Fix your own car with help from the new video series from AutoZone

By Joel Hartzman 

Manager of Xowey Car Forum

    

 

A new video series is now available at AutoZone stores. Bruce Bonebrake, also host of the DIYnetwork show, Weekend Mechanic, hosts the series. The series is designed to provide information to help the average person maintain or repair his or her own vehicle. Creators of the series, Jay Killingsworth Productions, have sent the series titled “THE AUTOZONE COMPLETE CAR CARE SERIES” to me for evaluation. I have been watching these videos carefully and I intend to write a review of each one individually. For now, I am going to just talk about what this series is, whether it passes my criticism tests for accuracy of information and probably the most important test, the special attention paid to safety procedures. I have been to my local AutoZone store recently and was thrilled to see this series sitting on display near the register. I am quite excited and honored that I have been chosen as the automotive expert to review this new series! The program consists of 10 individual DVD’s. The convenience of AutoZone does not stop with their attention to auto parts. Each program may be purchased separately. This may be the greatest learning tool you ever use to aid you with your home auto project.
What subjects can I choose from you might ask? Here is the complete list for you.

1. SPARK PLUGS & O2 SENSORS
2. A/C REPAIR
3. BRAKE JOBS
4. SHOCKS & STRUTS
5. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
6. STARTING & CHARGING
7. TIMING BELT
8. MASTER CYLINDER
9. CV AXLE
10. RACK & PINION STEERING SYSTEMSBruce Bonebrake is an automotive specialist who knows how to explain the details of what you need to know to get the job done right. Bruce shows you what tools to use for the job, and exactly how to use them. I really like Bruce’s style of teaching. Bruce makes all the information very understandable and he actually makes the repair while you are watching, so that you can copy his moves to guarantee your success. It is like having a master mechanic help you. Most people are able to fix their own vehicle if someone could just demonstrate the procedures for them. Bruce will give you the confidence to try some repairs that might be otherwise intimidating. Fixing your own car can be a fun and deeply rewarding experience.

 

You can find more information about Bruce Bonebrake if you navigate to his own website called BAT Auto Technical found at http://www.batauto.com . This web site contains a wealth of knowledge about cars, you can also join the BAT Auto Technical forum where you can ask questions and read open discussions. I recommend that you look at this web site when you get a chance.

 

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Electric cars - what's all the hoopla about?

PART 1

by Joel Hartzman 

Administrator for Xowey car forum

Electric cars seem to be all the rage this year, they seem to be causing even more enthusiasm than hybrid cars are generating. I recently heard reports on a political radio show that stated what I had already suspected ... the television campaign commercials that caused the most positive response for both Democrat and Republican candidates focused on the support for electric cars. With everything that is going on in the world from the war in Iraq, to the financial crisis facing banks, financial institutions like Freddie mac and Fannie Mae needing government bail out, and fear about countries that we don't trust trying to develop nuclear weapons, why do we care so much about electric cars? Is it just that everybody is upset when we go to the gas pumps? I certainly am upset, I bought gas today strictly for the purpose of filling my lawn tractor, when my gas can was full I noticed that I was paying $20.00 to fuel my mowing machine! Good grief! I certainly am angry about paying twice as much to cut my grass in the last couple of years, and I'm angry about sending this money from my gas pump to people that I suspect might hate me as a U.S. citizen.  With all that having been said, I think it may be interesting to see how each candidate will try to show that they will help to make electric vehicles more practical, and encourage manufacturers to focus more attention on developing reasonable priced models and technology.

GM will soon be releasing it's shining hope for the future in this category when it delivers the 2010 Chevy Volt . Is this car really the answer to all our problems? Some seem to think that it may be, as for me ..... I'm always more skeptical than the main stream thinking. The Chevy Volt web site is very impressive and exciting, (I must admit) with the big bold statement " CHARGE THE BATTERY. CHANGE THE WORLD " as an eye catching headline. I must admit ....... the thought of driving 40 miles without burning one drop of gas sounds like something I may want to get myself involved in right away. The sad fact of the matter is, they are still testing batteries and working on many details for this new "wonder" vehicle, with any luck at all we may be only 2 years away from start of production on the car that will "change the world, as they stated on the web site. It looks to me like we will just keep pumping our money into our tanks and keep waiting, but how will this car really change the world?

Let's look a little deeper into this in part 2 of : Electric cars - What's all the hoopla about?

Visit Xowey car forum for free car advice and help from professional mechanics. 

fuel pump relay

trying to find the fuel pump relay on a 1985 buick somerset regal. Pretty sure I need to replace fuel pump. I want to change relay also. Mitchells show it to be on the passenger strut tower: not there!

Technorati tags: electric cars, automobiles, car blog, automotive innovations

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Mechanics suffer car problems too.

by

Joel Hartzman

Technorati tags: cars, humor, automotive, mechanics

Some times being a mechanic really sucks!!! Ok now I'm complaining!
This is time to really hate my own personal vehicle, and just the forum to do it. I'm sure we all have had a hammer in our hands and looked at a car at one time or another and said to the car @#*^@ YOU!! I've been close to wailing away on a car or two myself.

The other day.......I was driving down the road (minding my own business) and my 96 regal started to loose power, (I was thinking..you piece of junk what now?) I looked at the gas gage and it read 1/8. Hmm? The kids said " why you stopping?" I said (out loud) "something's wrong with the car".( in my head was something worth NOT repeating) My oldest daughter, Jessie said " you're a great mechanic dad". In my head I said ........." "
So we walked 1/2 mile to a gas station and we bought a junk gas can for NINE DOLLARS! (that's U.S. dollars) When I tried to start it I got worried....it cranked too long. we made a couple stops and every time it had an extended crank. I guessed that the fuel pump may be done...it feels a little sluggish on acceleration too.
You ever get that sinking feeling inside when you are driving and you know something is about to go terribly wrong with your car? Well, that's the feeling I had and I was relieved when we finally made it home.

I pulled the gas tank out that night at home (pain in the butt, on jack stands) very rusty, for those of you from different parts of the country, Michigan is the heart of the rust belt this just sucks!
I pulled the fuel pump out.............sugar in my tank
I let my mother in-law use my car a short time ago for a couple of days, ( free loaner car thanks to me)
some kids in her area vandalized a bunch of cars.

Well, I got it back together last night ( cut into my computer time though)
new fuel pump, meter, strainer, & filter. I had tank flushed out at radiator shop.
The guy that flushed it said, (he's a Michigan hillbilly) "there was enough sugar in there to make a pie" src="http://www.thebluegorilla.com/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif" border="0" />


parts $350
labor free
posting about it here.....priceless

GM and hybrid vehicles

Technorati tags: blogs, hybrid cars, automotive innovations

I work at a GM dealer, why has the general been so far behind on the hybrid game? At the dealer I work at (it's fairly small and rural) we've never sold a hybrid of any kind yet. The Malibu hybrid hasn't been around us, I've never even seen one yet, I'm a mechanic and am all caught up on my hybrid training and prepared to work on one. Hybrids seem to be way to late to show up at GM..... the new 2 mode hybrid Tahoe that is coming out soon is a very cool vehicle and a step in the right direction but, I think it may be too technical for the average driver. There are a few issues that the general public will need to know or they will be very unhappy with their first hybrid experience. For instance : on a new 2mode hybrid, you will run into a major problem if you decide to sit in your vehicle and put the key into the accessory position and listen to the radio for a half hour or so because the 12volt battery (not the hybrid battery that is also on board) will go dead very quickly and will result in a no start condition because the 12 volt battery actually powers up the computers. The hybrid battery actually starts the engine but the vehicle is dead without the 12 volt battery. Even with the differences and the new processes that most drivers will have to learn to accept and learn, I think the new hybrids are an encouraging step in automotive evolution.
I just wish that GM would get with it and get this thing going a little more rapidly. When they release the new Chevy Volt that is coming and being advertised, it will really signify the start of the hybrid revolution .......... I just hope it works as good as they hope, for the sake of all of us.

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT NOTICE confusion : by Joel

I just received my notice in the mail today that is labeled "Economic Stimulus Payment Notice"
Here are a few of my thoughts about this .......... sorry if I go off on a tangent a little here, you may think that my thoughts are radical and extreme, but are they really? Open a history book and see if anything looks familiar anywhere in history.

Well, here it is, doesn't make sense to me .......... are they trying to get the general public used to receiving money from the government?
Where do we think this comes from?
Why should we give ourselves a loan?
Why not pay down the national debt instead?

All the crying about the expense of the war ........ must be a bunch of BS.
Doing the quick math here it looks like I have about $1800.00 coming to me soon, I could use the money sure, but at what cost?

Are they programing us for socialism incrementally by sending us money?
I DON'T like the way this feels ........... I feel like I'm a kid being lured to a STRANGERS car with a little candy or something ..... this must be trickery!

Wouldn't life be so much easier if we just worked at our jobs and all the money went to the government and then they will pay our bills for us and provide all the services we need and keep us fed and pay for our houses and transportation?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds a little socialist to me ......................... OK, maybe NOT a little.
I don't like the way things are going!

No wonder they took down the wall in Berlin, they don't see us as the enemy anymore.
Before you come down on me for my statements, ask yourself if you trust your politicians.
I love my country, but it seems to be changing into something I don't recognize.
GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!!

Technorati tags: politics, money, economic, blogs

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Shake & Bake? At D5X

OK, I said it! LOL!!
I’m surprised that I haven’t heard it from anyone yet, the finish of the 500 last week reminded me of the “shake and bake” from movies. Am I the only fan that is deranged and “mental” enough that I started yelling “SHAKE AND BAKE…..SHAKE AND BAKE” at the end of the Daytona 500 as Kurt and Ryan pushed their way to the front at the end of the race? OK well, maybe I’m alone in my psychosis …..... I was really hoping to yell it for Tony and Kyle (woulda helped me in the fantasy game).

YEEHAA!!! SHAKE AND BAKE!!!!!!

Technorati tags: NASCAR, racing, cars, blogs

Onstar knows how to catch a thief!

ONSTAR PLANS & SERVICES SVS ANNOUNCEMENT

Onstar recently announced a new product for 2009 models called "stolen vehicle slow down" .

Stolen vehicle slowdown is a great idea to prevent high speed chases,when a cop gets behind the stollen vehicle he tells onstar that the vehicle is clear for slowdown and the Onstar adviser puts the vehicle in reduced power mode causing the accelerator to become disabled. I like this feature! Some people may start crying and complaining about the big brother aspect of this technology .......... I just want to say "shut up!!!" I don't want high speed chases, I want the cops to stop people running from the law and deal with them quickly.
Who thinks that high speed chases are a great idea? They are only good for interesting viewing on scary police chase videos, I personally think we have enough of those on file, don't we? I really don't know why anyone wouldn't love this unless they are a car thief, or criminal, is there anyone out there that can make an argument against this ? I'd love to hear about it, just before I straighten you out. LOL!

check out what's going on at Onstar.com


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written by Joel Hartzman
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