News:

Here at Helix Auto Care We still fix broken cars! Greg's Automotive Helix retains only the most experienced and skilled technicians we can find. Other shops and many dealerships have replaced experienced techs with minimally experienced helpers that can do maintenance and little else. At Helix, we still seek out the experienced techs that can repair cars and trucks, diagnose problems, and perform the scheduled maintenance your vehicle needs to live a long and happy life. Remember, with proper care and maintenance, today's vehicles can easily go well over 150,000 miles. In many cases, 250,000 and more are attainable.

Both of our shops, Greg's Automotive and Helix Auto Care are smaller than the old Greg's, but both are still full service shops. We have no plans to do Smog Check at Helix, but we will eventually be doing wheel alignments there.

Toyota Tip

A short notice on the Toyota problems. Greg's viewpoint is that it may not be electronic issues, but why chance it. I would shut my cell phone OFF when driving any vehicle.  Greg

Reminder Cards:

"Time flies when you're having fun" as the saying goes. With today's hectic schedules, we don't always remember things like an Oil Change, Air Conditioning Check up Brake Inspection, and Tune Up, that is until a light on the dash board or worse happens, and then a lot of the time it's too late. Staying on top of regular maintenance of your vehicle will save both time and money. That is one of the reasons we send out reminder cards. These reminders can be tailored for whatever service you wish. If you want to be included in our system's reminders, just let your Service Advisor know or you can email me at gregk@gregs-auto.com. We can tailor a card to fit your exact needs as far as topic or time/mileage.

Along the lines of reminder cards, we send many of our clients reminders from Mechanicnet as well as from our database. Mechanicnet hosts a web site for Greg's Automotive that includes access for you to your vehicle's history. They hold your information as closely as we do: no outside access by mailers or other such people. Period. No nonsense or excuses. If you want to connect, the postcard they send has a user name and password on the postcard reminder. If they haven't, just call them at 1-877-632-4638. Or you can call Greg at 619-440-4337 and we will get you a user name and password.

Our web site for Helix Auto Care is in development. I have been adding content as often as I have time for. There are still articles from Gregs-auto.com on here. Watch for the changes and let us know what you think.

Hybrid Maintenance and Repair

We can be your dealer alternative for hybrid service.

Cutting edge technology like hybrids, is interesting and challenging. We have the tools and training to service, maintain and repair your hybrid. Many of our techs have been to several hybrid classes, and we're waiting for the next big one in May or June.

Recently I received a phone call that prompted me to follow up on something I had heard about hybrids. What I have heard, from a few people, is that many hybrids are considered totaled after relatively minor collisions. This makes good used parts for them relatively easy to find. Transmissions and other major components can be found, saving hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars on major repairs. In the case I researched, the savings on a replacement transmission was over $1000!

Diesel Smog Check

Diesel smog check notices are now going out.We will be checking for computer codes and a snap smoke test. Also included is an under hood inspection.

Our involvement with modern diesels is growing rapidly. Today's clean diesels can offer better fuel economy and produce fewer greenhouse gases than some gas/electric hybrids. We service and repair an ever-increasing number of Ford, GM and Chrysler diesels. From oil service to the more involved repairs, we do it.

I own a Duramax diesel and have done a couple of things to it that I recommend for all diesels. The first is an additional fuel filter. This filter mounts in the back, by the fuel tank, and incorporates a 3 micron filter as compared to the factory filter, which is a 5 micron filter. By having that extra protection to clean the fuel, I worry less when I fuel up. It takes the concerns of clogging an injector off the table.

Another thing I do is to change that little filter on the transmission at every oil service. Small cost, extra protection and peace of mind are the benefits of that.

My truck only has 40,000 miles on it, but is 5 years old. It has been so trouble free, as most diesels are, that I have had to remind myself of the time part of service recommendations, and I bet many drivers of these have also. At 5 years most of the fluids in the vehicle need to be exchanged with new products. So, mine went into the shop for a bit of maintenance. We recently bought a new piece of equipment that does an injector flush to clean diesel engines of carbon. So, I did the first service on my own 2005 Duramax. As I said, it has 40,000 miles on it and hasn't done a lot of heavy duty work lately. The sales rep told me I would see a gradual benefit. The fuel economy went up a mile per gallon right away. I can't wait for the gradual increase.

Tire Rotation:

Often, when a vehicle is in for service, we will recommend rotating the tires. Sometimes, the customer says they have a free lifetime rotation where they bought the tires. To get that "free" rotation, you must set aside time and trouble to take your vehicle in for the service. To make a long story short, the needed tire rotation doesn't get done in a lot of cases, wearing the tires unevenly. So please consider closely whether a "free" rotation is really free or the cost far outweighs what we charge to do it while the car is on the lift and you have already done all the arranging.

Oil Change and Lubrication

Of course, the oil change and lube job has changed over the years and many garages don't do them. But we do. We might be a few cents more than the fast lubes, but we do everything we say we will: we use top quality filters, in many instances they are original equipment, top quality oil that meets the very latest standards and we give the car a thorough going over. We use a 30 point checklist. We don't skip checking the air in the tires "because they look o.k." and we don't recommend services that aren't needed, as some quick lubes do. We are very fussy about the quality of the parts we buy for your vehicle.Many shops will take what a supplier sells them based on price or fast availability. We shop the brands for the best balance of quality first and price.

A trick we are seeing being put on people is to use "normal" oil but charge for synthetic blends. Or call it a "full synthetic" and fill your car with a blend. While both are illegal, they happen regularly with the poor economy. Of course, now more than ever, everyone needs the most bang for their dollars and getting ripped isn't a way to get it. Lately we had a customer come in very irate because a nationally known store, famous for it's batteries had insisted she needed new water hoses. Her recent bill from us clearly showed a charge for new hoses, and she wanted to know what was up. We raised the hood and showed her what were very clearly new hoses and she got upset with the national store. This was no way an honest mistake or even a small bit of deception. Watch yourself out there, folks. The thieves are having a field day like I have never seen it in my 40 plus year career.

2010 ©  HelixAutoCare.com

Air Conditioning;

As the summer heat sets in, your cooling system and air conditioning move to the forefront in order of importance. If the a/c quits or doesn't work correctly, it's pretty obvious. That isn't necessarily the case with your cooling system. Of course, if the car overheats or spews a bunch of coolant, it's pretty obvious. But today's cooling systems are a wonder of modern chemistry.

Back in the day, engines were completely made of iron. It was revolutionary when they started making aluminum cylinder heads. Radiators were copper with lead solder to hold them together. Iron, copper and lead are pretty inert, non-chemically reactive chemicals. Because of this, the first additive besides water in the cooling system we saw as an industry was "anti-freeze." Ethylene glycol as an antifreeze was discovered by accident when an employee of a company noticed that the river next to their manufacturing plant didn't freeze where they dumped byproducts from their processes. Antifreeze was not meant to do much more than to keep the engine from freezing in cold climates. At first, "wood" alcohol was used but proved to be too volatile and harmful to paint and other parts of the car. Ethylene glycol was phased in as a better alternative to alcohol.

Then, in response to higher operating temperatures, the engineers figured out ways to help the antifreeze to transfer heat from the engine more effectively. They did this by adding chemicals that helped to microscopically wet the surfaces of the cooling system better. Then they tossed in some stuff to keep the glycol from cooking itself to death (oxidizing) and keep corrosion down and numerous other useful characteristics.

The next step came when different kinds of aluminum were put into the mix with aluminum heads, radiators, engine fittings, heaters, engine blocks and even some magnesium alloy parts. The antifreeze/coolant had to change with the changing materials under the hood. And change it has! While coolant is still based on ethylene glycol, what swims with the glycol has changed and grown to become the major workhorse of coolant. The additive package of coolant includes buffers for corrosion prevention, whetting agents for heat transfer, stabilizing agents and lots of other stuff, each fulfilling a need.

The latest coolants are based on Organic Acid Technology. This is to extend the useful life of the coolant as well as more effectively suppressing corrosion. When the corrosion inhibitors wear out (run out is technically more correct) the cooling system can become one great big battery. Because we now have many different metals under the hood, when the coolant gets weak, we get accelerated corrosion that can actually generate a small voltage in the system. Once a current is being generated in the cooling system, failure of some component is swift and sure. Oftentimes, we will see a neglected cooling system that needs a new radiator as well as other components like water pumps, heater cores, head gaskets and even cylinder heads. Bad coolant is not something you want in your vehicle. GM's recent settlement of millions of dollars for their "Dexcool" problems and Saturn's destruction of hundreds of vehicles because of a bad coolant mix from the factory are prime examples of how destructive a cooling system can get. The moral of the story is that cooling system maintenance is a critical issue in the life of your vehicle and can't be put off.

It's Time for the 21st Century Tune-up

Times are changing...cars are changing. One of the biggest changes in today's automotive industry is the perception of a "tune-up." Ask 10 vehicle owners their definition of a tune-up and chances are there'll be 10 different answers. The classic "tune-up" was once the heart of the automotive business and contrary to some beliefs, today's modern vehicles still need tune-ups to keep them performing at the most efficient levels.

The tune-up was historically associated with the routine replacement of key ignition system parts like spark plugs and ignition points, along with some basic adjustments to help "tune" the engine. Mounting pressure for increased fuel economy and lower emissions drove the car manufacturers to adopt electronics and to do away with ignition points in the '70s, along with the carburetor in the middle '80s. This eliminated the need for the replacement and adjustment of a growing number of ignition and fuel system parts.

As the pace of technology quickened, the procedures required to perform a traditional tune-up changed dramatically. Highly sophisticated ignition and fuel systems are now the norm, using one or more onboard computers to control critical engine and transmission management functions. Things that were once handled mechanically are now controlled electronically through the widespread use of onboard computer technology.

Because vehicles have changed so much over the years, the Car Care Council has introduced the 21st Century Tune-up. This program is designed to help re-define and educate motorists as to what a tune-up should consist of on today's modern vehicles.

"There is a misconception that today's modern vehicles don't need tune-ups because they never break down, but that simply is not true," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "If you're at work and your computer goes down, you can't get any more work done. It's the same with your vehicle. If the vehicle isn't being properly maintained, you're not going to get where you want to go."

As part of the 21st Century Tune-up on today's modern vehicles, the following systems should be inspected:

• battery, charging and starting
• engine mechanical
• powertrain control (including onboard diagnostic checks)
• fuel
• ignition
• emissions

Vehicle owners ask for tune-ups for a variety of reasons, including improving performance, maintaining reliability, planning a vacation, preparing for winter/summer or because they're giving the car to a friend or family member.

To help ensure good performance, fuel economy and emissions, the Car Care Council also recommends that motorists take the time necessary to become familiar with their vehicle from every aspect. Study the owner's manual to become thoroughly acquainted with the operation of all systems. Pay special attention to the indicator lights and instruments.

"The 'Be Car Care Aware' campaign is about helping motorists make informed decisions about their vehicles' care and maintenance," said White. "With the 21St Century Tune-up, we will continue to help vehicle owners make great strides in reducing vehicle neglect."

A new brochure is available that familiarizes motorists with the opportunities for preventive maintenance in and around their vehicle. The brochure contains information about the "Be Car Care Aware" campaign, a full-size schematic of vehicle parts, components and maintenance recommendations. For more information, visit http://www.carcare.org/Industry/BCCA_brochure.shtml.

2010 ©  HelixAutoCare.com