Ask Pete

With so many contributing factors that play a part in threatening our vehicles’ fuel economy, it surprises me that some drivers still haven't adopted more conservative driving habits. If your tires aren't properly inflated, it hurts your gas mileage. If the engine isn't running properly, it hurts your gas mileage. If your vehicle is overloaded in weight capacity, it hurts your gas mileage.

I recently spoke with a member who complained of a vibration while braking, telling me that the vibration began after having the tires rotated at a local repair shop. While it seemed the connection between the recent service and the current symptom was unlikely, after asking a couple of questions I realized the two were very much related.

We’ve all seen them—the folks that ride right up on your bumper as if they were engaged in a NASCAR drafting maneuver. It can happen on the surface streets or it can happen on the interstate, but sooner or later it’s going to happen!

Here we are again! The start of another year! I have come to the conclusion that resolutions I make more often than not are broken, forgotten, ignored or just plain given up on. So this year, I have resolved to not make any resolutions that I am afraid I won’t accomplish. Instead...

I’m on vacation, but feel free to post questions and I will get to them as soon as I can after I return. In the meantime, I trust that all of you will take good care of your vehicles...and Drive Carefully!

We’ve all heard the jokes about drivers from (insert state here) who go down the road for miles with their turn signal on. Then we see the exact opposite from drivers who are afraid to wear their signals out, so they use them sparingly—if at all. I can tell you from a technical point of view that you will not wear them out! You may have a signal bulb burn out on occasion, but trust me…You can’t wear them out!

A vehicle ‘inspection’ is not the same as a ‘diagnosis,’ and a ‘code reader’ diagnosis is not the same as a ‘comprehensive’ diagnosis.

In the spirit of the season—with Thanksgiving right around the corner—I wanted to personally thank all of you, our blog visitors and contributors, for your great topics, questions, comments and opinions. I enjoy engaging in the conversation that stems from your questions, and I truly appreciate that you look to AAA as your trusted automotive resource.

As complicated as today’s cars have become, many people shy away for doing any maintenance at all on their vehicles—even simple jobs—for fear of creating a bigger (and more expensive) problem than already exists. But the truth is, there is still a place in the garage for the do-it-yourselfer on certain projects. This is one of them.

It’s just a matter of time before the winter clothes will be out to stay—at least for a few months. But just as you prepare yourself for that cold winter snap, are you doing what you should to adequately prepare your vehicle?

In the every-changing world of automotive repair, one thing that has not taken a quantum leap in evolution is communication. The way people communicate in the repair business is the same as it was 20 years ago. Here are some examples of common phrases customers use, followed by what the repair professional “hears.”

One thing you can count on in Florida during the summer months is the afternoon rainstorm. It’s almost to the point that you can set your watch to the daily 3pm shower. I am frequently on the road for my job, and with the amount of dashboard time I spend per year, I get to observe some pretty interesting things—some of which provide great blog material. This is especially true when I am on the road and a summer storm erupts.

I’m on vacation, but feel free to post questions and I will get to them as soon as I can after I return. In the meantime, I trust that all of you will take good care of your vehicles...and Drive Carefully!

Recently, I have heard from a number of members regarding automotive repair shops that sell things that aren’t necessary or use high-pressure tactics to close a sale. It turns my stomach to hear about cheesy, know-it-all salespeople that intimidate customers just to fatten their bottom line. But believe it or not, there is another side to this story!

I was recently contacted by a member who had a vehicle repair done by her local mechanic, only to find out afterward that the component she had repaired was still covered by her manufacturer’s original warranty. After a couple of futile attempts to get reimbursed for the repairs from her local dealer, the member sought resolution through the manufacturer’s regional management. 

Like any other topic, people hold all kinds of mistaken beliefs about car problems and vehicle maintenance. And since this is my area of expertise, I frequently hear statements about cars that are, for lack of a better term, flat out wrong. Here is a countdown of my five current favorites...

Remember the days when you changed your oil every 3,000 miles, and you went to the corner mechanic for a “tune-up” every 12,000 miles?

In my latest “Ask Pete” column in Going Places magazine, I answered a letter from a member who complained about his local dealer using scare tactics to close a repair sale. My response ended with the suggestion to get a second opinion and find another place of repair, and I offered the AAA Approved Auto Repair network as an option. But was I picking on dealers?

Many of you that are regular—or even occasional—readers of my blogs and articles know that the subjects I write about can range from vehicle maintenance and repairs to traffic infractions. But this week’s topic angers me every time I see it and makes me wish I was in law enforcement so I could do more about it.

I often hear from folks that are looking for the absolute best deal on oil changes for their vehicle. While everyone is looking for a deal these days, this falls under the category of “You get what you pay for!”

While fueling up at my local gas station this past week, I set the lever on the pump handle and exercised my multi-tasking abilities by washing my windows as the vehicle filled up. As I approached my rear window, I glanced at the car at the next pump and couldn’t help noticing something that alarmed me.

While waiting in traffic due to a collision on I-4 recently, I was amazed at the number of drivers passing traffic on the shoulder of the road in order to avoid waiting in the jam. It seemed that once one person did it, others were soon to follow. I was even more amazed at the one individual who pulled out in front of an ambulance that was on its way to the scene.

It was a sad sight, indeed…I was on I-75 when traffic suddenly started to slow down, ultimately becoming an absolute crawl. This was not your typical onlooker delay. This was something very serious.

I had a discussion with one of our AAA members the other day about the manufacturer-recommended oil change for her 2011 General Motors vehicle. The owner’s manual said to use Dexos1 or equivalent. What is the definition of “or equivalent”?

Like many of you, I had the—ahem—pleasure of driving in the torrential rains that soaked Central Florida last week. As a cold front moved through the state, motorists were plagued with dodging debris on the road, flooding in some areas, and high winds that turned the shortest drive into a white-knuckle event.

If you have reason to call AAA because of any type of mechanical breakdown—such as a dead battery, flat tire, etc.—the first thing the call counselor will ask is if you are in a safe location. Our members’ safety is paramount in all we do, and by asking this question our counselors can get a better understanding of the situation at hand.

On my way to the office the other morning, I was traveling behind a driver who was obviously a morning person—much more so than me. The driver was bopping and swaying to a tune on the radio (at least I hope that was it), and she appeared to be really enjoying her moment.

Even though AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities have been performing a free 24-Point Vehicle Maintenance Inspection service for members for almost a decade, I am still routinely asked, “What does the inspection include?”

I remember a time when I would go out to my car about 15 minutes before my journey, start the engine, wait until it sounded like a purring kitten, then go about my day. Remember the day when you had to “set the choke” with a carbureted engine to get it going? Ahhh…those were the good ol’ days!

As we look forward to exciting times in 2011, it’s important to glance in the rearview mirror at some numbers directly related to automotive maintenance (or the lack thereof) that occurred in 2010. I recently suggested making a New Year’s resolution that may be different from resolutions you’re used to making—specifically, to be more tuned in to your vehicle’s maintenance in 2011. Here are some interesting factoids that really drive home my point.