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Dave Redinger's The Neighbourhood Mechanic 1/18/06


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DAVE

REDINGER

ASK THE NEIGHBOURHOOD MECHANIC

A century ago with the auto industry in it’s infancy most motorists were men. Women were not considered “mechanical enough” to operate a motorized carriage (motor-car). Charles Kettering’s invention changed all that. General Motor’s new Cadillac division hired Charlie’s company Dayton Engineering Laboratories ( DELCO… still a division of GM ) to develop the electric starter. This device opened the world of motoring to women. The electric starter freed the driver from having to hand-crank the engine. Interestingly, we still use the phrase “crank it over” today.

I have a 1989 Dodge 2000 GTX with a 2.0L SOHC engine (190,000 Kms). When the engine is started up cold, it goes into high idle for about 30 seconds then the idle will drop down to about 700 rpm for 5 to 10 seconds and then go back into high idle again. It does this several times until the engine warms up and then it runs fine. Could it be EGR valve be my problem? Any assistance would be appreciated.

Harold

I'm assuming that this vehicle is fuel injected...you will have to have the computer scanned....Pay attention to the coolant temperature on warm up. Sounds as if the car is not heating up fast enough and computer can't exit the warm up curve. Experience suggests the vehicle needs a cooling system inspection. Strong possibility a new thermostat is required.

I drive a 93 Honda which is still mechanically sound. The car needs to be refinished. While shopping around I’m being offered a variety of prices. The term single stage and two stage finishes is often used when describing the paint. What do these terms mean? Sean

I wasn’t sure so I asked my friend Mario over at Macco. Seems that the single stage finish is old technology. The pigment and the paint are mixed and applied in one spraying process. The two stage application is more complex. First the pigment is applied and then a coat of clear (the shine) is sprayed after the first coat has dried. The clear-coat seals in the colour and protects it. Two- stage is also easier to repair if damage and has a smoother finish. As with everything else paint has progressed. Three stage paint is now available (don’t ask). Macco paints more cars than any one else in North America.

Dave Redinger a mechanic with over 40 yrs of experience operates his shop “DOCTOR H HONDA SPECIALISTS in Toronto for the last 25 yrs. Dave can be heard every Saturday morning at 9:00 on “THE NEIGHBOURHOOD MECHANIC”

Email your questions to: davidredinger@rogers.com or AM740.ca (we respond to all emails)

Dave's Past Columns

July 14, 2005

July 22, 2005

July 29, 2005

August 12, 2005

August 19, 2005

August 24, 2005

August 31, 2005

October 12, 2005

October 19, 2005

October 25, 2005

November 5, 2005

November 16, 2005

November 23, 2005

December 4, 2005

December 11, 2005

Febuary 14, 2006

January 3, 2006

January 11, 2006