Robert of Automotive Autobahn:

You left me a message on my cell phone about 2 weeks ago following up on a brief visit I made to your shop.  You checked out my 02 Honda Odyssey to ensure that another shop could hook up their equipment for the state inspection.  You got me right in and recommended a place nearby to get that done.

That was great.  Turns out that the next day I was in a “town hall” meeting where I work and they talked about one thing that customers want from businesses is a follow-up.  It shows the customer that you weren’t just another number or file or car.  You took the time to follow-up and make sure that I was taken care of even though that visit was free.

I was loyal to your business before that incident and often ask if people need a mechanic they can trust so that I can send them your way.

Way to be ahead of the curve and taking the extra step with that phone call.

Have a great weekend and see you soon for an oil change or other maintenance.

Sincerely,
Randy 

Systems Trainer Nationwide

Although we strive to service everyone everyday, we beat ourselves up if something falls through the cracks. Notes like this keep us inspired to continue to provide “Excellence in Service” to all our great customers.

You’ve asked for it, and our new Autobahn Automotive auto swag is in!

We find that most people don’t understand the role a battery takes in the vehicle.  The size of the battery, it’s cold cranking amp (CCA) capacity number and, more importantly,  it’s reserve capacity (RC) number are the crucial markers for a correctly fitted battery.   The higher these numbers, the stronger  the battery.

CCA is the number of amps a battery can support for 30 seconds at a temperature of 0 degrees F until the voltage drops to unusable levels.

RC helps to power your vehicle’s electrical system if the alternator fails. It indicates the battery’s “staying power” — how many minutes the battery can supply ample power without falling below the minimum voltage needed to run your vehicle.

Ii you live in a cold climate, the cold cranking amp number should be as high as possible.  If you live in a high heat climate, this number doesn’t have to be as strong. Cheap batteries are just that,  CHEAP!  Products that only display hot cranking amps (HCA)  or cranking amps (CA) ratings are tested at higher temperatures so the resulting numbers appear higher but your not getting what you think you are paying for.

The components on your vehicle such as the engine management system, instrumentation, lights, nav screen, extra power ports, and DVD players all require amperage from the battery to be consistent and pure.

If you travel and leave your vehicle unused for periods of time more than a day, you might want to consider buying a battery maintainer.  This piece of equipment will provide only enough charge to maintain the battery at full charge.  Do not  hook the battery up to a regular battery charger as this will probably overcharge the battery.

An overcharged battery will boil the sulfuric acid and distilled water mix. The casing of the battery can become hot to the touch, and begin to melt or swell.

Do not expect that a battery will last forever, warranty notwithstanding.  Battery warranties do not provide lifetime replacement.  Warranties prorate over a period of time. Each battery manufacturer has a different warranty.   For instance,  a battery that has a 2 year free replacement with a 5 year warranty means in the first 2 years the company will replace it. After 2 years the remaining time is handled by prorating. Which means a 4 year old battery with a 5 year warranty, you may only get a 5.00 credit.

We will check your battery charge levels the next time you are in for any reason.  We don’t want you to get stranded!

Our customer described the symptoms as an overheating engine along with a burning antifreeze smell.  One might suspect the waterpump and or thermostat to be the culprit.  However in this scenario we noticed the coolant bleed hole next to the waterpump was gushing antifreeze. Further investigation was required.

Through extensive research we found that the seal bonded to the coolant pipe inside the engine fails.  We could replace the waterpump all day long and not fix the problem.

BMW is aware of the issue. They say to fix the problem, it requires removal of the front of the engine and timing cover case. Then replace the coolant pipe. The only problem with that is it is not a solution, because you are using the same coolant pipe that BMW started with in the first place.   It will fail again, not to mention the extraordinary expense, upwards of $5-6K and possible 5-7 day time frame.

We found a company in California which makes a custom designed specialty coolant pipe manufactured for this very problem.  The repair was still not cheap as far as cost of maintenance goes, the repair was done in a few days, and for a third of the cost originally estimated to the customer.

We are so pleased to find a true fix to a problem that may seem insurmountable on the surface.  Happy customer, happy shop!

The thing about your A/C compressor is that it runs most of the year, not just in the summer.  Your HVAC system in your car is like your home.  It pulls moisture out of the air and this is what cools us down in hot temperatures, and also what defrosts our windows in winter.  But the compressor itself is like an engine.  It needs servicing too.

Her car probably would have never needed the repair if she had the oil changed in the A/C compressor on a maintenance schedule. We recommend servicing once every two years.  This would keep the components operating efficiently and they may never need replacement because of it.  Pulling a vacuum on the system, checking for leaks, and replacing the compressor oil and refrigerant should run around $135 to $160.  This is small potatoes on a bi-annual basis compared to a one time potential cash layout of nearly four figures.

Americans may remember the diesel technology we saw on the road in the 1970’s.  Black exhaust, loud engines, slow performance. They did get nearly 50 mpg.  During the energy crises of the Carter years that was worth it for many people who bought them. However,  Americans never embraced diesels with vigor. That was for the Europeans. Anyway, they didn’t seem to mind dirty.

Let’s fast forward to the 21st century. Over half of all Europeans still drive diesels. Gas is upwards of $7 per gallon across the pond. They engines have great power, no black exhaust, no smell, and…get ready for this, minimal pollutants.  A 2007 model VW diesel can get 75 mpg.!  Whoa!

Sulfur in diesel fuel was the culprit. It helped make acid rain, and smelled like rotten eggs. Refineries have made Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel since 2006.  Compare 70’s diesel sulfur concentrations at 550 ppm (parts per million) with todays ULSD at 15 ppm.   Gasoline,  to be fair, is also cleaner. Leaded gas was clogging every artery on our highways until 1974, when un-leaded fuel was invented.

These fuel advances have allowed engineers to develop electronic engine systems that take greater advantage of the energy an engine can get from it’s fuel.  Diesel has more energy per volume than gasoline and higher compression ratios.  When the mixture in a diesel engine is ignited the car gets a bigger push than it would from gas.  That equates into less fuel to move the car.

Higher compression means the engines need to be made stronger. Crankshafts and connecting rods are bigger and heavier.  But at the same time, diesel fuel is a better lubricant and protects the interior cylinder walls better.  It’s common for a diesel engine to have 300,000 miles on it. Imagine the savings we could accumulate in our 401K’s!

The EPA claims that if 33% of US drivers went to diesel cars, Americans would reduce oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels per day. Thats a 10% cut in oil imports.  Whether you are interested in greenhouse gasses, energy independence and consumption,  or national security, clean diesel makes sense in all three areas.

Zoomsafer installs an application on your phone, which you activate when driving, that inhibits calls or texts from coming through.  The cool thing about it, is the caller immediately gets a text explaining why the person did not answer the call. “Robert received your phone call but is driving and focused on the road”.  Zoomsafer also lets you pre-program up to 20 important numbers which will be identified by a verbal voice command.  When I tried to call Robert his phone told him the number that was calling.  This would be where you might put your secretary, office, children’s numbers, parents, spouse etc.

Try it out at zoomsafer.com.  Drive safely!