 The current procedure to diagnose a check engine light is to connect a scanner or lap top scanner to the On Board Diagnostic port underneath the dash to access codes for the Engine, Body, Air Bag and ABS brake system. The 2013 Right to Repair bill gave Independent repair shops the options to purchase scanners and software to make these repairs.
By 2020 more than 90% of new cars will transmit real-time repair information wirelessly but the use of the port under the dash will be obsolete. If the Right to Repair bill is passed, it will give the independent repair shops the same wireless access to the engines computer software as a dealership. But please aware if this bill is passed the computer software will have to be "PURCHASED" by the independent repair shops. This does not give us "carte blanche" that the scan tools and the software allows any technician from a dealership or independent garage to diagnose your car for free. The scan equipment and software are the tools to a trained professional technician to diagnose your vehicles wirelessly but come at an expense just like any other tool in a repair shop. With all the new technology in a moving object that has 4 wheels that goes 0 to 60 MPH in seconds, with every gadget known to a human being in it, things will wear, break or require maintenance. Giving the Independent repair shops the opportunity to "PURCHASE" the resources to repair it is what this law is all about. Please vote YES for the Right to Repair Bill  Health & Wellness for your Vehicle
from Mr. T As the spring and summer season approaches so does the pollen problems. Your car sucks in fresh air and circulates in your engine as well as inside your automobile. Have your air and cabin filters checked regularly for leaves, pine needles and mold issues before they effect your health. The cabin air filter which is located up underneath the glove box (on the right in picture) should be checked every 3 to 4 months. Filters that are clogged will cause heating and AC problems. The engine sucks in air and the filter protects issues that could cause your engines performance. Many sensors in the engine count on fresh air to help run your emission system in your vehicle. Your air filter should be inspected regularly and changed at least once a year. Maintaining the health & wellness of your vehicle will keep your car running more efficiently and prevent unnecessary repairs. Learning what the warning lights on your vehicle mean is an important part of maintaining your vehicle. The check engine light (far left) signals faults within the engine that can cause engine misfires, fuel mixture problems, emission errors, clogged catalytic converter and many other issues that cause drivability problems. If the check engine light is flashing pull over and have your car towed to the garage. With the engine misfiring it can cause the engine to shut down and clog your catalytic converter. Do not continue to drive the car until it is properly diagnosed.
The oil can (middle picture) illuminates when the engines computer finds signs of low oil level or low oil pressure. If this light comes on you should check your oil level and have the problem addressed soon to avoid costly engine repairs. If your battery and alternator are not charging then the picture of your battery will illuminate. The voltage of both the battery and alternator should be checked because the computer in your car needs to see that your car is driving at the correct voltage, if not, it may cause surges or spikes causing major electrical issues. The alternator and battery are the heart beat of your car, without a good electrical charge the whole car may not run properly. By sticking to your vehicles maintenance schedule (see your owners manual) it will help you avoid some of the problems and costly repairs. Technology in cars and trucks have come along ways and if you avoid the lights on your dash it could cause severe damage to your engine. We have invested in many manufacturer's scanners and diagnostic equipped and training throughout the year for all check engine issues. We can help you properly maintain your vehicle at Mr. T's Auto Repair.
As the sun sets earlier every day and the color of the leaves start to change, its time to start thinking about fall maintenance. Animals are making nest, the leaves and pine needles are falling rapidly and piling up in areas of your car.
Time to check cabin and air filters, removing the pile of pine needles and leaves along the windshield drain vents and having the blower fan cleaned of nesting materials. Animals are settling in to your vehicle during the night and can cause major damage to your car. Once a month check your filters for debris and put your fan on high to see if there are noises or smell coming from the vents. Take the time to remove pine needles and leaves from the vents so water can drain properly and not leak into the inside of your car. A little preventive maintenance goes a long way for major car repairs caused by chipmunks, mice and squirrels that eat through wires, filters and cause major damage. At Mr. T's Auto Repair we check and clean these areas of debris all year long. Call us for your Fall Check Up at 508-477-2460  Recently we have seen more mice and squirrel nest under the hoods of vehicle than the last couple of years. Mice eat through spark plug wires, electrical harnesses and ruin interiors of cars in a matter of days. At Mr. T's Auto Repair we have partnered up with the manufacturer's of the Mouse Blocker. The Mouse Blockers omits an ultrasonic sound that makes it uncomfortable for the mice to hang around and set up in camp in your car, truck, RV, tractor equipment or shed.
The 12Volt Blocker installs right to your battery and draws less than 1 volt from battery. Or the 120 Volt plugs into regular household outlet and can be used in sheds, garages, RV's or your car. The Anti-Rodent tape can be used to wrap around wiring harness, fuel lines that rodents tend to enjoy to snack on. Any of these devices are simple to use. Prices range from $29.95 for the tape to $99.95 for the 120Volt device. Want it installed? We install the 12 Volt devices in less than an hour and your on your way to scaring the mice away. Would you like more info? Stop by for a handy brochure or take a look at any of the products we have in stock at Mr. T's Auto Repair.  Daily I educate my customers on where to find the size and the correct air pressure for your tires. You would think the correct size and air pressure would be on the sidewall of your tire, well yes sorta but the accurate information is on a sticker.
Open your drivers door and there you will see most of the time 2 stickers. The one above will have your cars vehicle identification number, the manufacturer's tire size, correct inflation and date of birth of your said vehicle. When you need to know the correct air pressure check the sticker. The tire pressure on the sidewall could be for a variety of car makes and models but the one that is specified by the manufacturer is on this sticker. Need to know if your car has Federal or California emissions, again, check this sticker. If you needed a catalytic converter or emission sensors re[placed, this info makes a difference in what part you install. Need to know state or country of origin check the sticker. Ordering or replacing parts sometimes depends on what country your vehicle was built in. Need to know your VIN (Vehicle Identification number) check the sticker one more time, Your VIN is the encyclopedia of your vehicle. Tells the years, color, engine size, trani type and more. This sticker is one of a kind. It can even be traced back to you as the owner of your car if it was stolen or in a fire. When it doubt check the sticker for accurate information on any vehicle.  Your tire is losing air but no sign of a puncture causing the problem, then maybe the problem is in the tire valve stem. With tire pressure monitor systems in most cars now the old valve stem (picture #1) is hardly used any more . Valve stems are made of metal and get corroded over time. Leaks from the seal and metal collar (picture #2) on a valve stem sensor go bad and leak air. There are kits made for most tire sensors to replace just the bad seal and collar and your leak is repaired. But if the valve stem and the sensor are both severely corroded then a whole new tire pressure sensor has to be replaced and reprogrammed to your car. When setting your tire pressure always check the manufactures tag inside the drivers door. This is the proper inflation for your car not necessarily what is stamped on the side of the tire.
On July 28th a Mashpee neighbor passed away in a tragic car accident. He left behind his wife and newborn daughter. As Mashpee grieved together for the Quinn family it brought out the best in people too. After hearing the news of this family we knew we needed to help. We decided to open up our shop so the community could help support the Quinn's as well as grieve the loss of Kevin.The out pouring of the community and beyond the boundaries of Mashpee was overwhelming. Baby items, cash donations and gift cards came by the car loads before, during and after that one day we were open to except donations. Six kids from ATA Karate school sold lemonade so the baby would have toys to play with as she gets older. Many of us never met Kevin or his wife Kara but we all knew that this family need us now. So with stories of love, stories of sadness and of hope we all reached into our hearts to help soften the loss of a loved one, a family man, a soldier, husband and new dad. I still remember the faces from that day, the hugs and thank you's to so many that came and helped and to donate. You have all touched the hearts of the Quinn family and as well as us at Mr. T's Auto Repair. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  I think this summer was one of the busiest and hottest summers on the Cape that I can remember in a long time. Once July 4th hit then the air conditioning was on most of the time. Wether it is your house or car the ac system should be serviced yearly. In the colder months following the summer, animals gather debris such as fabric, leaves and nuts and camp out in your heater/ ac vents. We found many large nest located in the blower motor, air filter and cabin filters this summer. Now that summer is over it is a good idea to have the filters check and replaced if needed. If the animal does not leave the vent system it dies and causes a bad smell coming from the vents. This is unhealthy for you and your passengers. If you did not have your filters changed prior to summer then Fall is a great time to have them replaced. An inspection of the vents and blower motor should be checked before you turn the car's heater on. Fall is also a great time to replace wiper blades that were baking in the hot summer heat and inspection of the tire tread to make sure you won't have issues with hydroplaning during a heavy rain storm. It is better to have these items inspected and replaced before your Fall foliage vacation. Good bye summer of 2018.  |
AuthorCo-Owner of Mr. T's Auto Repair. Over 35 years of experience with car & truck owners advising them of their car repairs. Archives
March 2020
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