before Taking That Summer Family Trip

Summer is here and that means family vacations. Here's a quick tip video on what to check before you pack the family vehicle and head out.

Summer Car Care Tips

Lori



MQ2DM46BEZE2

Back In the Driver's Seat!

Okay, it's been way too long since my last post...but putting your house on the market, selling it and moving can take up your time so easily! Now that I'm all settled in, it's time to get back to giving you what you want, some good advice.

I'll start with a story about yet another woman agreeing to work she probably didn't need. For those of you who live in states where you have to get your vehicle inspected yearly, you know that this can sometimes be a hassle. We take our vehicle in and then we feel like we're at the mercy of the technician to have it pass inspection.

Let me start by saying that if you feel that work they recommend to pass inspection seems unwarranted, you do have recourse. First, ask them to show you the items that are bad, preferably on the vehicle. If they come out with a part in their hand, you don't know where it came from. If what they are describing doesn't seem right to you then ask more questions or call someone you know to help you make your decision.

If you feel you're being taken, you can contact your state DMV and ask that a representative come and look at the failable item and tell you if it truly is bad. Most people don't know that they have this option. I've heard of shops backing down when the customer wants to call in a representative because they know they're wrong.

Any good shop should be willing to show and explain why the part has failed and help you understand this. Not all shops are just trying to rip you off, but it's good to know that there is someone you can call if you need to. Don't feel like you have to replace a part if you don't think it's bad.

So back to my story. This woman takes her vehicle in and gets a call later telling her that she passed both State inspection and emissions but while doing a 33 point inspection they found some items that need to be addressed.

The oil change, air filter, coolant being low are all things that are regular maintenance items. Depending on when you did them last, it may be time to have these serviced. Now she's fortunate to have a son who can do this work so she declined. Some other things she agreed to. Rotation of the tires, balancing 2 of the tires and clean and adjust the brakes.

Here's where I tend to question work. It said that they removed all the wheels to check the brakes for inspection, so to simply rotate them while they're off is often a courtesy, she was charged $10. Another $15 to balance. Then there's the brake clean and adjust. My thought is that if they didn't fail inspection, which being out of adjustment can make you fail....why are they charging for this service? Another $14 for this. I'd love to know what they really did.

I'm not saying that all shops are looking for ways to make you spend money, but beware of shops that you don't know very well that try to sell you what I call "busy work", because it may be slow. We have to get our vehicles inspected, but try to have an idea of what else may need to be done before you take it in so you don't agree to unnecessary repairs.

Remember, knowledge is power....use it!

Lori

LSYE on What's Up With Missy 1340 AM

Listen to the interview I did with Missy on 1340 AM Philadelphia. Missy thought she had a great idea...and she did, it was my business! She thought it would be great to teach women about their vehicles so that they wouldn't feel like they're getting ripped off.

I contacted Missy and she was thrilled to have me on the show to give some advice to women. It was a great show and we had a lot of fun. Stay tuned...she may even have me back to take call-in questions. Thanks for having me Missy!



Lori
Radical Wrencher

Car Maintenance: Can You Really Do It Yourself Anymore?

For most of you, when you open your hood, all you see is a big plastic cover that keeps you from seeing anything pertinent related to your engine. Remember the days when you could see the spark plug wires, there was enough space to see around under the hood, and you thought you recognized a few things whether you knew how to fix them or not?

Today, it’s not so easy. Opening the hood, you’re met with very little exposure to anything that would allow you to do maintenance yourself. I have a theory about this, and it’s the idea that the manufacturers think you shouldn’t touch anything you don’t know about. Vehicles are so technologically advanced today that you need a degree just to work on them. Gone are the days when a big wrench and a couple of screwdrivers could fix anything. Automobiles have so many computer systems now that your main tool is usually a computer or a scan tool. I know many technicians who do not even get their hands dirty because their skill is in the area of being able to diagnose problems.

Sure you still need to have brakes, alignments and tires changed, but the real skill is in diagnosing engine problems, and this can be difficult. So that brings me to the point of, what can you do yourself? If you open your hood and look closely you will see that there are a variety of things that are marked with words or symbols to tell you what they are. These are the things that you are free to do yourself. You can also look in your owner’s manual to find the items that the manufacturer feels are safe components for you to fix yourself.


The most common items under the hood are the washer fluid bottle, power steering reservoir, oil cap, oil dipstick, battery, fuse box, coolant/antifreeze reservoir, and the brake fluid reservoir. Some automatic transmissions may still have a dipstick as well, but more and more manufacturers are getting away from even providing those. Make sure you look closely at these symbols before you ever add any fluids to a reservoir. I will never forget how unhappy the person was who added antifreeze to their washer solvent!

As always, I will tell you to consult your owner’s manual before you attempt to do any maintenance yourself. Many manufacturers require that you buy your products from them. This means items like coolant/antifreeze and power steering fluid must be bought from the dealership. You may find that your vehicle will not operate properly if you choose to use something else and it may void your warranty.

Always use windshield washer solvent and not plain water. Not only will it do a better job at cleaning, but it won’t freeze in colder climates. Freezing can cause the bottle to crack and break and ruin the sprayer motor. Power steering fluid is in a closed system. This means you can add it if it is below the “full” line, but you need to get it looked at because you probably have a leak. 

Oil should be checked when the engine is not running. The engine can be hot or cold, but may need to sit a moment if it has just been driven. When you shut off the engine all of the oil drains back down to the oil pan. The dipstick is checking the level of the oil in the pan, so we want it all to be there. While the engine is running the oil is circulating through the engine and the dipstick will not give you an accurate reading. On the dipstick there will usually be 2 notches, holes or a hatched area to read the oil level. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it off. Insert the dipstick in a second time and see where the oil is on the stick. It should fall between the marks. If it is below the bottom mark, then oil should be added. Be careful when adding oil. Only put in a little at a time and continually check with the dipstick. You do not want to overfill the oil. You should see a cap with an oilcan or the word oil, on the top of the engine. This is where the oil is added. Make sure that you check in your owner’s manual as to the type of oil your vehicle requires.

Coolant/antifreeze can be added as well. Make sure that you never open the radiator cap even if the engine is cold. This system is pressurized and when you open the cap you introduce air into the system, which can cause it to overheat. You should always add coolant to the reservoir bottle. This will be a plastic bottle with a small hose connecting it to the radiator. Again, check your owner’s manual as to the specific type of coolant/antifreeze for your vehicle and always make sure it is a 50/50 mix of coolant and water. Only add to the full line and have it checked if you find yourself adding coolant often. You may be leaking or burning coolant if the reservoir is frequently empty.

Battery maintenance is important as well. The terminals should be clean at all times. If you find that there is a white powdery build up, this can be cleaned with a toothbrush and a 50/50 mix of water and baking soda. Don’t use the toothbrush to brush your teeth afterward however! If you need to remove the cables to clean them, always disconnect the negative terminal first and then the positive. This will prevent any sparks. When re-connecting, attach the positive cable first and then the negative. Otherwise these batteries are pretty much maintenance free. The days of adding water are gone. A well maintained battery may last 4 to 5 years.

Oil changes are best left to the shop. I only say this because it can be dangerous to lift the car properly. Under no circumstances should you use the jack for the vehicle as a way to hold up the vehicle while changing the oil. They are not safe enough to use while climbing underneath a vehicle. They should strictly be used for changing a tire only. You must also be careful not to spill oil and it must be taken in to be recycled. You also need the proper tools to remove the drain plug and the oil filter. I tell people that for $25-30, it is worth it to let someone else do it!

Air filters are usually easy to change yourself however. Locate is under the hood, usually under a big plastic cover with clips or screws holding it closed. Go to any automotive store and by looking your vehicle up in the product book or by asking for assistance you should be able to find it. You can always go to the dealership to purchase the filter as well. Check the filter about every 15,000 miles or so. If it looks dirty, replace it.

If you find that an electrical item is not working in your vehicle I would always advise people to check their fuses first. Look in your owner’s manual to find out where the fuse is for the component. Remove the fuse and check to see if the filament is broken. Replace the fuse if this is the case. Make sure to only replace it with the size fuse that is recommended. If the fuse blows again or the fuse is found to be okay, then you will need to take the vehicle in for service.

While this may not seem like as much as you would like to be able to fix yourself, it is probably all that you “should” do. Doing something today on your vehicle that you do not understand can become a costly lesson. If you can read about it in your owner’s manual, most likely it is something you can do on your own. Don’t be afraid to get dirty once in a while, but leave the technical stuff to the trained professionals.

Girl Scouts and the Car Sense Badge

Scheduling a class in November for outside can be a little risky in Pennsylvania, but I'm happy to say that November 8th was a balmy 65 degrees with full sun. Thank goodness, because I was teaching the Car Sense badge to 81 girl scouts and their 30 troop leaders.

As interesting as I think my lecture is, I knew that the girls wanted to get outside and get their hands dirty. So, we spent a half hour going over the different components the girls would be checking and then headed out into the warm weather.

While it was a little crazy with about 15 vehicles being worked on, the worksheet was pretty easy to follow and I found myself answering questions about what some of the things were under the hood and if it was a problem if there was no oil on the dipstick....Yikes!

The girls checked oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering and washer fluid levels. They learned how to check tire pressure and where to find the proper reading on the vehicle and in the owner's manual. From there they had to look up different things in their owner's manual so that I knew that they could find it.

Overall it was a great day. Of course I need to thank Theresa for coming with me and being a trooper  answering questions and helping with the groups, it made my job a lot easier with so many girls.

Everyone had a good time and learned about important things that anyone can check on their vehicles. Thanks again to the Eastern Region of Pennsylvania Girl Scouts and Linda Delenick for putting this program together and working with LSYE so that girls can see that women do these jobs too!

Lori