Parts Archives | Cerified Auto

Unaware Your Spare Is Now Just a Repair Kit?

Do you remember when every car came with a full-sized spare tire? That was before the invention of the small temporary tire, sometimes called a “doughnut.” The doughnut cost less and shaved at least 20% of spare tire weight, increasing fuel efficiency.

Now, to save even more weight, many manufacturers are tossing out the day-old doughnut and replacing it with a repair kit.

Sometimes called an inflator or mobility kit, the repair kit also takes up very little room and consists of an air compressor with an attached hose and an integrated bottle of thick, sticky sealant.

unaware-your-spare-is-now-just-a-repair-kit

The weight savings is pretty huge. The standard spare and jack is the heavyweight of the options at 30-50 pounds. The doughnut and jack, on the other hand, weighs in at a svelte 20-25 pounds. Your loaded laptop case might weigh more than the repair kit, which is just 2 or 3 pounds.

What happens when you get a flat? No more jacking up the car, taking off lug nuts, and replacing the tire with a full-sized or temporary spare. Now you simply plug the unit in, secure the valve stem, and turn it on.

Easy enough, right?

Manufacturer’s estimate that the repair kit will work about 85% of the time. Those are decent odds, but unfortunately, if you get a major blowout that’s larger than a quarter of an inch, or if the puncture is on the side of the tire, the repair kit won’t do the job and you’ll need to get towed.

Without a spare tire, it is even more critical that you don’t ignore your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). It alerts you when there is a leak so you can address issues before you need to make an emergency roadside repair.

Carmakers are hurtling toward the 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which mandates that cars average 54.5 miles per gallon of fuel. Though they aren’t replacing every spare with a repair kit, it’s something you need to be aware of. Bring your car in and let us take a look when you get a TPMS alert. We don’t want you stuck in the middle of nowhere looking for a spare that isn’t there.

If you have questions about this or any other automotive issues, contact your vehicle repair and maintenance experts when you have a “spare” moment. We’ve been recognized four times by Motor Age as one of the top ten shops in America, including being honored as the absolute best auto repair shop in 2012! For old-fashioned customer service and state-of-the-art methods and equipment that will get you back on the road with a safe, reliable vehicle, call Certified Automotive Specialists at 626-541-2149 or make an appointment today!

The Mechanic Is Not Ripping You Off By Charging A Markup On Parts

Mechanics charge you more for parts than what you can buy those parts for online. People ask me about it from time to time. Is this a ripoff? No, it’s not.

This question usually pops up in my line of work when someone goes over a work order with a fine-toothed comb and then “checks” the prices they were charged for parts against prices on the internet. $249 for an alternator? You can buy one on Amazon for $86!

A markup on retail items—car parts or otherwise—is part of any business. And comparing Amazon prices to anything retail is misleading. My latest book (sorry not sorry for the plug) has a cover price of $39.95 but Amazon is giving them away for only $30.53.

Why is this? Among other things, Amazon does not run a local retail location with a person standing at a counter who can answer your questions.

But the parts question has a few more components. The part you get on Amazon might not be the same quality or have the same warranty as one from the local shop. The cheaper alternator cited above from Amazon comes with a one year warranty. The Ford Motorcraft alternator comes with a two year warranty.

And let’s face it: If you want that cheapo price on that car part, you have to buy it and install it yourself. While you might be fine with that, most people aren’t (hence the number of times I get asked this question.) When you pay the expert to install the part in your car, part of what you are compensating them for is what they bring to the transaction. The ease of installation (it doesn’t require you to get your hands dirty!) and the expertise. Most people would rather have the part installed by an expert who has done the installation many times before than try and do it themselves in their driveway.

And that installation quite likely comes with a warranty. The alternator dies the next day? Take it back to the shop if they installed it. You installed it? Pop the hood and start troubleshooting, Chief. Is the part defective or did you install it wrong?

I posted a question and asked guys in the industry to write and give me the lowdown on markups at dealerships and shops. Parts markups can vary from shop to shop and from dealer to dealer. Generally though, there are industry standards. What you are buying is the expertise of the shop and helping them keep the lights on and the doors open.

Would there be a markup that was too high? Of course: If they charged you $2490 for the $249 alternator, that would be a price “grossly in excess of the value of the goods.” In Michigan, and many other states, that would make it wrong. But notice the phrase “grossly in excess . . .” Simply charging you retail for a part that you can buy for close to wholesale isn’t going to break the law.

So, before you freak out when you see the price difference between the shop price and Amazon, remember that the comparison is not fair. Mechanics have to feed their kids too. And if you want the cheap price, you’re going to be doing the work yourself.

Catalytic Convertors Have Changed

Catalytic convertors have become more complicated. Usually a check engine light will light on the dash, your service provider reports a code after scanning the system. Further testing determines the catalytic convertor system has failed.

Older cars had one catalytic convertor and were able to be replaced for $300.00 or less. Starting in the early 2000 model year cars, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) change the standards on emission levels, meaning cars now have multiple catalytic convertors (some cars have 4 or more) to comply with the tighter emission standards.

CARB also change the rules about making the less expensive one shot wonder convertors as we called them, because the catalytic convertor lasted long enough to pass a smog check and then failed several years late, but were cheap. The new law is that everyone sold is warrantied for 5 years or 50,000 miles and has an executive order (EO) number that is made for the exact car it is installed on.

The consumer beware alert is some service providers are installing incorrect EO number convertors that cost less than the correct one, please beware when a catalytic convertor is purchased. You will fail a smog test if an incorrect EO number part is on your car.

One other warning is California is an island when it comes to emission parts; there are 49 state parts and California only parts. Catalytic convertors made for 49 state cars are illegal for California cars, so if you shop online, please look for the fine print, 49 state parts are not legal for California cars.

Clean air is what we all want and sometimes the consequences come at the cost of the consumer. We have had some cars cost thousands of dollars for catalytic convertors, so my recommendation is to keep a well maintained car to have the system perform at peak performance. Believe it or not the correct engine oil and regular changes help with a long lasting convertor, which should last 150,000 miles or more.

Timing Belt Replacement in Glendora

Today we want to talk to Glendora car owners about timing belts. They’re something that many Glendora drivers don’t know much about and yet your vehicle won’t run if it’s broken – and it could cause many thousands of dollars damage if it does break. A broken timing belt is usually a tale of woe. Even though timing belt replacement is scheduled in the owner’s manual, it’s not the kind of thing that most Los Angeles auto owners remember because it’s not well understood.

Let’s review what a timing belt does. As most Glendora auto owners know, the engine’s power is generated in the cylinders. A piston rides up and down in the cylinder. During the first down stroke, an intake valve at the top of the cylinder opens and air and fuel is drawn into the cylinder. Then the piston returns to the top, compressing the fuel and air mix. At the top, the spark plug fires, igniting the fuel pushing the piston down in the power stroke. As the piston once again returns up in the final stroke of the cycle, an exhaust valve opens at the top of the cylinder and the exhaust is pushed out. The timing belt is what coordinates the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. It’s called a timing belt because the valves have to open and close at just the right time.

Now, not all Azusa and Covina vehicles have timing belts. Some have timing chains. Like the name implies, they use a chain rather than a belt to perform the function. It used to be that most engines used timing chains, which are extremely durable. The leading auto makers started using belts rather than chains to save money in the manufacturing process. So now Glendora car owners and Certified Auto Specialists techs are left with a component that can break. They sort of shifted the problem to us. There are two broad categories of car maker engine design: interference and non-interference. If the timing belt on a non-interference engine breaks, the engine simply stops running. That could be very dangerous for auto owners depending on where they are at the time, but it causes no internal engine damage.

Interference sedan engines, on the other hand, will get real messed up when the timing belt breaks, because the valves will actually fall down into the path of the pistons. Things get chewed up when that happens and it’ll cost a chunk of money to repair the sedan engine.

So, what are the warning signs? Unfortunately, there really aren’t any. There aren’t tell-tale sounds. In some vehicles, a technician from Certified Auto Specialists may be able to see part of the belt for a visual inspection, but many have a cover that’s in the way. The reality is that if the belt slips even one notch, it might as well be broken for all the costly damage it’ll cause. There’s no middle ground.

So how can we avoid these problems? Simply replace the timing belt when your owner’s manual calls for it. It can be 60,000 miles; it might be 90,000 or 100,000 miles. The point is, if you have 60,000 or more miles, ask your Certified Auto Specialists service advisor right away if your automobile manufacturer requires a timing belt replacement.

Contact Certified Auto Specialists to learn more about your car’s Timing Belt
You can find us at:
476 Vermont Avenue
Glendora, California 91741
Or call us at 626-963-0814

Sometimes Glendora drivers can go quite a while without a failure, but we’ve seen them happen within a couple of oil changes of being due. It’s not worth the risk.

What does it cost to replace a timing belt in Glendora or San Dimas? Well, that really depends on what kind of car you have. I can tell you that it’s usually not very easy to get to the timing belt – you often have to remove some accessories to get at it. It isn’t a cheap procedure, but it’s a fraction of what it could cost to repair the pricey damage caused by a failure.

At Certified Auto Specialists in Glendora we’re all about trying to prevent expensive repairs, keeping you and your passengers safe and increasing your driving enjoyment. Thanks to AutoNetTV for their great auto video tips.

San Dimas Drivers: Is It Time To Replace Your PCV Valve?

Improved fuel economy has two benefits: less fuel is necessary and fewer emissions are released. San Dimas cars and trucks run cleaner than ever. San Dimas drivers may not realize that the first federally mandated pollution control device came out almost fifty years ago.

California car owners that were around in the early 60’s may remember that the PCV valve came out on 1964 model cars. PCV stand for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. The crankshaft is connected to the pistons that power the engine.

When fuel is burned in the sedan engine, it pushes the pistons down and the crankshaft rotates and sends power to the transmission. Some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.

Now this gas is about 70% unburned fuel. If it were allowed to remain in the crankcase, it would contaminate the oil and quickly turn it to sludge. Sludge is like Vaseline and clogs passages in the engine leading to damage.

Also, the pressure build up would blow out seals and gaskets. So in the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for our air quality in Glendora.

Enter the PCV valve. It’s a small, one-way valve that lets out the gases from the crankcase, and routes them back into the air intake system where they are re-burned in the engine. Fresh air comes into the crankcase through a breather tube. This makes for good circulation in the crankcase. And that gets the bad air out. As you can imagine, however, the valve gets gummed up over time.

San Dimas drivers that skip oil changes now and then will notice that the PCV valve gets gummed up even faster. If the PCV valve is sticking in your sedan, the gases won’t circulate as well, leading to increased pressure in the crankcase. That, in turn, can lead to oil leaks. Fortunately, the PCV valve is very inexpensive to replace at Certified Auto Specialists in Glendora. Some can even be checked by your reliable Certified Auto Specialists advisor.

Your sedan auto makers usually recommend they be changed somewhere between twenty and fifty thousand miles. Unfortunately, PCV valve replacement is left out of some sedan owner’s manuals, but at Certified Auto Specialists, we will make sure your PVC is replaced if needed.

All of us San Dimas car owners can do our part for the environment. Watch that lead foot, stay on top of our automotive maintenance and don’t forget to replace our PCV valve.

Serpentine Belt Replacement Near The Los Angeles Area

Don’t you hate it when you hear that squeal from under the hood when you’re driving aroun Los Angeles? It usually means there is a problem with the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine accessories. It runs the alternator-which charges the battery, the water pump-which cools the engine, the air conditioning and the power steering pump. All pretty important parts. It is called a serpentine belt because it snakes around a bunch of engine components.

Certified Auto Specialists
476 Vermont Avenue
Glendora, California 91741
626-963-0814

Serpentine belts are especially tough. They can last for years and go for tens of thousands of miles. But, with time they wear out. If your belt breaks while you are driving, everything will come to a halt within minutes. You have to stop the car or it will overheat, potentially causing major engine damage. And it probably won’t be at a convenient time or place. You might even need to get your car towed to a service center. That is why manufacturers recommend a belt replacement on schedule. You really should get it done on schedule because a belt failure will definitely take you off the road.

If you hear a squeal when accelerating or a slow, slapping sound at idle, you should have your serpentine belt looked at. Your Los Angeles area service technician at Certified Auto Specialists will visually inspect your belt to see if it needs to be changed sooner than scheduled. If the belt has more than three or four cracks an inch, has deep cracks that penetrate half the depth of the belt, is frayed, is missing pieces or has a shiny glazed look, it needs to be replaced regardless of age or mileage.

Serpentine belt replacement is relatively inexpensive, especially compared with the cost and inconvenience of being stranded or getting a disabled vehicle back to Certified Auto Specialists for repairs.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

PCV Valve Replacement

The energy from exploding fuel is what powers your engine. But some of the vapors from the explosions escape into the lower part of the engine, called the crankcase. The crankcase is where your engine oil hangs out. These gases are about 70% unburned fuel. If the gases were allowed to stay in the crankcase, they would quickly contaminate the oil and turn it to sludge. Sludge is one of the biggest enemies of your engine, clogging it up, eventually leading to expensive failures. Also, the pressure build up would cause seals and gaskets to blow out. Therefore, these gases need to be vented out.

Gasoline engines used to simply have a hose that let the poisonous fumes vent out into the air. In 1963, the federal government required gas engines to have a special one-way valve installed to help reduce dangerous emissions. Diesel engines are not required to have these valves.

The positive crankcase ventilation, or PCV, valve routes crankcase gases through a hose and back into the air intake system where they are re-burned in the engine. Fresh, clean air is brought into the crankcase through a breather tube. It’s really a pretty simple system, but does an important job. The re-circulating air removes moisture and combustion waste from the crankcase, preventing sludge. This extends not only the life of your oil, but the engine as well. The PCV relieves pressure in the crankcase, preventing oil leaks.

Eventually, the PCV valve can get gummed up. Then it can not move enough air through the engine to keep it working efficiently. If the PCV valve is sticking enough, you could have oil leaks, excess oil consumption and a fouled intake system. If you experience hesitation or surging or an oil leak, it may be a sign of PCV value problems. Your owners’ manual may give a recommendation for when the PCV valve should be replaced – usually between 20,000 mi/32,000 km and 50,000 mi/80,000 km. Unfortunately, some manufacturers don’t list a recommendation in the manual, so it can be easy to overlook.

Many PCV system problems can be diagnosed with a visual inspection. Fortunately, PCV valve replacement is both quick and inexpensive. Proper oil changes will greatly extend the life of the PCV valve. Skipping a few recommended oil changes can allow varnish and gum to build up in the valve, reducing its efficiency. So now when your Glendora service technician tells you its time to replace your PCV valve, you will know what he’s talking about. If you have had your car for a while and this is the first you’ve ever heard of a PCV value, ask your tech to check yours out or call Certified Auto Specialists at 626-963-0814.