Got Heat? Why Thermostats Matter

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

In the typical car, mini-van or SUV, proper engine temperature control is critical to performance, gas mileage and - most important to car owners - heat.

If you hold your fingers above the defrost vents with the temperature set on high, as a general rule, you can not leave your fingers there for very long without them getting pretty uncomfortable if the heating system is working well.

We usually check the heat output at the center vent; a good heater will put out 150 degree temps.
We have seen them run as high as 160°f. At 130°f degrees you may start getting a few complaints, though it’s still pretty livable, at 120°f people are getting unhappy, the coats are staying on and below 110°f NO ONE is happy.

Engineers spend a lot of time figuring out what temperature creates conditions for optimal combustion energy and get the cold engine to that temperature as quickly as possible. Optimum combustion squeezes the most btu's out of each squirt of gasoline at the lowest pollution levels. Burn gasoline and get heat. Combustion and the heat it generates must be contained. Metals surrounding the combustion absorb and transfer the heat to the cooling system liquid (antifreeze) which is the same liquid that runs through the little radiator in your dashboard which the fan transfers to your cold tootsies. So, if your vehicle's thermostat is fading or failed, the impact is much broader than just cold toes.

To learn more about how faulty thermostats can be diagnosed by monitoring your heater vent's output, try reading our previous blog post on diagnosing faulty car thermostats.

If you stop by Cars for Keeps with your Car, Mini-Van, Light Truck or SUV, we'll test the output for free!

The 435,000 Mile Lexus: Dedicated Maintenance Goes the Distance

by Marjorie, Social Media Manager

Rob and I were having a chat about oil changes the other day, and I asked him how frequently his average customer visits the shop for routine maintenance, such as oil changes. Although I asked the question for marketing purposes, I was also personally curious to know how the "average" driver maintains his or her car, as I myself am a notoriously neglectful car owner.

His answer was as you would expect: all drivers are different! Some come in for the recommended 3,000 mile oil change, some for 7,000 miles, and a few (like me) come in for maintenance only when their car is hacking and wheezing from a dry engine.

However, I was shocked when he told me about one customer in particular who visits Cars for Keeps for an oil change every two to four weeks. "Two to four weeks - you mean twice a month??!!" I said, aghast that someone would be that dedicated to their car's maintenance. "Isn't that just...unnecessary?" I asked Rob, who did an equivalent of an over-the-phone shrug. "Well, his Lexus is the best in our High Mile Club," he said.

Like all good business owners, Rob keeps tabs on his best customers, inducting owners of cars that show...shall we say "unusual vitality" into the Cars for Keeps High Mile Club. The Club includes vehicles - many of them older - that are still running smoothly after an impressive number of miles (thanks to dedicated owners and the automotive expertise of the Cars for Keeps crew). But Gale and his 2000 Lexus LS400 tops them all, purring smoothly after a whopping 435,000 miles!


Perhaps Gale's bi-monthly oil change visits are a bit excessive, but if you compare the cost of two oil changes per month to a monthly car payment, he's getting quite a deal. In the end, buying a new car (or a new engine or transmission) is far more expensive than maintaining the one you already have. We're not suggesting you come in every month for an oil change, but coming in every three months for an oil change and routine inspection can save you (and your car) from a lot of grief. Remember, Cars for Keeps' routine "Pit Stop" inspections are always free!

Safe driving!

Where Can I Find A Great Mechanic?

by Marjorie & Rob Hopp

It's like finding a great dentist; no one likes doing it, but it's too expensive not to have one. Finding a reliable, trustworthy mechanic can be tough, especially when you don't know what to look for. Our AAA Approved shop owner Rob (who's also a master mechanic) put together a list of tips and traits to look for when looking for a great mechanic.

Consumers prefer independent repair shops.
A survey Consumer Reports conducted last year of owners of almost 350,000 vehicles, people who used independent mechanics were generally more satisfied than those who had their car serviced at a dealership.

Make sure the shop knows your car.
Many garages specialize in certain makes. Those that focus on your type are more likely to have the latest training and equipment to fix your vehicle.

Get advice from friends and family.
Ask your family and friends who their favorite mechanic is, and what they like about him or her. If they have a brand that you own it adds some weight to their opinion too. Search to see what people are saying about their mechanics on forums and blogs online.

Check for certification.
Your mechanic and shop should be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE. This certifies that the shop and all its employees are properly trained and their facility and service meets certain quality standards.

Give the shop a tryout.
Before your car needs a big repair, you might want to try out some local shops with smaller repairs or maintenance items, such as oil and filter changes.

Ask about warranties.
What kind of guarantees does the shop give on repair work? Warranties can vary greatly among shops, so ask about them ahead of time. Use a common repair, such as brake work, as your guide.

Make sure the shop is convenient.
Even the best shop might not be worth the effort if its hours conflict with your schedule or you have few transportation options after you drop off the car.

Thanks for stopping by, and safe driving!

When to Have Your Brakes Repaired: 3 Easily Discovered Symptoms of Worn Brakes

Hi again, It's Dennis you friendly neighborhood Service Manager.

I thought today it would be good to talk about brakes and when it may be time for their repair.

1) One of the most common symptoms of brakes that need repair when you hear hear a high pitched squeal when the brakes are applied. Most vehicles' brake pads contain a thin hard metal tab within the brake pad that acts like a fingernail on a chalkboard when pads are worn down to the minimum thickness. This sound acts as a warning that it's time for the brake pads to be replaced - rather like the "Empty" gas tank warning. Ignore this and the brake job rapidly gets more expensive.

2) Listen and feel your brakes as you apply them. When applying the brake pedal, you shouldn't notice any grinding, squealing thumping or dragging. Any of these four symptoms could mean your brakes are not functioning at 100 percent, and could lead to further damage down the road.

3) On a vehicle with anti lock brakes (ABS), you should notice a slight pulse of the brake pedal in the case of heavy rain, snow, ice or a panic stop. This is how that system works. If the brakes pulsate at any speed and these conditions are not present, it may be time for the brakes to get checked. Normal braking should be a smooth operation.

Safe driving!

A Woman's Point of View: That Suspended State Between Winter & Spring

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

It's Spring! At least, it feels like it is Spring. Our thoughts are turning to flowers in bloom, getting out the bicycles, walking around without ten pounds of boots on our feet, and putting the top down on the convertible. Oh, Joy! Can you feel you heart getting lighter and carefree?

We have Spring Fever here at Cars For Keeps too. One of the mechanics just came inside and told me I HAD to go out and stand in the sun for a few minutes - it actually feels warm. Ok, there are a few things we need to do to button up winter. Have our heating ducts cleaned, take that winter coat we have been wearing all winter to the cleaners, get the dog/cat you got for Christmas spade before she wanders around the neighborhood and comes back enceinte, and get the tires on your car aligned.

Come on, you know the only thing that blooms in the winter is the dreaded pothole, the snow covered curbs that you were sure were not there last summer, and those nasty ice ridges on the road that simply cannot be avoided. Let's give our bodies a break ladies. That shimmy and shake may feel good in the gym or on the dance floor, but in your car it could mean having to buy new tires if it goes on too long.

Who wants to spend their new summer clothes allowance on tires! Come on in to Cars For Keeps and we will "set your car straight" for you.

Happy spring from Cars for Keeps.

Why Should My Timing Belt Be Replaced?

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

Most of today's vehicle use a rubber timing belt to keep the various
rotating shafts in sync (time) with each other. When these parts are not moving in perfect harmony, they can (and often do) hit each other. At the very least you become a pedestrian. We all know that our car won't breakdown right in front of our favorite garage where there is hot coffee waiting. Instead, it conks out at the worst possible moment. Then your car that will need emergency timing belt service along with the cleanup required to keep shreds of rubber out of the new timing belt.

Timing belt service is not inexpensive and trying to save money going for the lowest bidder can be a prelude to disaster. I suggest using top quality parts, done by a mechanic that knows your type of vehicle. They will know if there are common faults that prevent the service from lasting through another full service cycle (typically 100,000 miles or more).

The diagrams below are typical of the complexities of these systems, the first is from a Volvo, second is from a Nissan.



You can't usually just look at the timing belt to see if it's OK.
Many designs require hours of work just to disassemble the front of the engine for access.

The synthetic and cord reinforced belt (much like a tire) has precision teeth that engage the sprockets driving the shafts.












We often have to supress a morbid giggle when a client sees their car this far apart to perform "a simple timing belt".
It is often a reaction of horror... What did you do to my car?
Until we explain that this is the only way to get to the components on most Audi's & VW's and then return their car in tip-top shape.


























A Lucky Driver. This Acura engine was still running, but on the edge of catastrophe when the missing teeth were discovered. Typically $1500-$2500 in damage is done when a timing belt fails. Many times the engine is destroyed.













This one was not so lucky. The tensioner spring broke, and took a chunk out of the belt, leading to jumped timing and bent intake valves.















These are just some of the components that are used among the different designs of drive systems. The weakest link is the one that takes the rest with it. That's just one of the reasons we recommend following the manufacturers recommended mileage intervals for timing belt replacement, so an experienced mechanic can inspect the timing components to ensure they ALL will make it through another full life cycle and you can keep on driving with confidence.



How much does Timing belt service cost?
While the cost for timing belt service has a wide range depending on model and components required. The basic timing belt service on most four cylinder vehicles starts at around $200.00
We will gladly quote the service on your specific vehicle if you call Cars for Keep at (616) 846-1989 or by e-mail .

Fixing that Brake Light: the Cost-Effectiveness of Timely Repairs

In our last post, we reviewed techniques for diagnosing a faulty thermostat, and in that post we watched a how-to video showing how to replace the thermostat yourself. To be honest, my point in showing the video was to demonstrate how complicated and tedious attempting repairs like this yourself can be, unless you're very mechanically inclined.

Changing the brake lights or tail lights in your car is a far smaller task than changing the thermostat, yet it's one of those items that gets shoved to the back of the list. Changing the light yourself requires a trip to the automotive store, a hunt for the proper bulb and a wrestling match with screwdrivers, wires and even broken plastic in the garage that could last a long time. Yet putting that tiny repair off continuously (like I have done for the past month) could result in much greater inconveniences: getting pulled over, getting ticketed and even getting into an accident at night.

The time and cost of having minor repairs like this done by your local auto repair specialists is minimal, and the convenience far greater. Having your tail light or brake light changed at Cars for Keeps while you drink coffee and catch up on work in our pleasant waiting room will cost about 1/3 the cost of the traffic ticket you might otherwise get, not to mention saving the cost of potential accidents. For the majority of us, having Mike or Bobby change burnt out bulbs will take far less time than it would take for us to change it ourselves, and we instead can use that time to be more productive.

If you still think changing your vehicle's tail light or brake light is something that's worth changing yourself, take a look at the how-to video below. Perhaps you'll find it useful. If you're like me, you'll find the "simple" steps much more complicated and time consuming than they're worth.




Save driving!