Windshield Wipers Stop Working 2000 Buick Park Avenue

The windshield wipers died on our Buick Park Avenue (model year 2000). Dealership states it is not a blown fuse but a bad motor. How much should this cost to repair?

http://ask.metafilter.com/110045/Windshield-wiper-repair

This is a pretty common problem what can be fixed by replacing the complete motor and circuit board.

2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT – The Good, The Bad

I have been servicing a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT for a friend since the car was new.  This vehicle now has 116,000 miles on it.  I want to share my experiences here with you in case you are looking to buy one or currently own one.  Overall the vehicle has been great with no break downs and decent fuel economy averaging 23mpg.  But there have been a few issues that are EXTREMELY annoying.  

THE BAD:

• Driver side power window.  The retaining clips that attach the glass to the track are made of some composite material and break in the cold winter months.  Usually what happens is you hear a crack, pop, and then the glass falls into the door.  This is inexpensive to fix, as the clips only cost $15, but again, very annoying for the owner.
• In a freezing rain or after a snow here on the east coast the doors and windows freeze shut.  The gutter system along the doors tops and roofline is inadequate.
• The aluminum wheels have begun to oxidize along the rim edge and bead seat causing slow air leaks and consequently uneven tire wear and tire vibrations.  Replacement wheels from the dealership cost $400 each.  Reconditioned wheels have been found at Phenix Wheel for $179 each.    
• Handles poorly in the snow

 

THE GOOD:

•  No break downs
• 23-26mpg highway
• Good power and acceleration from the 3.4 Liter V6
• Cheap and Easy to maintain
• Handles well in rain and dry weather  

 

How to optimize fuel economy for your current vehicle

Gas prices are pretty ridiculous. As I write this on April 21, 2008, regular is $3.29 midgrade is $3.39 Premium is $3.55 and Diesel is $4.11

If you like to find where the cheapest gas prices in your area are, go to www.gasbuddy.com and search by state and city. That site is in desperate need of a redesign and not maintained by me, I just think it’s the most comprehensive right now.

Also:

The majority of people out there are in no position to just go out and buy a Toyota Prius or Honda FiT. There are some things that can be done to ensure your current vehicle is getting the maximum amount of fuel mileage. The list below already assumes that you maintain your vehicle to manufacturer specs.

• Do not use your defroster or air conditioner if it is not necessary. The energy used to turn you air conditioning compressor robs the engine of power and causes a decrease in fuel economy by about 1mile per gallon or mpg.
• Keep windows rolled up if possible. The less wind resistance the better. Open your vents if you need fresh air.
• Don’t drive like a maniac. Sometimes we can’t help accelerating around a Sunday driver or driving 80mph down the Turnpike but this type of driving is not only dangerous, it lowers you fuel economy by a large percentage. Accelerate moderately and obey posted speed limits.
• Get a free-flowing air filter like a K&N Airfilter. This is the ONE and ONLY part that is cheap enough to warrant purchasing for the sake of saving on gas. My own experience with a 2002 Pontiac grand am gt 3.4liter V6 is a 1 to 2 mpg increase in fuel economy. Additionally, the filter is good for life. All you have to do is clean it once in a while, so you are saving on replacing the air every time as well.
• If you have a passenger car, set the tire pressure to the maximum allowed on the sidewall. This is usually only 4 psi higher than the vehicle recommendation. You may notice a rougher ride, however the decrease in rolling resistance will allow your vehicle to roll easier. I don’t recommend doing this with trucks because the bounce around too much.
• Use cruise control when you can. This keeps the engine running at a steady rate and minimizes wasted gas caused by rapid changes in engine speed.
• Remove any dead weight from you vehicle. Imagine walking with a 50lb backpack on every time you went somewhere. That saps a lot of energy.
• Do not use a gas company credit card to purchase gas.  You will pay interest on the purchase or you will pay an annual fee on the card.  Use cash or an existing card which can be used at ANY gas station.

So here you have some very inexpensive ways to save money on gas while simultaneously increasing fuel economy. Stay away from all those gimmicks claiming to magically increase your fuel economy. They do not work at all in any way.

2006 Buick Lucerne passenger front window replacement

A friend had the right front window smashed in by accident in the parking lot of a Home Depot.  The price of the replacement window was high everywhere we called and actually wound up ordering the piece from the local Buick dealership.  It was the cheapest price (albeit, I had to install it) and we got it in 3 days.

This repair is a lot easier than you think.  Carefully remove the inside door panel, watch out for the hidden screws under the door pull.  Unplug a few connections.  Remove the inside bottom weather stripping from the top of the door sill. Remove the moister barrier and don’t worry if it rips, that’s what duct tape is for.  reconnect the window switch and with the key in the on position lower the window (or raise it) until you see the track and clips.  Push the retaining clip tabs in while pulling up on the window or remainder of window.  Once the two clips are free the glass comes up and out.  

Reverse the procedure for installing the new glass.  Make sure everything works properly before reinstalling the inner door panel.

 

The whole job should take 20 minutes 30 if you are really carful with the inner door panel.   

2000 VW Golf front and rear brakes

This weekend I replaced the pad and rotors on the front and rear of a 2000 Volkswagen Golf 2.0 liter. An acquaintance took the vehicle to the dealership because the pad wear indicator light on the dash came on. They were told what the light meant and were then given a quote of ~$800. Knowing how frugal I am, they brought the car to me and I got the whole job done with parts from Pep Boys for $246 and finished the job in about 45 minutes.

There are two special tools required to more easily perform this repair.

1st You will need an impact driver to remove the philips screw holding the rotors to the hub. Don’t worry if you break the head off. All this screw does is keep the rotor from falling off the vehicle as it moves down the assembly line.

2nd You will need a rear brake caliper tool to turn the piston clockwise as you push it back into the caliper. The place you buy your parts from should have both of these tools in stock and neither is very expensive.

FRONT:

Keep in mind when replacing the front pads that the pad with the electronic sensor goes on the piston side of the left front wheel. Also, the retaining clips are slightly different from inboard to outboard so match up the new with the old.

REAR:

Volkswagen gives you just enough room to remove the rotors without having to remove the brake pad carriage. Just unbolt the caliper, remove the philips set screw, and angle the rotor. It will come out and new one will fit right back on.

*note

I try and avoid ceramic brake pads. They tear up rotors and are noisy as a lathe. Use nice soft carbon or carbon-metalic pads. Also, I never cut rotors any more, not since about 1994. Replacement rotors are cheap and good.

Always use protection when working on vehicles, and for god’s sake if you don’t know what you are doing, then take the car to your local owner operated shop and develop a relationship with that person.

Replacing tires without spending a fortune

There are many resources available for cutting costs associated with changing a vehicle’s tires.  Most people just go to their local chain tire store and trust that the person behind the counter is giving them the best deal.  Well, they’re not.  They are charging you for their inventory, advertising, and franchise costs.  A look at a quote from a simple tire replacement will reveal the following:

4 Tires, 4 valve stems, mount & balance tires, shop supplies, wheel weights, old tire disposal fee, wheel alignment, tire hazard insurance.  whew! that’s a lot of extras!  your 400 dollar tires are now $650.

So what’s the alternative?  simple.  avoid the middleman.  

1.Go to an online tire store like Tirerack.com and buy the tires you need.  Their tire selector uses the info you input regarding vehicle make and model and year.  It is super easy.  

2. Order the tires and have them sent to your house via their cheapest shipment plan.  Your tires will arrive in about a week.  

3. The tires arrive squeaky clean so fearlessly load them into your car, and drive to a local owner operated garage.  Ask how much to mount and balance 4 tires, which you have. For a steeper discount tell him you’ll pay cash, tip in cash, and wait in the waiting area.  

What about the alignment you ask?  If your car drives straight, the steering wheel is straight, and your tires are not wearing unevenly, then you don’t need an alignment.     

Changing oil at your local quick lube

Even automechanics use quick lube places for simple oil changes.  We just don’t have the time or inclination to do something like this to our vehicles every 3 months.  The other day I was at my local New Jersey (insert chain oil change place name) shop and noticed a few things I want to relate to you.  First I just want to mention that I never tell these people I am a certified master mechanic.  I like to see how they handle me as a regular Joe off the street.

1.  Invariably, the waiting area is filthy and littered with magazines the general public has no interest in.  Titles like MotorAge, Import Tuner, and Maxim.  While I’m sure the guys that work there like this material, the waiting room is supposed to be for CUSTOMERS and their needs.  

2. Without fail, I and everyone else waiting needs an Air filter.  You should know that this is just a recommendation and that the only maintenance schedule you should follow is in your owner’s manual in your glovebox (hopefully).  

3. Synthetic oil, like Mobil One, is expensive and should only be used in vehicles that require it.  Synthetic Blend oils are a marketing gimmick created by oil companies.  Either use regular oil or synthetic.  A leased car especially should never get special treatment.  Why?  because no one cares when you turn it in.  

4. Don’t be intimidated into buying services you don’t need.  If you came in for a $14.95 oil change tell them when you walk in that that is what you are there for, nothing else.  Your car will not break in half as you pull away because you didn’t replace the air filter.  Always go by the recommended fluids and service intervals in the owner’s manual and you will save yourself a ton of money in the long run.