California Lemon Law Information

The California Lemon Law applies to vehicles in the first 18 months or 18,000 after vehicle delivery. The dealer must have: tried to repair a serious safety problem at least twice, or tried to repair any problem (safety related or not) four or more times, or caused the vehicle to be out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days. What is considered a reasonable number of repair attempts will depend on the circumstances including the seriousness of the defect. For example, one or two repair attempts may be considered reasonable for serious safety defects such as brake failure, depending on the exact situation. A special provision, often called the "Lemon Law," helps determine what is a reasonable number of repair attempts for problems that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. The "Lemon Law" applies to these problems if they arise during the first 18 months after the consumer received delivery of the vehicle or within the first 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs first. During the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the "Lemon Law" presumes that a manufacturer has had a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle if either (1) The same problem results in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven and the problem has been subject to repair two or more times by the manufacturer or its agents, and the buyer or lessee has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner's manual or (2) The same problem has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its agents and the buyer has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner's manual or (3) The vehicle is out of service because of the repair of any number of problems by the manufacturer or its agents for a cumulative total of more than 30 days since delivery of the vehicle. reference source : http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Alternator Charging Issue

An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to alternating current electrical energy. Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used. In principle, any AC generator can be called an alternator, but usually the word refers to small rotating machines driven by automotive and other internal combustion engines Resource : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternator Basically this means that an alternator is what charges the car's battery and also provides power to operate the engines computer, lights, radio, etc. So, if the alternator quits functioning then all of these electrical devices will try to run off the car's battery. The problem with that is, once the battery starts to loose power ( since it is no longer being recharged ) the will start to function poorly and will eventually stop running all together. Generally when the alternator starts to fail a Battery light will illuminate on the dash board. This means the battery is no longer being charged , this does not mean the battery has a problem. Testing : Using a multi-meter set to DC volts, connect the positive and negative leads to the same on the battery with the car's engine running. You should see from 13.2 - 14.7 volts. If you see less than this and confirm it is the same when the engine is running or not, then you know the alternator is not charging.

Oregon Lemon Law Information

The Oregon Lemon Law applies when the repair attempts by the dealer occur within the first year or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first), and: 1) the dealer has attempted to repair the same problem four (4) or more times, or 2)the vehicle has been out of service due to repair attempts by the dealer for a total of 30 or more business days. The Oregon Lemon Law is designed to deal with major defects that substantially impair the use and market value of the car. It does not cover problems that are the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the car by the consumer. If the manufacturer participates in a third party arbitration program and notifies you of the procedure, then you are obligated to try to solve your problem through the arbitration program to be eligible for a refund or a replacement vehicle. If you cannot reach a settlement in the arbitration, you may sue the manufacturer in court. The court has the authority to award three times the amount of any damages, not to exceed $50,000, if the court finds the manufacturer acted in bad faith.

Where Do I Get Automotive Wiring Diagrams

There are several was to get a automotive wiring diagram. You can google "free auto wiring diagrams" and sift through the long list of sites that advertise "free" but don't really mean it. I have found only one site that you can actually get a free wiring diagram. That site is Freeautomechanic.com and yes it is one of our own sites. It may take a while to get it, but hey.... its free right. Now if you are in a hurry, and need one right away. Click the link for wiring diagrams on the right side of this page or follow this link >>wiring diagrams<< . You will choose your year, make and model and receive all the wiring diagrams for the entire vehicle along with all the repair and diagnostics available for your car for as little as $9.99. This is the same software that the dealers use in there shops. If you are a do it yourself-er this is a dream come true. You won't believe all the information you get. They even include Factory recall information and TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins). This is the place to go.

Washington Lemon Law Information

The Washington Lemon Law applies when, during the first two (2) years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first), following delivery of a new vehicle: 1) the dealer has attempted to repair the same problem four (4) or more times, with at least the first repair attempt occuring during the 2 years/24,000 mile period, or 2) the dealer has attempted to repair the same "serious safety defect" two (2) or more times, with at least one repair occuring during the 2 years/24,000 mile period, or 3) the vehicle has been out of service for repairs at the dealership for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days, with at least 15 of those days occuring during the 2 years/24,000 miles. A "serious safety defect" is defined as a life-threatening malfunction that impairs the driver’s ability to control or operate the vehicle, or creates a risk of fire or explosion. To qualify for the Washington Lemon Law, the problem must not have been caused by owner abuse or negligence, or by any unauthorized modifications or alterations made to the vehicle. In Washington State, the Lemon Law process is done through an Arbitration Hearing before a board, rather than through the court system. Lemon Law Facts Under the Washington State Motor Vehicle Lemon Law, a vehicle is considered a lemon when it hasn't been repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. Washington State has a Motor Vehicle Lemon Law that is designed to protect consumers who have continuing warranty problems with a new or nearly new vehicle. If you feel you own a lemon, under the law you can request an arbitration hearing through the Attorney General's Office. To be accepted for arbitration your vehicle must be covered under the law. With a few exceptions, the law covers passenger cars, small and mid-sized trucks, large motorcycles, and motor homes. To be covered, your vehicle must have been originally purchased or leased in Washington state and also originally registered in Washington. You must submit a request for arbitration within 30 months of the vehicle's original delivery date. You do not have to be the original owner of the vehicle to request arbitration, but your vehicle must meet all the qualifications. You must also apply for arbitration within 30 months of the vehicle's original delivery date to its first owner. Federal Lemon Law

My Mustang Wont Start After Battery Replacement

Question: I swapped out the battery and I had to pull the fuses on the horn, the wipers, the washers the fog lamp cause they not shutting off and the starter turns "I hear it" but the motor is not turning over do I need to reset something I thinking anti-theft or a computer oh and my remote doesn't do anything now yuck! gotta go to work in the morning is there a reset scenario I need to preform? Answer: To have blown so many fuses on just a battery swap , I would say you hooked it up backward or un-intentionally shorted the system. You will need to check all fuses under hood and inside the vehicle. Also, double check to make sure you still do not have the battery hooked up wrong. If it still will not start you may have melted wires when you shorted the system. This may require individual wire testing with a multi-meter and many hours at the repair shop. No quick fix or easy reset for this one.

Gas Guage Not Working ??

Question: Gas gauge not working,if it is sending unit how hard is it to replace. It is a 2004 liberty. Answer: I would check your fuses first. You will find specific locations in your owners manual under"fuses". If all your fuses are OK, then most likely it is the sending unit. The Sending unit is located inside the gas tank mounted to the side of the fuel pump. You will need to be in a well ventilated area. Too much air is a good thing. You will need to support the vehicle securely on jack stands. Find the Fuel inlet hose(this is where you fill your gas tank) and remove the hose clamp. Also, remove the hose clamp from the return line. Disconnect any emissions hoses that might be in the area. Using a jack, support the gas tank and then remove the gas tank mounting straps. Lower it down slowly and just down far enough to be able to access the fuel lines. Disconnect the fuel lines and electrical plug in. Lower the tank the rest of the way. Remove the lock ring by turning it in the counter clockwise direction. Lift fuel pump/sending unit from tank. Replace and install in reverse order. If you do not have the right jacks , supports and tools this can be considered a difficult procedure not to mention the safety factor of exposed fuel. I would recommend having a shop do this repair for you if you are not a certified mechanic, due to the potential dangers.

What Kind Of Oil Should I Use ?

One thing to consider is all major brand oil is certified. They are similar as far as meeting the certification requirement. If you change your oil regularly, it really doesn't make a difference which brand you choose. As fro the weight ex. 10w40,5w30) . You will want to use the manufacturer recommended oil weight. The weight of the oil is the last number. The First number is related to what temperature it is good for. So if it is colder out you will want to use 5w30 and in warmer climate, the 10w30 is better.

Synthetic oil is superior to conventional oil. Synthetic oil lasts longer before it starts to break down. Synthetic oil also leaves a thin coating on the cylinder walls to help prevent damage at initial start up.

Snow Tires

Winter tires have evolved to meet the needs of specific vehicles, specific conditions and specific performance parameters. Take a look at your options in Performance Winter, Studless Ice and Snow, and Studdable Winter for both passenger vehicles and light trucks/SUVs. Now, If you live in a climate with heavy snow it would be a good idea to run snow tires.

We have found the michellin Ice-X to be the best choice. The X-Ice is Michelin's Studless Ice and Snow winter tire developed for the drivers of coupes, sedans and family vans that want a boost in winter driving confidence. X-Ice winter tires are designed to combine X-tra ice and snow traction with enhanced handling on wet and dry roads. The X-Ice molds an advanced silica-based winter tread rubber compound that remains flexible at lower temperatures into a directional tread design that helps maintain good traction on wet and slush-covered roads. It features Cross Z-Sipes Technology to increase tread and shoulder block stability to provide the lateral and longitudinal stiffness for better handling on dry and wet roads and more grip on ice- and snow-covered roads The X-Ice winter tire's combination of capabilities is made possible by Michelin's Stress Equilibrium casing that evenly distributes the contact forces across the footprint. Michelin X-Ice winter tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol.

Engine Sludge

Sludge is a thickening and breakdown of the oil as it deteriorates, as moisture and contaminants build up. This causes the oil to gel, resulting in excess wear as friction increases or, in extreme cases, a stop-right-now failure. Thousands of owners of vehicles of popular brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, Lexus, Volkswagen, Audi and Saab have had sludge problems. Chrysler has a serious sludge problem with the 2.7-liter V-6 engine used on some of its Concordes and Sebrings and also on some Dodge Intrepids and Stratus in the 1998-2002 model years, said Clarence M. Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. Mr. Ditlow said the center’s Web site (autosafety.org) had about 2,800 complaints of failures from sludge. A lack of adequate oil changes is the explanation for damage given by Audi, Lexus, Saab, Toyota and VW. Yet unlike Chrysler and Dodge, those automakers have formal compensation programs for sludge damage, although in some cases consumers must provide detailed service records — and in the case of Saab, must have used oil filters sold only by the company.