Dave Redinger -The Neighbourhood Mechanic
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Dave Redinger who transitioned to his Heavenly home on February 7, 2022 was a licensed auto mechanic with over 40 years in the trade. He operated Dr. H. Honda Specialists in Etobcoke (Toronto). Dave was heard here on The Auto Channel, RIP Dave your knowledge and helpfulness will be welcome by concerned motorists forever.
July 29, 2005
First Dave’s Ditty:
Ever come out of the mall on one of those dark
and cold winter nights and wander around the lot looking where you parked
your car? Happens to me all the time because I can’t remember what
car I was driving.
Now don’t get your back up about me using a customers car. I have always said that it’s a poor mechanic that doesn’t road test a vehicle before and after the repair. Even if you came in to just have a bulb changed insist that a technician road test your car.
Why? It’s simple, things that wear-out wear-out slowly...so if your brake peddle is too low or the steering has gotten loose, you as the cars everyday driver may not notice, but a trained professional will immediately recognize that there is a problem, and can remedy it before it becomes an expensive problem or even worse….
Ok, now where did I put those key’s……
Hi Dave
I drive a 1990 Cadillac sedan. The air conditioner is starting to get
weak. I understand that because this car uses Freon I can not have the
system serviced. Is that true?
Stan , Niagara Falls
Freon was discontinued with environmental concerns. It was apparently damaging the ozone. However; old Freon systems are serviceable. The systems can be converted to the new gas (134a). There are conversion kits available at reasonable cost. Second option is to recharge the system with an organic based gas. These are available under various trade names and are a direct replacement for Freon (R12). On modification is required. In both cases the system must be in good operating condition to accept a charge.
Hello Dave:
I started looking at new cars. I notice that there is a little or no
price difference between standard and automatic transmission. What’s
your opinion between the two choices…..
Sean, Cambridge
Personally after 40 years behind the wheel I have grown to hate a manual transmission. I should add that I do most of my driving in the big smoke and the stop and go traffic is a bear. Before the development of the modern computerized transmissions the manual gear box offered more speeds, better fuel economy and better performance. None of that is true anymore. So what’s the bottom line? If you’re into performance and enjoy rowing your way down the highway go for the stick, in time you too will grow to hate it.
Dave Redinger will answer questions from viewers each week, to ask you can e-mail dave at stikky@ca,inter.net og go to www.am740.ca
Dave's Past Columns