Tag Archives: Dealership
2008 Chevy Impala Gauges Problem- How To Replace 3800 Valve Cover Gasket
2008 Chevy Impala. Today I got in my impala …started to drive …looked at the dashboard and all the gauges were going up and down …gas hand ..temp hand …mile hand and the other hand with the single numbers on it ….what is wrong with this picture??? Usually this is the symptom of an electronic failure or wiring problem such as a short. A few…
Auto Repair Labor- Warranty And Book Time
I thought I would write something about how we, as mechanics, get paid and make money. Most of us that are qualified as Journeyman Technicians, get paid by the book hour, or in easier terms, we get paid for each job on each car we work on. I know from the customer’s point of view, all they really see is the labor rate that the…
Car Repair Problems For Mechanics
Car repairs can be tough on a mechanic. Auto repair on cars and trucks for a living can take it’s toll on you. After years of sevicing all makes and models, my head is full of information, specifications, procedures and common problems. Many of which are now useless to me since older cars no lnger come in to the new car dealership for repairs. We also…
Auto Repair Customer Do’s and Dont’s
After writing my last article, I had some thoughts on some other things that the everyday dealership customer should know. When you bring your car into a dealership for repair, their goal is to make you happy. Fixing your car properly, being friendly towards you, and just making your experience there a pleasant one. Everyone at the dealership is there to service the customer. What…
Repair Work Slows For Auto Mechanics
The past couple weeks at the shop have seen a sharp decline in business. This week was especially slow and all of us technicians are feeling it in the pocket book! This usually happens around this time of year, before the seasons change to cold. Kids are back to school, people work and go about their regular daily lives. Auto repairs are usually put on…
Hyundai Elantra Overheats and Stopped Running
Question: I have a Hyundai Elantra which stopped running. When I had it towed to the Hyundai dealer, they told me that the head gasket was blown. They indicated that the upper and lower radiator hoses had been reversed at the thermostat housing causing air to be trapped at the front of the housing and the coolant temperature sensor does not read trapped air, causing…
An Auto Mechanic Gets A Vacation From Fixing Cars
So, not very automotive related but I’ve had a well deserved break this past week. After fourteen months, I finally have gotten a week off. It’s been a long year, and then some! Being in this business, you definitely need to step away from it for a while whenever you can, just to clear your head and get rid of all that work related stress.…
Car Problems With GM Auto Parts And Employees
This is going to basically be another rants and raves article, but this time it is going to be about our parts department at the dealership. Normally, everything runs smoothly. We have a great parts manager and most of the counter guys are fun to be around and are knowledgeable. We do have one guy, though, who fails to fit the bill. Lucky me, I…
Should I Use Factory Repacement Parts in my Car?
A lot of people are under the assumption that parts are parts, and getting the lowest price on a certain part for your vehicle is key in deciding what or where to buy. This is about as far from the truth as possible. As a rule of thumb, and as many cases in life agree, you get what you pay for. This stands true for…
Theft Relearn Procedure For 2008 Chevy Malibu
My security lock light is on and don’t know why or what to do! but my car will not start! Please help! Protech: What year and model car do you have? 2008 Chevy Malibu. You can try a theft re-learn procedure, but it may only be a temporary fix. More than likely you have a problem with the ignition cylinder and/or key, with the security…
Chevrolet Volt Review From a Dealer Mechanic
So, a day or two ago we got our first Chevrolet Volt electric car at the dealership. With it, came much attention from everyone at the dealership, as well as some enthusiastic customers. This Volt was basically a demo car, which was not to be sold, but rather used as a vehicle for test drives and to show off to interested buyers. The past two…
How To Buy A Car Online Without Seeing It First
This article is about the many pitfalls of buying a new or used vehicle without seeing it first. Many people out there are buying vehicles on auction websites, from online ads, and more. This even includes agreeing to purchase a car or truck from a dealership that they have yet to have on hand. That is known as a ‘dealer trade’. Just about all aspects…