January262012
It has happened to everyone: you left your lights on by accident and now you have to get a jumpstart. As simple as it seems, there are people that have never had to do it or simply don’t know how. That’s why I’m here to help!
- After arranging the vehicles nose-to-nose (don’t allow them to touch), lift both hoods.
- You’re going to connect one of the clamps to the BLACK (NEGATIVE) post on the good battery first. This is important because the black post is the ground. If anything goes wrong, you want to be grounded.
- Then connect the other black clamp to the other black post on the dead battery. You can also connect it to an unpainted, stong, solid piece of bare metal like an engine mount or engine block.
- Now, connect the corresponding RED clamps to the RED (POSITIVE) battery terminals. At this point, you should have red to red and black to black.
- Make sure the cables are not in danger of getting caught by any moving parts when the engines start.
- Start the vehicle with the good battery. Allow to run 1-4 minutes.
- Try starting the vehicle w/the dead battery. If the vehicle doesn’t start after 4 minutes of charging, there is probably a secondary issue that needs to be addressed. Do NOT attempt to keep restarting, this could lead to damaging the starter.
- Keep the newly revived car running at least 30 minutes to give the alternator adeuquate time to recharge the battery. This would be an ideal time to have the alternator and battery tested.
This has been another Auto 101 tip from My Car Doc. If you like what you see, find us on twitter, tumblr, facebook, and online. Thanks!
—John
January252012
Winter is super hard on batteries. A battery is a box full of chemicals that produce electrons. The chemical reactions inside of batteries take place more slowly when the battery is cold, so the battery produces fewer electrons. The starter motor therefore has less energy to work with when it tries to start the engine, and this causes the engine to crank slowly.
What can you do to help prevent battery problems? Best answers:
- keep the battery warm by keeping the vehicle in the garage in a parking garage as much as possible,
- use an engine warmer like this one,
- have the battery tested to make sure it has enough cold cranking amps to keep you starting time after time this winter.
This has been another Auto 101 tip from My Car Doc. If you like what you see, find us on twitter, tumblr, facebook, and online. Thanks!
—John
January242012
Junk in the trunk can be a good thing! Hey gang, when driving this winter, keep a bag of sand or kitty litter in your trunk. The rear end of your car is very light; most of the weight is in the front with the driver and engine. What does this mean? With less weight in the back pushing the tires down, there’s less friction of the tires against the road. Less friction means less traction. Less traction means possible spinouts and “uh oh, honey did we send in the car insurance check last month?”
So, if you have cats, get a couple of 25 pound bags of cat litter to keep in the back this winter. Then, in the spring, use them for the cats. It’s a win/win. If you don’t have cats, get potting soil, sand or topsoil. Then, in the spring, use it in your yard. Again, win/win. :)
This has been another Auto 101 tip from My Car Doc. If you like what you see, find us on twitter, tumblr, facebook, and online. Thanks!
—John
January92012
Dear My Car Doc,
I’ve heard whispers about Secret Warranties. Is there a secret club I need to be in or a decoder ring I need to order? What is this all about?
—Waiting by the mailbox
Dear Waiting,
Nope, no decoder ring, secret knock, secret handshake, or private club to join….but there ARE secret warranties.
Here’s the scoop: When a part has a high failure rate, a car manufacturer will sometimes notify its dealers that it will pay for certain repairs even after the original warranty expires. However, manufacturers do not notify car owners about these secret warranties, sometimes called goodwill adjustments, service campaigns or other names. To find out about secret warranties or technical service bulletins that might apply to your vehicle, contact the Center for Auto Safety. Call (202) 328-7700 or send a letter with a self- addressed, stamped envelope to: Center for Auto Safety, Suite 410, 2001 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1160. Be sure to list the make, model and year of your car and describe the specific problem you are experiencing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has information about recalls and technical service bulletins, which you can obtain by calling their hotline at 800-424-9393, or visiting NHTSA’s website.
This has been a not-so-secret Auto 101 Tip from My Car Doc! Find us online on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and the web!
—John
January42012
As soon as your car starts acting up you need to do three things:
- Check with a professional who may have experience with that problem,
- If your check engine light comes on, have it scanned ASAP for free by Advance Auto Parts, Autozone or O’Reilly Auto Parts,
- Google the symptoms.
The more information you have, the faster you can accurately get your vehicle’s problem diagnosed, get your patient treated by the doctor and get back on the road again.
For more tips and help with your four wheeled friends, follow My Car Doc on facebook, twitter, and tumblr!
—John
November152011
You turn on the heater & cold air blows out. Great! Just what you needed, right?
Relax, this MAY be a simple & inexpensive fix. While the engine is still cool, check your coolant level. If you don’t have enough coolant in the car, your heater won’t work. It really can be that simple sometimes.
NEVER TOUCH A HOT ENGINE, WAIT UNTIL IT COOLS!
Have questions? Ask anything!
If you enjoy our tips and posts, please spread the word by reposting us on twitter, tumblr and facebook!
Also, check us out on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for more fun stuff, informative articles, car tips and more.
—John
September12011
Especially in cold weather, it’s important to have good shocks and struts on your vehicle. Bad suspension means that your car can’t handle the corners very well. In dry weather, this isn’t so bad but in icy weather it means you’re off the side of the road, getting towed to a body shop and your entire month is ruined.
This has been another Auto 101 tip from My Car Doc. Find us online at www.MyCarDoc.com and on twitter at www.twitter.com/MyCarDoc
—John Cannon
August172011
I know, I know, you’re tired of hearing about rotating your tires. It’s like the dentist constantly telling you about flossing, right? We all know that rotating your tires makes them wear more evenly, making them last longer. But here’s what you might not have known:
A GOOD mechanic will also inspect and clean your brake systems while he has your tires off. One of the biggest reasons many brake repairs cost so much is because the brakes weren’t maintained and checked out on a regular basis. Brake inspections can help prevent brake rotor wear, brake hose failure and a build up of brake dust.
This has been another Auto 101 tip from My Car Doc. Find us online at www.MyCarDoc.com or on twitter @MyCarDoc. Thanks!
August162011
Are you sure your car is up to snuff? Has there been a recall that you don’t know about? Or maybe you bought your car used and the manufacturer doesn’t know to send you a notice. The best way to make sure your car has all the safety recalls taken care of is to check with your local dealership’s service dept (who can run the VIN number) or go to www.AutoRecalls.us
Just another Auto 101 tip from My Car Doc!
Check us out on twitter: @MyCarDoc or online at www.MyCarDoc.com
August82011
Just like it’s hard for you to run with a gas mask on, it’s hard for your vehicle to operate well with a dirty air filter. Change it once per year. When you change it, mark the date and mileage on the filter with a sharpie to help keep track of your air filter changes.
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