I work on cars. AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the least reliable brand?

In my experience, a tie between BMW and Volvo. BMW for electrical problems, and Volvo for transmissions, engines and electrical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you work on older cars - the ones that aren't 90% computers and sensors?

My personal fun cars are oldish. I prefer them for the simplicity, but we own a couple new cars as well. Camry and a 4Runner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Body work or mechanical?

Mechanical. Bodywork is tedious, and a frame jig can straight up kill you even if you’ve done everything right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the least reliable brand?

In my experience, a tie between BMW and Volvo. BMW for electrical problems, and Volvo for transmissions, engines and electrical.

I thought Volvo engines lasted FOREVER. Or did that end after the Swedes sold them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my tire pressure sensors went bad according to my mechanic. He says over $200 to replace it. I don't care that much about replacing it but the warning is constantly on and it's annoying. Any way to get this done for less? Why is it so expensive?

The sensor probably costs about $60-$90 depending on who makes it. Labor to remove the wheel, remove the tire, install the sensor, remount and balance the tire and put it back on the car is the balance. $200 is a good price for that. You can wait until you need new tires and do it then, but the problem with that is unless you monitor your pressure manually you won’t know if you’ve got a low tire or not, until you start to get uneven wear, and then it’s too late. Plus, it’s a safety thing. Unless you’re willing to check your pressure at each fill up, and most people don’t, you’re better off just fixing it. C’mon, it’s $200. That’s not much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a rattling in the A/C of my RAV-4; I think a mint wrapper got sucked in there! Is it worth having someone take a look/remove it, or would it be super costly and time-intensive just for a darn wrapper that hopefully will work itself out?

Thanks!

The fan blades in the HVAC system are probably hitting some accumulated dust, or maybe a dried out bug. Happens all the time. I’d ignore it. Tearing down a dashboard to fix a noise that doesn’t have a real problem associated with it is a waste of money and will likely create more squeaking and rattling after the dash is out back together. Live with it. If the heater core ever needs to be replaced, they’ll fix it then. Until then, let it ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to do it for a living, then I didn’t, then I did again, then I bought a shop, then I sold a shop, and I still work on my own cars and trucks as a hobby now.

So ask me anything. I’ll answer it if can.

Are you hot? Oh wait, you work on cars...you've already answered my question!

I’m not hot. Trust me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it I can take my car to one garage and they tell me my car needs A,B,C items fixed. I take it to another garage and they tell me I need B,D,E items fixed. How do I know who to trust?

It’s a capshoot. And you may well actually need items A-E all fixed. But some can wait, some can be ignored, and some need to be fixed RFN.

It’s hard to find a technician to trust. I always said “if I do a good job for someone, maybe they’ll tell a few people. If I do a bad job, they’ll tell everyone”. There good guys out there, but lots of clowns too. Basically I’d try to find someone who works on a lot of the same make of car. A specialist, but not a dealership. Dealerships are rip offs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think OP knows how to play AMA. Maybe we don’t need him.

I don’t really care what you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a rattling in the A/C of my RAV-4; I think a mint wrapper got sucked in there! Is it worth having someone take a look/remove it, or would it be super costly and time-intensive just for a darn wrapper that hopefully will work itself out?

Thanks!

The fan blades in the HVAC system are probably hitting some accumulated dust, or maybe a dried out bug. Happens all the time. I’d ignore it. Tearing down a dashboard to fix a noise that doesn’t have a real problem associated with it is a waste of money and will likely create more squeaking and rattling after the dash is out back together. Live with it. If the heater core ever needs to be replaced, they’ll fix it then. Until then, let it ride.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the least reliable brand?

In my experience, a tie between BMW and Volvo. BMW for electrical problems, and Volvo for transmissions, engines and electrical.

I thought Volvo engines lasted FOREVER. Or did that end after the Swedes sold them?

The 80’s 240 DL wagon is the only Volvo I’d ever own. Other than that, I’d never have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my tire pressure sensors went bad according to my mechanic. He says over $200 to replace it. I don't care that much about replacing it but the warning is constantly on and it's annoying. Any way to get this done for less? Why is it so expensive?

The sensor probably costs about $60-$90 depending on who makes it. Labor to remove the wheel, remove the tire, install the sensor, remount and balance the tire and put it back on the car is the balance. $200 is a good price for that. You can wait until you need new tires and do it then, but the problem with that is unless you monitor your pressure manually you won’t know if you’ve got a low tire or not, until you start to get uneven wear, and then it’s too late. Plus, it’s a safety thing. Unless you’re willing to check your pressure at each fill up, and most people don’t, you’re better off just fixing it. C’mon, it’s $200. That’s not much.

I also forgot to mention that some cars (certain Mercedes AMG vehicles, and Chevy Corvettes, plus other) will put the ECU into a safe mode that limits throttle response and reduces engine power, because the car thinks it has a low tire, because the tire sensor is throwing a code. So the car will reduce performance so you don’t go hooning around on a flat tire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tire sensors are PITA.

Failing tire sensors are a PITA. when they work properly, no one even thinks about them. Well, I do, actually...

Want your sensors to last? Fill your tires with nitrogen instead of air. Yeah, yeah, Air is 78% nitrogen ready, I know I know. But air also has moisture, and the piece of crap never been serviced air pump at your gas station that you use to add air to your tires is full of moisture, because the Ethiopian guy at the gas station never changes the desiccant filter in the air system. So if you use nitrogen, there is no moisture, and therefore no corrosion in the TPMS sensors. You can get bottled nitrogen at welding shops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tire sensors are PITA.

Failing tire sensors are a PITA. when they work properly, no one even thinks about them. Well, I do, actually...

Want your sensors to last? Fill your tires with nitrogen instead of air. Yeah, yeah, Air is 78% nitrogen ready, I know I know. But air also has moisture, and the piece of crap never been serviced air pump at your gas station that you use to add air to your tires is full of moisture, because the Ethiopian guy at the gas station never changes the desiccant filter in the air system. So if you use nitrogen, there is no moisture, and therefore no corrosion in the TPMS sensors. You can get bottled nitrogen at welding shops.

What?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tire sensors are PITA.

Failing tire sensors are a PITA. when they work properly, no one even thinks about them. Well, I do, actually...

Want your sensors to last? Fill your tires with nitrogen instead of air. Yeah, yeah, Air is 78% nitrogen ready, I know I know. But air also has moisture, and the piece of crap never been serviced air pump at your gas station that you use to add air to your tires is full of moisture, because the Ethiopian guy at the gas station never changes the desiccant filter in the air system. So if you use nitrogen, there is no moisture, and therefore no corrosion in the TPMS sensors. You can get bottled nitrogen at welding shops.

What?

That’s not right...