Keep Your Vehicle Wheels Balanced and Aligned!

February 21, 2012

Keep Your Vehicle Wheels Balanced and Aligned!

This is one of the biggest causes that will kill the life of your tires and front end, leading to more complicated future repair bills that can be avoided with simply making sure you have had your wheels balanced properly and a yearly front end wheel alignment.

Tires and front end that are not properly balanced and aligned, tires will drag instead of rolling freely.

The end results are an increase usage of fuel consumption, reduce tire life expectation and create problems with how your vehicle's handling and ride. Make sure to performing a yearly inspection on your front end and have an annual front wheel alignment done.

The second tip you will need to perform on a monthly bases is to make sure your tires have the correct tire pressure. By looking inside the drivers door you will find the correct (PSI) for the front tires and your rear tires. In some case the fronts and rears tires may have a different (PSI) that is specifically rated for your vehicle and tires. Make sure you get this information from your vehicle and not from what is suggested on your tires.

This is specialty important in winter conditions as with the drop in temperature will have an immediate effect on your PSI on your tires. So by perform this simple procedure you will have proper inflated tires to handle all winter conditions and provide you a more fuel efficient vehicle. It's advisable to purchase your own tire pressure gauge because those at air pumps are often inaccurate or missing

As a rule of thumb you should also have your tires rotated with every second oil change and properly balanced. If they are not properly balanced, your vehicle will feel a pounding or shaking through the steering wheel. This will provide your vehicle to perform at it's highest capacity, providing even distribution of the wear evenly among all four tires and providing longer tire life.





For more information and a Free Evolution on your tires  please stop by RJ PICK UP SERVICE and have one of our Techs check your tires

Leave a comment on this article if you have enjoyed it, and if it provided you with information that is useful.   We will be having a customer
"Appreciation Day"Revised DateSaturday April 28th from 9am - 3pmMore information to follow....

Regards,

Joseph F. Botelho

RJ PICK UP SERVICE

241 Main Street North

Uxbridge, Ontario L9P 1C3

905-852-4238





Authorized TIRECRAFT DEALER '
REQUEST a FREE QUOTE on all makes and models of tires

When Rodents Come Chewing

Here's a fine 1953 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe . . . there's just one little problem . . .

Have you ever had mice eat holes in the upholstery of your car?  Have you ever opened the hood to find rodents have devoured the padding, and possibly the wires too?  Have you perhaps started a car only to have the dash go up in smoke because vermin ate the insulation off the wiring?

Here at Robison Service, we have seen all that and more.

Did you know that comprehensive auto insurance covers rodent damage, in almost every case? 

Here’s an example of what can happen when you store your pride and joy in a cat-free, rodentacious environment:

At first glance, there wasn’t much sign this1953 Jaguar 120 had a problem at all.  Then the owner saw the hole.  Something had chewed a quarter-sized hole through the headliner, just forward of the rear window.

  

When we took a closer look, we saw a smaller hole on the other side.  Apparently, they burrowed all the way across and started eating their way out the other side.

And that was just the beginning . . .

There are little black streaks all over the outside of the car. Those streaks are arranged in paths, marking the lines where rodents ran back and forth while devouring the car.  The paths make their way into the trunk, and under the hood, where brown grains of mouse poop are littered.

To fix that, we will strip out the interior, and then wash the metal with mild bleach and disinfectant.  Same thing for the outside, after which we use a clay bar to smooth the paint, and glaze and wax.

There is no good way to get mouse urine out of carpets, and the smell will linger forever, so we change the rugs as a set.  The other reason for changing rugs as a set is of course color match.  On a show-grade car that is especially critical.

It’s important not to forget the pads or liners under the rugs when replacing trim.  We’ve learned that the hard way, when we change the parts on top, but odor lingers from the pads below.  That’s why we strip these cars down to metal right at the beginning.

One of the big worries for any insurance appraiser is electrical damage.  Rodents eat the insulation off wires.  That leads to strange malfunctions and even electrical fires.  Luckily this car does not seem to have any of those problems.

This is not just a cosmetic issue - mice are carriers of many diseases, and we now approach these cleanups from that perspective.  The most threatening health issue with mice is their ability to spread Salmonella bacteria in their droppings. This is a common cause of food poisoning. Other transmittable organisms are tapeworms, rat-bite fever, infectious jaundice/leptospirosis/ Weil’s Disease, plague, Hantavirus, and possibly poliomyelitis (polio). Given these potentially life threatening diseases, mice should not be tolerated in the tight confines of your car.

The next time mice chew your wiring, think of Robison Service.  We’re rodent damage remediation experts.

In the image above you see rodent droppings all round the wiring, but by great good fortune, the little beasties left the tasty braided harnesses alone.  This owner is lucky.  So is his insurer.

Woof

Keep Your Vehicle well-maintained for Fuel Efficient driving!

February 16, 2012


Keep Your Vehicle well-maintained for Fuel Efficient driving!

Keeping your vehicle in top operating condition will save you fuel and money, reduce your long-term maintenance costs and minimize harmful exhaust emissions. A well-maintained vehicle is also more reliable and could be worth more when you want to sell it.

It's usually best to leave the servicing of your vehicle in the hands of trained automotive professionals. They have the knowledge and tools to diagnose and correct problems and to put you on the road to safe, fuel-efficient driving.

Your tires need special attention during winter. Cold temperatures decrease the air pressure in tires, which adds to the rolling resistance caused by snow and slush. Measure tire pressure regularly, especially after a sharp drop in temperature.  Rotating your tires helps prolong their life and improve fuel economy. On most vehicles, they should be rotated every 10,000 kilometers, or about twice a year. Consult your owner's manual for the recommended rotation pattern and frequency for your vehicle. Tire pressure needs special attention in cold weather. It can be expected to drop by about 1 psi (7 kPa) for every 5°C drop in temperature.

Almost all gasoline vehicles on the road today are fuel-injected. A recent study showed that replacing a clogged air filter on a vehicle with a fuel-injected gasoline engine does not improve fuel economy. However the study also showed that a clogged air filter may reduce acceleration performance

Neglecting to replace worn-out oil results in poor engine performance, higher fuel consumption and possibly severe engine damage. Changing the engine oil regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations is one of the best ways to keep your vehicle in top operating condition. Oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine, preventing metal-to-metal contact, minimizing friction and carrying away excess heat – all of which promote better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Motor oil also removes dirt, metal shavings and other impurities from the engine and captures them in the oil filter. You can pay a severe penalty for neglecting engine oil, possibly even needing to replace the engine itself.




A well-maintained vehicle is more reliable and could be worth more when you want to sell it.   We will be having a customer
"Appreciation Day"Revised DateSaturday April 28th from 9am - 3pmMore information to follow.... RJ Pick Up service241 Main StreetUxbridge, Ontario L9P 1C3905-852-4238rjpickupservice@hotmail.com

All the Best

Joseph F. Botelho Testimonials at LinkedIn

Welcome To RJ PICK UP SERVICE

February 16, 2012

Welcome To RJ PICK UP SERVICE

RJ PICK SERVICE is located in Uxbridge, Ontario formally knowing as RJ Pickups & Accessories Inc. On October 1st 2011 Jody Gay and Carl White bought the business from Raymond Jacques.  Jody and Carl welcome all existing customers and look forward to providing the highest quality of customer satisfaction in the industry.

Jody Gay and Carl White are both Licensed Mechanics with  (MVIS) Motor Vehicle Inspection Station of Ontario. They are experienced on all makes and models, cars, trucks Gas or Diesel no job is too complicated for these boys. Their mutual goal is to fix it right the first time.

Drop By and enjoy our laid back atmosphere. Our goal is to make you a customer for life. By going that extra mile with our service. Understanding our customers needs and wants by providing a written repair quote that is accurate and followed up with a phone call is what RJ PICK SERVICE is all about keeping you up to date with the status of your vehicle.

We are also an Authorized Tire Craft Dealer, we handle and sell all makes and models of tires for Trucks, Cars, SUV's,Trailers and Farm Equipment.  Our price always includes installation, balancing and new valve stems, the only thing on top is the taxes. We also provide a follow up with re torquing your wheels making sure they are well secured and safe.

We also supply accessories for trucks and vehicles from floor mats to tunnel covers and just about anything you will need to spice up your vehicle by adding that personal touch that makes you proud of your vehicle. We deal with major suppliers such as Robert Thibert,  Action Car  and Truck Accessories just to name a few.

We also specialize in Trailer Hitches, 5th Wheels and Goose Necks for all makes and models professionally installed with complete wiring and braking systems. This is an item you need to have people who have full experience with the above items, no room for mistakes. once you drill a hole it is there for ever.

We will be posting tips and updates on how you can better maintain your vehicle and making sure your repairs do not get out of hand when you look after your vehicle. We all know how important an "Oil Changes" is to your vehicle and other maintenance you can do to keep your vehicle running as smooth as possible.

All The Best 

Joseph F. Botelho profile on LinkedIn

Former Trainer for General Motors (GMDA)

"We are committed to providing the best trained personnel in the automotive industry" that was our mission statement when l worked for "Dealers Association of Toronto and District".

Broke People and Broken Cars

It’s a bad combination, from the perspective of the service manager. 

Our business has changed quite a lot since the economy collapsed in 2008.  One of the biggest ways we see that is in the condition of many middle aged cars – there’s a lot more neglect today. 

The idea of taking care of the whole car has gone out the window for many people, replaced with occasional oil changes at the quick lube.  We see customers less often, and when they do come in, problems have often piled up to a distressing degree.

What seems to happen is this: Motorists feel pressure to save money, so they take their cars to quick lube places, where an oil change is just an oil change.  No one looks the car over carefully, which means there’s no bad news.  There’s no service manager saying, “by the way, your brakes are wearing out and the transmission has a leak.”  Ignorance is bliss, until something fails and the motorist undergoes what we call Pedestrian Conversion, by the side of the road. 

That’s when we get the call; as they are walking where they used to drive.

When the car is towed in we find a fluid leak that we’d have picked up during a routine service.  It emptied the transmission, and the car now needs a $3,500 gearbox replacement.  A belt that we’d have seen cracking comes apart, and another car is towed in with $2,500 of overheating damage.

The worst are the cars that got the wrong oil at the quick lube place, and the cars that didn’t get an oil change at all.  We see sludge-filled engines and repair bills that run eight thousand dollars, maybe even more.  All that for skimping on service.

For some people these are trainable moments that demonstrate the value of preventative maintenance.  Others feel they had no alternative; a viewpoint I find hard to accept.

When you’re a service manager and a car comes in for service, what do you do in this environment?  The way I see it, specialists like me have a duty as experts.  That means we look every car over, and report any incipient problems.  Many times, those incipient problems total up to quite a lot of money.

We’re asked to change the oil and look the vehicle over for obvious problems, and the “obvious” list is long.

We report what we see to the customers, and some are thankful.  These are not usually the people whose cars arrived on a tow truck.  Others are upset.  “I don’t want to hear all this stuff,” or, “you guys are too expensive!”  Either way, their vehicle’s problems are dismissed.

Sometimes I try and push the standards.  If Audi says the brake pads should be changed when 4 millimeters of material remains, I may wait till they are down to 3 millimeters before making the call.  There’s only so much I can do.  Worn brakes will need fixing, sooner or later.  Oil leaks turn from nuisance to hazard, sometimes without warning.  It’s irresponsible not to inform people of these hazards, but so many are not receptive to the news.

Frankly, I wish cars had absolute maintenance standards like airplanes.  Airlines are not allowed to fly, unless the manufacturer’s service checklist is checked off and signed.  That would take the pressure off service managers, as bearers of bad news.  Of course, the penalty for failure in an airplane is greater, but it may not seem that way to a stranded motorist.

This environment makes me appreciate new cars - where the service schedules are generally followed, and failures are covered by warranty; and antiques, which are labors of love for their owners.

oxidation

Watching sunset from my kitchen last evening was indeed a pleasure. It seems that at this time of the year (February 2012), we have more day time than night time. So, I decided to cut an apple and have it as an appetizer prior to dinner. As we all know, basic science tells us that everything that gets in contact with air, oxidation occurs. Oxidation is a process. It's an interaction between oxygen and the said material. After an hour, the surface of the apple started to turn brown.

Excuse me if the picture don't seems otherwise (Turning brown). I used my latest iPhone 4S. Trying it out........not bad after all. However, the middle part and side of the apple does indicates it has turned brown.

Oxidation can also be a problem for car owners, since the outermost layers of paint are constantly exposed to air, rain and sun. If the car's outer finish is not protected by a wax coating, the oxygen molecules in the air will eventually start to interact with the clear coat or lacquer. As the oxygen burns up the free radicals that's contained in the clear coat, the finish would then becomes duller and duller eventually. Restoration efforts may include the removal of several micron layers of affected clear coat and the reapplication of a new layer of wax. This is why professional car detailers would recommend at least one layer of wax to be used, every time the car is washed or to be applied periodically. The secret of preventing oxidation caused by oxygen is to provide a layer of protection between the exposed material and the air. If the surface is quoted by a layer of wax then the surface has very little chance of experiencing the destructive nature of oxidation.

The real issue I believe that many of us should know, is paint surface treatment. It simply means, without having to deal correctly with the clear coat, there is no point having to apply any wax on the car.

So, the conclusion is .............we want to share with you why we do what we do !

Stay tuned:)

 

Jaguar timing chain tensioner failures

Timing chain tensioners are probably the biggest vulnerabilities 1997-2004 Jaguar V8 engines.  The tensioners get old, and the plastic face that touches the chain gets brittle and breaks.  When that happens the chain flops around excessively, until it fails.

There is no warning of this impending failure from outside.  The only way to know if your guides and tensioners are good, is to remove the cam covers and inspect them.  Inspection – if they are good – is a three-hour job.  Replacement of the upper tensioners – if needed – is a day’s work.  Replacement of the lower chain guides is a much bigger job, most often two days of work.

All those costs pale when compared to the bill for repair, if the chain breaks.  That will often run $8-10,000.

The lesson to be drawn from this:  Check your tensioners, and deal with them before they fail.  New tensioners are a few hundred dollars, plus the labor to put them in.  It's a small price to pay for security.

Robison Service takes Jaguar service from all over the northeast.  We've been catering to British car lovers for over 20 years.  Visit us online at www.robisonservice.com

John