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.
November 23, 2005
First Dave’s Ditty:
Here’s one for the Mythbusters….Don’t park the nose of
your car facing the wind in the winter. True or false? Well… true.
Winter’s cold icy blast quickly cools or should I say freezes engine
components, play’s havoc with your batteries charge and worse yet (
the real reason) drives snow and moisture up under the hood. This can cause
damage to sensitive components. Automotively speaking …this myth is
busted!
Hello Dave
My 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a tendency to stall out and sputter. I shut
it off and wait for twenty minutes and then it’s OK. I have 365,000
kms now and drive mostly to the city, shopping and work. My husband
“the mechanic” was supposed to fix this !
Jennifer, Cambridge
The fact that everything is OK after twenty mins leads me to suspect the fuel system. I would think that the fuel filter is plugged or that the gas tank has water / dirt in it. Foreign material will clog the fuel pump strainer. Don’t blame hubby too much “hockey is back in town”.
Hey Dave
I have 2000 Dodge Caravan and for the last 2 months problems with the
automatic transmission. I noticed that in the morning when the car is cold
and I put the gear to D, nothing happens. The car will not move, it takes
some time to get going. Later during the day when the car is warm, there is
no problem at all. Will I have to rebuild the transmission? Are those
automatic transmission treatments, that you can buy any good?
Luzny.
Unfortunately you are correct in your diagnosis. Shifter hesitation is a by-product of low internal pressure usually this translates to worn parts. According to Steve Joyce of Molyslip "there is no such thing as a mechanic in a can". Most additives are preventives, not curatives. Perform a full transmission service, add 2 tubes Molyslip ATS. This should help if the shuttle valves are sticking. Transmission overhauls of this nature are costly. .
Dave Redinger will answer questions from viewers each week, to ask you can e-mail dave at stikky@ca,inter.net or go to www.am740.ca
Dave's Past Columns