Xowey Car Forum Community Blog List http://xoweycarforum.com.invisionzone.com/index.php?app=blog Community Blog List Syndication Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:15:12 +0000 joelhartzman@msn.com (Xowey Car Forum) IP.Blog 60 <![CDATA[Nathan's Blog - first time home buyers]]>
I have a good job working as a technician for a General Motors Dealership. The pay is slacking, but in today's economy, you can't be picky. Up to now, things haven't been very difficult to deal with, but with the addition of a home and all the stress involved, my checkbook is struggling to balance out. A good friend of mine told me of a technician position available at another town, which would be about the same distance as the one I currently have. I inquired about this and it led to a phone call to the Service Manager to see what was going on. I sent a resume to him and he requested an interview. So, this last weekend I made a trip out, was quite impressed with the layout and general condition, and was asked how soon I could start.

Although I know I'm not the only person who has ever purchased a home, I'm positive that I'm handling this a bit rough. I've been at my current residence renting for 6 years, and my current employer for 4 years. I have grown accustomed to the format and routine. Now that comfort has been forced away from me and I will be forced to tow a 1000 pound toolbox and a rollcart 30 miles to another dealership. I have no idea if it will last, but the bonuses will be well worth it.....if it works out. But before the job move, i'll have to move probably 100 cardboard boxes from my 2nd story apartment to another house only a few miles away.

I haven't quite decided if it was by coincidence that all this is hapening all at once, or whether there is some divine intervention involved in this. I am a religious person and I believe in the grace of God, but why in the heck is he giving me all this stuff at once. Everyone has heard the jive about "God won't give you anything you can't handle", i'm beginning to have doubts. I don't know if I can handle the stress of moving my home and job in the same 2 week period. Nothing about my life is going to be the same with the exception of my wife, child, dog, and belongings. All my surroundings will be different.....wierd.....uncomfortable. I will feel alone in this world for a time. Wish me luck on making friends quickly.

]]> Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:35:00 +0000 Xowey car forum blog - Fix your own car with help from new video series from AutoZone By Joel Hartzman

Manager of Xowey Car Forum



A new video series is now available at AutoZone stores. Bruce Bonebrake, also host of the DIYnetwork show, Weekend Mechanic, hosts the series. The series is designed to provide information to help the average person maintain or repair his or her own vehicle. Creators of the series, Jay Killingsworth Productions, have sent the series titled "THE AUTOZONE COMPLETE CAR CARE SERIES" to me for evaluation. I have been watching these videos carefully and I intend to write a review of each one individually. For now, I am going to just talk about what this series is, whether it passes my criticism tests for accuracy of information and probably the most important test, the special attention paid to safety procedures. I have been to my local AutoZone store recently and was thrilled to see this series sitting on display near the register. I am quite excited and honored that I have been chosen as the automotive expert to review this new series! The program consists of 10 individual DVD's. The convenience of AutoZone does not stop with their attention to auto parts. Each program may be purchased separately. This may be the greatest learning tool you ever use to aid you with your home auto project.
What subjects can I choose from you might ask? Here is the complete list for you.

1. SPARK PLUGS & O2 SENSORS
2. A/C REPAIR
3. BRAKE JOBS
4. SHOCKS & STRUTS
5. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
6. STARTING & CHARGING
7. TIMING BELT
8. MASTER CYLINDER
9. CV AXLE
10. RACK & PINION STEERING SYSTEMS

Bruce Bonebrake is an automotive specialist who knows how to explain the details of what you need to know to get the job done right. Bruce shows you what tools to use for the job, and exactly how to use them. I really like Bruce's style of teaching. Bruce makes all the information very understandable and he actually makes the repair while you are watching, so that you can copy his moves to guarantee your success. It is like having a master mechanic help you. Most people are able to fix their own vehicle if someone could just demonstrate the procedures for them. Bruce will give you the confidence to try some repairs that might be otherwise intimidating. Fixing your own car can be a fun and deeply rewarding experience.

You can find more information about Bruce Bonebrake if you navigate to his own website called BAT Auto Technical found at http://www.batauto.com . This web site contains a wealth of knowledge about cars, you can also join the BAT Auto Technical forum where you can ask questions and read open discussions. I recommend that you look at this web site when you get a chance.]]> Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:20:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Nathan's Blog - how to screw up a 4L80 transmission]]> and work in their vans. i had the pleasure of meeting one such person. it's one thing to have a McDonalds Double Cheeseburger wrapper on your passenger seat. It's another to have an entire fast food restaraunt located in the passenger compartment of your G-van. The area seperating the living compartment, if that's what you want to call it, and the area condemed as the working compartment is seperated by a steel gate. industrial strength steel, padlocked, and what looks to be a retinal scanner, it's scary to look between the diamond shaped gaps to see the huge amounts of machines, papers, sacks, keys, and what looks to be 4 marine batteries hooked together in series.

Now i have a certain amount of respect for customers who are entrepreneurs and such, but please, be cautious of what you're hauling around, and HOW MUCH YOU'RE HAULING! One such person came in not too long ago. they have a 2004 chevy Express with a 6.0 V-8 and a 4L80E 4 speed transmission. their complaint? no 4th gear and clunk in reverse. The 2WD Express van is easy for transmission removal. besides the fact you can only raise it halfway on the lift. any higher and you will crush the 6" PVC pipe that is bungee strapped to the roof rail. After you've been under the vehicle for an hour with your legs spread and neck kinked, you will finally get the transmission out and torn down on your bench. upon further investigation you might find your direct clutches SMOKED!!!!! You will recognize a smoked clutch by the foul stench upon trans pan removal. The fowl stench is quickly accompanied by a concoction of dark slimy but slipery fluid that resembles diesel oil after a 50,000 mile virgin oil change. NOT KIDDING!!!! your trans is smoked!

But not to worry, it is fixable, for about 2500 dollars, or bring it to me personally and i'll do it for 3/4 of the price and the same quality work.]]> Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:03:00 +0000 <![CDATA[hooddan's Blog - 2000 pontiac gtp power steering]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:01:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Nathan's Blog - circuit testing.....the WRONG WAY!!!]]>


customer has a crank/no start condition. they hear the fuel pump relay clicking "kinda wierd". they replace it. still has a no start. they decide to test for juice at the fuel pump connector....with a test light. usually, i'm not opposed to individuals testing circuits with an unpowered test lamp....if common sense is excersized. not the case.



customer jams the test lamp probe into each terminal of the 4 pin connector to test for power. they have juice, so they reconnect and figure they'll have it towed in. i get it and decide to check the same connection for proper pin tension, only to find each terminal hogged out wider than grandma's underwear....alright, bad analogy.



using the proper terminal adapters, you can insert and rotate sideways, and not even touch the wall of the terminal.



I urge you....please....use discretion and common sense. correct terminal adapters for the correct terminals. if you are unsure, please don't do it at all.]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:46:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Nathan's Blog - know when to do it yourself, know when to pay someone]]>




2001 Pontiac Grand Prix

86,000 miles

Service Engine soon lamp illuminated, Poor acceleration, no power.



customer takes to an independant shop, where they quickly sell her a major engine tuneup:

plugs

wires

air filter

fuel filter

pcv valve

after major engine tune up and 400 dollars, vehicle still exibits original concern. shop says it's feeling like internal transmission concern, worn clutches or something or other. customer authorized complete trans overhaul

frictions

steels

gaskets

seals

new fluid and filter

after the transmission overhaul and 800 dollars later, the vehicle still has the original concern. shop gives up on vehicle. total customer pay, $1,200 dollars and the car is still not fixed. this is where i get it.



i take vehicle out for 15 second test drive, no acceleration, no throttle response, and service engine soon lamp is flashing. i know what it is. seen it a million times on this generation W-body. pull it back in to the shop and perform a general motors bulletin search, keyword "no power". number one hit is a catalytic converter issue. there is a special policy offered by general motors that covers this vehicle up to 10 years or 120,000 miles. i replaced the catalytic converter free of charge to the customer and it fixed the concern.



moral of the story:

Dealerships aren't always there to RIP YOU OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



had the customer came to the dealer first, they could have saved 1,200 of their hard earned dollars and had their vehicle diagnosed and repaired for free courtesy of general motors.



Thank you for your time. please spread this to everyone you know. true story that happened to me not more than 2 weeks ago.]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:04:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Nathan's Blog - Fed Up With this Discrimination]]>


Read about it here.



I am so sick of people talking trash about me an my family

"I think the obvious question everyone has is who takes loaded weapons into a Toys "R" Us?" he said. "I doubt it was the casual holiday shopper."

every time i walk into a building (unless prhibited by law) i am carrying my semi-automatic 9mm pistol. and i do this for the very reason happened at kids r us. you never know when some idiot is going to open fire into a crowd. and i'll be darned sure that i'll be prepared to defend my family in the case that their lives are in danger. my wife and 4 year old girl are my first priority, and i'll be darned sure they're protected at all cost. my carry permit allows me to carry my weapon, but the criminal with the stolen gun has no permit to loose, no respect for the law, and will spend the rest of his life in jail getting free meals paid by me. or i'll make sure he gets stopped before he hurts or kills my family.]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:25:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Nathan's Blog - Misconception regarding dealership's computers]]>
As of this morning i'm fed up with people. Older lady comes into the dealer today. for those of you who don't know me, i work at a general motors dealer with chevy cadillac pontiac and buick. she had her car at autozone with a check engine light on. they told her they don't know what's wrong, but take it to us and we can hook our computer up to it and tell her what's wrong. she is now swearing up and down that we can just hook our computer up to it and it'll tell us what's broken.



FALSE!!!!!!!!!!!!


This is a common misconception. the "scanner" attached to your vehicle's DLC (diagnostic link connector) is used to show codes that the pcm has deemed necessary to report because of failed emissions. it also gives us the ability to look at different data parameters that the pcm looks at. last of all, it allows us to override some of the outputs that the computer controlls.



the scanner in no way shape or form tells us what to replace. it simply gives us "clues" as to where the malfunction might be located. it is up to us, or skills, and our tools, to play detective and find out what is really wrong.



thank you for your time and cooperation.]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:51:00 +0000 Xowey car forum blog - Electric cars - what is all the hoopla about?
by Joel Hartzman

Administrator for Xowey car forum

Electric cars seem to be all the rage this year, they seem to be causing even more enthusiasm than hybrid cars are generating. I recently heard reports on a political radio show that stated what I had already suspected ... the television campaign commercials that caused the most positive response for both Democrat and Republican candidates focused on the support for electric cars. With everything that is going on in the world from the war in Iraq, to the financial crisis facing banks, financial institutions like Freddie mac and Fannie Mae needing government bail out, and fear about countries that we don't trust trying to develop nuclear weapons, why do we care so much about electric cars? Is it just that everybody is upset when we go to the gas pumps? I certainly am upset, I bought gas today strictly for the purpose of filling my lawn tractor, when my gas can was full I noticed that I was paying $20.00 to fuel my mowing machine! Good grief! I certainly am angry about paying twice as much to cut my grass in the last couple of years, and I'm angry about sending this money from my gas pump to people that I suspect might hate me as a U.S. citizen. With all that having been said, I think it may be interesting to see how each candidate will try to show that they will help to make electric vehicles more practical, and encourage manufacturers to focus more attention on developing reasonable priced models and technology.

GM will soon be releasing it's shining hope for the future in this category when it delivers the 2010 Chevy Volt . Is this car really the answer to all our problems? Some seem to think that it may be, as for me ..... I'm always more skeptical than the main stream thinking. The Chevy Volt web site is very impressive and exciting, (I must admit) with the big bold statement " CHARGE THE BATTERY. CHANGE THE WORLD " as an eye catching headline. I must admit ....... the thought of driving 40 miles without burning one drop of gas sounds like something I may want to get myself involved in right away. The sad fact of the matter is, they are still testing batteries and working on many details for this new "wonder" vehicle, with any luck at all we may be only 2 years away from start of production on the car that will "change the world, as they stated on the web site. It looks to me like we will just keep pumping our money into our tanks and keep waiting, but how will this car really change the world?

Let's look a little deeper into this in part 2 of : Electric cars - What's all the hoopla about?

Visit Xowey car forum for free car advice and help from professional mechanics.

fuel pump relay

trying to find the fuel pump relay on a 1985 buick somerset regal. Pretty sure I need to replace fuel pump. I want to change relay also. Mitchells show it to be on the passenger strut tower: not there!




Technorati tags: electric cars, automobiles, car blog, automotive innovations

www.xowey.com]]> Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:20:00 +0000 Xowey car forum blog - Sometimes mechanics have car problems too.
Sometimes being a mechanic really sucks!!! OK now I'm complaining!
This is time to really hate my own personal vehicle, and just the forum to do it. I'm sure we all have had a hammer in our hands and looked at a car at one time or another and said to the car @#*^@ YOU!! I've been close to wailing away on a car or two myself. Posted Image
Posted Image
The other day.......I was driving down the road (minding my own business) and my 96 regal started to loose power, (I was thinking..you piece of junk what now?) I looked at the gas gage and it read 1/8. Hmm? The kids said " why you stopping?" I said (out loud) "something's wrong with the car".( in my head was something worth NOT repeating) My oldest daughter, Jessie said " you're a great mechanic dad". Posted Image In my head I said ........." Posted Image "
So we walked 1/2 mile to a gas station and we bought a junk gas can for NINE DOLLARS! (that's U.S. dollars) When I tried to start it I got worried....it cranked too long. we made a couple stops and every time it had an extended crank. I guessed that the fuel pump may be done...it feels a little sluggish on acceleration too.
You ever get that sinking feeling inside when you are driving and you know something is about to go terribly wrong with your car? Well, that's the feeling I had and I was relieved when we finally made it home.

I pulled the gas tank out that night at home (pain in the butt, on jack stands) very rusty, for those of you from different parts of the country, Michigan is the heart of the rust belt this just sucks!
I pulled the fuel pump out.............sugar in my tank Posted Image
I let my mother in-law use my car a short time ago for a couple of days, Posted Image ( free loaner car thanks to me)
some kids in her area vandalized a bunch of cars.

Well, I got it back together last night ( cut into my computer time though)
new fuel pump, meter, strainer, & filter. I had tank flushed out at radiator shop.
The guy that flushed it said, (he's a Michigan hillbilly) "there was enough sugar in there to make a pie" Posted Image
parts $350
labor free
posting about it here.....priceless]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:25:00 +0000