Vehicle repair tips — where to find them and whom to trust
When it comes to most of our vehicles’ needs, we pretty much know what to expect. That grinding from the front wheels when we hit the brakes almost always means it’s time for new rotors and pads. A hot- rod roar from our exhaust system usually means a visit to the muffler shop. A click-click-click when we hit the ignition is most likely a dead battery.
But what about those things that aren’t quite so simple? What about a check engine or airbag light? Why does our HVAC system seem to have a mind of its own when we try to switch from defrost to floor vents? Why do all the power door locks on our hatchback work except for the passenger rear?
Yes, of course our favourite tech probably has the answer to most of these questions, but many of us would like a hint or two of what we may be in store for when taking the ride into the shop.
Check engine lights: Trying to guess what’s behind this sometimes expensive indicator without a code reader is like trying to find the proverbial needle in a thousand haystacks. You can buy yourself a simple code reader for as little as $ 50 from a wide variety of auto- parts stores. If beater is the best definition of your chariot, this might be a wise investment. Once you’ve got a code, you can log onto obdcodes.com ( OBD stands for on-board diagnostics).
Online owner forums: Like anything else found on the web, you’ve got to take it all with a grain of salt and remember that you get what you pay for. That being said, vehicle owner forums can be a great source of detailed repair and diagnostic information. The trick is being able to sort the wheat from the chaff.
Look for large, well used forums with plenty of par- ticipation and some signs of automaker acknowledgment. Toyota Nation is a great example. Found at toyotanation.com, this site is well organized and has tens of thousands of participants. Before you just barge into a conversation expecting an immediate and knowledge- able answer, take the time to review the existing topics. Unless your problem is unique, you’ll likely find a ton of information and helpful tips from reviewing previous discussions.
Parts stores: Whether they’re a national/regional chain, OEM dealership, or independent facility, autoparts stores can be a wealth of information on just about any vehicle issue. Counter consultants might not readily provide detailed repair tips based on your description of your problem, but if you’ve narrowed things down to part A or part B for example, they can let you know what the most popular choice is, based on their sales records.
If you call in during nonpeak hours (usually between 10:30 a.m. and noon), and ask nicely, you may be surprised at the info you can collect.