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They're called temporary or emergency battery cable ends. Be careful, they may also cause far more problems than they solve.
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We perform quite a few pre-purchase inspections on vehicles clients intend to buy. I am often surprised at the number of really poor vehicles that are brought in and the amount they are listed for. Vehicles are NOT inexpensive. New cars easily cost $20,000 to $30,000. Finding a good used vehicle for under $10,000 is also pretty tough.
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Gasoline prices are again on the rise. When fuel prices rise, looking for ways to save is natural. Not always considered, but the driver has control of the largest savings in fuel cost and it cost almost nothing.
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In July 2010, we wrote an article, advising against filling tires with nitrogen. At that time, most of the information available came from the companies promoting the service. Since that time far more sources are questioning the worth of nitrogen inflation.
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Really like buying new vehicles? This lighthearted view of half dozen tried and proven methods, is sure to kill a car in short order.
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Tire rotation is a simple matter, but like many things automotive it is also loaded with mis-information. The principle is to even out tire wear, between the front and rear of the vehicle. In theory this should provide longer tire service and there are four patterns in general use.
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Many people think that once a vehicle is declared a total-loss, that is the end of it. This is far from the truth. In many cases, seriously wrecked vehicles are repaired and sold to the public.
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Several times a month, vehicles come in with major damage caused by trying to tow too much weight. Information on towing is plentiful, but often inaccurate and incomplete from a repair standpoint. Surprisingly, most trucks we see will NOT tow their rated capacity without problems.
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Henry Ford and many people like him built empires, by providing quality and value. Henry was also smart enough to know if he provided jobs and paid fair wages, folks could buy his cars. He employed countless US craftsman, building cars, parts and a high standard of living. While the names of domestic manufacturers may still be in use, their concern for US jobs is far from apparent.
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No one likes having services pushed at them that they feel they do not need. This is often the case when there are no symptoms, and expensive service is suggested. Sometimes this is a total rip off, other times it is wise to listen.
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The gasoline nozzle cuts off when the fuel tank is full, and this prevents overfilling. This can also become a very annoying cycle, when the nozzle continues to click off, several times in the process. Finding the causes are easier with a little understanding of the system.
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The Vehicle Questions section, of our website, allows folks to search an archive of past problems, with short answers. Often, the answers needed are found here. If not, we invite our users to contact us for advice. This often helps to avoid very costly mistakes. The following example is typical of questions we receive.
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Women often feel particularly vulnerable when they need auto repair. The fact is, members of either sex are equally prone to scams. Shopping methods increase the odds of being taken advantage of and are a key to getting better results.
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New vehicles are extremely expensive. Getting more miles from a current vehicle makes more sense than ever. Many AGCO clients are keeping their vehicles for 200,000 miles and a lot more. It is called agconomics and here is how it works.
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Automatic transmissions benefit from proper service. Unfortunately, many places push a highly profitable up-sell instead. The transmission flush does the vehicle little good and may cause harm.
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Tire speed rating is extremely important to handling and braking, yet it may be one of the most misunderstood tire ratings.
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The AGCO Automotive Idle radio campaign is nearing the end and has been our most successful ever.
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Engine oil is the lifeblood of an engine. Run out of oil, for just a few seconds, and the engine will be destroyed. With extended oil changes, oil loss is on the increase and not checking the oil level may lead to major problems.
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A hum or roar that increases with the speed of the vehicle is often a bad front wheel bearing. Like most things, the front-wheel bearings have undergone an extensive evolution. Many today are sealed and the only service is a replacement.
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With vehicle odors, the symptom is not hard to identify. Finding the source and eliminating the problem is more difficult, but this guide may make it a lot easier.
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The practice is called menu pricing. Trying to select service, like a commodity, simply by comparing price on a menu. In reality the practice may insure, not only unpleasant surprises with regard to price, but that they will be taken advantage of.
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The sign says "Brake Job $89.99." You drop the vehicle off, wait and then get the call . We have checked your brakes and you need yada, yada, yada, that comes to $497.60. Frustrated, you authorize the repair. When you pick up the vehicle you notice the brake pedal is low and the steering wheel shakes when you brake. ARGGGGGGGG! . . .
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Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, nor did he discover the use of mass production. Instead, he combined the technologies of the day. Henry Ford provided affordable transportation for the common man and changed the world forever.
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Modern engines are designed to run within a narrow range of temperature. Because the metals used in an engine, expand at different rates, excess temperature causes a great many problems. Above a certain temperature, permanent engine damage will result.
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Internal combustion engines convert fuel into mechanical energy and a lot of heat. When the heat of an engine is not controlled, by the cooling system, things get out of hand very quickly. At what temperature is an engine considered overheated and what happens when it is?
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Many times folks come in with major problems, that might had been avoided, if caught sooner. Not noticing the symptoms are the number one reason such problems go unnoticed. A quite drive and these tips may help prevent this from happening.
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Vehicle fluids, such as engine oil, automatic transmission fluid and even power steering fluid are highly specialized. Engineers take a multitude of factors into account when specifying these fluids. Damage can be done by using the incompatible fluids or by using stop-leak additives.
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Most folks are unfamiliar with the new vehicle warranty process. What is covered by the warranty, what is a recall, what is a TSB and a policy adjustment? Knowing these answers can save frustration, as well as dollars.
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What is the difference in Price and Cost? The answer may save you thousands of dollars and a great deal of frustration . . .
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People who drive motor homes and pull travel trailers may be among the safest drivers on the road. They tend to maintain their vehicles very well, except possibly in one critical and often overlooked area.
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A cracked flexplate is almost always a sign of other problems. If not properly diagnosed it will occur again and often damage to the transmission may follow.
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Quality is not a slogan or marketing gimmick with AGCO, it is a way of life. President, Louis Altazan studied under Dr. W. Edwards Deming, and applied his theories and principles of quality management to the business.
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Tom and Bob were best friends. They had known one another since grade school and now were graduating from college. Neither had a lot of money at this time, and both needed transportation.
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Can vehicles last 100,000 miles? Two-hundred thousand, five-hundred thousand, longer . . .
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Hydraulic power steering is very dependable, but complex in operation. When problems occur a basic understanding prevents many expensive mistakes.
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There are many places that cooling systems may leak, some obvious and others difficult to locate. Accurate diagnosis and repair will keep the problem from expanding drastically.
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Years tend to slip by and with cars, this is no exception. It is easy to forget about the radiator. Radiators get rid of heat generated by the engine. When they fail, the results will be very clear.
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If a vehicle has an in-dash fuel mileage indicator, manually verifying the readings can be a surprise. Accurately calculating fuel mileage is very easy and can be revealing.
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How to stretch more miles per gallon from your present vehicle, without spending a lot of money . . .
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Before founding AGCO, in 1974, the fundamentals were being worked out. Three primary aims of the company would be,
1.) Fixed right the first time
2.) At the price quoted
3.) Delivered on time
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Most people understand that air conditioning cools the inside of a vehicle. The mechanical process is not complicated, and a bit of physics helps to understand how it all works.
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Joe has a check engine light on. Since the vehicle still ran, he took it to a part store that checked the codes. The parts man grinned and said you need mass air flow sensor. Without much thought, Joe made his purchase and headed home to fix his car.
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In the hot climate of the Southern United States, average battery life is 37 months. When a battery lasts considerably less time, a problem is indicated. Diagnosing repeat battery failure is easier with an understanding of how they operate.
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Modern vehicles are not designed to be operated without air conditioning. When the temperature rises, it does not take long to figure out whether the air conditioner is working or not. The extremely important key is why?
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Spark plugs come in an abundance of designs. Many claims used in selling spark plugs are vastly overstated or false. Very sound reasons also exist, why spark plugs should be replaced. Many reasons for replacement are not common knowledge.
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As the temperature of the combustion chamber approaches 2500 degrees Fahrenheit, nitrous oxide emissions increase. The fuel air mixture can also spontaneously combust, causing valve clatter and damaging the engine. Allowing a small amount of exhaust gas back into the intake reduces combustion chamber temperature. Regulating the flow of exhaust gas is the job of the EGR system.
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A vehicle that leans to one side is unsightly. Leaning can also affect tire wear, handling and wear to the suspension. Diagnosing the cause of leaning is not difficult, but it requires a structured approach.
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Quite often folks call and ask how much is a brake job?
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A very wise person once wrote that nothing is ever truly free. I think most reasonable people realize that anything of value has a cost and the client always pays that cost. Still the word free is very often used in business to lure the unsuspecting. The lure of free is a very strong one, and people continue to be taken in, over and again.
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The frame and unibody structure of a vehicle can be damaged in several ways. Almost all can be properly repaired, if it is properly diagnosed beforehand.
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