Breaking The Dealerships Stranglehold On Aftermarket Service And Repairs

A common complaint of UK motorists for many years has been that car manufacturers and their franchised dealerships have had them over a barrel when it comes to aftermarket service and repairs.  Manufacturers have viciously guarded the specialist tools required to fix many of the issues that may arise with their vehicles.  Independent garages and body shops were unable to purchase or lay hands on such equipment; resulting in motorists being left with no option but to take their vehicle to an authorised dealership.  With engines becoming ever more complex and increasing electronic systems, such as onboard diagnostics; motorists were faced with having to rely on dealerships on a more frequent basis.  Not a welcoming prospect when you consider that many charge an hourly rate that is at least twice that of an independent garage.

False dawn

In June 2007 it seemed that the UK motorists’ prayers had been answered as the European Union passed regulation EC 715/2007.  The legislation, which was latterly amended in EC 692/2008, put in place provisions whereby manufacturers must allow access to their technical information and tools required to service and repair their vehicles.  Suddenly it was possible for independent garages, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to get hold of items that had previously been off limits to them.  Finally motorists could take their car to the local garage and leave it in the hands of a mechanic that they knew and trusted and who wouldn’t charge them an extortionate rate.  At least that was the theory.

Reality bites

In truth the impact that the EU legislation has had on the automotive aftermarket has been negligible.  Whilst the ideal sounds great; the truth is that many of the specialist tools required to identify or solve specific issues on particular cars is beyond the financial means of smaller garages.  For example, the right equipment to safely remove a diesel injector from the Renault 2.2dCi engine costs in the region of £2,500.  Then you have to consider the numerous other engines out there and specialist tools required to fix each specific problem.  Kitting out a garage capable of dealing with all problems, on all car models, would cost a small fortune with very few if any items delivering a return on investment.  Even if a garage did have the resources to purchase all of these tools; a lack of storage space would render the exercise futile.

A new hope?

One answer for independents garages is to hire tools for a short period, as and when they are required to complete specific jobs.  This way they can retain customer loyalty and increase their profits.  Of course, the cost of hiring the tool or equipment is added to the motorists invoice.  However, the savings made from paying an hourly rate that is at least half of what they would at a dealership, means that such an arrangement still works out cheaper.  They also have the convenience of being able to take their car to a nearby garage – a real plus when driving the vehicle is problematic or even impossible.

The aftermarket automotive industry has been slow on the uptake and there has been little in the way of tool hire services.  However, a company called Rent2Repair has commenced trading in May 2012, with the aim of taking advantage of this gap in the market.  For a small monthly subscription fee, members have access to specialist tools for which they pay a rental charge, dependent on the value of the tool.  Rent2Repair provide a next day delivery service, meaning little delay for the motorist.  The item is then collected once the garage has finished with it.

So the next time you have a problem with your car; don’t immediately head for the nearest dealership.  It could be that your local garage is a member of a loan tool service and can get hold of the right equipment to handle your job.  If the garage isn’t enrolled in such a scheme, then they may consider joining if you raise the issue with them.  Whether Rent2Repair and other similar businesses succeed and break the stranglehold that dealerships have on certain areas of the automotive aftermarket remains to be seen.  But at least there is now a viable system in place that helps provide consumers the right to choose where they take their cars and independent garages to ability to compete in a fair market.

Car Upholstery Repair

Whether you need to repair your car upholstery because you want to restore a classic car, or because the interior of your car is just very ratty, you may need a little guidance if you dont know what you are doing. The upholstery in older cars in particular were installed with the assumption that they would last for a long time, but that is not always the case. Even newer cars may need their upholstery repaired because of accidents that happen within the interior of the car.

Repairing the upholstery in your car interior may also be harder to do if you are not sure what kind of materials you are working with. The right tools may also be needed to remove, repair and install new upholstery into the car, and may be a hefty investment in itself. Sometimes, it may simply be wiser to have a professional do the job for you, but when there isnt one in your area, a little do-it-yourself skills may prove to be useful.

Getting Started: Repairing Your Car Upholstery

Before even getting started on the upholstery in your car, you should first gauge the kind, as well as the amount of work that needs to be done. A proper evaluation will also help you determine the total amount of money you will need to spend on the entire repair job, allowing you to plan your expenses and total work accordingly.
 

Here are some things you should look for when inspecting your car upholstery for repairs:

• Seats – Much of the upholstery found on your seats may need repairs because of constant use by passengers. If you constantly use your ride to transport large amounts of people around every day, then the car seats may experience a lot of wear and tear. Look for new seat covers made for your car model in particular, or have some custom made if stores do not carry any.
• Carpeting – Since this is where people will step on as soon as they enter the car, your carpets may be the first piece of upholstery that needs repairing. Ready-made carpets are available in nearly every automotive store around, or you can also have them custom made to your own preferences.
• Dashboard – Constant exposure to sunlight, UV rays, and even the stuff you put on the dashboard may wear out the upholstery that covers it. If you start to see prominent scuff marks, scratches and cracks, it might be a good idea to start repairing the upholstery. This may be one of the hardest places to perform repairs, however, even with aftermarket parts made specifically for your cars dashboard.
• Headliner – The upholstery on your headliner can be a lot like your car seats, but can be more expensive to install properly. You may even have to remove your windshield to perform a headliner repair, so try to get this done by a professional if funds allow.
• Interior Panelling – The panels on your doors and sides may also be made from soft upholstery which is subject to constant wear and tear. A lot of common door panels are typically attached to the car by screws or easy-access clip systems, so determine if you can get these parts from your car dealer or auto shop.

DIY Upholstery Repair

Once you have determined the amount of work that needs to be done to your car, its time to get to work. Get all the tools you might need in order to perform the actual repair work; be it a screwdriver to remove interior panels, wrenches, cutters, and some strong adhesive to make sure the upholstery sticks to your car well. Here are some general step-by-step instructions to repairing your car upholstery:

1. Lay out all the tools, replacement parts, and other things you need to get started on the upholstery repair. This can include snacks and drinks to keep your energy up when you take a break.
2. Remove the things that need to be repaired from your car, if possible. This includes anything with upholstery that need fixing; your seats, door panels, carpets, and even your dashboard. This is to ensure nothing else in the car is damaged during the repair process. You can also try removing everything in your car except the thing that needs repairing.
3. Once you have the part removed from the car, get side-by-side with your tools and start removing the upholstery from the part. This may take a little elbow grease and patience, even if you have the proper tools on hand already. If you are removing the seat covers from a car seat, also take note of where each and every part you remove came from, so installation may go smoother.
4. If the upholstery you removed was held to the part by way of adhesives, then you may notice plenty of excess after removal. The excess adhesive will either already be very dry, or still sticky, depending on the kind of adhesive used. Try to remove all of the excess adhesive as best as you can before installing new upholstery.
5. After removing the upholstery from a car, installation should be fairly straightforward with drop-in parts made for your car. If you are replacing upholstery that is not made for your car, or intended as a drop-in replacement, then more work may have to be done; you may have to apply adhesives to the newly-stripped part, apply the upholstery, and wait for it to dry.

When in doubt, call a car upholstery repair shop and have the work done for you instead.

An Easy Guide to Changing the Oil on a 2009 Ford Fusion

The 2009 Ford Fusion is notoriously difficult when it comes to changing the oil and filters.  This is primarily down to the fact that the Fusion’s oil drain plug is not in the same place as with other generations and models, so typically many online guides tend to not work for drivers who own the 2009 model.  It is essential that you know how to change the oil on your car because ideally you should be doing this at least once a year, if not every 6 months.  Frequent oil changes will prolong the life of your engine, and also help to retain some of the value when you come to re-selling your vehicle.

Being able to do your own oil changes will also help you to save on expensive mechanic’s bills.  The following “how to” articles details each step in the way for someone who wants to do this themselves.  Please note that this is only relevant to the 2009 Ford Fusion model which is the 2.3 liter version running the Duratec engine, although it can be adapted for earlier and later models.  The Duratec engine uses an oil filter that is more environmentally friendly than the previous generations by using a filter cartridge to stop waste build-ups in the oil – so you will also need to replace the paper filter too – here are the tools and equipment that you are going to need:

What You Will Need

To successfully do a full oil change on the 2009 Fusion you will need the following.  Most items can be bought cheaply online from Amazon or from automotive retail outlets.

• New and fresh oil – AMSOIL tends to be a good brand for Ford
• Ratchet and socket set – doesn’t have to be an expensive brand
• Small plastic tray to catch any excess oil and the old oil that runs out
• Paper towels or an old rag to clean things up
• Service jack and the axel stands – should be located in the boot of the car as standard
• Brand new Ford Fusion filter – many official dealers will offer these for free if you buy a new Ford Fusion Navigation DVD from them over the summer months

Your Guide to Doing a Full Ford Fusion Oil Change

Firstly you need to start the car up and leave her running for about four minutes in order to get the oil working – it will reduce the viscosity so that you can drain it out a lot easier.  Once you have done that you will need to jack the car up and secure it safely using the Ford Fusion axel stands.  Check that it doesn’t wobble because safety is paramount.  Once you have done this you can locate the oil drain plug which is located to the front of the Duratec engine on the 2009 2.3 models – as we said earlier, this is different to other Fusion versions which have the plug near the rear.  See the image if you don’t know what you are looking for.

You can now unscrew the oil drain plug and then remove it – but ensure that you have your plastic tray ready to catch all the old oil .
that is going to drain out.  Once the oil has run through it is time to remove the filter cartridge device which slides easily out – but look out for more oil leaking at this point and be ready with your paper towels or rags.  You will need to prime the cartridge by using just a small amount of new oil – this will make it slide back in again a lot easier – so place it back in and screw it shut.

You are now ready to replace with your new oil.  Lower the Fusion back down to the ground and remove the jacks.  Pop the car’s hood up and find the oil cap near the top of the engine and re-fill with oil.  The trick is to use the dip stick to check that you have put the right levels in, and there will be a groove to guide you on the stick.  Only check once you have started the car up again and given it a five minute warm up.

You’re oil change should now be complete.  For future maintenance it is advice that you check the levels every two hundred miles or so to see that it is not dropping.  If you see any patches underneath the car in your regular parking space then the chances are you did not tighten up the drain plug properly so go back and re-tighten it.

How To Rebuild a Transmission

Car enthusiasts will usually enjoy learning how to rebuild a transmission. Any motor vehicle would not be able to run very efficiently without them, especially if you like to attend track days a lot. Wear and tear can be placed on your transmission, even if you do religiously maintenance your car when it needs it. If you love your car, but dont know the first thing to a transmission rebuild even if your life depended on it, then it might be high time to learn.

A car transmission may seem complicated at first, but with a little know-how, it will seem natural to you. Whether automatic or manual, there isnt exactly an easy way to describe how each and every part of a transmission works to a person who doesnt know much about the topic. The make and model of your car may also mean that your transmission will be dramatically different in construction than the car next to you; it just never ends.

A Short Primer to Car Transmissions

Both automatic and manual transmissions will have many, many parts that will not make your transmission rebuild any simpler. If you find rebuilding other parts of your car to be a steep challenge, you might be better off having a professional auto repair shop do the work for you instead; it may save you more time, money and effort.

In laymans terms, a car transmission is the part of the car which houses the many gears inside what many people refer to as the “gearbox.” Put simply, this series of gears converts the speed and torque from the engine into the power used to get your car running on the tarmac. Other names for the gearbox are the drive train, and may include other parts like the differential and drive shafts.

The main power output of the transmission is transferred to the drive shaft, the differential, and then the wheels of the car. The differential itself will provide gear reduction, as well as allowing the wheels of the car to be driven at varying speeds. The transmission systems of most cars are attached to the engine by a crankshaft.

A manual transmission requires user intervention in order to switch between gears while driving. In addition to allowing more performance and fuel efficiency, they are cheaper and lighter when found on a car. Less moving parts are also a benefit of a manual transmission, depending on the make and model of your car.

An automatic transmission, while requiring no user interaction to change gears with, may have many moving parts that will make it particularly harder to service. Hydraulics and pressure-operated transmission fluids run the system, and reply on a smoother flywheel or torque converter to change gears smoothly.

Rebuilding a Transmission

You may choose to rebuild your transmission for a variety of reasons:

• After constant use, your transmission may reach the end of its lifespan, and may need a total overhaul to reuse.
• Poor compatibility between the transmission and the rest of your car may merit the need of a complete transmission rebuild.
• Racing enthusiasts may also rebuild a transmission with new parts to get more performance out of a car.
• A transmission rebuild may be a normal thing for some car enthusiasts to do; they may perform one on a regular basis as part of a maintenance routine.

There are more reasons why a transmission will need to be rebuilt sooner or later, but the point is you will need to determine the cause of a problem before deciding on a transmission rebuild. More often than not, a person will choose a complete rebuild to try and fix a problem, or even a complete failure in the transmission system of a car.

Here are some general tips for a transmission rebuild in a car:

• Completely remove the transmission from your car. If you dont know what you are doing, then ask someone to help you out, or get a professional to remove it for you.
• Dismantle the transmission completely, and organize all of the shafts, gears, and other parts of the transmission for easy access and maintenance.
• Check all of the electrical systems, gears, seals, gaskets and other parts for wear, tear and rust. Determine any parts in particular that may have caused problems in your transmission, in addition to performing maintenance on the running parts.
• If you would much rather replace all of the parts with new ones instead, then make sure all of them are compatible with your transmission system, as well as the overall make and model of your car. Some car models may have new and updated parts that come stock with newer versions of your car, so call up your local dealership to see if it is applicable to your vehicle.
• Re-assemble the transmission with all of the updates, new parts and maintenance procedures finished. Give the entire transmission system a once-over to see if there is any part you missed. In fact, check it twice.
• Re-install the newly-rebuilt transmission into your car. Start the car up and see if the transmission will run smoothly; change gears and rev the car up if you have to.

Again, if you dont know the first thing to a transmission rebuild, then take your car to your nearest auto shop or car dealer and have them do it for you.

DIY Auto Repair: A Guide on How to Repair Car Problems on Your Own

Every driver experiences car problems once in a while. Most of them rely on car repair shops to fix their car’s brake fluid leaks, their parking brakes, or their broken car doors or door locks. This means that they spend a lot of their money on just maintenance and repairs alone. On the long run, this can mean thousands and thousands of dollars spent on their vehicles that they can use for other more important things. If you do not have the budget or if you simply want to save money, here are guides on basic DIY auto repair that you can perform on your own.

How to Repair Brake Fluid Leaks

If you are mechanically-inclined, then you can repair a brake fluid leak by yourself. Before you follow this DIY auto repair guide on brake fluid leaks though, make sure that you have the right knowledge on how to fix lines or leaks first. You can go around town and ask local car parts store if they can provide you with braking system diagrams. This will help you better understand how it works.

Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with How the Braking System Works

This is a very important step that you should not skip when trying to perform a DIY auto repair on brake fluid leaks. Familiarizing yourself with how the brake lines work by reading your car user’s manual is a good start.

Step 2: Get a Rebuild Kit

If you suspect a brake fluid leak, check your car’s master cylinder. If it already shows signs of wear and tear, go to the nearest car parts store and get a rebuild kit. Follow the directions included in the kit on how to remove a damaged master cylinder and replace it with a new one.

Step 3: Install a New Set of Brake Hoses

If your car’s brake hoses are already leaking, include a set of new brake hoses on your list of parts to purchase. Remove the damaged hoses and replace them with the new ones.

Step 4: Use a Metal Tubing and a Pipe Bender

If the brake lines are the only parts that are leaking, you can easily fix this problem by using metal tubing and a pipe bender. Again, the need for your car’s user manual is in order, so make sure that you prepare this before you set out to perform a DIY repair on the leak that you are experiencing.

Step 5: Buy a New Caliper

If you purchase a new caliper, read the instructions included with it on how to properly install a new caliper in order to fix the caliper piston.

How to Repair Parking Brake Problems

Fixing parking brakes should always be a part of your routine car maintenance if you want to avoid compromising your safety as well as the safety of the people you are with when driving. This DIY auto repair is actually easy for a lot of mechanically-inclined drivers, so you can try to fix this problem on your own. Just make sure that you do your homework to avoid any other car issues.

Step 1: Perform Small Adjustments

The first step in this DIY auto repair on parking brake problems is to first perform minor adjustments. Check your car’s user manual for any tips on how to properly adjust the brake cables and pulleys. These may include tightening the cables or removing its “slackness.”

Step 2: Lubricate the Actuator Levers

Over time, a car’s parking brake may stick. If the brake does not easily release as it should or if it does not push or pull back smoothly, you should lubricate the actuator levers. If this still does not work, you may already be required to remove the car’s rear brakes and check the whole brake system to identify the root cause of the issue.

Step 3: Install a New Brake Cable

This step on DIY auto repair for parking brake issues is a straightforward task that you can easily do on your own, as long as you have the proper tools and knowledge. Using jacks and a stand, mount your vehicle up so you can access the braking system. Remove the mounting hardware so you can slightly free up and remove the broken cable and replace it with a new one.

How to Perform Car Door Hinge Adjustment

If one of your car doors has a loose hinge or if it does not latch all the way through, then you can follow this DIY auto repair on problematic hinges.

Step 1: Inspect Car Door Thoroughly

The first step on this DIY auto repair on door hinge problems is to perform a thorough inspection on the door you are having problems with. The issue may only be caused by a loose weather stripping that get caught in the latch or hinge. If this is the case, you may only have to glue it back or replace it with a new one.

Step 2: Tighten Bolts

In most cases of problematic car doors, the bolts are simply just loose. All you need to do is use the right ratchet wrench size and tighten the loose hinge bolts. Make sure that you keep the hinges straight and the car door lifted to the proper height before you perform the adjustment. You can use a car jack, a jack stand, or a pile of wood to keep the door at the proper level.

Step 3: Check Adjustment

The final step on this DIY auto repair on loose car door hinges is to check if you made the proper adjustment. Close the door and see if it securely latches. If it still does not, perform step no. 2 again and see if this will finally resolve the issue.

These are just some of the common problems that most car owners experience from time to time. If you are one of these individuals, then you will greatly benefit from following these DIY auto repair guides. Not only will you be able to solve your car issues; you will also be able to save money by not relying on the services of a car mechanic or a car repair shop.

Car Repairs Which Are The Most Expensive?

Like many things today, vehicles require quite a bit of upkeep. Ignoring the little things like oil changes can leave you with a costly repair bill further down the road. To avoid this, its important to attack these problems while theyre small before they turn into major issues. Here are ten of the most costly repairs and tips on how to avoid them.

Supercharger/Turbocharger

 
Superchargers and turbochargers keep air flowing through the engine. Since they function at high speeds, theyre prone to excessive heat and damage. When they break down, it can cost $1600 to replace them. Besides that, additional repairs that are needed as a result of the malfunction can add another $700 to $3000. To help avoid problems, make sure the units have the correct amount of oil. Too much can be just as bad as not enough.

Hybrid Battery

 
The hybrid battery is usually coupled with a motor-assist battery to charge it. If you change one, you have to change both and that can cost upwards of $2700. The technology is pretty new, so it can be tough to troubleshoot any problems that may arise with the setup. Not to mention parts are scarce and there are few mechanics that service hybrid batteries. To avoid repairs, its best to use them in more mild climates, as heat and humidity can put stress on the battery.

Transmission

 
The transmission is what uses the engine power to make the wheels move. This aspect of the vehicle is often overlooked and if the transmission fails, youre not going anywhere. Replacement often costs around $3600. Fortunately, many automakers are aware of the weaknesses in their transmissions, so if you keep an eye on your vehicles service bulletins, youll know when to go in for a check and maybe get some free transmission maintenance.

Injection Pump

 
The injection pump transports fuel to the engine cylinders. Its pretty common for them to clog up, and the range of repair costs varies greatly. A pump for a Honda might only be a couple hundred dollars and simple to change. But for SUVs and trucks, the cost can be almost $3000 because of all the work involved to replace it. Regular changing of the fuel filters should keep the injection pump from clogging.

Cylinder Head + Spark Plugs

 
Although they are not expensive, faulty spark plugs can cause misfiring, and if its ignored, it creates excessive heat in the cylinder. A flashing check engine light is an indicator of this and it means there is damage being done to the engine. The damaged parts usually include the cylinder or catalytic converter, a cost of around $3500. Its best to have this issue fixed as soon as possible to avoid costly repairs.

Catalytic Converter

 
This part detoxifies emissions from the exhaust. Theyre usually built to last for about twenty years and give off plenty of indicators before they give out (such as misfires and broken oxygen sensors). When the converter goes kaput, the price tag can run up to $2700. And thats because of the parts, not the labor. Catalytic converters contain three precious metals rhodium, platinum, and palladium.

Hybrid Inverter

 
As hybrids are fairly new, its difficult to find parts when they go bad. Inverters dont malfunction often, but when they do, it can cost $4000 to replace it at best, $7400 at worst. Unfortunately, its difficult to prevent inverter failure outside of keeping tabs on the check engine light.

Camshaft

 
Camshafts are the parts that control the engine valves and manages the air intake. Normal wear and tear is usually the reason these parts fail. Keeping up maintenance by changing the oil and adjusting the valves can help prolong the life of the camshaft. Replacement can be costly, mostly for labor, running from $1500 to $3100.

Torque Converter

 
This is the hydraulic coupling, similar to a clutch, between the transmission and the engine. If it overheats, it can start to leak and warp the parts. This can be dangerous, as it can prevent you from stopping your car in the worse-case scenario. Replacement can cost $1800, so dont rev your engine when your foot is on the break to help avoid overheating.

Cylinder

 
Cylinder failure is one of the most costly repairs needed in a vehicle. This is mostly because of the labor involved, as the engine has to be disassembled to get to it. This can put a pretty big dent in your checkbook around $8000 so many drivers simply scrap the vehicle for a different one. Thankfully, cylinders dont fail often, and usually only because of prolonged neglect.