Dave Redinger's The Neighborhood Mechanic - ABS Brakes
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Back in 1915 Mary Anderson noticed that streetcar drivers had to open the windows of their cars when it rained. As a solution she invented a swinging arm device with a rubber blade. The hand operated device became know as the windshield wiper. It wasn’t long before the idea was adopted by the auto industry, in fact the wiper was standard equipment by 1916. In 1921 as the car matured, wipers were actuated by a vacuum motors. Those who are old enough will remember that as these units aged they developed the curious habit of stopping when you stepped on the throttle. This was resolved when manufactures started to introduce the electric wiper motor in the fifties. Today, the wiper train is operated by computers. According to Brad Dee of TRICO, blades are damaged by the sun’s UV rays both in summer and winter use. Blades should be replaced every 6 months. Deemed a safety item, wipers really require more attention than they are currently receiving. Have your blades and washer systems inspected and replaced as required.
I have a 1988 Corvette that has been a problem since I got. I have taken it to several places to get help. So far, no one has fixed this car. The car starts and runs but the check engine light comes on. It idles up and down on its own. I have replaced the TPS (that is the code that came up) the IAC (what the dealer told me was causing the problem). Right now I am getting ready to replace the computer. Can anyone fix this car? I need help!
No one is spending quality time with the car. Contact a shop that will take the time to do a full diagnosis of the injection system. The idle is controlled by the computer. The first test should be a vacuum leak test. If the intake manifold is leaking, the leak will raise the idle to a point where the computer draws it back down. That seems to be your experience. In this high tech world correct diagnosis is 80 percent of the repair. Many shops are now surcharging for diagnosis.
I was so happy to read that you also hate ABS brakes. I have a 2001 Alero and last year I replaced the ABS brake on one side to a tune of $622. This year again the light comes on and they say it will cost $700 plus to replace the other side. I told them to forget it. My problem is that the Service Vehicle Light is also on. It came on at the same time as the ABS brake light. The service manager told me they are two different things and that I would have to get this looked at, to a tune of $100. Is this true? I asked him why the Service light came on at the same time the ABS light came on and he says it is just a coincidence. Should I do this Service check for $100?
The service tech is right the two systems are run by separate computers. The service engine light monitors the emissions system and not the ABS system. If the diagnostics include a recommend repair then it is a fair charge. Ask the shop to shut off the light and then road test the car. If the code(s) come back then you actually do have an emission problem. There have been cases that the light comes on because the gas cap was left loose. The high cost of the ABS repair relates to the cost of any overly complicated design not the technicians labour.
Dave Redinger a mechanic with over 40 yrs of experience. Dave operates his shop “DOCTOR H HONDA SPECIALISTS in Toronto for the last 25 yrs.
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