Timing Belts, the Nitty-Gritty

Timing belts - The Nitty-Gritty

Oh, no! My belt just broke! Will my pants fall down? Good news: No! 

What is a timing belt, anyway? First of all, a timing belt is a source of mystery to many folks. They find themselves wondering, "Does my car have a timing belt? Where is it located? When should it be replaced? What happens if I don’t replace it? If I don’t have one, what do I have?" 

The timing belt is one of many crucial parts of the engine. It is a black, circular rubber belt, with a specific number of teeth.  The belt’s teeth are turned by gears which also have a specific (but different) number of teeth. This causes the belt to turn the internal engine parts together in synchronicity. It ‘times’ the internal moving parts of the engine and keeps the valves from hitting the pistons. It also makes sure the fuel, air and spark are delivered at the proper times to make the engine run. Some belts turn oil pumps and coolant pumps. There are even cars that have more than one timing belt. The belt moves, turning the gears, which in turn, turn other internal engine parts.

Some vehicles do not have a timing belt (mostly found in older cars), but all engines must be 'timed'. This is accomplished by different methods, such as a timing chain, or by gears. 

Why not wait until it breaks – then replace it? Because, although your pants won't fall down when your belt breaks, the car’s engine will stop running. That's right. Your car will stop. Believe me; this type of event never happens at the perfect place or the perfect time. (For example: Anywhere on Highway 17.)

What symptoms indicate that my belt may break soon? Bad news: there are no warning signs. Timing belts do not normally make noise or give any other warning prior to breaking.

When should I replace my timing belt? Recommended maintenance intervals for the timing belt vary (from 60,000 to 105,000 miles) depending on manufacturer and type of engine. Most belts last for their designated lifetime – as long as all related components last, including belt tensioner(s), idler pulley(s), water pump, and miscellaneous oil seals. In other words, the components related to the belt need servicing and/or replacing at the same time the belt is replaced. Otherwise, the new belt may fail prematurely due to oil contamination or just mechanical failure. Yes, it is important to repair those oil leaks!

I did not do this maintenance, my belt broke and my car stopped. What's the big deal? Once it breaks other dreadful things can happen. For example, if your car has an "interference engine", the pistons hit the valves - causing them to bend; bent valves = broken engine = big dent in pocket book. Your entire engine will require dis-assembly and all the parts that got bent will need to be replaced. 

Water Star Motors recommends that you avoid this potential major engine repair by attending to regular maintenance: simply replace your timing belt according to the recommended schedule. And save hundreds of dollars in potential future labor costs by having the related components serviced at the same time a new belt is installed!

I need to find out about my timing belt! What now? Call your local professional auto repair shop like Water Star Motors 831-457-0996. We look forward to researching your needs and providing you with the information and service that will resolve your automotive problem(s). 

Humorous Guide to Retirement Options

You might still be reeling from taxes this year, but there are many retirement options. Here is a guide to help you make the right choice.

You can retire to Phoenix or Tucson, Arizona where...

1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade.
2. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town.
3. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
4. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
5. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!

OR

You can retire to California where...
1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
5. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud, and Drought.

OR

You can retire to New York City where...

1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan .
2. You think Central Park is "nature."
3. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
4. You've worn out a car horn. (If you have a car.)
5. You think eye contact is an act of aggression.

OR

You can retire to Wisconsin where...
1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco .
2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas.
3. You have more than one recipe for casserole.
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.

OR

You can retire to the Deep South where...

1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store.
2. "Y' all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
3. "He needed killin" is a valid defense.
4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Ellen, Betty Jean, Mary Beth, etc.
5. Everything is either "in yonder," "over yonder" or "out yonder." It's important to know the difference, too.

OR

You can retire to Colorado where...
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and so he stops at the day care center.
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.

OR

You can retire to the Midwest where...

1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?"
5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!"

OR

FINALLY You can retire to Florida where.

1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon.
2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people.

Air Filters Part 1 of 2

Air Filters Part 1 of 2

BREATHING - good for you and good for your car.

The function of an air filter is similar to that of the hairs in your nose. They filter out dust and dirt particles, pollutants, etc. before the air flows into the engine. Air flows from the air filter through the intake manifold into the engine where it mixes with the fuel. The ‘stoichiometric formula’refers to the optimum air to fuel ratio: 14.7 parts of air to every one part of fuel. That is a lot of air.

Do all cars have filters? Yes! Old cars – 1960’s and below had oil bath filters. Now cars have dry paper filters which look like mini accordions.

How often should I replace my air filter? Depending on driving conditions, your air filter should be replaced every 10,000 to 30,000 miles. Clean, high-quality air filters ensure full engine performance. They clean the intake air reliably and are resistant to humidity, heat, oil and air pulsations in the intake process. Timely air filter replacement pays off. With new air filters, fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 10%.

Besides using more fuel (pain at the pump), cars with plugged air filters also create more emissions at the tail pipe. The overall performance is negatively affected. The worse case scenario would be that the filter becomes so dirty that the dirt escapes into the engine causing engine damage. Clean air filters prolong engine life. Similarly, people with emphysema (lung problem) do not operate at their full capacity. Second worse scenario, it could actually stop your car from running.

I've seen worse

Imagine the road conditions your car has to put up with. There is dirt and trash on the roads which gets whipped around by the vehicle in front of yours. Then your car gets to breathe it all in. We've seen candy wrappers, paper, wood, dirt, leaves, pine needles, etc. lodged in people’s old air filters.

Garaged cars will occasionally find rodents who have deemed the air filter as the best place to start a family or camp out. They bring acorns, dog food, cozy shredded paper…all of the amenities of a happy rat or mouse, into the air filter and housing. One real problem that can occur in this circumstance is a horrific smell if the critter dies somewhere in your car. Ugh!

There is a product on the market called K/N high performance lifetime air filters for cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Initially they are more expensive, but they are designed to last a million miles and with better air flow. They are made with 4-6 sheets of cotton gauze layered between two sheets of aluminum wire mesh. This media is then pleated and oiled. It is recommended to wash and re-oil once every 50,000 miles. We mention this product because of our Green stance we take in our business. Imagine the positive impact on our landfills if every car in the world converted to a lifetime air filter during regular maintenance. 

Stay tuned to the next edition of Rock, Paper, Car where we will talk about Cabin Air Filters.

Timeline of Water Star Motors

We are into the 20^th year of business with Water Star Motors and we thought it would be fun to share a few of the highlights over the years.

1992: Henry and I had recently left the establishment we were both working for and started “Carter’s Healing Cars”. Then a used car business who needed help to repair their vehicles asked us to start a shop.

Henry standing by our original logo

1993: Water Star Motors officially opened its doors on Water Street (across from the old Staff of Life). We did this brilliantly; our working capital was two months free rent. We had Henry’s tool box, my organizational skills and youth on our side. We also were super clever with the timing because our three children were in three different schools. They were 10, 13 and 15 years old. (Crazy!)

1994: Moved the business to Pacific Avenue – walking distance from the condo we were renting. Workaholics the next four years (yes, I ‘wrenched’ too) M-F 8-5. (All hand-written – pre computerized.)

1995 – 1997: Work, work, work!

1998: We hired our first employee (who now is a successful car repair shop owner as well.) A couple of customers asked us what the secret to our happiness was. This prompted us to teach weekly meditation classes. We also managed to pull off the near impossible…got financing as self-employed people to purchase our home in Santa Cruz.  Yippee!

1999: We outgrew the Pacific Avenue space and procured the Fiat business that occupied our River Street location. Again, we went about this brilliantly. We prepped for closure of the old shop, attended a week long meditation retreat, came back on Friday, loaded everything up on Saturday, set-up our new location and opened our doors on Monday - ready to go!

2000: I (Lisa) no longer have to work on cars…we have technicians. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed it, but it is not my passion. (It is hard to work on cars.) We took our first real vacation (after 12 years of marriage) without the kids….Hawaii. We found we like vacations.

2001: Enrolled in business management classes. WSM became a Bosch Authorized Service Center. I saw our first Grand baby boy, Miles, be born. He looks like dad & grandpa.

2002: Put our daughter, Kristen, through Service Advisor School. Earned the ‘Best Of’ Good Times Award. We traveled to Thailand for a meditation retreat.

2003: I Joined a Leads Club (great for marketing). Created and held a couple of ‘De-Mystify Your Vehicle’ workshops. All three of our kids were working for us.

2004: Became the first Green Certified Business in Santa Cruz County! Got AAA approved status. Our car, Lightning, placed first in MBZ car show. Our second grand baby boy arrives – Henry. Sweet!

2005: Created ‘If My Car Could Talk’ radio show which ran every Wednesday night for six months. To support this we took public speaking lessons through the Speakers Gym. Created Feng Shui Car Kits. And we helped to fuel the bio-fuel movement with fuel made from restaurant waste fryer oil, grape seed oil, etc.

2006: Rock Paper, Car appears bi-monthly in the Metro. Became a licensed smog test and repair facility.

2007: Earned ‘Best Small Business of the Year’ for the state of California by John Laird, 27^th State

Assemblyman. We chartered a service club called the Surf City Exchange Club. I saw my Grand Daughter, Victoria, be born.

2008: Lisa joined the Sustainability Academy Board of Directors and physically helped to build a retreat center in TN. Got Gold in the Goldies. Henry received the United Way’s ‘Hero’ Award.

2009: Joined Think Local First and an auto ‘performance’ group. Our son, Dan, began his two year auto-repair business management/education quest. We appeared in ‘This Old Car’ TV show. We helped spearhead the Green Business Networking Group. Earned Silver in Goldies. 3^rd time to re-certify being green.

2010: Traveled from Brazil to Antarctica. Gold and Bronze for Gold Awards. Wrote the 100^th article for Rock, Paper, Car.

2011: Earned a cruise; Florida to Panama. Started blogging about our heavy metal detox program. Once again Goldie winner. Took a trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Joined the SMART Group.

2012: Theme at work – Water Star Motors – The Musical. Yes, people do randomly burst out in song. Gave an iPad2 away. #1 Gold Awards #2 Good Times. I joined the Santa Cruz Follies – Copacabana  

Henry and I auditioning for Follies 2013

2013: "I Got You Babe!" Auditioned as Sonny & Cher for the 2013 Follies (September 11, 12, 13, 14 - 2013). Spearheaded the Blue and Gold dinner honoring our local police and firemen. #2 Gold Awards. 4th time to re-certify being green.

Trouble Free Summer Travel

Hope your Independence Day celebrations were a success. Summer is here and we love to travel to ‘hot’ places with our families. For example; there is much desert to be crossed to get to the Grand Canyon.

No one wants to get caught with the hood up on the side of the road. This tends to raise the temperatures of more than vehicles. Before your trip we suggest checking your vehicle with a pre-trip inspection. Ideally do this a week or two before your scheduled departure date. Special attention should be made to the Cooling System and the Air Conditioning System.

Quick Factoid: Summer heat can send parts of your engine to nearly 200 degrees F – some engine bits can even reach 500 degrees, literally oven hot! NEVER open the radiator cap on a hot engine! Over- heating or not, the system has a lot of pressure in it. (Old Faithful is best viewed from a distance.)

The easiest way for you to determine if your car is cooling properly is to get in the habit of looking at your vehicle’s temperature gauge. This simple act can save you a lot of time, aggravation and money. Take a look at the gauge when it is cold and as it warms up. As you head to your destination take a look while sitting at a stop. If you notice it rising close to the red, safely pull over and stop your car immediately. It is not uncommon for thermostats to fail overnight. When this happens the car will overheat almost instantly.

Let’s say your temperature gauge is fluctuating. This could be due to a poor connection or faulty ground wire. When your temperature gauge is riding higher than usual the following should be checked: Radiator cap, the radiator itself for leaks or resistance to flow, radiator hoses, faulty water pump, fan clutch, bad thermostat, auxiliary fan, etc.

The best defense in possible overheating situations is a good offense. Have your car serviced regularly; follow the recommendation of coolant flushes every two years. Watch your gauges. Turn off your air conditioner while driving up steep grades.

Replacing a bad hose or radiator is much cheaper than replacing a cylinder head or engine block.

Cooling System Overview: The cooling system removes excess heat from the engine, keeps the engine operating at its most efficient temperature and gets the engine up to the correct temperature as soon as possible after starting. As fuel is burned about 1/3 of the energy is converted into power, another 1/3 goes out the exhaust unused and the last becomes heat energy. Without a cooling system, parts would melt, pistons would expand so much they would seize the motor.

If the engine runs too cool it is inefficient, the oil gets dirty (adding wear and subtracting horsepower), carbon deposits form and fuel mileage is poor. Also, in some newer cars, this could cause the check engine light to come on.

Take Me To the Ballet

My major in college was Ballet. Life has continued to teach me there is a flow to all things – a certain choreography, if you will. Presenting the Ballet I call Water Star Motors.

The Artistic Director has met with the Financial Advisor who has helped to set the Stage. The lighting, sound, props, dance troupe are ready to go. The advertising department has done its job and our house will be full as the curtain lifts on Act One: The Dance of, Customer with Car.

Let the Ballet begin! Feel the tension building within the customer (our Heroine). Something is afoot with her vehicle…Is it a routine maintenance? Or is there something dreadfully wrong? A strange noise? A no-start condition?  Some bodily fluid leaking out from a mysterious place? She can’t stand it any longer. She picks up the phone and dials 831-457-0996. George, the serene, green auto repair team Service Advisor answers with bravado.

He quickly ascertains some key elements in order to assist our Heroine in getting her vehicle to our shop and a way for her to get back to her work or home so that the disruption to her life is minimal.

While her vehicle is on route, a repair order, in her honor, has been initiated and any known needed parts have been ordered.

When the heroine arrives with her car she is greeted by our friendly troupe. The Service Advisor finishes the final touches on the repair order with all of her last minute requests. She is then whisked away by our amiable driver.

Act Two: The Dance of, Repair Team with Car. The Dispatcher assigns the work to a proficient Technician who swiftly surmises the problems our Heroine is experiencing. He also performs a 30 point Courtesy Check - noting Safety, Reliability, Economy, Convenience and Appearance Items in order of importance. Observe the skill the technician employs. Note how his years of training and experience have prepared him for this moment. The accuracy, the speed, the fabulous tools, the care with which he treats the vehicle and the intelligence he uses as he notes pertinent details down to inform the Service Advisor so that he can then properly council our Heroine of her best course of action to repair her vehicle.

 Our Heroine is now feeling much more relaxed about her car. She knows what is wrong and what is needed to bring it back to working order and be safe for the streets. She is also relieved to find out that she will be getting her car back today – the very same day she brought it in! Wow! Yippee! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

With the arrival of the needed parts the car is once again dispatched to the technician. He finishes the repairs. He road tests our Heroine’s car. He is satisfied. The car goes to quality control. All is good.

Act Three: The Dance of Gratitude. The S/A calls our Heroine advising her of the vehicle’s completion and readiness to return to her loving arms. Our Heroine comes to collect her car. What’s this? Flowers for our performance? Great reviews! (Google, Yelp)  She is so relieved to have her car back that she shows her gratitude. Thank you! The praise, the applause! She happily sets her next appointment for her regularly scheduled maintenance.

The Ballet ends with another pleased Water Star Motors customer. With another successful performance the curtain draws for another day. Bravo!

(By the way, the 2012 theme is Water Star Motors – The Musical.)