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598-9060
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Ask Bobby
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598-9060
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Bobby answers questions received from our readers
With winter fast approaching, what does my car need?
You need to check all your fluids, belts, hoses, etc. It's not just your coolant fluids like some may think.
All of your fluids are very important for the winter season. When the components of your vehicle (basically any mechanical moving part in the
vehicle that is lubricated with fluid) has fluid that distorts from age, then when it is extremely cold the
metals contract creating more clearance. They will need to heat up to expand to fill this void.
This is where the term "dry start-up" comes from. If
the fluids are in good condition with a conditioner like the BG products that I use, this will eliminate the
dry start up condition. Now this does not apply to your Differentials that use gear oil in them but you
will have more lash when it is cold but this is usually not an issue. However it will create an issue under load.
Also you want to make sure you have plenty of cranking amps out of that battery. Pay close attention to all
your connections and perform a starter test as well as an alternator output test. You want it to get up
to full charge as quickly as possible to overcome the load you just put on it to get your ride started.
Remember, that PCM that makes you go down the road does not like low voltage. The reason cold weather
reduces cranking amperage is the sulfuric acid in the battery thickens reducing its ability to create
electricity. That's why you should always go by "Cold Cranking Amperage" of the battery not "Cranking Amperage".
You want to know how much amperage you have at the battery's weakest point and ALWAYS when you buy a battery
get one with the highest cold cranking amperage for your vehicle.
OHMS law states, "It takes 1 volt of pressure to push 1 amp of current thru 1 ohm of resistance". So in other words
the stronger the battery the faster your engine will start! This will reduce the chances of creating other problems
like starter failure from overheating and melted cables & ends etc, or even frying your PCM from a power surge.
My car shakes when I apply the brakes. Does this mean I need new rotors?
Not necessarily, you may be able to turn them, also your abs system can cause a
pulsation as well as worn suspension parts. The best thing to do is to have it
checked to confirm that its the brakes causing your vibration when braking.
It used to be recommended to change your oil every 5000 miles. Then it was
every 3000 miles. Which statistic should we use?
It is recommended by the industry to change your oil every 3 months or 3000
miles which ever comes first. The purpose for changing your oil every 3000
miles is to get the contaminants out of your engine, and get fresh filtration.
How can I tell if I need a front end alignment?
You really don't have a way, you should have your alignment checked annually.
Signs of needed alignments are pulling, unusual tire wear, and vibration, which
all these symptoms can be caused by tires, worn suspension parts, etc.
My check engine light is on. It still runs great, am I at risk of damaging my
vehicle (50,000 miles)?
When ever your engine or any other warning lights come on you should always
have it checked as soon as possible, but normally no it won't hurt driving the
vehicle. However, understand your vehicle is not making proper fuel trim
adjustments because the vehicle is in a fixed frame memory block so in english
fuel economy, and performance are sacrificed. At $3 a gallon....I don't think
its a good idea to ride around like that!
Do the brand of spark plugs used in a vehicle really make a difference?
Absolutely!! Understand that all plugs are made for specific manufactures
ignition specs. This means the resistor in an a/c delco plug is designed to be
used with a GM ignition system, like autolite ford, champion for chrysler, NGK
for asian, etc. Always use what the manufacturer recommends basically use what
came in your vehicle from the factory. Which you can purchase your O.E. plugs
from after market suppliers. Just make sure they are the same brand, and
quality.
My engine is making a screeching / wining noise when I accelerate from a stop.
It goes away after a few seconds. What could it be?
Well it could be something as simple as a belt squealing. Noises are hard to
describe as well as sometimes hard to find. If it is very pronounced it is
usually easy to find. This is a common question I get calls about. The best
thing to do is stop by most any shop and they should be able to give you some
idea of what you are hearing.
What makes my car backfire some mornings?
If it only does it when cold then you may be experiencing a lean misfire. This
means it may not be supplying enough fuel when the vehicle is cold. Moisture in
the air can effect your ignition system so in the a.m. until your ignition gets
hot enough to evaporate all the moisture it has soaked up all night can cause
worn ignition components can misfire.
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