Bill & Charlie's Auto Repair publishes a newsletter as a service to its clients. For your convenience, you can now view some of our articles here online! If you would like to receive our newsletter by mail, simply email us or call us to provide us with your address. There is no charge for our newsletter, nor is your address sold or shared.

Below is a list of the articles that follow - please check back as we're adding new content regularly.

The Little Black Box in your Car, Part 1
The Little Black Box in your Car, Part 2
The Little Black Box in your Car, Part 3
Take Control of Rising Gas Prices: Don't Let Your Money Evaporate
Spend Your Tax Refund on One of  Your Biggest Investments: Your Car...
What Are The Odds?
Our Customers are the Best!
The Myth of the 100,000 Mile Tune-Up
Why should a licensed mechanic change the oil in your car?
Why Certified Auto Care?
Certified Auto Care & Safety Inspection Explained
Vacation Driving Checklist
Questions and Answers: Your Tires
It’s All In The Timing
How to Earn A Free Oil Change
Is Your Teenage Driver Ready For Winter?
Is Your Student's Car a Flunkie?
Automotive Battery Facts
Does "On the Road Again" Mean "On the Phone Again"?
Bill and Charlie’s Joins Forces with NAPA



A Letter From Bill: The Little Black Box in your Car, part 1
By Bill Wilson

During early November I had a close encounter with a deer. As I was driving just north of the fire department on Abbott Road in East Lansing a large buck jumped out in the road and ran in front of my pick-up. Unable to stop in time, I hit the deer while traveling 34 mph, knocked it down and damaged the front of my truck.

As I stepped out of the vehicle to survey the damage, the buck stood up, looked at me, shook his head and ran off! The event of the accident was recorded. There is a little black box which recorded the following information for the five seconds before impact: vehicle speed, braking, acceleration, engine speed, seat belt usage, air bag status and much more.

As some of you know, I have been involved with accident reconstruction and origin and cause of fire for the past 19 years for insurance companies among others. This includes automotive, light and heavy truck, agricultural and off-road heavy equipment. I have been able to use my automotive background in solving accident crashes and fire within vehicles (forensic mechanics - hence the name, Investigative Mechanics LLC). Our new office facility is located on Main Street in Bath, Michigan.
In coming newsletters I will be covering subjects such as the little black box in your car: the Event Data Recorder.

• Why is it there?

• How does it work?

• Who knows about it?

• What does it record?

• What should you know about it?

• Who owns the information it records?

• How does it affect your privacy rights?

Look for your next issue of our newsletter where I will explain what all this means. It will be an eye opener! This is what we are about at Investigative Mechanics.



A Letter from Bill: The Little Black Box in your Car, part 2
By Bill Wilson

In last month’s newsletter column “A Letter from Bill”, I wrote about my close encounter with a deer that resulted in a recorded download of a non-deployment of the air bags within my 2003 Chevrolet pick-up truck. This accident was logged in my pick-up’s Event Data Recorder (EDR), or “black box,” as some have called it. By now you have either read about the EDR in the newspaper or seen some type of report on television.

In order to make one knowledgeable about the Event Data Recorder, it would take about 40 pages of reading to gain a full understanding of the EDR. However, I want to keep this explanation as simple as possible to help you understand the EDR and not lose you in the technical details.

For the most part, we will be talking about the General Motors EDR, called the “Sensing Diagnostic Module” or SDM. The SDM aids the air bag deployment by using an algorithm enable program (AE), which decides whether or not the air bags are deployed in the event of an accident.

The threshold for deployment of air bags is now determined by the severity of the jerk. This means that the “AE” is now looking at other information to determine if the air bags should be deployed. So, will the air bags always deploy in an accident? The simple answer is: not always. Since the severity of the jerk will determine the deployment factor, it is not always necessary for the air bags to deploy. The ability to make a decision by the SDM distinguishes the “black box” from the SDM.

Now back to the SDM. What else does it do? It collects data for the engineers. GM Engineering felt it would be good to know what the vehicle and operator were doing before the accident as well as during the impact. Thus we now have a download of information such as: was the driver’s seat belt buckled and what is the maximum SDM recorded velocity change (MPH) during the crash impact. Vehicle and driver inputs are now recorded in the time before “AE” occurs by 5 to 10 seconds. In other words, we now know how fast the vehicle was traveling up to 10 seconds before “AE” or the crash.

Simply stated, the posted speed limit is 35 mph and the SDM shows us for the past 5 seconds you were traveling 45 mph, 50 mph, or the posted 35 mph. Second, the engine speed is recorded to support the vehicle speed. This in turn is supported by percent of throttle—your foot on the accelerator pedal. Finally, it records the brake switch circuit status. Was your foot on the brake pedal or not? These driver/vehicle inputs demonstrate to the accident reconstructionist what your behavior was leading up the accident.

The SDM download is pretty amazing when you think that  my truck-deer impact lasted 117.5 milliseconds.

Remember how I said a deer ran across Abbott Road in East Lansing and impacted my pick-up? Stop by Bill & Charlie’s Auto Repair and look on the wall. You will see that I’ve posted the complete six pages of information that was recorded and downloaded before and during the crash. I will also have a 3-ring binder with the 6 pages of SDM download in addition to the photographs of the results of the deer crash. This will show you how I was operating the vehicle up to the impact and just what an SDM download looks like.

This accident will begin to bring you into focus as to what the SDM Event Data Recorder can do. The “why” is for our safety and protection as well as for the automobile manufacturer to obtain real world data. This data helps them to design and manufacture a safer vehicle. Knowing the driver’s habits and reactions, the results of the crash, and what led up to the crash will enable the design engineer to enhance the engineering designs and move on to “crash avoidance” technologies. Crash avoidance is a new term used in such electronic advancements as automatic braking, cruise control responses to vehicle speed ahead, roll over warning systems and the traction stability control which keeps the vehicle straight on slipping surfaces. We have had Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) for more than a decade—which is itself a type of crash avoidance system.

Next month I will continue writing about the SDM. How does it work and who knows about it. Take the opportunity to stop by Bill & Charlie’s Auto Repair to preview the SDM Event Data Recording of my deer accident, it’s an eye opener and lets you know just how sophisticated the “black boxes” have become.



A Letter from Bill:  The Little Black Box in your Car, part 3
By Bill Wilson

Over the past three years, the Event Data Recorder (EDR) has become a “hot topic.” Termed “Black Box,” the EDR was brought about to record accident information “data” relating to a crash. The need for real world data was sought by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Motor Vehicle Safety Research Advisory Committee and other interested parties to promote knowledge to facilitate the collection and utilization of collision avoidance and crashworthiness data from onboard Event Data Recorders.

Through these Event Data Recorders, the OEM companies have designed the EDR to incorporate this technology to control the airbag devices. The EDRs sensing modules have been effective in collecting data, storing it and analyzing the data during a crash to determine if the airbag should be deployed.

This technology has grown over the years and (for GM vehicles) is tied into General Motors’ On-Star system – which, during a crash airbag deployment, will give your position to an integrated global positioning system (GPS) with the response capabilities.

I hope by now you have heard an ad on the radio or on television with an actual event recorded where the crash event has taken place and the On-Star 911 Responder has contacted the victim by intercommunication devices within the vehicle.

“Are you alright…we have received a signal response that the air bags have deployed.” If no response is forthcoming from the victim, then – “the proper rescue personnel are on the way.” This system is a good thing, but how effective is it?

Well recently, I was preparing to perform an EDR download on a GM Manufactured Vehicle. Following my protocol, the vehicle was photographed, relevant information was recorded, the computer interface installed and the vehicle system was powered up by auxiliary power equipment. I then turned the ignition key to the “run” position. As the instrument panel lights lit up, I heard a phone ringing twice and then a voice saying: “this is On-Star Emergency 911 Operator. We have received a signal that the airbags have deployed, how may I help you?”

Knowing that my response was being recorded and I know the Emergency Operator had his hand over the 911 button, I quickly identified myself and my purpose to assure the Emergency Operator I wasn’t in harm’s way. In fact, the crash had occurred two months earlier! As the conversation continued with the Emergency Operator, I thought to myself: ‘Wow! What a system. It really works.’ And then I remembered why both my wife and I drive GM vehicles. ‘Thank you GM, for On-Star.’

You see, over the past three years, I have listened to many arguments about privacy issues: “Big Brother is watching you” and “legally speaking: who owns the data collected?” Boy! Whatever happened to accountability? Driving on our highways is a privilege, not a right. Speed limit signs, stop signs, red lights, guardrails, caution signs and their like, are all out there for our safety—can’t we obey them?

Technology is great, but when we use it to educate ourselves as to our driving habits (good and bad), it seems as if there is always someone saying: “Hey, I don’t want anyone to know how bad a driver I am or how many chances I take at everyone else’s expense!”

For years, use of safety belts has been proven to save lives, but people will always come up with an excuse not to use them and lose their life, demanding this right to die in a crash. It would be my hope that through education, engineering and enforcement, we would obey the driving laws, slow down and be aware of the fact that every second while you are driving, the Event Data Recorder is recording your driving habits, speed, response, reaction, and attitude about obeying the laws.

Knowledge of the awareness of how to build a safe vehicle and environment through engineering, education and enforcement has brought about “the saving of lives.” The use of safety equipment within the vehicle such as safety belt harnesses, anti-lock braking systems, supplemental restraint systems, engineered energy absorbing design for impact crush, crash avoidance engineering that incorporates automatic braking, cruise control responses to vehicle speed ahead, roll over warning systems and traction stability control that keep the vehicle straight on slippery surfaces will save lives.

All this new engineering has come about through the process of collecting data—information that is vital to the process of invention and technology. This new development doesn’t just come from thin air, but is the result of recognizing the need to obtain real world data. Today, there are over 18,000 tow-away crashes per day in the United States. This is a real fact and with the use of an Event Data Recorder, each one of these 18,000 crashes per day can be recorded and real world data will be made known, collected and given to engineers. These people can then use it to discover where the next design or invention technology change for safety promotion and saving lives is needed. This is the point of view from my vantage point at the accident scene as I collect data and ask ‘why did this accident happen and could it have been prevented?’



Take Control of Rising Gas Prices:
Don't Let Your Money Evaporate
By Car Care Council (www.carcarecouncil.org)

Fight skyrocketing gas prices by taking control of your vehicle's unnecessary fuel consumption, advises the Car Care Council. Consumers can add miles to every gallon they pump by following a few easy and inexpensive maintenance steps with their car, SUV, minivan or pickup truck.

"Most motorists don't realize that it's the little things that don't take a lot of time or cost much that can really make a difference when it comes to saving money at the pump," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "Loose or missing gas caps, under-inflated tires, worn spark plugs and dirty air filters all contribute to poor fuel economy."

The Car Care Council offers gas saving maintenance and driving tips that really work:

• Vehicle gas caps: About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
• Under-inflated tires: When tires aren't inflated properly it's like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
• Worn spark plugs: A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.
• Dirty air filters: An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture—too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 15 cents a gallon.

Fuel-saving driving tips include:

• Don't be an aggressive driver: Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which results in 7 to 49 cents per gallon [50 to 70 cents per gallon based on current pricing -  Editor].
• Avoid excessive idling: Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
• Observe the speed limit: Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mph driven over 60 will result in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.
• Combining errands into one trip saves gas and time. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multi-purpose trip covering the same distance.
• Avoid carrying unneeded heavy items in the trunk. An extra 100 pounds can cut fuel efficiency by a percent or two.

As part of the "Be Car Care Aware" education campaign, the Car Care Council is also offering a free service interval schedule to help take the guesswork out of what vehicle systems need to be routinely inspected and when service or repair should be performed. The schedule can be printed for free from the Car Care Council's Web site at www.carcare.org.



Spend Your Tax Refund on One of  Your Biggest Investments:
Maintaining Present Vehicle May Be Key To Long-Term Financial Happiness
By Car Care Council (www.carcarecouncil.org)

How will you spend your tax refund? Flat-screen TV? iPod? Clothes? The Car Care Council has a better idea for your money: spend it on your second biggest investment, your car.

"Whether it's an oil change, replacing brakes or new belts and hoses, that periodic repair bill is a drop in the bucket compared to monthly payments on a new car," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "The bottom line is that a properly maintained vehicle is safer, more dependable, more fuel efficient, less polluting and more valuable. The smartest way to get a solid return on investment is to keep your car through what we call the 'Cinderella Era'. It's that period of time after the payoff when your car is still in great shape and needs only modest repairs."

The Car Care Council estimates that more than $62 billion in vehicle maintenance and repair is not performed every year, evidence that there is considerably more that consumers should be doing to protect their automotive investment.
"We advise our clients that if they want a 10-percent increase on their investments every year they need to cut down on their expenses," said Terry Mulcahy, vice president of investments for R.W. Baird in Mequon, Wis. "A new automobile is for most people their second biggest investment next to a home, so a great way to save money and increase financial assets is to hang onto their current vehicle rather than buy a new one every few years. Budgeting for and doing preventative maintenance on your car is one of the best ways to cut your costs and keep your car."



What Are The Odds...
By Ted Wilson

Recently we received a phone call from a longtime customer, we'll call her “Ms. Smith.” She was asking us about having a transmission replaced, not for her Volkswagen Golf, but for the Chevy truck that ran into her. Come again?

You see, Ms. Smith’s office is next to a popular paint supplier. It is this supplier who is providing paint to the GM Contractors for use in the new plant being built here in Lansing. This just happened to be the same plant that a Contractor from South Ohio was working on. We'll call him “Mr. Jones.”

Mr. Jones was driving in his truck, when he noticed that his transmission was acting funny. This seemed odd to Mr. Jones, as he just had the transmission serviced a few weeks ago. So, he pulled into the paint supplier’s parking lot and upon inspection of the transmission fluid level, Mr. Jones was satisfied that the fluid was indeed full and clean. So he went inside the store to get the paint. Minutes later, Mr. Jones walked out of the paint store and exclaimed that his truck had been stolen!

Well, upon a further investigation, his truck was found, 80 feet away, in the adjacent parking lot, resting on a little Volkswagen Golf. It seemed that the transmission had finally given up the ghost and slipped out of park. This allowed the truck to roll 80 feet, but not straight into the Volkswagen. No, the wheels of the truck were turned at such a slight angle that the truck rolled in a  curve. It missed the fence that sat between the two parking lots, rolled through the entryway and right into the Volkswagen!

Which brings us back to the phone call. Since Mr. Jones was from Ohio, Ms. Smith graciously recommended Bill &  Charlie’s Auto Repair as a reputable shop where he could get the transmission replaced in his truck. A special thanks goes out to Ms. Smith for recommending Mr. Jones to us. We hope that in the future we'll get more recommendations our way under less coincidental circumstances.

And as for the Volkswagen?  Well, it turns out that Mr. Jones was a stellar individual who paid for the repair of the Volkswagen's bumper.



Our Customers are the Best!
By Ted Wilson

Recently I was poking around the Car Talk website (www.CarTalk.com), home of the Tappit Brothers: Click & Clack. In my reading, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we were on their site as a “Recommended Auto Repair” facility. Not only that, but those of you who have surveyed us rated Bill and Charlie’s among the top in all categories in areas such as Honesty, Competence, and Convenience. Among the comments written about us were:

"These guys are the best! They've kept my hunk of junk going for years. They really go out of their way to be helpful. They'll give you a ride if you need it after you drop off your car and have waited after closing time when that was the only way I could pick up my heap......."
"They explain things in a manner you can understand and always intently listen to what you have to say. Very cooperative."

All we can say to this is, "Thank You." In a society where complaints are easier to make than a compliment, we appreciate the time and effort to all of those who make our life easier by recommending new customers and saying nice things about us. It really does make the hard work worth it.



The Myth of the 100,000 Mile Tune-Up
By Bryon Franklin

Many of the new vehicles purchased today come with a 100,000 mile service interval for spark plugs. These spark plugs are usually double platinum tipped as opposed to normal metal tipped, and can last as long as 100,000 miles under ideal driving conditions. However, this leads many people to believe that they do not have to perform any "Tune-Up" related services for 100,000 miles. This can be a costly mistake, when taking the following points into consideration.

1. The Fuel Pump:

The fuel pump will pump up to 30 gallons of gasoline an hour through the fuel filter and the fuel injection rail. The fuel filter is not designed to last 100,000 miles, and if it becomes plugged the car may still run, however being plugged can double the normal current draw of the fuel pump, damaging the internal component parts. Fuel pump replacement on today's vehicles can run several hundred dollars, and even up to $1000. Why can a fuel pump replacement run so high? The fuel pump may include a control module and a fuel tank sending unit all in one piece, the lines may also need to be replaced depending on their condition, or it might be a labor intensive job to do properly. To avoid a costly and premature fuel pump replacement, we recommend replacing the fuel filter every 2 years or 30,000 miles.

2. The Fuel Injection System:

In most of today's fuel injected engines, the fuel injector sprays the fuel directly onto the backside of the intake valve. Because of the olefin, paraffins, and additives in gasoline, the process of combustion and heat in the cylinders will take those chemicals and form carbonaceous deposits on the intake valves, injectors, intake passages, and throttle body. These carbon deposits are a big problem for today's engines. Even tiny deposits on fuel injectors can interrupt fuel flow and cause performance issues. The average fuel injector costs $90 to $200 for the part alone, and the average engine has 6 or 8 of them! Carbon deposits in the throttle body can cause improper idle and intermittent stalling problems. Very minor accumulation on intake valves can disrupt cylinder filling, further degrading engine performance. Combustion chamber carbon deposits can cause increased compression ratio, as well as hot spots. Hot spots are pieces of carbon that form within the cylinder, get hot, and ignite fuel prematurely before the spark plug does. Increased compression ratio causes improper fuel/air mixing and cylinder detonation, often referred to as "spark knock", which can lead to serious engine damage. Spark knock can cause the need for engine replacement, as the piston is usually rendered useless. In order to help avoid any of these expensive fuel injection system problems, we recommend adding a good quality fuel system cleaner such as Chevron's Techron once every oil change and having a professional fuel system service every 30,000 miles. While we recommend Techron by Chevron, you can also use Vavoline Synpower or Penzoil Regaine.

3. The PCV Valve:

The PCV valve is a vital "tune-up" part that is often overlooked. The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve's job is to control crankcase pressure inside the engine from normal piston ring blow-by. Blow-by is simply the pressure moving past the piston rings into the crankcase, and the PCV valve allows this pressure to escape properly. If the PCV valve becomes plugged, the pressure can build up inside the crankcase and cause engine oil leaks, as well as damage seals and gaskets, often requiring a lengthy repair in labor. This inexpensive part can cause some very expensive damage. To avoid engine oil leakage, damaged seals and gaskets for those cars who have a PCV valve, the auto manufacturers recommend that the PCV valve be checked during any regularly scheduled maintenance interval (such as a 30,000 mile check-up).

4. The Spark Plugs:

These 100,000 mile spark plugs are designed to last when the vehicle is driven under "ideal conditions" found in a perfect world. General Motors describes the “real world” as severe. These driving conditions are described as follows:

• Trips of 5 miles (8 kilometers) or less.
• Trips of 10 miles (16 kilometers) or less and the outside temperature remains below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius).
• Trailer towing.
• Operating in dusty, sandy, or salty areas.
• Extended idling conditions or low speed operation such as stop-and-go traffic.
• Extended driving in excessive temperature conditions (above 50% at 90 degrees Fahrenheit).
• When the vehicle is used for delivery services, Police, taxi, or any other commercial applications.
• Driving continuously in excess of normal highway speeds.

As you can see from the standard of "severe driving conditions", very few people drive under ideal conditions (let alone any in the State of Michigan) and many vehicles will need to have the spark plugs replaced before they hit 100,000 miles. Be aware that because most vehicles operate outside "ideal driving conditions" that even "100,000" mile spark plugs may need to be replaced before 100,000 miles are reached on the odometer.

Neglecting other services up to the 100,000 mile service interval can also cause problems with sensors such as the O2 Sensors, MAP sensor (Manifold Air Pressure), as well as plugged EGR passages (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and so on that can lead to some expensive repairs.

We also offer the Snap-On Motorvac Fuel System Service. This system cleans the fuel injectors, throttle body, valve stem deposits, and combustion chamber deposits that can cause many drivability problems.

Please be sure to ask us how we can help you plan for proper maintenance so that you can get the most out of your investment in your vehicle.



Why should a licensed mechanic change the oil in your car?
By Bill Wilson

Why should a licensed, Michigan certified mechanic change the oil in your car? In two words: knowledge and experience. A classic example as to why an oil change needs a qualified, knowledgeable, experienced technician to properly perform this service is the ‘tire argument’. Experienced eyes will look for the screw or nail in the tire during tire air pressure inspection. This may seem like a minor issue but put this same tire on the highway at 70 mph and the minor issue becomes a major one. This is why we always use a lift instead of an oil change pit. The wheels/tires can’t be spun unless they are off the ground, therefore eliminating a complete, proper tire inspection. The experienced mechanic will not only change the oil in your car, but he will also inspect the vehicle for those minor problems that could become major safety hazards or expensive repairs if left unchecked.

During the oil change, the mechanic is physically under the car as well as under the hood which enables him to evaluate the vehicle’s other subsystems and pinpoint areas of attention. Examples include: wear & tear on tires and braking components,  possible contamination of the fluids (transmission, coolant, & brake), and condition of belts, hoses & exhaust system.
Our experience also tells us to use the latest technical information we have online and apply it to your vehicle service. Being qualified to perform the oil change should be first in the motorist’s mind so they can protect the second most expensive investment that one can have.

Having a licensed, certified mechanic perform such a routine task as changing the oil in your car could save you from a very expensive repair down the road. Or, they could keep you from having a catastrophic part failure while you’re driving down the road.


Why Certified Auto Care?

The Certified Auto Care Checklist, when properly performed by a qualified technician becomes an accurate picture of your vehicle’s current condition. Not only will you learn of any needed repairs, but you’ll also learn what maintenance and service repairs will be needed in the future to maintain your investment and safety. Benefits of the Certified Auto Care include:

• Ability to plan for your repair/maintenance costs
• Protection of your investment
• Control your maintenance costs
• Become more knowledgeable of your vehicle
• A must when planning to purchase a used vehicle
• Increased peace of mind, safety and well-being when driving

Our Certified Auto Care covers inspection of 92 items. After all 92 items have been inspected, our technicians prepare a detailed checklist reporting the condition of the parts inspected in addition to reporting any problems your car may have, or potential problems your vehicle may encounter in the near future. This will also include an estimate of repair costs.



Certified Auto Care & Safety Inspection Explained
By Bill Wilson

Why is Certified Auto Care necessary to maintain the investment in your vehicle? In order to find the answer to this question, we need to know what happens during a “92-point” Certified Auto Care & Safety Inspection (CAC).

At Bill & Charlie’s Auto, we start by reviewing the odometer, oil change stickers, and any prior service records we may have on your vehicle. In addition, we also research our databases for recommended manufacturer services, technical service bulletins, and safety recalls on the vehicle. Checking these particular items ahead of time can alert our mechanics to potential problem areas that need to be inspected when the vehicle is on the hoist.

Next, we check the fluid levels, air pressure and condition of all the tires and all communication service items (lights/turn signals, wipers and horn)—which includes looking for oil, coolant, power steering, gasoline and transmission leaks. Afterwards, the cooling system is inspected for type and condition of the fluid as well as the coolant’s PH level.

After all relevant info has been reviewed, the safety inspection continues with checking all the belts (belt tensioner) and filters as well as their subsystems for proper operation (this includes the radiator and hoses). At this point, the vehicle is elevated on the hoist for the oil change and chassis lubrication.

Next, we move on to steering, suspension, brakes and tires. We remove all four tires and inspect the condition of brake wear material, pads, shoes, drums, disc rotors, brake system hydraulics, brake hoses and metal hydraulic tubes. We rotate the tires (and balance them if necessary), then inspect steering, suspension systems, shocks and struts for wear and damaged parts. This is followed by an inspection of the exhaust system and its supporting brackets.

We also perform tests on the charging and starting systems as well as load test the battery and review the age and condition of the battery itself. The starting, charging, and battery systems are inspected with an electronic battery starter testing station with the results being listed on the CAC Report.

After the inspection is complete, you will receive a checklist and a list of estimated services so you can plan your purchases to properly maintain your vehicle. We may also recommend some maintenance be performed when our experience has found that the manufacturer maintenance schedules are not adequate to properly maintain the vehicle for trouble free operation and protect your investment.

As we prepare for the Spring months, it’s easy to forget about all the adverse driving conditions that our vehicles endured during the Winter. Our vehicles take a beating as a result of roadway breakup, pot holes and cold winter harsh driving conditions like sliding into a curb. Performing a Certified Auto Care “92-point inspection”  allows us to accurately discover and document your vehicle’s condition, uncover potential problems or maintenance issues and provide a method for you, the customer, to plan ahead for future vehicle maintenance.



Vacation Driving Checklist
By Ted Wilson

Summertime is around the bend, be proactive and have your vehicle checked out before that vacation drive!

With the days getting warmer and the school year coming to a close, we're all thinking about that trip across country, up north, or to visit that museum we've been meaning to see. No matter how far you drive, remember this: it's always more convenient to repair and maintain your vehicle on your terms instead of being stuck on the side of the road. Despite being the son of a mechanic, I've had my share of roadside emergencies. In fact, if it wasn't for my training here in the shop, my brother and I would have become naturalized Canadian citizens by now... but that's another story.

In the next newsletter, we'll be presenting a whole list of driving, safety, and maintenance tips for summer driving, but for now, here's a brief overview of things to check or have checked out before going out on a trip, courtesy of Click & Clack, the Tappit Brothers of CarTalk.com:

1. Check the cooling system; belts, hoses, radiator, heater core, & water pump. More than ever, when driving in the warmer temperatures, your cooling system is the one factor keeping your engine from needing repair or replacement.

2. Be sure your tires are ready for a trip! Shallow tread depth, under- or over-inflated tires, and old tires (4 - 6 years) can result in a trip stopping accident or flat.

3. Have your front end checked out; This is to say, the steering components, ball joints, tie-rod ends, etc. If you can't steer the car... well, you get the picture.

4. Have your oil changed before wearing down it's viscosity on a long trip, and be sure to check for leaks.

5. Your air conditioning system should be checked for it's refrigerant level, compressor clutch, and belts. Don't be fooled if your A/C system doesn't work, as those non-functioning parts may still effect the performance of your car.

6. Make sure your transmission has been serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations, that the fluid is clean, and that there are no leaks. A worn out or damaged transmission can be expensive to repair, so be mindful of it's maintenance before taking the car for a long trip.

For a more elaborate explanation of why these systems need to be checked out, plus tips on self maintenance, I encourage you to visit www.CarTalk.Com/Content/Features/Summer-Driving-Tips. You could also pick up a CarTalk CD for the trip. ☺

If you have your car in for periodic maintenance and your oil changed at our shop regularly, you're already on the right track. Just bring in your vehicle for an oil change and we'll perform our 32-point Safety & Maintenance Checklist that comes standard with every oil change (which also covers most of the recommended points above). If you haven't had your car in for a while, or are curious to know where your car is at in regards to its condition, we offer our Certified Auto Care Service. Not only do we perform a comprehensive 92-point, in-depth Safety & Maintenance Inspection, but with the coupon below, we also throw in the oil change, all for only $99.

When taking that trip this summer, the safety of the vehicle is the responsibility of the owner and driver. The peace of mind that you're driving a safe car, and don't have to worry about an expensive repair along the way, makes the drive all the more enjoyable. Have a safe trip and send us a postcard.



Questions and Answers: Your Tires

Q: What is the most common forgotten service that will increase gas mileage?
A: Properly inflated tires.

Q:  What is the main cause of tire failure, tread separation and tire wear?
A: Low tire pressure.

Q: What is the most neglected service item on a vehicle?
A: Air pressure in the spare tire.

By now we know that a simple tire inspection will bring the tire inflation to proper pressure, will increase safety, wear duration, uncover wear problems, find problems with steering and suspension parts and extend the life of the tires as well as extend the investment in them. Proper tire inflation, inspection and tire rotation maintains and secures the comfort and safety of both the vehicle and it’s occupants.

At Bill & Charlie’s, if you purchase all four tires from us, we’ll maintain them by rotating, inspecting and balancing the tires during each oil change interval at no extra charge (usually every 6,000-7,000 miles). This maintenance is based upon, and will last up to, the manufacturers recommended tread wear.
All tires need to be maintained, rotated, inspected and balanced. We offer cost return savings with your purchase of 4 new tires.
40,000 mile tread warranty:
Rotate, inspect and balance 6 times: 6 x $40 = $240 savings over the tread life of the tires 60,000 mile tread warranty: Rotate, inspect and balance 10 times: 10 x $40 = $400 savings over the tread life of the tires.

This savings offsets the cost of the 4 tires! This is a sound investment. We sell Michelin, Dunlop and Cooper Tires just to name a few! See us for your next tire purchase!



It’s All In The Timing

With automotive engines as with many aspects of daily life, timing is critical. One vehicle component often overlooked during routine maintenance is the engine timing belt. If it fails, the engine will stop and the car will coast to a stop. The lucky motorist will only have the inconvenience of being stranded on the side of the road until the car can be towed to a repair facility to have the timing belt replaced. On the other hand, the engine might suffer severe, if not catastrophic, damage to its internal components.

This potential disaster can be avoided easily and relatively inexpensively by replacing the timing belt within the required replacement interval.
Timing belts resemble an engine accessory serpentine belt in appearance, only they typically have square teeth on the inside surface. They usually are constructed of rubber reinforced with nylon and/or polyester cord. The timing belt transfers the rotation of the crankshaft to the camshaft. The rotating camshaft activates the valves, which provide air and fuel to the cylinders and expel combustion gases to the exhaust system.

The valves and pistons are constantly moving up and down at very high speeds. When the pistons are down, the valves are open; when the piston is at the top of its travel, the valves are closed. Some engines don’t allow clearance between a valve at its lowest point and a piston at its highest. The timing belt, therefore, is the critical link to ensure that these components don’t collide. If collision occurs, damage to the valves, pistons, cylinder head and cylinder walls can result. This can be an expensive repair. For example: for an 850 Volvo, repairs are in the neighborhood of $3,000 to $4,000!

Timing belts usually are protected from foreign objects by a cover, making visual inspection impossible. Many domestic vehicles built within the last several years and a majority of imports are equipped with a timing belt. Other engines rely on a timing chain rather than a belt. Refer to your owner’s manual or take your car to a repair facility if you are unsure. The owner’s manual maintenance schedule is a source of timing belt replacement intervals, typically every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.
Timing belt replacement usually requires removal of the engine drive belt that operates the alternator, water pump, power steering pump and air conditioner. Consider replacing this belt, or multiple belts, when having a new timing belt installed.



How to Earn a Free Oil Change
By Ted Wilson

It's been 4 months since my return to Bill & Charlie's, and quite a learning experience to boot. I've taken the opportunity to say hello to a lot of familiar faces I remember while working here afternoons during High School. And I wanted to take the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for the warm reception and kind words from everyone since my return. It's been a pleasure to plug back in to the Greater Lansing Community, and our friends at Bill & Charlie's.

That being said, we've held fast to our commitment to improve the level of service you receive from Bill & Charlie's. We've released this newsletter, have been developing our website, and continue to develop additional methods for providing the informative and dependable service that you expect from us. To that end, I'm very pleased to announce that we will now be sending “Service Reminder” postcards every three months to help you keep on top of your oil change schedule. This postcard comes complete with a mileage and date reminder, as well as any general and/or recommended service that your vehicle may be due for.

We understand that life gets busy, and that those routine tasks that need to be performed (like oil changes and tire rotations) can slip through the cracks when dealing with our everyday lives. That's why we're sending you a friendly reminder. And, to make it even easier, you no longer have to catch us on the phone during business hours. You can now e-mail us at:
Appointments@BillAndCharlies.com and we will call and/or e-mail you back during business hours at your convenience to set up an appointment.

Another exciting feature of our Service Reminder Postcards, is your chance to ‘Earn a Free Oil Change!’ In the past, we've depended on referrals from our clientele to maintain and grow our list of clients we serve rather than invest in expensive print, radio and television advertising. Thanks to your referrals, we've been able to serve the Greater Lansing Community for over 35 years, and we couldn't think of any better way to say ‘thank you’ than by keeping money in your pocket. On each postcard is a cut-away half that you can give to someone new to Bill & Charlie's. If they choose to take advantage of our introductory service offers, we'll thank you by performing your next oil change free of charge. Knowing how active some of you have contributed to the success of our business, I'm sure there will be a few of you who will never pay for your oil changes again!

Lastly, we decided to focus this month’s newsletter on tips & tricks to save your gas mileage. With worldwide oil demand up, and the lack of new production, gas prices are bound to stay uncomfortable for the foreseeable future. Use these tips to help your dollars go further, and conserve your budget.



Is Your Teenage Driver Ready For Winter?
By Greg Days

For a young driver, maneuvering through the busy city streets on a bright sunny day can be stressful. Driving in conditions such as wet, snow-covered, or icy roads could be outright traumatic for a teenager. Does your young driver have the needed knowledge and skills to drive safely during the upcoming Michigan winter? “Parents need to work with their teens to help them gain the experience they need for safe winter driving in the safest possible environment," says Charles Butler, AAA driver safety services director. Here are some tips for  you parents to help make your teenage driver a better winter driver.

Check out the skills of your young driver before the snow flies. Make your teenage driver the family chauffer whenever possible. Every trip you make, whether it is to the local grocery store or a family vacation, make your teenage driver drive. The extra experience behind the wheel is beneficial plus you can spend the time observing your teenager’s driving habits. Point out and help correct any driving weaknesses your young driver has now while the roads are clear.  The major cause of accidents with young drivers is distraction.  A new or young driver needs to drive with an adult and/or alone for a minimum of one year to develop good driving habits along with experience to gain a familiarity concerning how to drive in our busy world.  Every time your young driver drives to a specific destination, ask them to plan out ahead with some detail the route that they will be taking.  Ask them to see in their mind’s eye traffic signals, stop signs and places where they will be making a left or right turn.

Discourage using cell phones while driving. We are seeing far too many accidents caused by experienced drivers while using their cell phone. I tell my three teenagers to ignore their cell phone when it rings while they are driving – return the call later when they have reached their destination. Today’s cell phones have caller ID and voice mail, so encourage your young driver to use these features.

Make it a point that your young driver becomes aware of the condition that the vehicle is in – all safety and maintenance items. Schedule  time to take your young driver and vehicle to your local professional facility and have the vehicle taken through a certified safety inspection.  Have the professional technician explain the functioning and needs of service and how they affect the aspects of driving a vehicle safely on the highway.  A well-maintained vehicle with all safety items functioning properly makes the vehicle operator a more confident and safe driver who has peace of mind.  The vehicle operator and vehicle itself must be ready to face any type of driving condition with adverse weather which affects road surface, handling, vision, response, heavy or light traffic conditions. With this knowledge the vehicle operator is able to learn through experience  how to perceive and not “react to” but respond to situations.  The young driver needs to know what the latent actions of the vehicle are before the situation occurs.  There is much more to explain to drivers of all ages facing all situations and circumstances, but the need to prepare offensively (the operator and vehicle) is a necessity before the driver begins to operate the vehicle defensively on the highway.

Inspect the tires for proper inflation and wear. A tire with tread depth less then 4/32” is unsafe in rain and tread depth less then 6/32” is unsafe for driving in snow.  Drive the vehicle to test the brakes making sure the vehicle stops straight, the brakes don’t pulsate or pull the vehicle to the left or right. Check the lighting systems. Remember, exterior lights are one of the ways of communicating with other motorists. Look at the windshield for anything that may obstruct your young driver’s vision and inspect/test the windshield wipers and washers for proper operation. From the inside of the vehicle, make sure the heating and window defroster systems are working properly and that all mirrors are in place.

Prepare an emergency kit to put in the trunk of your teenager’s vehicle and make sure they know the kit is there. I would start by putting together some items like a blanket, warm coat, hat, gloves, boots, and even a pair of snow pants. Put a shovel and a bag of sand, or non-clumping cat litter, in their trunk with a couple of old pieces of carpet just in case they get stuck. Don’t forget road flares and a flashlight so they can see and be seen.  This would be a good time to inspect the jack and spare tire and make sure your teenage driver knows how to safely use the equipment and change a flat tire. Finally, knowing who to call during an emergency as well as a repair facility destination are very important, so put a list in their glove box with people to call, including a towing service, if they have an emergency and they cannot reach you.

Now comes the fun part. When the first snow flies, find a wide-open parking lot that is not in use and let them practice some slow speed braking maneuvers. Have them accelerate to 20-25 mph and practice emergency braking and steering. If their vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock Brake System, have them practice steering while the ABS is activated. Explain that ABS makes it possible to maintain steering control and have maneuverability of the vehicle during an emergency stop but does not make your vehicle stop quicker. If their vehicle is not equipped with ABS then make sure they know to pump the brakes if the vehicle begins to skid. Have them lock the brakes up and try to steer so they know the vehicle does not turn with the brakes locked-up. Let your young driver try to get the vehicle to skid to one side and then properly steer out of the skid. These are skills that are still being taught but in most cases cannot be practiced during driver’s education classes.

Your teenaged driver’s first winter driving experience shouldn’t be upsetting; being a teenager is hard enough. Spending a little extra time preparing your teenaged driver for winter driving can be beneficial to both of you.  With a little pre-winter preparation you and your teenaged driver should have a less stressful and safe winter season.



Is Your Student’s Car a Flunkie?
By the Car Care Council

School is back in session, and many teens will be driving vehicles that are maintenance flunkies. Because studies show that a number of car crashes are due to neglected vehicle maintenance, parents and their young drivers should take a hard look at their service and repair habits.

Remind your student that freedom of mobility is a privilege that bears responsibility beyond mature driving habits; it also includes the care of the vehicle. Whether it’s a cross-country drive to college or just a Friday night date, knowing what to have serviced and when is essential.

The Car Care Council recently created a Service Interval Schedule, a must-have guide that helps ensure safety, dependability and return on investment (available at www.carcare.org). The easy-to-read, one-page schedule is perfect for teens on the go. It takes the guesswork out of preventive maintenance, breaking the vehicle’s maintenance needs into simple monthly, quarterly, biannual and annual checks.

Whether a car is new or used, sooner or later the battery, brakes, belts and tires all wear out. The schedule explains how often these items should be checked, which helps young drivers prioritize, an important ability when a new prom dress or sound system is weighed against needed safety repairs.



Automotive Battery Facts

How an automotive battery works:
A battery stores energy in chemical form that can be released on demand as electricity. This electrical power is used by the cars ignition system for cranking the engine. The car's battery also may power the lights and other accessories. Should the alternator belt fail, the battery might also need to power the vehicle's entire electrical system for a short period of time.

Choosing a new battery:
SIZE: What are the dimensions of your original battery? Always select a replacement battery that has the same dimensions and post connections as the factory original.

POWER: What is the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) required to power your vehicle? Cold Cranking Amps is a rating used in the battery industry to define a battery's ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. The rating is the number of amps a new, fully charged battery can deliver at 0° Fahrenheit for 30 seconds, while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts, for a 12 volt battery. The higher the CCA rating, the greater the starting power of the battery.
Reserve Capacity, (RC) is a battery industry rating, defining a battery's ability to power a vehicle with an inoperative alternator or fan belt. The rating is the number of minutes a battery at 80 degrees F can be discharged at 25 amps and maintain a voltage of 10.5 volts for a 12 volt battery. The higher the reserve rating, the longer your vehicle can operate should your alternator or fan belt fail.

WARRANTY: Automotive batteries are backed by a warranty package.  Most batteries are warranted for 100% of the replacement cost during the first year. After the first year the batteries are pro-rated meaning the percentage of the covered costs goes down the longer the battery is in service. 

FRESHNESS: You can usually find a small decal on the side of the battery container giving you the month and year the battery was shipped out of the plant. The letter corresponds with the month, starting with "A" for January, "B" for February, and so on. The number represents the year with "9" standing for 1999, "0" for 2000, and so on.  A9  would be January 1999, B1 would be February 2001, C0 would be March 2000 (The letter "I" is skipped so the letter "M" would be December).



Does “On the Road Again” Mean “On the Phone Again”?
By the Car Care Council

These days you see more cell phones than ever, and many of them will be on the ears of people behind the wheel of an automobile. Some of these phones and their owners will wind up in car crashes, but don't be too quick to blame the cell phone. Blame the drivers who use them in the wrong place at the wrong time, allowing conversations to divert their attention from the road.

"Hands-free devices make it easy to eliminate reaching and dialing, but it's not about having your hands free," said Rich White, a spokesman for the Car Care Council. "It's about having your mind free to concentrate on driving. It's best to pull off the road, or even better, call back later."

There are a variety of other situations that can distract motorists, whether they're en route to their vacation destination, or simply driving across town. Many of these can be addressed with little or no money. Examples include:

• Things hanging from the rear view mirror – Take them down. They can obstruct vision out of both the front and rear windows.
• A damaged rear view mirror – Get it repaired. Many of your driving decisions are only as good as the view from your mirrors.
• Worn windshield wiper blades – Replace them. Smeared glass and chattering blades can be unnerving. Blades are inexpensive and you can probably do the installation yourself.
• Torn or frayed car mats – Get new ones. The old mats can catch a heel, diverting your attention and/or interfering with the motion of your foot on the accelerator or brake.
• Droopy headliner – Purchase a kit to reattach it or buy a new one. Material draping down in the back obstructs the view out of the rear window.
• Keeping a pet in its place away from the driver.

Determine what annoyances you can fix yourself and which ones need professional attention, says the Car Care Council. Take care of them as soon as possible; to delay could mean an accident waiting to happen.



Bill and Charlie’s Joins Forces with NAPA

Bill & Charlie’s Automotive Repair has recently been certified by the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) to become an Auto Care Service Center. What does this mean to our customers?

NAPA provides solid benefits to our clientele that include, but are not limited to the following:

• NAPA provides a nationwide coast-to-coast warranty on parts and labor, so you can travel with peace of mind.
• NAPA has both mail and e-mail maintenance reminders so customers can schedule regular services, such as oil changes, tire rotations, 30,000 and 60,000 mile maintenance intervals.
• NAPA has a toll-free number to call so you can find a NAPA Auto Care center in your area should you relocate or need one while traveling.
• NAPA Auto Care centers cover all domestic (GM-Ford-Chrysler) & foreign vehicles: European (Audi to Volvo), Asian (Honda to Toyota).
• NAPA has a full line of quality service parts from original equipment manufacturer to major automotive manufacturers.
• NAPA provides superior quality parts with the best warranty available in the industry.
• Much more to come in future articles with discounts

Bill & Charlie’s is committed to customer satisfaction and maintaining the highest level of integrity in our industry. Joining the NAPA Auto Care Program is another step in providing our customers the best quality service available.