My Mobile Mechanic

Proper bolt torque applied with a torque wrench for any given automotive repair is the best way to assure your completed project will last as long as possible.  When a do-it-yourself mechanic tackles an auto repair job, in most cases, they will have no choice, but to tighten down the bolts to what they believe is tight enough.  Without a torque wrench, bolt torque chart and a tightening pattern what else can you do except give it a good twist. This is the No. 1 error made by most DIY car mechanics. Shop Now Every bolt has a torque spec, and some of these are very critical. An example of this is when you replace a water pump assembly. The individual retaining bolts will more than likely have at least one torque spec, but maybe even multiple or different ones per bolt. Example, a water pump that bolts to a timing cover will have long and short bolts. The long bolts that go into the engine block will have a different torque values then the short ones that thr...

Replacement of transmission fluid ordinarily does not include draining the torque converter. The procedure specified in many factory shop manuals for changing transmission fluid is merely to drain and clean the sump, and then install enough new fluid to replace what was drained.    But, what if you want to replace the old fluid in the torque converter, too? On some vehicles, particularly domestic makes, it is impossible to drain the old ATF from the torque converter without operating the engine and turning the converter, that pumps out the contents. However, as this is occurring, new ATF must simultaneously be added to replace what is being pumped out. On other cars—usually European brands, but occasionally on domestic makes—there is a drain plug in the torque converter itself, which allows draining it with the engine off.    On these vehicles, there will be an access panel in the torque converter “bell housing” that can be removed to expose the...

Heater is not working at all  Explanation If you turn on the heat, and you don't get any hot air coming out from the vents, the common reasons for that are: Thermostat is stuck open Heater core is clogged Heater control valve is malfunctioning Blend motor is not working properly There are few things you can check. If the temperature gauge is not moving up to the proper operating temperature when you start the car, more than likely the thermostat is stuck open (you need new thermostat). When you turn the fan on high speed, if you don't get proper amount of air coming out, then the problem could be with the blower fan or resistor or even clogged cabin air filter. It’s best to have a my mobile mechanic diagnose the problem on a scan tool, and go from there. 

How Not to Get Screwed Over by Your Mechanic ADAM ELDER Your owner’s manual, the internet, and some common sense all go a long way. According to stereotypes, mechanics exist to prey on those of us not mechanically inclined, try to scare the heck out of us, sell us parts and fluids and fixes we don’t need, and screw with us about how much it’ll cost and how much longer they’ll need our car for — all so that our ride doesn’t, like, spontaneously explode or fall apart. But how bad are mechanics, really? How can you tell if you’re being messed with? And what can you do if you think you are? Alongside John Ibbotson, the chief mechanic for  Consumer Reports  who handles everything automotive for the legendary product-testing magazine, we’re going to try and find some (honest!) answers. On a scale from “1” to “Congressman,” how dishonest, crooked and opportunistic is the average mechanic? “In general, most garages and shops are honest,” says Ibbotson. “But there’s hones...

You have a Bad or Failing Transmission Speed Sensor when.....  You have harsh or improper shifting; mostly, these are the signs of sensors and signal components not per say your actual transmission. The transmission speed sensors are used to calculate the actual gear ratio of the transmission while in use. There are generally two speed sensors that work in conjunction to provide accurate transmission data to the vehicle’s powertrain control module. The first is known as the input shaft speed (ISS) sensor. As described, this sensor is used to monitor the speed of the transmission’s input shaft. The other sensor is the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor. If either of these two sensors falls out of alignment or experiences electrical issues, it impacts the operation of the entire transmission. After registering data, the two transmission speed sensors, also commonly referred to as a vehicle speed sensors (VSS), send data to the powertrain control module (PCM), w...

living in an era of digital feudalism. Here’s how to take your data and identity back We’re over two decades into an era of digital feudalism. Feudalism is a centuries-old concept. In medieval times, the nobility owned vast amounts of land. Serfs worked the land to create value, but most of that value was confiscated by the landlord. Instead of farm produce, today the new asset class is data—created by us, but captured by digital landlords such as social-media companies, search engines, online retailers, governments, and banks. “Surfing the internet” has become “serfing the internet,” with users giving up intimate details of their lives for the internet lordships to aggregate, expropriate, and monetize. We, as the serfs, only get left with a few lousy cabbages. This is important, because this data isn’t just the biproduct of your labor. It is the stuff of your identity in the digital age. All this data constitutes a “ virtual you .” The digital crumbs th...

My experience when it comes to changing out tranny cooler lines is one of caution. When it comes to changing transmission cooler lines they tend to strip on the lower insert ports; therefore, making it very hard to remove for the installation portion of the job. Nevertheless, when you get past that portion of the job another part, rather obstacle, that might be of surprise is that the part that you get is not OEM and most places like Autozone or OReilly’s tend to carry only Dorhman brand. The Dorman brand is a little longer giving yo less clearance on the top line inputs - thus fan needs to be moved or removed. Other than that it’s pretty straightforward- a good 2 to 3 hour time for job including a couple of trips to Autoparts store. #whiteshirtdirtymechanics #mymobileautomotive

The Transmission fluid change is required at regular maintenance intervals and requires pan removal if the vehicle doesnt have a pan drain plug. The vehicle is raised and supported and the bolts holding the pan in place are removed with a suitable catch pan placed under the transmission pan and the pan removed from the vehicle. Any remaining gasket material is removed from the mating surfaces. The new gasket is installed and the transmission pan bolts installed and torqued to specification. The transmission is filled to the proper level with manufacturers recommended fluid and checked for leaks.

Have you ever thought about starting a mobile auto repair business?  Or as a vehicle owner, have you thought about how convenient it would  be for mechanics to perform vehicle services right at your home? This isn’t a foreign concept. As a matter of fact, there are many auto repair professionals who do just that for a living. However, franchise and independent service shops still outnumber mobile repair businesses by a wide margin. Mobile auto repair is a very attractive service to many consumers, given the  inconvenience of dropping off their vehicle and arranging rides while carless. So why isn’t mobile auto repair a more widely available service? In this article, I’d like to first address some of the challenges this business model presents, and then explain how it can be successful despite the major obstacles. Mobile Auto Repair is Not That Simple In a world of technology and convenience, it’s logical that a mechanic would come  right t...

My mobile Automotive went out their way to drive to a nearby auto-zone, find the right part and then stayed an hour later than scheduled to install it, spent extra time tightening hoses that weren’t properly attached. MMA's prices seemed to be fair based on market predictions. The diagnostic visit was $52 and replacing the starter and battery terminal cost just under $140. Most of the cost came from labor, parts was a little extra, and using the service also meant I didn’t need to pay to have my car towed. All in all, despite the minor issues like going to get the parts, my MMA experience was convenient, straightforward and helped me feel confident even as a first-time customer.