Lunar Eclipse Tonight!

There's a total lunar eclipse tonight. Here's some links, so you can see it, too!

Total Lunar Eclipse
How to watch the Lunar Eclipse

Visit our car repair's shop on facebook to see a video of it if you missed it here - Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Facebook Links

WINTER IS HERE

Winter is here, please drive carefully. You don't want to end up in one of these videos, do you? Happy and safe motoring!










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Winter car care specials and coupons available at Pride Auto Care

Santa wouldn’t drive his sleigh without making sure it’s fit for the winter – so you need to make sure your vehicle is ready too! Pride Auto Care is a complete automotive service center. Colorado family-owned and operated for over 20 years, this is the place to go for all your vehicle maintenance and repair needs. The Pridemore brothers Al, Vince, Darrell and Dwight will see to it that you can travel in peace over the following months.

Before heading off to Grandma’s house for the holidays, make sure your tires are ready to take on the harsh winter roads. Pride Auto has a tire for you that will work within any budget, featuring Michelin, BF Goodrich and Uniroyal tire brands. For all your winter tire and automotive needs, THINK LOCAL and Come Ride With Pride. Visit any of our three locations – Parker, Centennial and Littleton.

The discounts on our coupon page are valid at all three Metro Denver Locations

Pride Auto Care - Highlands Ranch / Littleton / South Metro Denver
8080 S. Broadway, Littleton 80122 next to Conoco 2 blocks north of E-470 303-794-554 Call Dwight at (303) 794-5545 or email dpridemore@prideautocare.com

Pride Auto Care - Centennial / Denver Tech Center / South Metro Denver 8787 East Dry Creek Rd. Centennial CO 80112 Call Vince at 303-220-0249 or emailvpridemore@prideautocare.com

Pride Auto Care - Parker/Franktown/Castle Rock Colorado 11133 S Dransfeldt Rd. Parker, CO 8013 Call Darrell at 303-805-2430 or email gpridemore@prideautocare.com

A Women’s Point of View: We Have Elves!

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Tis the season when magic happens. All the elves are extra busy making everyone’s wishes and dreams come true, making children’s (and adult children’s) toys, ordinary trees sparkle, wrapping plain boxes in such a way to make us wonder in awe and mystery of what is inside, and filling our homes with smells that make us remember warm and wondrous moments.

Even in the workplace we cannot escape their magic touches. At Cars For Keeps we have elves too. Our main elf has been helping many people easily get those new tires on their cars, since the snow has started to fly through the air. Yes, we have been forced to let go of summer in our hearts and minds, so we may as well gracefully surrender to the romance of falling snow, fireplaces and warm, soft mittens.

Our other elves have been busy helping to rectify the usual cold weather maladies that affect our cars such as dead batteries, broken window seals, heater malfunctions, windshield wipers that leave streaks, and all the other little things that happen when it turns cold. Then there are the major breakdowns and malfunctions that can and do happen. Our elves can do it all on all makes of cars.

Since this is the season for giving here is the tip for the day: Cars For Keeps is giving free oil changes to all active members and immediate family members (spouses and at home children) of all branches of the armed services. It is our way of saying, ‘Thank you for your service’!

Winter Driving Tips for Bald Tires, Light Cars & Other Bad Winter Vehicles

by Marjorie S., Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

We've promoted. We've suggested. We've blogged, tweeted and status updated. We've offered coupons. We've done everything we possibly can to impress the importance of proper winter snow tires on our customers, and you've listened - most of you, that is.

Having been in the auto repair industry for as long as we have, we know that some people are just not going to follow our advice, no matter what we do. Maybe you don't believe you actually NEED snow tires, or maybe you just don't have the money for snow tires in your budget right now. Whatever your reasons for not getting those snow tires installed, this post is for you!

Keep in mind the recommendations below are NOT an encouragement to keep your vehicle unprepared for winter weather. Still, we understand that sometimes "life happens". If you're driving on bald tires for one reason or the other, we at least want you to have the driving knowledge to take what Michigan winters will throw at you.

Winter Driving on Bald Tires

So you're driving on summer tires, bald tires, or perhaps all weather tires. If your vehicle is "compact", it's much more susceptible to skidding around on the ice and getting blown off course by semi trucks. What can you do to drive safely in these conditions?

Slow. Down. It's painfully basic, but it's true. The faster your bald-tired little vehicle goes on slippery snow and ice, the less traction it has. If your car is not equipped for winter, leave yourself more time to get places and drive slowly during inclement road conditions. Sure, it's inconvenient, but it could save your life.


Use lower gears. This especially applies to driving up or down inclines on icy roads; using lower gears can help to give you more traction and maintain a slower, steadier speed.

Never forget road conditions. If you're driving on bald tires during an ice storm, you're probably not going to think about anything else until you've taken the key out of the ignition. If you're driving on old all-weather tires in slushy barely freezing weather, however, you might be tempted to become overconfident and forget about your car's treacherous position. The moment you take your vehicle's traction for granted and brake or steer too hard is the moment you might lose control of the vehicle.

Maintain space between your car and other vehicles. Who cares if you're driving like dear old grandma? Maintaining extra space between the cars around you is an easy way to avoid costly fender benders in town. On the freeway, it's an easy way to avoid a fatal crash.

Don't rely on your brakes. When you're driving on bad tires in bad conditions, avoid the temptation to over-brake at all costs. If your vehicle has little or no traction, braking hard is more likely to cause your car to spin out of control than anything else. At high speeds on the freeway, even braking lightly on ice can cause your brakes to lock and your vehicle to lose control. In these situations, the best way to slow down is to remove your foot from the gas, wait for some deceleration (if you can), then pump the brake pedal slowly and firmly. If you don't have ABS, this can also prevent your wheels from locking.

Drive behind salt trucks. Passing heavy equipment during inclement weather is treacherous in a vehicle equipped with great snow tires. If you're driving a poorly equipped car, do yourself a favor and remain behind salt trucks as long as you can. Sure, you'll probably get where you're going late, and your car will definitely need an undercarriage wash, but you'll avoid a potentially bad accident.

If your vehicle is medium to heavy duty truck with rear or four wheel drive, toss heavy items such as bricks or old summer tires in the back. Even if your tires are bald, the extra weight should help to give you a little much-needed traction.

Safe driving! (and remember: it's not too late to get snow tires installed...)

A Women’s Point of View: The Rush Has Begun

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

It’s official. The Holidays that we all know and love are in full swing. The cooking, the cleaning for all the company, the shopping, the chauffeuring, the decorating, etc., etc., etc. You are Woman! We hear you roar!

I notice every year at Cars For Keeps that we see fewer women this time of year. We do get to meet their husbands, their teenagers, even their fathers and brothers. Good recruiting and delegating ladies. Our hats are off to you for knowing that your car’s mechanical health is very important this time of year when you are running here and there and everywhere. You think and plan ahead to have that oil change, those brakes checked and fixed and those inspections done to head off any potential trouble. There is nothing worse than getting up at 3AM to get to that store for those great bargains and then finding out your battery is dead. You get ten points for stress reduction.

Winter driving tip for the day: steering wheel covers. Get the kind that have material and bumps on them. The material keeps your steering wheel from getting so cold that your hands ache and the bumps give you a good grip when turning corners. How many times have your hands slipped, especially if you are wearing mittens? Oddly enough, the bumpy parts do not get that cold, so you can take off those bulky mittens with the hand warmers and stay comfortably in control of that steering wheel. The only bad part is getting the cover onto the steering wheel, but it is worth the trouble. Oh, and be sure to color coordinate.!

Winter Snow Tires: Two Tires or Four?

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

Well, as anyone who was traveling in West Michigan over the Thanksgiving holiday knows, winter weather driving is officially here! We may not all love the snow, but it's here to stay, and our vehicles need to be prepared.

Some drivers may opt to only put snow tires on two wheels - front or back, depending on where the drivetrain is located - in an attempt to save money. While this may seem like a good idea from a non-mechanic's point of view, the truth is that only using two snow tires instead of four may barely improve your vehicle's handling in inclement positions. In rear wheel drive vehicles, using snow tires only on the back end may actually cause less control than no snow tires at all.


But don't take our word for it. Take a look at these two winter tire demonstration videos put out by the Automobile Protection Association:

Rear Wheel Drive Snow Tires


Front Wheel Drive Snow Tires


So which brand of snow tires is best for your vehicle? We carry many brands winter tires which fit a range of budgets. Of course, we prefer the performance of some brands and models more than others, but the important thing is to HAVE snow tires on all four of your vehicle's wheels. To price out snow tires for your car, give us a call at 616-846-1989 or stop by the shop.

Safe driving!

A Women’s Point of View: Fuel Additives Can Be Good

A few weeks ago I talked about how to lessen your visits to the dreaded gas station. Additives were briefly mentioned as one way to keep your car running at its peak performance.

I have been requested to write more about these additives, so I did some research. Speaking to the experts on the subject, I have learned that there is good news and not so good news in regards to fuel additives. The not so good news is that most gasoline additives are pretty much worthless. The good news is that there are a couple of additives that actually do some good for your car’s engine. It's a good thing we have auto experts on hand who can tell us which ones!

The first is called Sea Foam. Yes. I agree, it is a pretty silly name for your big strong car that really doesn’t run in or on the sea. But as a gasoline additive it cleans the car’s fuel system and is very stable when used, especially if you are storing your vehicle. Best used at intervals of two or three times a year. Another good additive to use is Stabil, for storing your vehicle. It helps to keep your gasoline fresh. An additive called 44K is something we use at Cars For Keeps to keep gasoline fresh and cleans the fuel injectors.

All of these are helpful for getting the most for your money at the gas pump. Here is the last, but best, hint of all; nothing is better than a knowledgeable, well-trained mechanic looking after your vehicle at regular maintenance intervals. Almost like having a ‘mechanic in a bottle’.

Save driving!

An Interview with Michael: About Brakes, Part II

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

Last week Michael told us about all the extra service he performs each time he installs brakes on a car. When asked what each of us can do to get the optimal performance from our brakes and make them last, this is his surprising answer.

“Worn out suspension – struts and shocks in the front play a major role. Most of the braking comes from the front brakes. When you have a hard stop the front of the car does a ‘nose dive’, causing the front brakes to do most of the work. Cars are set up now so that 75% to 80% of the pressure is on the front brakes and 25% on the rear brakes. So the front brakes wear out faster than the rear brakes, and a worn out suspension can cause warpage from heat build-up on the brake rotors.

Also, the way we use our brakes can make a difference in the longevity of our brakes. A ‘hard stop’ is when you press down hard on the brakes for a quick stop. A ‘soft stop’ is when you lightly apply pressure to the brakes for a longer, slower stop. ‘Soft stops’ cause less friction on the suspension and rotors and help the brakes and suspension have a longer life.”

In conclusion: Having a lead foot on the gas is not only bad for us at the gas station, but can also make the investment in new brakes come sooner than we would like.

Thanks to Michael for his expertise and helping us do what we do best at Cars For Keeps!

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE: Fact & Fiction

You might as well face it, snow is on the way. The clocks have been set back to winter, there is frost on the lawn nearly every morning, and it’s only a matter of days before we wake up and see that first snowfall. You’ll know it when it happens; it’s when you hear the screaming and laughter of the neighborhood kids as they dive into their first snowball fight, signaling that winter is officially here.

Every year we celebrate the change of seasons, and it seems that every year we need to relearn how to drive in the snow. Without fail, the first storm sends a car or two off the road.
It seems that it takes a fender bender to wake drivers up, refreshing their memories to, “Oh yeah, it’s snowing, I need to slow down.” Have you ever noticed that the majority of these “victims” are driving 4-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles? Fact: 4-wheel or all-wheel drive does not mean you are invincible.

In reality, 4x4 does nothing for winter driving other than to get the vehicle moving. If you are stuck in a drift, or you need to get up your driveway before you snow blow, 4x4 can help. Once you are underway, it does nothing. In fact, most all-wheel drive systems disengage once slippage stops, or when the vehicle reaches a certain rate of speed. Once the vehicle is underway, it’s your tires and your driving habits that keep you on the road.

Quality tread, deep and wide enough to grab the snow and throw it away is what gives you traction in snow. Also, tires made of proper winter rubber that is designed to grip the road in low temperatures helps to keep you on the road. The rubber of summer tires is too brittle to adhere to cold, slippery surfaces, proving down right dangerous in winter conditions.

However, nothing helps more with the challenges of winter driving than just slowing down. Whether you are driving with rear wheel, front wheel, 4x4, or all-wheel drive, the vehicle’s ability to stop is determined by its weight in relation to its brakes, not by how the wheels are driven. Basic physics: an object in motion wants to stay in motion, especially if it’s on ice and snow. In the best of conditions, a heavy full size SUV with extra weight and momentum will take longer to stop than a small car. In winter conditions, the stopping distance is even longer, with an even higher risk of slipping. Of course if it’s icy, even the best studded tires may not help. If you are going too fast for conditions, you will crash. Slow down, and at least you have a chance of avoiding a problem.

I for one can’t wait to drive in the snow again. This will be my first winter with an all-wheel drive vehicle, the Toyota RAV4. Even though I won’t be invincible, I still look forward to enjoying the artificial safety and security of a vehicle with higher clearance and all-wheel drive. Regardless, I will slow down when the snow flies. You should too!

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Independent Auto Repair vs. Dealership Auto Repair: 5 Things to Consider

by Marjorie Steele, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

"Your dealership alternative" is becoming a familiar slogan among independent auto repair shops. To be sure, independent auto repair shops - like Cars for Keeps - would like to drink some of that warrantied service milkshake, but it's not just a ploy to steal business from auto dealerships. More and more vehicle owners are actively looking for better customer service, better prices and more comprehensive repair service than auto dealerships offer.

There are many factors to weigh when choosing between auto dealership repair service and service provided by independent repair centers. In some cases, the similarities between the two may be very close, making it difficult for vehicle owners to choose. To make matters worse, a lot of misinformation has been spread to consumers about warranties, cost and parts availability.

If you, a friend or family member is struggling to choose between auto dealership service and independent repair service, we encourage you to take the following into consideration:

Vehicle warranty. Contrary to popular belief, vehicle owners have the legal right to choose anyone to be their auto repair service provider to perform services not covered under warranty, without risking losing their warranty. There will always be some services and recall-related repairs which auto dealerships can offer at a lower cost (or for free) under warranty, but these are limited, especially as the vehicle ages.

Additionally, standard dealership warranties usually expire after 12 months or 12,000 miles; highly certified independent auto repair centers (like Cars for Keeps) can often offer extended parts and labor warranties which cover terms as long as 3 years.

OEM parts. Quality independent auto repair shops like Cars for Keeps have access to the same original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts auto dealerships do; independent repair shops are often able to get OEM parts from less expensive suppliers than dealer direct, passing those cost savings down to the customer. Also, OEM parts may not always be the best solution for auto repair, and they are certainly not always the most cost-effective, yet OEM parts are the only parts auto dealerships offer. Independent dealerships offer car owners a range of parts brands, allowing car owners to cut expenses by choosing non-OEM parts, if they need to.

Labor cost. Auto dealerships and independent repair shops track their technician's hours differently; dealerships tend to standardize allotted work time, offering technicians incentive to finish jobs more quickly. Independent repair shops typically track technician work by actual hours, passing along cost savings to the customer. Independent repair shops as a whole generally offer labor at 20% less than dealerships.

Technician experience. Last but not least, auto technician experience is a very important factor when it comes to auto repair. Auto dealership technicians receive highly specialized training specific to the auto brands the dealership sells. This gives dealership technicians firm expertise on a handful of auto brands, but it also means that technicians lack expert knowledge of other brands, hindering their breadth of expertise. Highly qualified independent auto technicians are cross-trained to work on a wide spectrum of vehicles, and for technicians who work at AAA approved, Bosch and NAPA Certified independent repair centers, their level of mechanical training and knowledge is quite extensive. Experienced independent repair technicians often develop better problem solving skills as a result of their diverse experience, allowing them to fix vehicles faster, more permanently and more thoroughly.

Of course, we at Cars for Keeps are biased towards independent auto repair, so if you're still skeptical, we encourage you to try making the comparison yourself. If you do, be sure to drop us a line and tell us about your experience!

Electronic Module failures

We are seeing a disturbing trend with many high end cars built in the 1980s and 1990s. Their auxiliary control modules are failing, and replacement parts are not available. You can still buy engine control modules for Jaguar, Land Rover, and Rolls Royce cars, but many of the other electronics have been discontinued.

We can fix some issues on these controllers, but one thing we can't fix is extensive corrosion damage from failure of the "permanent" backup batteries many of these modules carry inside.

If you have a collectible European car, and it's 12-15 years old, it's time to pull the modules apart and address this issue BEFORE you have irreparable damage. As much as it may cost to fix something that's not broke, it will cost way more once it is broke . . .

An Interview with Michael: All About Brakes, Part I

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Michael Chan is our head mechanic at Cars For Keeps. It has been noted and commented on that Michael makes a few extra steps when he's doing a brake job, so I asked him what he does special when replacing the brakes on a car. His first reply was, “I do them fast”.

He also said, “These days when a cars brake pads need replacing, the rotors are usually down to their minimum specifications and the cost of replacing them versus the cost to have them turned is fairly close anyway, and it is good to put new to new together so both surfaces are correct." Michael went on to explain that when he's doing front brake pads and rotors, the hardware really should be changed out for new as well, but if the customer declines, "I will clean them up to get the corrosion off, then put a special lubricant on the slides and hardware to make sure it slides free and clear. "










When Michael takes the rotors off the hub, they are almost coated in corrosion, so he uses another special corrosion hub cleaner on it that gives it "a nice and true surface to mount the rotors, which cuts down on premature wear on the rotors." According to Michael, if the incorrect lubricant is used you may as well not bother cleaning the hub. "You must make sure all the caliper pins are lubricated correctly so as not to get uneven wear on the brake pads. We make sure the tire pressure is at spec on all brake jobs.”

I asked him what people can do to get the optimal performance life out of their brakes, and he came up with a surprising answer which will be covered in next week's blog - so stay tuned!

Car Headlight Cleaning: Improving Nighttime Driving Visibility on the Cheap

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

As the days grow shorter and nighttime driving increases, I figured it was the right time to discuss night vision.

Did you know that the headlamps on your car, truck or SUV fade over the years and miles? The sand and other debris they are constantly blasted with create layer upon layer of tiny scratches over the years, causing the headlights to be glazed with a haze that impairs the light output. In other words, your car's headlights inevitably become duller - and less safe - over the years. Dull and hazy headlights are dangerous for nighttime driving, and they're also unattractive on your vehicle.

When the automobile was first invented, early headlamps in the late 1880s were fueled by acetylene or oil, similar to the standard household lamps of the time. The first electric headlamps were introduced in 1898 on the Columbia Electric Car by the Electric Vehicle Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and were optional.

Today's automotive headlights are much more effective. The old, relatively flat glass headlight styles that were introduced in 1940 remained relatively unchanged until about 1983, when the U.S. Government first allowed the use of plastics in headlamp design. Plastic headlights combined with newer electric technology allowed the more powerful light output we're used to today. Not only do our modern plastic headlights improve car headlight durability and light output - they're also much easier to maintain.

Many drivers continue to drive as their ability to see in low light or dark conditions is degraded more and more as the plastic erodes. The loss of vision is so gradual, it is easy to ignore. Car owners who do inquire about replacing the lamps or lenses are shocked to find that they often cost over four hundred dollars EACH!

Maintaining a safe level of nighttime visibility shouldn't be out of the average driver's budget range. That's why Cars for Keeps offers an inexpensive solution. Using a patented four step restoration process, we can restore most dull headlamps to a like new condition in about an hour - at a fraction of the cost of headlight replacement.

If you’re vehicle's headlamps aren’t crystal clear, give Cars for Keeps a call today to see how we can help you keep the car!

Happy & safe driving!

A Women’s Point of View: Gas Pumps and Handi-Wipes

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

I was talking to a customer the other day when she made the comment that the worst thing she has to do is pump gas. Most women would agree that pumping gas is not high on our list of fun things to do. It's one of those chores where we have to mentally go to our happy place while doing it. It takes courage to grab that pump handle not knowing who last used it and what they had on their hands, leaving behind residue of…..?

Then we check the direction of the wind so we can stand upwind of those noxious fumes. Then we find out that we have picked the only pump that refuses to shoot out our receipt. And then, the topper is when the pump fails to click off and we get a backwash of gasoline all over our hands making it necessary to drive home with only our wrists on the steering wheel. The fumes from that seem to linger in your car for days.

The best temporary solution is to carry handi-wipes in your car's storage compartment. As any busy professional or soccer mom knows, handi-wipes are a MUST! But what else can we do to take charge over this situation?

The best way to cut down on visits to the gas pump is to make sure your car is running at its best and most fuel efficient. Regular maintenance is the key. Oil changes when they are due, visual inspections, fluid checks and tire air pressure checks. Believe it or not, these services improve your car's fuel efficiency. Sludge in the engine causes the engine to work harder and uses more gas, so get those flushes done to clean out that engine. There are also some wonderful additives that can help your car get even better performance. Stop by or give us a call; we'd be happy to help you find out which additives and maintenance routines are best for your vehicle.

Got Heat? What Your Car's Radiator Output Says About Problems Under the Hood

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

If you hold your fingers above the defrost vents with the temperature set on high, as a general rule, you shouldn't be able to leave your fingers there for very long without them getting pretty uncomfortable - if the heating system is working well.

When we perform routine inspections (aka "Pit Stops"), we usually check the heat output at the center vent; a good heater thermostat will put out 150° temps.

We have seen them run as high as 160°f. At 130°f degrees you may start getting a few complaints, though it’s still pretty livable, at 120°f people are getting unhappy, the coats are staying on and below 110°f NO ONE is happy.

More importantly, a malfunctioning heater often points to deeper problems below the hood - problems which, if left unattended, could result in interior coolant leakage, engine inefficiency or an overheated engine.

Is it the radiator, the heater core or the thermostat?

These are the three components which influence your radiator's heating performance the most. Small, easy to fix problems in any of these can result in low heater output, and more serious problems with any of them can lead to mechanical failure or damage to other parts of your vehicle.

Radiator - The radiator is the component which cools engine coolant to keep the engine cool. When vehicles' heaters are on, the heat extracted (by air cooling) from the coolant (heater core) is pushed through the dashboard heater vents. Clogs, cracks or leaks in the radiator impede coolant fluid flow, resulting in low heat out put and, in many cases, engine overheating.

Heater core - The heater core is essentially a heat exchanger which transfers heat from the engine to the radiator. Hot coolant fluid is passed through the core's winding tubes from the engine, which heats the fluid, to the radiator, where fans blow hot air off the heater core tubes and through the vents. Heater cores are made up of small tubes which sometimes get clogged, causing radiator failure. A clogged heater core also means the engine is not being properly cooled, which can lead to engine damage if left unattended. Heater cores may also become leaky, resulting in lower heat output and improper engine cooling.

Thermostat - The thermostat is what activates the flow of coolant fluid through the engine. It controls a small, heat-activated valve in the heater core which blocks or opens coolant flow through the engine. To minimize engine wear and make the most efficient use of engine energy, thermostats ensure that coolant doesn't flow through the engine until it reaches its maximum operating temperature (about 200 degrees F). When thermostats aren't working correctly, they could be stuck open - causing inefficiency - or they could be stuck closed, causing the engine to become hot and blocking hot air from coming out of the car's heating vents.

If you stop by with your car, mini-van, light truck or SUV, we'll test the output for free!
While the symptoms can seem similar, subtle differences in your description or in our testing tell us which component is to blame. Most clients aren't aware that something as simple as low coolant (antifreeze) can cause some pretty weird symptoms.

The Pridemore Boys have done it again! Another happy customer in Parker CO!

Pride Auto Care,

I wanted to write to let you know about the great service I received this week at your Parker location. I brought my 2005 Chevy Tahoe in because the dreaded “Service 4WD” light came on and it was acting up. I was told by Darrel Pridemore that he could fix the problem at a lower cost by replacing a part inside the “Encoder Motor”. He told me that usually the dealership will replace the entire motor but it is much more expensive to do that. I was initially very happy to hear that it could be fixed a cheaper way. As we all know, when something breaks on your car the first thing you do is worry about “How much is this going to cost me?” Anyways, I had the repairs done and picked up my car no problem.

The very next day the dreaded “Service 4WD” light came back on and my Tahoe began to malfunction again. I took it back to Pride Auto and was told that they would check it out again. As I waited for the call from “Tony” the Service Manager I couldn’t help but worry that I was about to be told that I was going to have to replace the entire “Encoder Motor” and I knew that this was a more expensive fix. When I got the call from “Tony” I could not believe what he told me. “Tony” told me that I did indeed need to replace the entire encoder motor, but what he said next surprised me the most. He told me that it should have been fixed this way the first time and that since they did not fix it right the first time there would be no additional charge to me. Pride Auto Care would fix the problem (replacing the encoder motor) and I would be on my way with NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. 

I have to tell you that I have never had this experience at a car repair shop before. I was very impressed that when a mistake was made they not only admitted they made a mistake, but they made it right at no cost to me.

Thank you for helping me find my “Neighborhood Mechanic”. I will recommend Pride Auto Care to everyone I know.

Jason B - Parker CO Store

"Note from Al - the BIG bro. - These letters make me proud of my brothers and our amazing service managers and glad we do what we do for a living.

A Women’s Point Of View: Auto Tips & Tricks for Halloween

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Halloween is fast approaching. The time of year when children (and some adults) get to live out their fantasies of who they would like to be for just a few hours. Extraordinary preparations are being made this year it seems. My granddaughter has been growing her bangs since summer to match the character she is going to portray. Teenagers are sporting orange and bright pink hair with spikes, and artistically shaven heads are becoming popular. Strange costumes have been showing up around Cars For Keeps.

Yes, even adults believe in the magic that lies in our imaginations. As part of the preparation for this night let us not forget about our cars. Because of all the little goblins, fairys and air-benders dashing around the streets and neighborhoods, brakes and headlights should be in top working order. When was the last time you had your brakes checked?

How about decorating your car to compliment the character that your children are portraying? Goth seems to be big this year. A spray can of cobwebs in strategic places on the outside of your car can set the mood for all to see, and of course, the standard skull attached to your antennae or dangling from your grill is a must. Get the ones that glows in the dark. Very chic.

It is the little things that are most often forgotten, so just as a reminder, fill the gas tank.

Happy Halloween!

Grand Haven Harvest Traditions: Pumpkin Picking

by Marjorie Steele, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

Let's take a break from auto repair to talk about fun activities happening around Grand Haven - namely, pumpkin picking! After all, you've already attended to your vehicle's fall maintenance, right?

It's Halloween season again, and for those of us lucky enough to live in West Michigan, harvest season means more than trick or treating. Thanks to an abundance of local farms, Halloween in Michigan offers families many opportunities for outdoor fun. Picking your own pumpkin out of the field is much more fun than picking one from the grocery store - especially for the kids - and most pumpkin patches also offer apple picking, cider making exhibitions, corn mazes and hay rides.

Grand Haven has a number of nearby pumpkin patches which offer plenty of activities for friends, couples and families.


Bethke Farms is the closest, being located just outside of Grand Haven proper. Bethke has a u-pick pumpkin patch, a corn maze and a beautiful 20 minute hayride for the family to enjoy. Open through October 31st, 10-7 Friday through Sunday and 4-7 Monday through Thursday. Click the link to learn more about visiting Bethke.

Kent Harvest Trails is a Grand Rapids-based organization which has put together a comprehensive list of pumpkin patches and farm tours available throughout the Grand Rapids area - most of them are a short 30 minute ride from Grand Haven. Activities range from huge, 15 acre corn mazes to scarecrow building and petting zoos. Visit their list of pumpkin patch farms to learn more about each farm's activities, hours and location.

I think this weekend, I'll be trying out the corn maze at Fruit Ridge Hayrides. What will your family be doing?
needs, right?

A Woman's Point of View: Susan G. Komen & Breast Cancer Awareness Month

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. A gentle reminder to get your yearly breast examination and there are many events that you can participate in to help in the fight of this horrible disease. My dearly loved sister-in-law died of breast cancer last year and there are probably many of you out there that know someone who is fighting this battle.

Many women avoid mammograms because it is too painful. I am one of them. I found a better way. You can get a breast exam through Thermography. It is not painful, nothing touches you and it finds anything suspicious sooner than x-ray exams. To find out where to get a thermographic breast exam in your area just Google “thermographic breast exam”. You will find many hits to explain what thermography is and how it works.

There are many cancer walks and races going on around the country and you can find out where by Googling “breast cancer walk”, or go to the Susan G Komen website. The US Postal Service has Susan G Komen stamps for sale this month, and a portion of the price is donated to cancer research. You can pick them up at your local Post Office.

Cars For Keeps is giving away ball caps for Cancer Awareness this month - although I noticed today that there are only four hats left! If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and pick one up. Women unite to comfort, strengthen and encourage each other for our health, welfare and knowledge of how we can be all we are meant to be.

Summer Travel Story Contest Winner

Well, choosing a winning entry for our Summer Travel Story Contest was difficult, but we're pleased to announce our winner. We hope Martha Webb and her husband enjoy their weekend getaway in the mansion at Grand Haven's Lakeshore Bed and Breakfast.

Thank you to everyone who participated - we appreciate your support! If you placed an entry in our contest, be sure to check your email for a special gift from Cars for Keeps.

Summer in Michigan

by Martha Webb
There is nothing like summer in Michigan, especially, on the west side of the state. From the UP to South Haven there is nothing but the beautiful sights of Lake Michigan. Each port town is unique in itself. I've spent many summers in Muskegon and Grand Haven, lots of fun memories. Then there’s Mackinaw and the Island. As a matter of fact my husband and I were going to Mackinaw over Labor Day Weekend – and unfortunately, we didn’t get to go. You see he had a heart attack on Tues. and Wed had a heart cath and stents. Our weekend get away flew out the window. I’m praising God I still have him and the medical staff were able to save him. That’s really the most important thing. We have only been married 7 years (both 2nd marriages). We were engaged in Grand Haven. So we have many things we are thankful for and our favorite vacation together is now the Labor Day Weekend of 2010 as we got a new lease on life and a greater appreciation for each other.

We get to work on really cool cars!!

Check out the 1967 Dodge Charger Fastback we worked on in our auto repair shop, Mastermind Enterprises this week!!
Click Here to see more pics on Mastermind Enterprises' facebook page! 

Happy Friday! :)

Happy Friday! We hope you all have had a great week! We have been super busy at the shop! We are getting the 1967 Charger we fixed earlier in the week cleaned up for our customer. Pics to be posted soon...

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  ~  Matthew 7:7-12

A Women’s Point of View: It’s All In What You Know

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Manager

The other day as I was walking through the garage I stopped to watch one of our mechanics, Leslie, installing a new engine in a car. It was amazing. He had just gotten the engine block bolted in but there were pieces and parts lying around everywhere. Wires and hoses were strewn all over the engine. It looked like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Imagine a plate of cut up cooked spaghetti and then trying to get all the pieces back together again.

I mentioned the puzzle aspect of putting the engine together and he just shrugged nonchalantly and said, “It’s not that difficult.” It hit me then that it’s all in what you know. Our mechanics are going to school all the time to keep their knowledge up to date and to keep pace with all the engineering technologies which are used in new automobiles every year. Just as with any other career, our mechanics have taken a lot of training and expertise to become good at what they do. How many people could step into your job without training and do it as well as you?

It is fortunate that the only thing you and I to know about our cars is where to take them for maintenance and repair. It’s all in what you know - and that knowledge is a wonderful thing.

Using the Car Care Guide: Empower Your Auto Repair Choices

by Marjorie S., Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

This month, the Car Care Council and participating auto repair shops across the country (including Cars for Keeps) are celebrating Car Care Month. So what exactly does that mean?

Well, in addition to placing a healthy discount on our bumper to bumper inspections, we're emphasizing customer education. A well informed customer is a great customer - at least we think so. The better you understand your vehicle and its maintenance needs, the longer you'll be able to keep your car running efficiently (which is kind of our thing).

A while back, the Car Care Council published a printed Car Care Guide for vehicle owners to use as a reference for any and every repair service they might encounter. The Car Care Guide is now available in digital format, allowing customers like you to boost your car care knowledge from the comfort of your computer.

Click on the link above, and let's review some of the Guide's most useful features together:

Car Care Checklist - On pages 1-2, the Car Care Guide details every part of your vehicle which requires routine maintenance, exactly how these parts need to be maintained and how often. Handy, huh?

Why Do I Need This Service? Expanding on the list of parts outlined in the checklist, the Guide then provides detailed information about maintenance and service tips for each of these areas. The guide answers that pesky question, "Why Do I Need This Service?" regarding each service area in detail, so you can stop relying on hearsay and subjective opinion.

Typical Service - Wonder what kind of maintenance will be performed on your vehicle when you bring it into the shop? You don't have to. The Car Care Guide outlines common maintenance procedures for each major service area as well as recommendations for service regularity.

Questions to Ask - By far our favorite feature in the Car Care Guide, this section helps car owners know what questions to ask their auto technicians during routine maintenance to ensure you're getting the best service - and that you understand what services are being performed. Your car's maintenance shouldn't be a thing of mystery to you, and we'd be thrilled to answer any of the Guide's questions - or your own.

Why are we so excited that this resource is available to you, the vehicle owner? It provides a trustworthy source of information which isn't from us. In other words, we can be confident that when we say "don't take our word for it", a reliable third party auto repair resource is close at hand.

A Woman’s Point of View: The Secret to Keeping What You Have.

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

In the automotive world these days it is becoming trendy to fix up and keep the car you have. It is the “politically correct” thing to do in today’s economy and trend towards sustainability. This is a great trend in theory, but let’s face it girls, we who change our clothes three and four times a day find it goes against our nature to not change our car every year or so. Fess up ladies, who of you have never bought those ‘must have’, hot new shoes only to get them home, taken them out of the box, thought to yourself ‘what was I thinking’, and tossed them in the Goodwill bag. Hmmm?

Oddly enough, I am different about my car. Once I find a car I really like, I will drive it until it falls apart on the road – no matter how much I want all those new gadgets that are in the newer models. My SUV is going on fourteen years old and is still running strong. The secret is to add new features to your old car. GPS devices like Garmin and bluetooth adapter kits are not that expensive, they're easy to install and hey - they work.

I will tell you another secret – regular maintenance. At Cars For Keeps our mechanics give you a strong once over inspection every time you have an oil change. Just like maintaining good health for the body, an early diagnosis to any problem your car may have results in an easier, and cheaper, fix before the first problem causes a second and third problem. So, dust off that old faithful car, give it regular oil changes, keep those fluids fresh, come to us quickly when you hear a noise and maintain those tires with the right air pressure. Your pocketbook will thank you, and who knows, maybe you will find another pair of ‘must have’ shoes.

My Summer Travel Story

by Marjorie S., Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

Since tomorrow is the last day of our Summer Travel Story Contest (hint hint), I thought it would be appropriate to share one of my own stories of travel misadventure. Even thought I'm not eligible to win the sweet weekend getaway we're giving away (HINT HINT!)

When I was going to college in Washington State's Puget Sound, I would often drive out to Anacortes to catch a ferry out to the San Juan Islands, where my uncle lived (with his dog, in a mancave). It was a trip I made so often that I tended to put myself on autopilot. Sometimes I'd wake up two hours after leaving my apartment with absolutely no memory of the drive, parking my car, buying tickets or boarding the ferry.

As soon as summer break let out following my Sophomore year, I threw my clothes in my 1991 Mitsubishi pickup and headed out to the islands to spend some time oyster hunting on my uncle's boat. My (amazingly rust-free) little Mitsubishi had a tendency to use oil, so I took my brain off autopilot halfway there, added two quarts of oil, then put my brain back to sleep and continued on my way.

Just as I was pulling in to Anacortes, something under my hood started smoking. Shortly, smoke was pouring out from under my Mitsubishi's hood, the temperature gauge sank into the red and my gears started making horrible clunking noises as I shifted. Terrified, late for my ferry and on the brink of tears, I pulled into the nearest parking lot. Which just happened to be the parking lot of an AAA auto repair shop (no joke).

A friendly mechanic in dirty overalls came over and asked me what was wrong. Through my "why is this happening to me" breakdown, he discovered the truck used oil. He popped the hood, took one look at the oil spewed over all the components and kindly suggested that I may have left the oil cap off when I refilled.

Sure enough, the cap was off. It was perched neatly a few inches to the left, still waiting to be replaced.

Because no man likes to see a woman in distress, the mechanic cleaned off the components and refilled the tank with oil. He only let me pay him for the oil. Embarrassed and relieved, I headed back out to the ferry dock just in time for the last boarding call.

Only 28 more hours to submit your own story! (hint hint), I thought it would be appropriate to share one of my own stories of travel misadventures. Even though I'm not eligible to win the free weekend getaway (HINT HINT).

A Woman’s Point of View: Car Brakes, Beauty and Functionality

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

The other day I had new brakes put on my car. If you are anything like me the only thing you know about brakes is that you step on the little black pedal and the car stops. Also, if when stepping on the little black pedal you hear a teeth rattling squeal, you probably need new brakes. IMHO, that's more or less all you really need to know about the brakes on your car. The rest of it is what we keep our technicians around for!

Working at a car repair facility I get the opportunity to learn the finer points of car repair. When my brake discs came in, much to my surprise, they were gorgeous. They were the prettiest, shiny silver and had these swirly carvings on them. Being very interested in anything remotely, artistic, I asked why they were so pretty. I was told the swirls have a very practical reason for being there.


Over time, the swirls wear down with use of the brakes and when visually inspected lets you know when you may need new brakes in the near future. I also facetiously asked if they came in pink or lavender, only to be told that there are brake discs out there that are red and even blue, but for odd makes of cars only.

Is this the start of a new trend? Are manufacturers beginning to understand that women like pretty things? Even if they can’t be seen, it makes a woman feel good just knowing that her brakes are pretty and color coordinated to her personality.

Pride Auto Care to do a fundraiser for Rachel's Challenge

For the month of October 2010, all three locations of Pride Auto Care will be donating $3.00 from each premium oil change to Rachel's Challenge.

Rachel's Challenge is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing bullying, school violence and teen suicides by sharing the story of Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shootings. 
Rachel deliberately reached out with kindness and compassion to those who were new at school, picked on by others, or just didn't have any friends.  Rachel's Challenge has become the largest assembly program in the US and was in over 1,300 schools and in front of about 1.5 million kids with Rachel's message that every student can make a difference in their schools and communities by treating each other with respect and kindness.



Help us make a difference in children's lives across the United States by coming in for an oil change anytime in the month of October 2010.
 
Visit Rachel's Challenge website for more information.

American Soldiers Train Iraqi Security Forces on Routine Auto Maintenance & Repair

by Marjorie Steele, Social Media Marketing Manager

It's not very often I come across a story in the auto repair industry that is truly inspiring, but this story fits that bill.

According to the Army News Service, a handful of the 50,000 soldiers who remain in Iraq to assist in rebuilding the country are teaching valuable auto repair and maintenance skills to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). The article cited Spc. Henry Moss and Spc. Edwin Perez, both mechanics with the 703rd BSB, who expressed the usefulness of this training. Both Moss and Perez have seen encouraging signs of ISF mechanics' improvement, a critical element in the future stability of Iraq.

Perez noted that vehicles in Iraq often need extra attention due to the country's extreme heat. According to Moss, a lack of regular preventative maintenance checks and services have been the number one cause of ISF vehicle breakdowns (sound familiar?) - until now, that is. With the help of auto technician-trained American Soldiers, Iraqi mechanics are quickly developing the skills to maintain their army vehicles and be more efficient with part replacement. Performing regular maintenance and service allows the ISF to maintain more reliable vehicles, making the country's infrastructure stronger and more secure.


According to Moss, Iraqi Army mechanics have improved their skills vastly since he began training with them.

"When we first got here, they would just replace any problematic (vehicle component)...Now, they are troubleshooting the equipment instead of spending thousands of dollars replacing it. Maintaining these skills is very important. If they don't have these skills, then they cannot defend against the people who are trying to attack them."

Thank you, troops!

A Women’s Point of View: Top Priority

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

I stopped at a garage sale the other night to look at a desk sitting by the curb. The lady who owned it and I started talking and she began telling me that they were downsizing into their summer cottage here in Grand Haven from their larger home in Lansing. We talked of the risks they were taking by leaving her successful real estate business and starting over in another town while her husband was still commuting to Lansing for his job. The challenges of starting her kids in a new school, of meeting new friends and finding new places for needed services was daunting and a bit overwhelming at times.

I gave her one of my business cards and told her of some of the services we offered at Cars For Keeps. She let out a breath of relief and said that one of the worst things to leave behind was their trusted garage mechanic. She was very grateful to find a maintenance and repair facility to go here in their new town. With her job as a real estate agent and her husband commuting long distances every day, the reliability of their cars have become extremely important. A top priority for her was solved by a chance meeting.

Out top priority at Cars For Keeps is our customers' welfare and confidence in us.

Incidentally, although I did not end up buying the desk, I did buy a beautiful vase from her, and we both met a new friend.

A Woman’s Point of View: What We Do and Why

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Our Service Manager, Dennis, is on vacation this week so I am spending more time on the front counter waiting on and talking to our customers. I am enjoying it very much and have missed it since I am usually at my little cubicle talking to the computer, saying things like “No! I didn’t mean to do that” or “Yes! I can’t believe the figures match”. You get the drift.

Anyway, talking to people has gotten me in touch with their questions and feelings about what is needed to better serve our customers. Many of their questions are about what services we offer.

So, for the record, we do all repair and maintenance required on every make of car. We do not do body work, but usually if body work is needed, so is repair. We work closely with two body shops to co-ordinate repairs in the shortest time possible.

Mike, our head mechanic, has the conservationist's philosophy of saving every car, one car at a time. Another goal of ours is to provide our customers with a clean and comfortable environment when they come in. Let’s face it, waiting for your car to be serviced is not real high on anyone’s list of things to do, but we try to make this a little easier on our customers by keeping the shop spotless. Even the garage does not escape routine cleaning and freshening.

As I write this our fearless leader, Rob, is power washing and repainting the garage floor. A clean and organized work area helps to keep our mechanics happy, and when our mechanics are happy, everybody is happy.

So why not bring your happy little self down to look us over and get to know us and discover the quality service that we give to you and your car.

Supercharged Sports that suddenly stop charging

A few weeks ago, I had a strange and curious experience with a Range Rover. It started with a simple warning light, and the usual request. “Can you reset my check engine light so I can get a sticker?”

Why do so many people think these lights come on just so they can be reset?

What possible purpose would that serve?

I explained that we’d have see what fault codes were stored, at which time we could decide what to do about them. In most cases, when you see a check engine light, you need a repair, not a reset. Codes mean many different things. Sometimes, they point to specific repairs. For example, a “replace Thelman wire” code is self-explanatory. You replace the Thelman wire. Other times, codes are more vague. “Fuel mixture out of range” can mean most anything, from air leaks to snoot problems.

This particular car had a code for inoperative cam adjusters, which was strange, because Supercharged Sports don’t have cam adjusters at all. We cleared it, and it came back right away. We looked closer at the engine, to make sure it had not grown cam adjusters on its own. It hadn’t.

Every now and then, mechanics run into situations like these . . . codes that don’t make any sense at all, yet will not go away. When that happens here, we look to see if a software update will fix the car. We use our test system to get the software version and we compare that to the latest version Land Rover lists for that particular vehicle. If there’s newer software, we install it. When we tried that, we found something even stranger.

The vehicle had software for a non-supercharged Sport installed, and the computer was telling us it had never been re-programmed. Either the car had been running around for four years with wrong software, or the computer was lying. Which was it?

After some interrogation of the motorist associated with this particular vehicle, we concluded that the software was probably original. How they made it through four years of operation, only complaining about a check engine lamp now, remained a mystery.

We downloaded new and correct software, and the problem vanished. The cam adjuster faults disappeared, and all tests were normal. We felt great pride in a job well done, and handed the vehicle back to its owner. Unfortunately, this particular Sport did not stay fixed.

“My car was in the passing lane, doing 70, when it lost all power and the check engine light came on. I coasted to a stop, shut it off, and started it again, and it was normal. That’s happened every time I drive to New Haven, and I’m getting scared to take my truck on the highway. What’s up?”

Did the car have an aversion to New Haven? I’ve seen such things before. “Bring it in,” I said, and we’ll see what the codes tell us. A check revealed a P2601 code, which points to a failure of the pump that moves water through the supercharger when you get on the throttle. His seemed to be failing. But why now?

A check of Land Rover service bulletins held the answer:

Land Rover Technical Service Bulletin #LTB00041, Rev 2

Reduced Power Under Load

Possible DTC P0096 and/or P2601 Stored

AFFECTED VEHICLE RANGE:

Range Rover (LM) Supercharged 6A198058 to 7A261419

Range Rover Sport (LS) Supercharged 6A901924 to 7A109767

CONDITION SUMMARY:

REDUCED POWER OR MISFIRE AT HIGH ENGINE LOADS

Situation: The customer may complain of reduced power and or a misfire at high engine loads and road speeds, with the possibility of Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) P0096 and/or P2601 stored. The electrical harness power supply and ground for the auxiliary coolant pump may be cross connected in connector C3006. The pump will run backwards causing the Engine Control Module (ECM) to reduce power to prevent damage because the pump flow is low. The auxiliary coolant pump will be degraded under these conditions.

Action: Should a customer express concern, modify the wiring at connector C3006 to the correct positions and install a new supercharger coolant pump as part of the repair if either the fault codes or the incorrect wiring is discovered following the Repair Procedure outlined below.

We checked, and this fellow’s car did indeed have the reversed wiring. A swap of the wires and a new pump, and he was on his way.

How does this situation come to pass? I spoke to Tony Gill, who heads Land Rover tech support at Autologic in the UK. He suggested a few possible answers.

This car seemed to have the wrong software put in at the factory, As a result, it may have never tried to use the auxiliary pump because the engine controller didn’t know it was there. Non-supercharged Rovers don’t have this pump. Of course, that does not explain how this truck went four years looking for cam adjusters that were never there . . .

It’s also possible that the pump was strong enough to push coolant through the supercharger backwards, against the flow of the regular water pump. It may have done that for all this time, and finally decided to fail.

We may never know the full answer, but it does appear to be fixed.

The moral of this story . . . check your software. Even in new vehicles, mistakes happen. And some of them take a long time to find. It’s shocking to me that there are four-year-old vehicles out there with wiring that was backwards from Day One, but it’s indisputably true.

That is the wonder and magic of British Motorcars.