“Dr. Gizmo”
By Phil Arendt
New Car Education
Question 1
Will I need to relearn how to
drive an electric car as opposed to a common gasoline car? R.D.O., email
Answer 1
The good news is all vehicles
are manufactured to government standards requiring identical main control
positions for steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedals and turn signals,
etc. You shouldn’t have trouble
identifying and using these common controls.
As with any new vehicle you
will need to learn how it drives and handles and how all accessories
operate. Also, it doesn’t hurt to
revisit the rules of the road. There is
a learning curve. It is important to read
the owner’s guide to learn about battery charging, battery electrical
consumption, travel range, vehicle controls, accessory controls and operation
and preventive maintenance intervals.
Also, presently some pure
electric vehicles offer one pedal operation giving a vehicle operator the
option to slow a vehicle to a complete stop with the accelerator pedal instead
of the brake pedal. It takes a little
practice to learn this technique but in the process the battery pack receives a
little charge via regenerative braking and the vehicle comes to a complete
stop.
Collision With Deer
Causes Trouble
Question 2
Recently, I was driving my
2015 Toyota Highlander when a deer jumped out and I hit it. I pulled to the side of the road. I did not shut off my engine. The deer was dead and my car suffered minor damage
to the bumper, grille, right fender and right headlight. The police wrote a report and I was able to
drive home without any trouble.
The next day, I was going to
take it to a local body shop my insurance company suggested. I went to start the engine, but it would not
start. The lights turn on and all the
accessories work, but the engine does not crank to start. The battery seems fine. I called my repair shop. They will have it towed.
The damage seems relatively
minor. The vehicle has never let me
down. It has 105,000 miles. I have taken great care of it with oil
changes every 3,000 miles. I love
it. It’s in great condition. Do you think there is a major problem in the
electrical system? Do you think I should
consider buying another vehicle? G.R.P.,
email
Answer 2
It’s a little premature to
consider replacing it. Your body shop
technicians need to evaluate needed repairs.
Your insurance company needs to provide authorization to the body shop
before repairs can proceed.
Part of determining what needs
repair is to diagnose why it won’t start.
Certainly, there is an electrical problem causing the condition. Your shop will diagnose the cause of the
trouble. Once that is determined and all
repairs are considered you will be able to make the decision whether to keep or
replace the vehicle.
From the information you
provided it is likely electrical conductors behind the damaged headlight might
have suffered damage as well. Since
there are numerous control modules in a vehicle any damage to a wire might cause
the condition you encounter. Repair
might be as simple as splicing a wire or repairing a plug. Be patient.
Your beloved vehicle might need a minor electrical repair.
Labor Cost Raises
Concern
Question 3
I have a 2011 Toyota Tundra with
a 5.7-liter engine and a leaky power steering rack. I’m constantly adding fluid to the reservoir
and the leak is making a mess anywhere I park.
I went to my local shop that
been servicing it. They found a leak at
the steering rack. They tell me it’s a
big job to replace it requiring about 13 hours of labor. They told me in all the years they have been
in business they have only replaced one steering rack in a Tundra. It’s not very common for them to develop a
leak.
The replacement part is not
what I consider expensive, but the labor is.
I can pour many gallons of fluid into the reservoir for that kind of
money but I’m tired of my kids tracking oil into my house. Is there any way to fix this without spending
a lot of money? P.K., email
Answer 3
Your shop labor quote
coincides with an industry standard labor estimating guide. It is a laborious task that according to a
manual requires removal of the engine and more.
Be this as it may, experienced technicians discover shortcuts to reduce
labor time. Do your due diligence by
calling other shops. You might find a
shop that can do the work in less time and not charge the standard labor guide
time. And, if your shop really wants
your business and you have a good relationship with them, they might do some
research to find a way to cut the labor time.
Salvage Yard Replacement
Part Optional
Question 4
I have a 2008 Chrysler 300 LX with
a 2.7-liter engine. Recently, the check
engine light turned on, the dash gauges were not reading correctly and the
engine intermittently stalled. I went to
a trusted repair shop. They found
problem codes and determined the trouble was caused by a failed TIP power
module. They could not find a new
replacement part. They suggested using a
used part from a junk yard.
I know that car manufacturers
are supposed to make new replacement parts available for at least 10
years. I can’t believe there isn’t one sitting
in an auto supply company inventory shelf, but my shop says no. Will the used part work for many years? M.D., email
Answer 4
There is no guarantee a new
part will work for many years as designed, but I understand your concern. The Totally Integrated Power Module is a
computer module that directs electrical power to several circuits. It does not have a good reputation when it
comes to reliability and most technicians are aware of its history.
As for manufactures producing
new replacement parts for a decade for each make and model year vehicle they
produce, they are not required to manufacture new replacement parts. During the factory warranty period it is
likely a new replacement part might be installed to fix a vehicle, but often
remanufactured parts are used. Their
obligation during the factory warranty period is to repair verified failures in
a vehicle. Fortunately for you there are
companies that remanufacturer this part so that’s another option you and your
shop might consider.
As for the salvage yard part
your shop wants to install, the salvage yard likely offers a warranty. If it fails within the warranty period, you
should not pay to replace it. Also,
since it is a used part from another vehicle your repairing technician will
need to program it and the vehicle for all systems to function as designed.
Fuel Consumption Under
Scrutiny
Question 5
Recently, I read H.B.’s
question about fuel economy. My car’s
dash display switches from miles per gallon when moving to gallons per hour when
stopped. At a stop, with all accessories
off, it is 0.2 gallons per hour and with the air conditioner and most
accessories on, it is 0.5 gallons per hour.
How about explaining miles per gallon versus gallons per hour? E.L., email
Answer 5
The mpg standard is set by our
federal government and some states set their own fuel economy standards. Fuel economy has always been measured in
miles per gallon, but your vehicle has one feature that measures how much fuel
is consumed per hour when it is parked or at a stop. Both measures relate to how much fuel an
engine consumes.
Since the standard measure is
miles per gallon when a vehicle is parked or stopped for a traffic light with
the engine running it is not traveling any distance. The fuel economy or miles per gallon is zero
miles traveled per gallon. And your
vehicle demonstrates with accessories on the engine consumes more fuel when
stopped. It also consumes more fuel when
traveling with accessory loads on the engine and such use reduces miles
traveled per gallon or mpg.
Oops! Wrong Fuel
Question 6
I am a clerk at a convenience
store gas station. On a particular day,
a customer came in stating that his son may have put diesel gas in his car by
mistake. He wanted to know if the car could
stay until a tow could be arranged. My
question is, assuming the kid didn't run the car after filling, what kind of
damage could this do to a car and what would the remedy be? Could they get away with syphoning the gas
from the tank? A.A., email
Answer 6
This is a dilemma that happens
often.
The vehicle will need a
tow. If the engine was not started the
gas tank should be drained, removed from the vehicle, and thoroughly
cleaned. If the engine was started, the
entire fuel system will need cleaning.
Also, it’s possible in the process the fuel injectors and fuel pump
module sustained damage requiring replacement.
Have a healthy and safe
motoring day!
Phil
Arendt is a columnist, consultant and A.S.E.-Certified Master Technician. Readers may send questions to Dr. Gizmo at
his e-mail address drgizmo@drgizmo.ws 01/03/2022
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