Buying a car can be a pleasure or a real nightmare. Do you buy new for the
warranty? Or do you by used for the cost savings? And do you buy that expensive
extended warranty that they are offering? And is that warranty worth the $1000
to $1500 cost?
Well I don't have the answers to all theses questions for you but I do have
some advice.
Most of the extended warranty plans being offered by car dealers today come
in several varieties; Bronze, Silver Gold or Standard, Plus, Premium, and so
on….
Here are some factors to consider before opting to purchase one of these extended
warranty plans;
1) Is the vehicle you are considering to purchase still covered by the manufactures warranty?
Most new cars sold in the past few years, especially those that are less than three years old and have less than 36,000 miles may still be covered. Some cars are even covered for up to seven years or 70,000 miles. Do your research, take the vin number and go talk to the service manager and ask him what warranty, if any, is left. The sales person might not even know. Or do they??
2) Look over the plan you are considering very carefully. Read through the list of covered items and more importantly the items that are not covered.
As mentioned earlier there are several varieties of extended warranties, each having varying degrees of coverage. Starting with the entry level (sometimes called Bronze or Standard) those for the most part only cover things like the power train (engine and transmission). The warranty packages go up from there in various steps. Each step covering more of the vehicles components. Some of the top end plans actually cover the car bumper-to-bumper.
3) Make sure the plan you are considering will cover the items you consider to be the most important, and the ones that fail the most. Make sure the warranty covers things like axles, starters, alternators, cooling system components; as these are some fairly common repairs.
The best thing to do before purchasing a vehicle and an extended warranty is to have a pre-purchase inspection done by a third party. The inspection will usually consist of checking the breaks, suspension, exhaust, tires, steering, engine, transmission, emissions control system and other major components and accessories on the vehicle. Here at Bernard's Garage we offer this service for less than $90.00; money well spent to make sure you are not buying a lemon!
POSTED 04/01/2003
Mark A. SmithRecently there has been a rash of auto parts retailers offering free computer diagnosis on most late model cars. Well, we can all agree that free is a very good thing, when it has value! Yes, the scan tools used by them are very similar if not the same as those used by ASE Certified repair technicians. So what is so different between what they do and what an ASE technician does?
The handheld scanner is a computerize tool that is used to pull trouble codes from the cars on-board computer. These codes refer to a component on the car that is operating out of its specified range. The codes don't necessarily mean that the component is bad. A good example would be code PO132 on late model GM passenger cars. PO132 refers to the Oxygen Sensors (O2) voltage being too high. The O2 sensor is threaded in to the exhaust pipe or manifold, some cars can have multiple O2 sensors. The sensor detects the amount of oxygen in the exhaust coming form the engine and sends that information to the Engine Control Module in the form of voltage.
After the codes are pulled from the on-board computer, it is necessary to do pinpoint testing on the system. Simply replacing the O2 sensor might fix the problem, but at a cost of around $200 it only a guess. Further diagnosis on the systems that work with the O2 sensor needs to be done to determine the cause. Other components such as a defective EGR Valve (Exhaust Gas Re-circulation) could be the source of the problem and not even send a fault code to the ECM. If the EGR Valve is stuck in the open position the amount of oxygen in the exhaust system can be to high, thus causing the O2 sensor to register a fault code in the ECM. Even the ECM itself could very well be the cause as well.
As sophisticated as cars have become today, they still cannot diagnosis themselves. And the hand held scan tool is only one the many tools needed to do a proper diagnosis on today's hi-tech cars and trucks.
POSTED 02/25/2003
Mark A. Smith
Service Advisor / Web Master
Bernard's Garage
What is manufactures scheduled maintenance and does my car need it?
Vehicle manufacturers create detailed maintenance schedules outlining specific service operations to be performed on various components and systems. This is done at different mileage intervals to ensure proper operation and prevent premature wear. The manufacturer also indicates what services must be done to maintain the factory warranty and extended warranty.
The most common maintenance points are at 30k, 60k, and 90k miles. And include things like replacing the air filter, spark plugs, servicing the transmission fluid, cooling system inspection, and inspecting the brakes and chasis.
Another item, mostly due at the 60k mile point, is the timing belt. Timing belts have replaced timing chains on many of today's engines. Both belts and chains ensure that crankshaft, pistons and valves operate together in proper sequence. Belts are lighter, quieter and more efficient than chains. Engines are classified in of two categories with regard to timing belts; interference and non-interference. If the timing belt breaks on an interference engine, mechanical engine damage occurs. It most commonly involves open valves being struck by pistons, resulting in the need for expensive repairs. In extreme cases, a replacement engine may be required. In these cases what would have been a job that averages around $600 is now over $1500 or more.
On non-interference engines or free running, if the timing belt breaks, the engine stops and you will need a tow to the repair shop. No mechanical damage occurs and the installation of a new belt is usually all that is needed to get you on your way.
It is not necessary to take your vehicle back to the dealer for scheduled maintenance. We here at Bernard's Garage have the ASE Certified technicians and most up to date tools to service you vehicle.
POSTED 01/25/2003
Mark A. Smith
Service Advisor / Web Master
Bernard's Garage