I work on cars. AMA

[Anonymous]

Uh oh the PC brigade...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Most gas stations in DC are owned by an Ethiopian guy named Joe Mamo. He’s notoriously cheap. He hires other Ethiopian guys, pays them minimum wage, and doesn’t put a penny extra into the station. Next time you’re getting gas in DC, look at the window washer squeegee bucket. If it’s one of Joes stations, I guarantee the bucket will only have dirty water in it, instead of window cleaner.

Do you think the guy who won’t even spring for window cleaner for his customers is going to spend $65 a piece for air compressor desiccant packs!?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh oh the PC brigade...

DGAF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Thanks, I appreciate your take on this. My car is a Ford. I check the tire pressure whenever I think of it but not every time I get gas. $200 is kind of a lot to me. My mechanic says don't worry about it, just check pressure every now and then. Thankfully it's not something that would fail the safety inspection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Most gas stations in DC are owned by an Ethiopian guy named Joe Mamo. He’s notoriously cheap. He hires other Ethiopian guys, pays them minimum wage, and doesn’t put a penny extra into the station. Next time you’re getting gas in DC, look at the window washer squeegee bucket. If it’s one of Joes stations, I guarantee the bucket will only have dirty water in it, instead of window cleaner.

Do you think the guy who won’t even spring for window cleaner for his customers is going to spend $65 a piece for air compressor desiccant packs!?!?

Brilliant storytelling. Guys, it's storytelling, written humerously and it's also good info! It's like Car Talk and Dave Barry rolled up.

[Anonymous]

What's the best way to buy a vehicle in good condition from the 80s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Most gas stations in DC are owned by an Ethiopian guy named Joe Mamo. He’s notoriously cheap. He hires other Ethiopian guys, pays them minimum wage, and doesn’t put a penny extra into the station. Next time you’re getting gas in DC, look at the window washer squeegee bucket. If it’s one of Joes stations, I guarantee the bucket will only have dirty water in it, instead of window cleaner.

Do you think the guy who won’t even spring for window cleaner for his customers is going to spend $65 a piece for air compressor desiccant packs!?!?

Brilliant storytelling. Guys, it's storytelling, written humerously and it's also good info! It's like Car Talk and Dave Barry rolled up.

Well, we know why he fixes cars for living.

[Anonymous]

Why did you waffle so much about getting into the car repair business?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Most gas stations in DC are owned by an Ethiopian guy named Joe Mamo. He’s notoriously cheap. He hires other Ethiopian guys, pays them minimum wage, and doesn’t put a penny extra into the station. Next time you’re getting gas in DC, look at the window washer squeegee bucket. If it’s one of Joes stations, I guarantee the bucket will only have dirty water in it, instead of window cleaner.

Do you think the guy who won’t even spring for window cleaner for his customers is going to spend $65 a piece for air compressor desiccant packs!?!?

Brilliant storytelling. Guys, it's storytelling, written humerously and it's also good info! It's like Car Talk and Dave Barry rolled up.

Well, we know why he fixes cars for living.

Because I’m good at it and I’ve made a pile of money doing it.

[Anonymous]

There is water leaking into my car. It pools on the drivers side floor. I’ve checked the sunroof drains. They seem clear. Per google, I lifted the hood and cleaned debris under the hood at the windshield-that helped but did not solve the problem. Do you have any ideas? My car is so stinky. It’s a 2012 Highlander.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you waffle so much about getting into the car repair business?

I started as a technician’s helper at Precision Tune when I was still in high school. I didn’t think it was what I wanted to do, so after high school I went to UMCP, as a history major. Figured I’d go to law school afterwards, because that’s what everyone else seemed to be doing. And then I realized I didn’t like a lot of the people I met that were also aspiring lawyers like me. And damn, there sure were a lot of them. So after I got my BA, instead of law school, I went to Lincoln Tech and spent two more years not being gainfully employed, much to my parent’s annoyance. But Lincoln had like 99% industry job placement, and the day after I became a ASE Master Tech at Lincoln I got hired by Lustine Chevrolet in MD. Worked there a few years, then at Metro truck leasing, then Central GMC, then Verizon. Then a buddy said we should buy our own shop, so we did. Then he moved on to Florida and I bought him out. I ran the shop for the next 11 years, then I sold it a couple years ago because I wanted to travel for a year or so and see the world while my wife and I were still young enough and we didn’t have grandkids to fuss over. We didn’t need any income, the house was paid for, so it seemed like a good idea. It was awesome. But it’s boring as hell being retired at 49. So she went back to teaching, and I bought a car hauler and now I buy cars at auction and resell them to used car dealers after fixing them, or I relocate them for dealers. I don’t do it full time, just two or three days a week to stay busy. At some point I’ll probably sell this business too, and retire (again), but for now, it lets me feel like I’m accomplishing something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is water leaking into my car. It pools on the drivers side floor. I’ve checked the sunroof drains. They seem clear. Per google, I lifted the hood and cleaned debris under the hood at the windshield-that helped but did not solve the problem. Do you have any ideas? My car is so stinky. It’s a 2012 Highlander.

There are drainage holes in the vent area below the windshield. When you cleaned the leaves nd other accumulated crap out of that corner area under the hood, you got the big stuff that on the surface, but there is probably still more blocking the drain hole. My guess would be it’s either a bunch of dead bugs all collected there, or some of those oak tree pollen things, or possibly a mud dauber wasp has built a nest and blocked it. Vacuum the area, the use a hose, and really spray the hell out of that drain area. Keep the water away from the ECU on the firewall (put a bag over it) and the rest of the engine. If that doesn’t clear it up, you have to isolate the leak to figure out where it’s coming from. Cover various parts of the car body (sunroof, hood vents, door) with a tarp and then spray the car with a hose to simulate rain. It might not be coming in where you think it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the best way to buy a vehicle in good condition from the 80s?

From the 80’s? Probably at a classic car auction or a for sale ad on Hemming’s Motor News.

Pretty much the only cars still left from the 80’s are the “keepers”, that the owners specifically wanted to hold on to. That means they’ve been maintained, but also means they’ve lasted long enough that their value is starting to creep back up. Fox Body Mustangs, for example. You couldn’t give away a 1987 5.0 in the mid-2000’s. But now? One in decent shape will run more than it cost new in ‘87.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is water leaking into my car. It pools on the drivers side floor. I’ve checked the sunroof drains. They seem clear. Per google, I lifted the hood and cleaned debris under the hood at the windshield-that helped but did not solve the problem. Do you have any ideas? My car is so stinky. It’s a 2012 Highlander.

There are drainage holes in the vent area below the windshield. When you cleaned the leaves nd other accumulated crap out of that corner area under the hood, you got the big stuff that on the surface, but there is probably still more blocking the drain hole. My guess would be it’s either a bunch of dead bugs all collected there, or some of those oak tree pollen things, or possibly a mud dauber wasp has built a nest and blocked it. Vacuum the area, the use a hose, and really spray the hell out of that drain area. Keep the water away from the ECU on the firewall (put a bag over it) and the rest of the engine. If that doesn’t clear it up, you have to isolate the leak to figure out where it’s coming from. Cover various parts of the car body (sunroof, hood vents, door) with a tarp and then spray the car with a hose to simulate rain. It might not be coming in where you think it is.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Our own Click and Clack!

Thank you!