May 22, 2021 • 35 mins
Ron starts this episode talking with Kris Lewis, Director of Training at the Automotive Training Group about ADAS systems : talks to his friend Chuck Wanamaker about the Waldwick, NJ car show : answers an email on an 06 Mazda with many issues which may be a computer problem : and ends the show talking about the Right to Repair.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following program has been pre reported. Ron and Anien
I was a little annoyed with a s C because
they sent out an email this week talking about doing
a webinar for mechanics four o'clock on a Friday afternoon.
You know that's the witching hour. You don't do anything
at four o'clock on a Friday after except get the
cars done and go home the car Doctor. If they
tried hand cranking it and it doesn't move, they're saying
(00:22):
it seased. You know, at at two hundred thousand miles,
you start to lay out the dollars you know in
your head. Welcome to the radio home of Ron and
Anian the Car Doctor, since this is where car owners
the world overturned to for their definitive opinion on automotive repair.
If your mechanics giving you a busy signal, pick up
(00:43):
the phone and call in the garage. Do orders are open?
But I am here to take your calls at eight
five five and now he running Welcome aboard. You know,
if our first guest this hour, um, how do I
introduce this gentleman? It's um, I'll say it like this.
(01:03):
If the card docks have been working on car since
dirt was invented and God was young. Um, this guy
was on the other side of the sand box throwing
dirt right back at me because he was right there
doing it to Chris Lewis, Director of Training, Automotive Training Group. Chris,
welcome aboard, sir, Oh, you're very welcome. Listen, it's been
a while. I think you've you know, we know each other,
what thirty five years, and I think you've been on
(01:26):
somewhere along the way, but it's it's been a while, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
but I've been on before. Yeah. Um. You know you
are a director of training for the Automotive Training Group,
a national training organization for mechanics, and I can't I
couldn't think of anybody more qualified to come up here
and talk to us today about well, some of your
training experiences, but I wanted to center a little bit
(01:46):
about a DOS Advanced Driver Assist Systems because it's fast
becoming well my opinion, my perspective, and then we'll get yours. Chris.
Of course, it's fast becoming, um an industry hot button.
What is it about that? What can you tell us? Well,
for us, let's explain what ADS is. Some people might
have heard the terminology I know of some of my
(02:08):
students have never heard that, but it stands for Advanced
driver's systems. And the one other thing most people would
understand it you but the car reverse and is a
camera so you don't hit anything. Um. Other systems diffamiliar
with a blind spot detection, like there's a car in
the lane next to you, did the light goes on
and you merrison to that that effect. And then it gets
a little more advanced with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise
(02:29):
control of forward collision warnings. And these systems have been
around for every bit of ten plus years on cars today. Yeah,
so absolutely, and you'll see them. You know a lot
of people think, well, it's it's only on newer cars.
I think Mercedes had it starting back oh eight oh nine, right,
wasn't it wasn't it that far back or maybe ten, No,
(02:51):
it was back that far. It was back that far
that they've had some version of the system. Um. You know,
some people want to realize that it's there. Uh, it's
a part of aid US. But it's a summary is
the title that the industry has given it for all
these different things, and even the commercials with a car
parks itself. It's all based upon the same principles, and
it's changing the way mechanics have to look at the
(03:12):
repair and the way you want to motive. The consumer's
gonna look at repair and and everybody wants this, right, well,
a lot of people seem to want it, but now
the problem is becoming it's it's it's mandatory, absolutely mandatory
to follow procedures because the least little thing will upset
the apple cards so to speak. Uh, incorrect wiper blades
(03:33):
Chris and I. Right, we were talking about this during
the week before the show when we were talking about
this show, Right, how can a wiper blade affect an
aidas system? Alright, So if you put on the wrong
size wiper blade, and won't mean by that is one
that's too long, how longer than it should be? And
most people look at their front windshield, um, from the
outside looking in, they're gonna see it's a camera above
(03:56):
with their via view mirror amounts and that's looking for
obstacles in the road. Um, if you're depending on the
systems you've got, it could have been for collision avoidance.
Who could be adaptive cruise controlled the lane departure that
camera could be looking at the white lines and could
be obscured when the wiper is on and the camera's focused,
and all of a sudden it's out of focus and
then't focus, and then you get a message on the dash.
(04:18):
And that could be a tough diagnosis for a technician
who didn't realize he just put on a one inch
too big um wiper and and and maybe it's a
result of maybe it's not even his fault, but that
brand hasn't held you know, maybe it's a cheap wiper blade.
Let's say it like that. And yeah, right, the manufacturer
doesn't follow that exact blueprint from the original equipment. And
(04:41):
now all of a sudden, Chris, it doesn't have to
be an inch, right, a quarter of an inch long
wiper blade. If it's in the white, if it's in
the camera sweep, the game's over, right. And sometimes it
doesn't have to quite be in the camera sweep. It
could be just enough for that camera to be slightly confused.
And just to give you an idea, when we talk
about these systems and when technicians have to set these
(05:02):
things up and make adjustments, we are down to one
tent of one degree accuracy. Wow. Yeah, yeah, a wiper
blade can definitely UM. And then there's not a lot
of common problems with wiper blade. Is just something as
simple as a wiper blade. UM. One area I think
that's gonna be more simple for mechanics and technicians is
when you pull you have sometimes you pull through a
(05:24):
headlight or were parking bowl, but directional bawl. You might
have to lower the bumper down a little bit. Behind
those bumpers could be radar units that if they get disturbed,
they have to be realigned. And and all of a sudden,
that's simple bulb replacement. That that twenty bulb replacement, whatever
it might be. If the bumper's got to come down,
it's obviously a little bit more. But all of a sudden,
(05:46):
now you're into a calibration procedure that could be a
couple of three bucks, right yeah. Um. And And the
point that I know you and I spoke about this
quite a few times. The point that I'm concerned with
when I go out and teach this subject is more
into the tune of let's not be the cause of
the customers could problem. You know, these are safety systems
(06:07):
are there to help us and keep us safe on
the road. Um, I don't want us to do a
simple job, and even a simple wheel alignment. And uh,
the next thing, you know, one of the safety feature
isn't working properly. And then I got, you know, I'm
liable for getting it fixed properly or aligned, and I
might not have the equipment I got to send it out.
And you know what, the cars have changed. These safety
(06:28):
systems are pretty cool. Um, they make us safe and
pay and playing English. I got a lot of these
features on my new F one fifty. Um, and I
guess that you know, when it's time to do basic work,
it's just gonna be a little more careful and more educated. Well,
one of the things you and I have really agreed
on over and over over the years is we really
(06:49):
take somebody's life in our hands working on their car,
and there is no place for a short cut. And
now with the safety systems, to not do proper procedure
is asking for a problem, and we're creating the issue.
We're defeating what we're trying to do to make something safe.
Because like you, like you told me, Chris, and you
know what, I couldn't agree more. It's like you always say,
(07:10):
it could be your mother in that car, could be
your grandmother in that car, could be your kids in
that car. They've got to be safe. Well, it goes
back to simple break jobs and set of tires. Do
you want to put on something that's very, very inexpensive
but it might not stop, um quickly or properly enough.
God forbid, you need to do a panic of stop. Um,
(07:30):
the tire is gonna be able to handle a true
rough road condition. You know, you're more of the tire
experts than I am, But no, you know, and I
really think that. Then again, this is something you and
I've talked about a million times. The consumer wants their
car returned and have safe and reliable to put their
family in. Um. I mean I remember for years people
(07:50):
would come in and like July in early August and say,
can you go over the car and my son's taking
it off of my daughter's taken it off to college. Yeah,
it's got to be safe. So you know who needs
that ADS training class, Chris, Because by the numbers, are
you filling the class? Are you guys? Are you guys
having good success or is it like pulling teeth? Um? Well,
(08:13):
I think training in general is. Sometimes it's more like
pulling teeth. UM. People don't know what they don't know.
Meeting technicians. UM. You know, some technicians struggle with their
diagnostics and even non ADAS systems and they don't realize
they might be an easier way or a different way.
We try to say easier or more efficient, which helps
everybody involved. UM. And a lot of technicians aren't aware
(08:35):
of what AIDA stands for. And you really can't advertise
all of these new crazy systems. They a lot of
people tell us that, well, we don't work on them.
The customer doesn't come in with a rear camera not working.
They don't come in with a blind spot in system
not working. And that's not what it's about. It's about that,
you know. UM, the accidentally hit a mirror backing out
(08:56):
of your garage. Everybody has done that and it needs
a quick, simple mirror. It's a fift team had to
put it on. But there could be a radar system
or camera in there working with the blind spot, or
would be any sort of other safety issue. And if
it's not dealt with properly by the technician, then will
that system work? I mean I don't know. And if
(09:18):
every car is gonna be some little animal. But you know,
like anything else, technicians need to learn that these cars.
Technology is changing at unbelievable space. I mean, was another
half hour from now, they're going to release the four
electric vehicle that's gonna be in everybody's bay soon. Sure,
you know, let's listen, we talk about how things change
(09:38):
and evolve when we come back. Let's talk about something
that everybody has to go through usually once in the
life of a vehicle. A windshield replacement. How has that changed?
How could Chris, it's a clear piece of glass. How
could changing a clear piece of glass affect the ADAS system?
Hold that thought like I can hear it in your
head already, my my brother. Let me let me pull
(09:59):
over and take this pause. I'm running aiding in the car. Doctor.
We're here with Chris Lewis, director of training for a
t G and we're talking about AIDS. We're glad to
have him, We're glad to have you here with us.
We'll both be right back after this. Don't go away.
Got number time right it on the wall so you
(10:27):
don't forget to call for a car advice done right?
Eight five five five zero zero zero. Now back to row. Hey,
let's get on back to Chris Lewis, Director of Training,
Automotive Training Group. Chris, when we when we pulled away
for the pause, you're we're talking about windshields, right, How
hard could it be? What? What? What could possibly being
(10:47):
so involved in replacing a piece of clear glass? And
then along comes ADA Systems, right Advanced driver assist Now
what happens that? That's a great one because um and
I actually thought this class on Saturday and had a
couple of service advisors. Small shops don't change the windshield themselves.
They call it glass company. And number one, when you
(11:08):
remove the glass, you're gonna have to remove the camera
from behind it. So okay, it's not the camera goes
back in. And again we're talking one tent of a
degree accuracy and some applications, so is it sitting a dent?
And I'm not a glass expert, but the clarity of
the glass can make a big difference. And um, not
me personally, but you know when I do my research
(11:29):
and I talked to people and people that do this
on a regular basis, the calibrations, they say that some
of the ftermarket glass companies have had problems not the
company itself. The quality of the glass manufacturing is an issue, right,
and they have to go back to oe UM. We've
got a couple of US case studies and information from
(11:49):
other mechanics students of ours where like window coatings and tinting.
You know, somebody like to tint their windows or UM
some of the code as you can get out there
so it repels water better when it rains. Thinks of
that effect have been a little bit of a concern,
and it's not a problem yet. It's just something that UM.
(12:10):
If I have a vehicle and I have a problem
with anything with the AID system and it's had a
recent work on the windshield or any kind of coding
or tinting, it could be a safety concern. So the
listeners really have to be aware of if you know,
all of a sudden they're replacing a piece of glass,
if they've got a camera, if they've got uh certain
(12:31):
levels of adas, if the if the manufacturer calls for it,
they've got to do the calibration. We had a call
about six seven months ago from a listener in Florida
that I think I told you this story. The woman
had her Subaru had the windshield replaced by the dealer,
and the dealer said, you know, put, we have to
do a calibration, and her husband said, no, I don't
need that. I hate to be this guy because if
(12:52):
you're talking to me a long story short, I explained
to her that it's got to get calibrated. She had
the eight system calibrated and called us back the next
week and said, my cars fixed. My husband's in a
lot of trouble. Uh, you know, so you know it's
it's it's it's different. Everything is different now and even
using a factory piece of glass, it may require calibration.
(13:14):
So for the shop that says I don't need as training,
I don't work on that system. I guess you're not
doing windshields anymore. I guess you're not doingside your mirrors anymore. Right,
you're here, you're limiting what you can do on the car.
It's everywhere. Sure, I mean we can go into the
scenario of replacing tires if you go to an oversized
height wise that control the angle of the radar and
(13:36):
the camera off um we alignments any major adjustment that's needed,
or do we call it trust angle or the tracking
of the vehicle or everybody seeing we're driving on the
road and looks like the car in front of going crooked,
the camera radar not pointing in their proper direction. And
this just simply think of A B S many years ago.
When do you find out if your A B S works? Oh,
(13:59):
usually when you need correct and unfortunately with some of
the eight our stuff, it could be the same thing
that you're expecting you know to uh, um shift go
over to you know, switch lanes and you turn the
directional on and there's no blinking light in your mirror,
so you think it may be safe, um, because they're
(14:19):
so used to them blinking like telling you it's safe
and it's not. Um. And you know you said if
someone never wants to get involved any calibration of the
shop himself a technician itself, I mean it's fine, it's
it's a large investment, it's a lot of knowledge, but
understanding what these systems are and how it affects pretty
much every person working on a car today that you
(14:40):
said it before, A simple tell light, a simple headlight. Um.
You know, we get into timing chains or radiators or
incarnation condensers where sometimes you've got to remove the grill
and that's where the radar sits UM windshield we mentioned um.
You know, there's just so many little variables and it's
not a air tactic. But the cars have changed. There
(15:02):
are a lot safer, they last longer. We have to
change the mindset from the technician side and the consumer side. Um,
these systems are here to stay. It's the let's say,
the beginning phases of the self driving vehicle, which is
probably another five to ten, maybe fifteen years down the
road in my opinion, but this is the start of it.
So the answer the question, everybody, anybody who works on
(15:25):
cars should be aware of atis UM and what it
really is. And all these system things. Cross traffic alert automatic.
I mean my F one fifty. If you walk in
front of my truck, it stops on a dime and
I ain't even touching the break. That's gonna pedestrians a
warning and pedestrian avoidance. That's that's a great system, Chris.
(15:46):
When when a t G, I'm sorry, when when a
t G develops a class, can we talk about that.
We've got about three minutes left. What what you know?
This isn't something you sit down and write this class
in two weeks. What does it take. What does it
take to develop a class on all of them, but
a Dawes in particular. You've been working on this for months. Yeah,
well technically to let you know how it goes, going
(16:07):
to give Tim Flannery. He's a a CEO of of
a t G and he probably spends every bit of
four to five months doing nothing but researching, um, getting
his hands on cars. Sometimes he'll go to other shops. Uh,
He'll five known. He flies around the country and go
to shops and see what they're experiencing and and work
on those cars and and just get a feel of
(16:29):
not just what the car manufacturer says what you can
read online or google. You might say, UM, this is
a lot of real world stuff. And then he presented
to them to me. Between the proof reading and UM,
we kind of split the power point responsibilities. And then
I go on, I teach you and right now up
to nine different trainers um. And then the trainer goes
out and tries to verify you. You know what Chris
(16:51):
told me this or I read this and I'm not
a hundred insurance. Let me go down to John's or
Ron shop and Ron, let's go look at you know
what I mean, U, It takes a lot because, um,
if what you learn from a t G or our
books was the same you read online, why would you
need us? Right right? Well, that's one thing that a
t G has always done. You've always given the mechanics
(17:13):
the good information, but also real world scenarios and how
to deal with it. And I think that's really what
the mechanics are going to need, the technicians will call
them that are going to need today because a DOS
is everywhere. You know, the fuel injection systems are changing,
the transmissions are changing it. So you've got to look
at the entire package. And one of the great things
(17:35):
that a t G does is you always break it
down at the simple terms. We talk about Alms law, right,
you know we we we can't fix Alms law like
you and I always say. Guys are still learning about
O B D two some of them can't spell it,
and the system has only been out since ninety six.
What does that six? Yeah? Yeah, twenty five years and
(17:55):
and they're still learning what's freeze frame and what's mode six?
Christ is always a pleasure where can the listeners get
more information real quick? Automotive Training Group dot com. All right, listen,
we'll talk during the week again as always. Great to
have you and uh you stay well, my friend. I'm
run any of the Car Doctor, We're back. We're right
after this. Don't go away. I can welcome back any
(18:48):
of the Car Doctor. You know. I want to start
off this segment by saying thank you everybody out there
listening today, because we're gonna take a national show, which
is what this is, and bring it down to a
very local level. There is a group of individuals in Waldwick,
New Jersey that every year for the past o m
teen years have dedicated their time and resources to something
(19:09):
I think that is so important. Preserving a piece of
American history is how this started. That being the Waldwick
Train Station, and it started off by trying to raise
funds by creating things that people would enjoy doing. And
now the Waldwick Car Show, which is going to be
the weekend of June six. If I'm if I'm correcting,
our our our guest will correct me if I'm wrong.
(19:30):
UM has grown into a regional phenomena and without any
further ado, let's welcome Chuck. Want to make your senior
to come in here and tell us all about it, Chuck,
welcome a board, sir, thanks for taking the time today. Yeah,
thank you for considerning right nice. Well, we you know,
we we always enjoy talking to Junior, and I think
Junior was you know, he's gonna be a little bit
of a ham. So we have to give it to
(19:52):
pop it this year and uh get your perspective on it,
because both of you guys just do such a great
bang up job. We're just happy to have either one
of you. Um, you know, the summer cruising seasons opening
up right, the pandemics aiming ending um cruising right. It's
it's really part of the American landscape. Why is that
do you think? I think it just goes back a
long time ago, you know when we started fooling with
(20:14):
a car, with cars we thought would never end, and
it's just gotten to where now they almost they almost
come to an end with everything being so modern. But
then guys, you know, just holding onto that old car situation,
what they had with their dad, just as I did.
And I don't know, just it's just one of them things,
you guys, then your blood of what you really enjoy doing,
you know, having a different idea of a car, the
(20:36):
things you could do to it. You know, it's just
it'll never leave. I'm sure it's going to be around forever.
What was your first car, Chuck, the nineteen fifty six
Ford Victoria. What did you do to it? Do you remember? Yeah?
It was just one of the things that were three
twelve so you fool around with two three deuces on it.
That was your biggest thing, as you know, continental mufflers
(20:58):
and all that kind of stuff to make sound good.
It was all that kind of cool stuff. We enjoyed
and just just really enjoyed at that stuff. You don't
have your first car, do you? I do, but it's
not the original Victoria and the two four barrels on it.
But I do have it. It's not the original one,
but I do have a fifty six Ford Victoria. So
(21:19):
is that what the car show is about? People walking
down memory Lane and seeing that car, that first car,
maybe that's similar to what they had, and it just
generates conversation and recall you memories for the Yeah, absolutely
no doubt about it. You see it every year. The
World of Car Show has been going on how many
years now, just a thirteenth year doing it, and you
(21:42):
know we've been very successful at it. For somebody that
didn't know much about car shows, you get a quick education, right, right.
And it started out not as just the car show.
It was another piece of Americana that you guys were
trying to preserve, right. That was a train station, the
train station, train station. Yeah. And and why was the
(22:03):
train station so important? You know, gee, it's just the building, chuck,
isn't it. Yeah? It is just part of what was
going on in history at the time of what where
it all began, you know, a little train station in
town of Altick. It was just we're a little stole there.
Everybody we'll keep warming in winter time to get their
ticket for the train and things. And then it's just
a little piece of history. There was a shame to
(22:24):
see go down the tubes and that's where it was going.
Simpler times, right, And uh, you know maybe maybe in
the crazy world of today, we need simpler times, and
maybe that's the attraction for the for the train station,
for the car show, for everything that goes on there, right,
I believe. So that's why I believe the same way
you're thinking. It really makes people that's the train station.
Where it's at the train station, they don't forget it,
(22:45):
that's for sure. You know, nothing nothing bad happens at
car shows per se. Right, you know, at your car show,
you you see more and more families come out, right,
they bring the kids, and the kids sit there and
I mean they're they're wide eyed at the chrome on
the cars. And everybody has a story about where that
car came from or what that car means to him.
(23:07):
And it generates a lot of good bonding for families, right, Oh, absolutely,
And then they talk about they say, oh, yeah, that's
the kind car my dad had, and this, you know,
all that kind of stuff comes to head about that.
It just goes on and on about if I had
that car one time. You know, I remember that car,
and I wish I had that car back, you know.
And that's the kids go. They go cont crazy with
(23:27):
that with their dads and their moms. They jump in
and it creates some bonding. It's not everybody's on their
phone pushing buttons. No, only to take pictures. That's about.
That's part of the phone at this point in life
is they take beautiful pictures. Right. What's what's what's new
at the car show this year? What what can the
listeners if the listeners are here in the New York,
(23:48):
New Jersey area the weekend of June six, the right, chuck,
that's the date, June six, Sunday. Yeah, Um, what can
the listeners expect the times the show start and what
might they see? What were some of the cars last
year that's stuck in your mind? Well, was there a
show last year? Last year? Was the pandemic? No, actually,
we couldn't. We couldn't take the chance, and we're afraid
(24:09):
to do it, so we can we cancel it for
last year. So the previous year, what were some of
the cars that stood out in your mind? Well, there
are a couple of ones that really come to view.
Is that people that this is really right from the
from the heart of what we think about a lot.
There was a handicapped guy there that pulls up with
a motorcycle and attacked in a trailer behind it, all
(24:30):
built by himself in a wheelchair. Those are things you
just you know, you can't you can't make that up.
This is what it's all about when people bring that stuff.
And that one sticks in my mind because you just
see what this man did. It was phenomenal, had just
great and the little cars that we get there different.
You go from a you know, a little high rod
to a quarter of a million dollar Ferrari or something
(24:53):
that comes to it, and just these things stick out
unbelievably well, because everybody should understand, this isn't just this started.
When this show started, it wasn't the train station parking
lot right now, now you guys, you take over the streets,
right it's overflowed the parking lot that that corner of
the town gets shut down and there's cars parked everywhere
(25:16):
up and down Houston and out towards Prospect and the
train station, and you're working way up the side streets.
The show just seems to get bigger every year. Yep,
it does. And we do take over about four of
the side streets with the permission of the township, and
it's gone overwhelming actually because they were kind of laid
back with it. We don't give anybody any hard time,
(25:37):
and guys love it that we offer. We offer the entertainment.
We have the stage there with the Elvis guy, and
we have the School of Rock, We have the Odell
brothers with their bands, I mean, and we also have
our beer garden there, you know, and makes everybody, you
have happy in that in our food trucks, it's all good.
There's something there for everybody. Oh, in the food trucks
with the hot dogs and everything else and all the
(25:58):
food that they serve, so um. You know, always a
good time. Let me ask you this. Let me ask
you this question real quick. I know, I know, I know.
Chuck has a as as a as a small car collection.
What's what's new in the car collection this year? What
do you really like? What and why did you buy it?
I'm just curious and the listeners always seem to want
to know this too. Yeah, all right, Well there was
two actually, and we actually end up with the whole
(26:20):
Colgan car, which is a viper and what is his car?
We ended up what it was for the He does
a thing called the fifty Legs for kids that you know,
he makes these prosthetic legs. So we we just got
into a little idea with that and end up with
helping him and we got his car. That was one
of the best things that ever could happen in our
life to help out something that was really worthy. And
(26:43):
then the other one thing that we have purchased this
year was at Chevy Pick up from one of our
customers basically that did it from the body off restoration
and he's had it for like thirty years and he
didn't want nobody to grab it. He didn't want to
be just like to see if you can put with
our collection. And that's what we did. It all the
fun stuff that we all like to see and enjoy
(27:05):
and drive. Right when you when you started in the
business truck and you know you've been doing this longer
than me. You've been in a while, brother, Um did
you you know with with with three twelves and three
deuces and to four barrels, and how mechanical it was.
Did you ever think you'd see such an electronic age
of the automobile? No, No, never did. Actually was one
(27:28):
of the things just probably as you will now too,
that when they all started coming along so that we
don't need that, right, we don't need that. And now
it's just it's just you can't describe the automobile industry
to anybody, you say, you have to be in it
and live it. And I think that applies to cruising
and hot rods as well, right, Yeah, And seeing some
of that technology became very worthwhile for the cruisers because
(27:50):
it took what went pretty good, now it goes fantastic,
right right, Hey, listen, Chuck. The weekend of June six,
that Sunday, If the listeners want more information for our
local affiliates that are gonna you know that are airing
this show live, uh this weekend. You know, where can
the listeners get more information? There's a website somewhere w
(28:11):
W Community Alliance dot com. Okay, And if they can't
find that or they forget it, all they have to
do is think of the town of Waldwick, New Jersey,
June six. The show starts what time it's it's around
thanks starts showing up around nine o'clock. I mean they
sometimes said they're there earlier than that, but we kind
of tell everybody just started around nine, but they're usually
(28:32):
there in time a little way before that. And it
runs till what about three o'clock in the afternoon. So
a great Sunday, and hopefully the weather is as good
as it has been in the past, and you guys
will have a good turn out. So yeah, it's a
good good day to get away and have a good
time with no grief, right, and we all need that, right,
We all need a little d stress and maybe that's
(28:53):
a stress. A stress free weekend event with family chalk
is always a pleasure. We're glad to have you and
we'll catch up again during the week you and thanks again,
thank you, thanks very much. You're very welcome. I'm Ronny
in the Car Doctor. We are back right after this
Don't Go Away came first real sistry out the five
(29:17):
and it's in the fingers. What was the summer of
sixty What a back n the Car Doctor once again
thanks to Chuck Wanna Maker. And if you're free next
weekend or the weekend of June the six not not
next weekend, um, get out to the world. But car
showed down there and then you might see the Car
(29:38):
Doctor sneaking around. You never know who's gonna show up.
I'll be the guy wearing the mask. Ha ha. I
want to talk about Frank's car. Frank is a listener
from South Jersey who sent me an email this week.
Run My nephew has a two thousand, nine miles the
six with nine thousand miles. He's had all kind of
problems with check engine lights, key five is not working
in poor guest miles. He took it to a reputable
(29:58):
shop here in South Jersey who said they believe the
problem is in the main computer and they recommended that
he get rid of the car because even replacing the
computer doesn't fix them. They told him that they chatted
with MAZA, who told them that this was a problem
on these vehicles and there was no guarantee of a solution.
He called MASA directly and they advised him the diagnosis
would be six and likely to repair over three thousand
with no guarantees. As a software developer, this seems so
(30:20):
odd to me and wrong. It seems that no one
wants to fix the car. I believe that with a
little work in the direction, it can be fixed. The
car is very nice and otherwise well taken care of.
What I'm thinking is that the computer could be repaired
and put back in the vehicle. Do you have an
experience with these vehicles and unreliable computer issues? Also, do
you do you or have you used any of the
repair services such as this one? And he sends me
a link for a computer repair service. Your guidance would
(30:41):
be appreciative. Thanks, Frank. You know what, Frank, I think
everybody's taking the wrong approach for diagnosis here. I'd love
to know what the fault codes were. I'm going to
assume it's at P zero six hundred, which has got
into be a common mass the sixth fault that is
an internal error inside the PCM. It puts the vehicle
in limpmode. We've seen this a few times. The biggest
problem you're going to have as the key fobs. If
(31:02):
the key fobs require programming, that's difficult and after market world,
and that's you need a locksmith license and some various
other legislation to get through that. But let's talk about
the problem with the check engine light in the computer.
I don't understand the six diagnosis. I would call another
MAS the dealer and and ask them, hey, listen, I've
got a vehicle with check engine lights, key fobs not
(31:24):
working just like you describe it. What is the diagnosis,
where does that start? And what could this possibly be?
And I would get a second opinion. Here's a case
where I would get a second opinion because you've got
no relationship with any of these guys and you're walking
with this cold hardcore driveability problem. So it's a question
of let's talk to a few more people. I think
this is a good vehicle to do some research. I
(31:45):
agree it's twelve years old. I'd be worried about rust
if there is none. Get a good look at the
vehicle overall. But I think before you condemn this car
and just write it off, you need more diagnostic information
and some more testing before they can make this determination.
I would ask look think back in memory. Have has
this car been in the family or has he owned
it since new? Could you possibly be dealing with a
(32:07):
wiring harness issue I've seen that affect these computers and
create the P zero six. Could you be dealing with
a wiring harness issue from an accident that wasn't properly
repaired and that might lead you down the wrong path
as far as getting the computer repaired. Listen, it's worth
to try. Provided you get to that point in the diagnosis.
Keep in mind this could also be a problem with
(32:28):
PCM or engine computer connectors. That's a that's a problem
or a person a possibility as well. Call me back
or you know, call me with information or send me
an email back. We can go over this further. Ifew
and need more help, Glad to do what I can
for you. Zero Ronning of the Car Doctor. I'll be
back right after this. Welcome back Ron the car Doctor,
(32:55):
winding things down this hour. A recent report came out
at the beginning of the month from the Federal Trade
can Mission. The FTC jumped in uh talking about the
right to repair. It seems that all the claims are
not all the claims, but some of the claims by
the automotive aftermarket have been true. Look at that that
the automotive manufacturers are creating monopolies and monopolizing and restricting
(33:17):
repairs by not providing correct and enough information. And I
hear rumors from time to time of different manufacturers that
aren't following the guidelines. But this article went on to
point out, let's see the report summarize the problems that
consumers are facing from a variety of monopolizing manufacturers that
restrict independent repair and repair by consumers through product designs
(33:37):
that complicator prevent repair, unavailability of parts and repair information,
designs that make independent repairs less safe, policies or statements
that steer consumers to manufacture repair networks and application of
patent rights, and enforcement of trademarks, software locks, firmware updates.
In other words, they're starting to list, they're starting to
see the issues that are being created. You know, the
(34:00):
sad part is if the independent automotive repair shop, and
I admit it, I'm one of those guys, and I'm
coming to the end of the game. No, no time soon,
I hope, because I enjoyed too much of having too
much fun fixing cars, and I'm gonna keep going as
long as the big guy lets me. And the point becomes,
if independent repair shops like myself and like so many
(34:21):
of those out there, we're gone. You wouldn't be able
to get your car fixed because there's just no way
the dealer network could support the volume of vehicles that
will need repair. I've had cases where family vehicles are
going into dealerships under warranty and it's a three week
wait to get an appointment because they're backlogged. And you
(34:44):
sit there and I say to myself and sometimes, you
know what, it's auto repair is like dating. Sometimes dating
that next girl teaches you that you're better off where
you are. Um Becres says, no always greener as I
like to say, But auto repair is just a very complicated,
involved process. I would think the manufacturers would get more
provided they share the information at a at a level
(35:05):
that everybody can relate to and make work and improve
their product image in the aftermarket, and not so much
that they're the bad guys where to come from the FTC.
Good job, guys, I'm glad you're on top of the
right to repair. That wraps it up for this week,
until the next time I'm running eating the car doctor
reminding you this time, like every time, good mechanics aren't expensive,
they're priceless. See U
The following program has been pre reported. Ron and Anien
I was a little annoyed with a s C because
they sent out an email this week talking about doing
a webinar for mechanics four o'clock on a Friday afternoon.
You know that's the witching hour. You don't do anything
at four o'clock on a Friday after except get the
cars done and go home the car Doctor. If they
tried hand cranking it and it doesn't move, they're saying
(00:22):
it seased. You know, at at two hundred thousand miles,
you start to lay out the dollars you know in
your head. Welcome to the radio home of Ron and
Anian the Car Doctor, since this is where car owners
the world overturned to for their definitive opinion on automotive repair.
If your mechanics giving you a busy signal, pick up
(00:43):
the phone and call in the garage. Do orders are open?
But I am here to take your calls at eight
five five and now he running Welcome aboard. You know,
if our first guest this hour, um, how do I
introduce this gentleman? It's um, I'll say it like this.
(01:03):
If the card docks have been working on car since
dirt was invented and God was young. Um, this guy
was on the other side of the sand box throwing
dirt right back at me because he was right there
doing it to Chris Lewis, Director of Training, Automotive Training Group. Chris,
welcome aboard, sir, Oh, you're very welcome. Listen, it's been
a while. I think you've you know, we know each other,
what thirty five years, and I think you've been on
(01:26):
somewhere along the way, but it's it's been a while, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
but I've been on before. Yeah. Um. You know you
are a director of training for the Automotive Training Group,
a national training organization for mechanics, and I can't I
couldn't think of anybody more qualified to come up here
and talk to us today about well, some of your
training experiences, but I wanted to center a little bit
(01:46):
about a DOS Advanced Driver Assist Systems because it's fast
becoming well my opinion, my perspective, and then we'll get yours. Chris.
Of course, it's fast becoming, um an industry hot button.
What is it about that? What can you tell us? Well,
for us, let's explain what ADS is. Some people might
have heard the terminology I know of some of my
(02:08):
students have never heard that, but it stands for Advanced
driver's systems. And the one other thing most people would
understand it you but the car reverse and is a
camera so you don't hit anything. Um. Other systems diffamiliar
with a blind spot detection, like there's a car in
the lane next to you, did the light goes on
and you merrison to that that effect. And then it gets
a little more advanced with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise
(02:29):
control of forward collision warnings. And these systems have been
around for every bit of ten plus years on cars today. Yeah,
so absolutely, and you'll see them. You know a lot
of people think, well, it's it's only on newer cars.
I think Mercedes had it starting back oh eight oh nine, right,
wasn't it wasn't it that far back or maybe ten, No,
(02:51):
it was back that far. It was back that far
that they've had some version of the system. Um. You know,
some people want to realize that it's there. Uh, it's
a part of aid US. But it's a summary is
the title that the industry has given it for all
these different things, and even the commercials with a car
parks itself. It's all based upon the same principles, and
it's changing the way mechanics have to look at the
(03:12):
repair and the way you want to motive. The consumer's
gonna look at repair and and everybody wants this, right, well,
a lot of people seem to want it, but now
the problem is becoming it's it's it's mandatory, absolutely mandatory
to follow procedures because the least little thing will upset
the apple cards so to speak. Uh, incorrect wiper blades
(03:33):
Chris and I. Right, we were talking about this during
the week before the show when we were talking about
this show, Right, how can a wiper blade affect an
aidas system? Alright, So if you put on the wrong
size wiper blade, and won't mean by that is one
that's too long, how longer than it should be? And
most people look at their front windshield, um, from the
outside looking in, they're gonna see it's a camera above
(03:56):
with their via view mirror amounts and that's looking for
obstacles in the road. Um, if you're depending on the
systems you've got, it could have been for collision avoidance.
Who could be adaptive cruise controlled the lane departure that
camera could be looking at the white lines and could
be obscured when the wiper is on and the camera's focused,
and all of a sudden it's out of focus and
then't focus, and then you get a message on the dash.
(04:18):
And that could be a tough diagnosis for a technician
who didn't realize he just put on a one inch
too big um wiper and and and maybe it's a
result of maybe it's not even his fault, but that
brand hasn't held you know, maybe it's a cheap wiper blade.
Let's say it like that. And yeah, right, the manufacturer
doesn't follow that exact blueprint from the original equipment. And
(04:41):
now all of a sudden, Chris, it doesn't have to
be an inch, right, a quarter of an inch long
wiper blade. If it's in the white, if it's in
the camera sweep, the game's over, right. And sometimes it
doesn't have to quite be in the camera sweep. It
could be just enough for that camera to be slightly confused.
And just to give you an idea, when we talk
about these systems and when technicians have to set these
(05:02):
things up and make adjustments, we are down to one
tent of one degree accuracy. Wow. Yeah, yeah, a wiper
blade can definitely UM. And then there's not a lot
of common problems with wiper blade. Is just something as
simple as a wiper blade. UM. One area I think
that's gonna be more simple for mechanics and technicians is
when you pull you have sometimes you pull through a
(05:24):
headlight or were parking bowl, but directional bawl. You might
have to lower the bumper down a little bit. Behind
those bumpers could be radar units that if they get disturbed,
they have to be realigned. And and all of a sudden,
that's simple bulb replacement. That that twenty bulb replacement, whatever
it might be. If the bumper's got to come down,
it's obviously a little bit more. But all of a sudden,
(05:46):
now you're into a calibration procedure that could be a
couple of three bucks, right yeah. Um. And And the
point that I know you and I spoke about this
quite a few times. The point that I'm concerned with
when I go out and teach this subject is more
into the tune of let's not be the cause of
the customers could problem. You know, these are safety systems
(06:07):
are there to help us and keep us safe on
the road. Um, I don't want us to do a
simple job, and even a simple wheel alignment. And uh,
the next thing, you know, one of the safety feature
isn't working properly. And then I got, you know, I'm
liable for getting it fixed properly or aligned, and I
might not have the equipment I got to send it out.
And you know what, the cars have changed. These safety
(06:28):
systems are pretty cool. Um, they make us safe and
pay and playing English. I got a lot of these
features on my new F one fifty. Um, and I
guess that you know, when it's time to do basic work,
it's just gonna be a little more careful and more educated. Well,
one of the things you and I have really agreed
on over and over over the years is we really
(06:49):
take somebody's life in our hands working on their car,
and there is no place for a short cut. And
now with the safety systems, to not do proper procedure
is asking for a problem, and we're creating the issue.
We're defeating what we're trying to do to make something safe.
Because like you, like you told me, Chris, and you
know what, I couldn't agree more. It's like you always say,
(07:10):
it could be your mother in that car, could be
your grandmother in that car, could be your kids in
that car. They've got to be safe. Well, it goes
back to simple break jobs and set of tires. Do
you want to put on something that's very, very inexpensive
but it might not stop, um quickly or properly enough.
God forbid, you need to do a panic of stop. Um,
(07:30):
the tire is gonna be able to handle a true
rough road condition. You know, you're more of the tire
experts than I am, But no, you know, and I
really think that. Then again, this is something you and
I've talked about a million times. The consumer wants their
car returned and have safe and reliable to put their
family in. Um. I mean I remember for years people
(07:50):
would come in and like July in early August and say,
can you go over the car and my son's taking
it off of my daughter's taken it off to college. Yeah,
it's got to be safe. So you know who needs
that ADS training class, Chris, Because by the numbers, are
you filling the class? Are you guys? Are you guys
having good success or is it like pulling teeth? Um? Well,
(08:13):
I think training in general is. Sometimes it's more like
pulling teeth. UM. People don't know what they don't know.
Meeting technicians. UM. You know, some technicians struggle with their
diagnostics and even non ADAS systems and they don't realize
they might be an easier way or a different way.
We try to say easier or more efficient, which helps
everybody involved. UM. And a lot of technicians aren't aware
(08:35):
of what AIDA stands for. And you really can't advertise
all of these new crazy systems. They a lot of
people tell us that, well, we don't work on them.
The customer doesn't come in with a rear camera not working.
They don't come in with a blind spot in system
not working. And that's not what it's about. It's about that,
you know. UM, the accidentally hit a mirror backing out
(08:56):
of your garage. Everybody has done that and it needs
a quick, simple mirror. It's a fift team had to
put it on. But there could be a radar system
or camera in there working with the blind spot, or
would be any sort of other safety issue. And if
it's not dealt with properly by the technician, then will
that system work? I mean I don't know. And if
(09:18):
every car is gonna be some little animal. But you know,
like anything else, technicians need to learn that these cars.
Technology is changing at unbelievable space. I mean, was another
half hour from now, they're going to release the four
electric vehicle that's gonna be in everybody's bay soon. Sure,
you know, let's listen, we talk about how things change
(09:38):
and evolve when we come back. Let's talk about something
that everybody has to go through usually once in the
life of a vehicle. A windshield replacement. How has that changed?
How could Chris, it's a clear piece of glass. How
could changing a clear piece of glass affect the ADAS system?
Hold that thought like I can hear it in your
head already, my my brother. Let me let me pull
(09:59):
over and take this pause. I'm running aiding in the car. Doctor.
We're here with Chris Lewis, director of training for a
t G and we're talking about AIDS. We're glad to
have him, We're glad to have you here with us.
We'll both be right back after this. Don't go away.
Got number time right it on the wall so you
(10:27):
don't forget to call for a car advice done right?
Eight five five five zero zero zero. Now back to row. Hey,
let's get on back to Chris Lewis, Director of Training,
Automotive Training Group. Chris, when we when we pulled away
for the pause, you're we're talking about windshields, right, How
hard could it be? What? What? What could possibly being
(10:47):
so involved in replacing a piece of clear glass? And
then along comes ADA Systems, right Advanced driver assist Now
what happens that? That's a great one because um and
I actually thought this class on Saturday and had a
couple of service advisors. Small shops don't change the windshield themselves.
They call it glass company. And number one, when you
(11:08):
remove the glass, you're gonna have to remove the camera
from behind it. So okay, it's not the camera goes
back in. And again we're talking one tent of a
degree accuracy and some applications, so is it sitting a dent?
And I'm not a glass expert, but the clarity of
the glass can make a big difference. And um, not
me personally, but you know when I do my research
(11:29):
and I talked to people and people that do this
on a regular basis, the calibrations, they say that some
of the ftermarket glass companies have had problems not the
company itself. The quality of the glass manufacturing is an issue, right,
and they have to go back to oe UM. We've
got a couple of US case studies and information from
(11:49):
other mechanics students of ours where like window coatings and tinting.
You know, somebody like to tint their windows or UM
some of the code as you can get out there
so it repels water better when it rains. Thinks of
that effect have been a little bit of a concern,
and it's not a problem yet. It's just something that UM.
(12:10):
If I have a vehicle and I have a problem
with anything with the AID system and it's had a
recent work on the windshield or any kind of coding
or tinting, it could be a safety concern. So the
listeners really have to be aware of if you know,
all of a sudden they're replacing a piece of glass,
if they've got a camera, if they've got uh certain
(12:31):
levels of adas, if the if the manufacturer calls for it,
they've got to do the calibration. We had a call
about six seven months ago from a listener in Florida
that I think I told you this story. The woman
had her Subaru had the windshield replaced by the dealer,
and the dealer said, you know, put, we have to
do a calibration, and her husband said, no, I don't
need that. I hate to be this guy because if
(12:52):
you're talking to me a long story short, I explained
to her that it's got to get calibrated. She had
the eight system calibrated and called us back the next
week and said, my cars fixed. My husband's in a
lot of trouble. Uh, you know, so you know it's
it's it's it's different. Everything is different now and even
using a factory piece of glass, it may require calibration.
(13:14):
So for the shop that says I don't need as training,
I don't work on that system. I guess you're not
doing windshields anymore. I guess you're not doingside your mirrors anymore. Right,
you're here, you're limiting what you can do on the car.
It's everywhere. Sure, I mean we can go into the
scenario of replacing tires if you go to an oversized
height wise that control the angle of the radar and
(13:36):
the camera off um we alignments any major adjustment that's needed,
or do we call it trust angle or the tracking
of the vehicle or everybody seeing we're driving on the
road and looks like the car in front of going crooked,
the camera radar not pointing in their proper direction. And
this just simply think of A B S many years ago.
When do you find out if your A B S works? Oh,
(13:59):
usually when you need correct and unfortunately with some of
the eight our stuff, it could be the same thing
that you're expecting you know to uh, um shift go
over to you know, switch lanes and you turn the
directional on and there's no blinking light in your mirror,
so you think it may be safe, um, because they're
(14:19):
so used to them blinking like telling you it's safe
and it's not. Um. And you know you said if
someone never wants to get involved any calibration of the
shop himself a technician itself, I mean it's fine, it's
it's a large investment, it's a lot of knowledge, but
understanding what these systems are and how it affects pretty
much every person working on a car today that you
(14:40):
said it before, A simple tell light, a simple headlight. Um.
You know, we get into timing chains or radiators or
incarnation condensers where sometimes you've got to remove the grill
and that's where the radar sits UM windshield we mentioned um.
You know, there's just so many little variables and it's
not a air tactic. But the cars have changed. There
(15:02):
are a lot safer, they last longer. We have to
change the mindset from the technician side and the consumer side. Um,
these systems are here to stay. It's the let's say,
the beginning phases of the self driving vehicle, which is
probably another five to ten, maybe fifteen years down the
road in my opinion, but this is the start of it.
So the answer the question, everybody, anybody who works on
(15:25):
cars should be aware of atis UM and what it
really is. And all these system things. Cross traffic alert automatic.
I mean my F one fifty. If you walk in
front of my truck, it stops on a dime and
I ain't even touching the break. That's gonna pedestrians a
warning and pedestrian avoidance. That's that's a great system, Chris.
(15:46):
When when a t G, I'm sorry, when when a
t G develops a class, can we talk about that.
We've got about three minutes left. What what you know?
This isn't something you sit down and write this class
in two weeks. What does it take. What does it
take to develop a class on all of them, but
a Dawes in particular. You've been working on this for months. Yeah,
well technically to let you know how it goes, going
(16:07):
to give Tim Flannery. He's a a CEO of of
a t G and he probably spends every bit of
four to five months doing nothing but researching, um, getting
his hands on cars. Sometimes he'll go to other shops. Uh,
He'll five known. He flies around the country and go
to shops and see what they're experiencing and and work
on those cars and and just get a feel of
(16:29):
not just what the car manufacturer says what you can
read online or google. You might say, UM, this is
a lot of real world stuff. And then he presented
to them to me. Between the proof reading and UM,
we kind of split the power point responsibilities. And then
I go on, I teach you and right now up
to nine different trainers um. And then the trainer goes
out and tries to verify you. You know what Chris
(16:51):
told me this or I read this and I'm not
a hundred insurance. Let me go down to John's or
Ron shop and Ron, let's go look at you know
what I mean, U, It takes a lot because, um,
if what you learn from a t G or our
books was the same you read online, why would you
need us? Right right? Well, that's one thing that a
t G has always done. You've always given the mechanics
(17:13):
the good information, but also real world scenarios and how
to deal with it. And I think that's really what
the mechanics are going to need, the technicians will call
them that are going to need today because a DOS
is everywhere. You know, the fuel injection systems are changing,
the transmissions are changing it. So you've got to look
at the entire package. And one of the great things
(17:35):
that a t G does is you always break it
down at the simple terms. We talk about Alms law, right,
you know we we we can't fix Alms law like
you and I always say. Guys are still learning about
O B D two some of them can't spell it,
and the system has only been out since ninety six.
What does that six? Yeah? Yeah, twenty five years and
(17:55):
and they're still learning what's freeze frame and what's mode six?
Christ is always a pleasure where can the listeners get
more information real quick? Automotive Training Group dot com. All right, listen,
we'll talk during the week again as always. Great to
have you and uh you stay well, my friend. I'm
run any of the Car Doctor, We're back. We're right
after this. Don't go away. I can welcome back any
(18:48):
of the Car Doctor. You know. I want to start
off this segment by saying thank you everybody out there
listening today, because we're gonna take a national show, which
is what this is, and bring it down to a
very local level. There is a group of individuals in Waldwick,
New Jersey that every year for the past o m
teen years have dedicated their time and resources to something
(19:09):
I think that is so important. Preserving a piece of
American history is how this started. That being the Waldwick
Train Station, and it started off by trying to raise
funds by creating things that people would enjoy doing. And
now the Waldwick Car Show, which is going to be
the weekend of June six. If I'm if I'm correcting,
our our our guest will correct me if I'm wrong.
(19:30):
UM has grown into a regional phenomena and without any
further ado, let's welcome Chuck. Want to make your senior
to come in here and tell us all about it, Chuck,
welcome a board, sir, thanks for taking the time today. Yeah,
thank you for considerning right nice. Well, we you know,
we we always enjoy talking to Junior, and I think
Junior was you know, he's gonna be a little bit
of a ham. So we have to give it to
(19:52):
pop it this year and uh get your perspective on it,
because both of you guys just do such a great
bang up job. We're just happy to have either one
of you. Um, you know, the summer cruising seasons opening
up right, the pandemics aiming ending um cruising right. It's
it's really part of the American landscape. Why is that
do you think? I think it just goes back a
long time ago, you know when we started fooling with
(20:14):
a car, with cars we thought would never end, and
it's just gotten to where now they almost they almost
come to an end with everything being so modern. But
then guys, you know, just holding onto that old car situation,
what they had with their dad, just as I did.
And I don't know, just it's just one of them things,
you guys, then your blood of what you really enjoy doing,
you know, having a different idea of a car, the
(20:36):
things you could do to it. You know, it's just
it'll never leave. I'm sure it's going to be around forever.
What was your first car, Chuck, the nineteen fifty six
Ford Victoria. What did you do to it? Do you remember? Yeah?
It was just one of the things that were three
twelve so you fool around with two three deuces on it.
That was your biggest thing, as you know, continental mufflers
(20:58):
and all that kind of stuff to make sound good.
It was all that kind of cool stuff. We enjoyed
and just just really enjoyed at that stuff. You don't
have your first car, do you? I do, but it's
not the original Victoria and the two four barrels on it.
But I do have it. It's not the original one,
but I do have a fifty six Ford Victoria. So
(21:19):
is that what the car show is about? People walking
down memory Lane and seeing that car, that first car,
maybe that's similar to what they had, and it just
generates conversation and recall you memories for the Yeah, absolutely
no doubt about it. You see it every year. The
World of Car Show has been going on how many
years now, just a thirteenth year doing it, and you
(21:42):
know we've been very successful at it. For somebody that
didn't know much about car shows, you get a quick education, right, right.
And it started out not as just the car show.
It was another piece of Americana that you guys were
trying to preserve, right. That was a train station, the
train station, train station. Yeah. And and why was the
(22:03):
train station so important? You know, gee, it's just the building, chuck,
isn't it. Yeah? It is just part of what was
going on in history at the time of what where
it all began, you know, a little train station in
town of Altick. It was just we're a little stole there.
Everybody we'll keep warming in winter time to get their
ticket for the train and things. And then it's just
a little piece of history. There was a shame to
(22:24):
see go down the tubes and that's where it was going.
Simpler times, right, And uh, you know maybe maybe in
the crazy world of today, we need simpler times, and
maybe that's the attraction for the for the train station,
for the car show, for everything that goes on there, right,
I believe. So that's why I believe the same way
you're thinking. It really makes people that's the train station.
Where it's at the train station, they don't forget it,
(22:45):
that's for sure. You know, nothing nothing bad happens at
car shows per se. Right, you know, at your car show,
you you see more and more families come out, right,
they bring the kids, and the kids sit there and
I mean they're they're wide eyed at the chrome on
the cars. And everybody has a story about where that
car came from or what that car means to him.
(23:07):
And it generates a lot of good bonding for families, right, Oh, absolutely,
And then they talk about they say, oh, yeah, that's
the kind car my dad had, and this, you know,
all that kind of stuff comes to head about that.
It just goes on and on about if I had
that car one time. You know, I remember that car,
and I wish I had that car back, you know.
And that's the kids go. They go cont crazy with
(23:27):
that with their dads and their moms. They jump in
and it creates some bonding. It's not everybody's on their
phone pushing buttons. No, only to take pictures. That's about.
That's part of the phone at this point in life
is they take beautiful pictures. Right. What's what's what's new
at the car show this year? What what can the
listeners if the listeners are here in the New York,
(23:48):
New Jersey area the weekend of June six, the right, chuck,
that's the date, June six, Sunday. Yeah, Um, what can
the listeners expect the times the show start and what
might they see? What were some of the cars last
year that's stuck in your mind? Well, was there a
show last year? Last year? Was the pandemic? No, actually,
we couldn't. We couldn't take the chance, and we're afraid
(24:09):
to do it, so we can we cancel it for
last year. So the previous year, what were some of
the cars that stood out in your mind? Well, there
are a couple of ones that really come to view.
Is that people that this is really right from the
from the heart of what we think about a lot.
There was a handicapped guy there that pulls up with
a motorcycle and attacked in a trailer behind it, all
(24:30):
built by himself in a wheelchair. Those are things you
just you know, you can't you can't make that up.
This is what it's all about when people bring that stuff.
And that one sticks in my mind because you just
see what this man did. It was phenomenal, had just
great and the little cars that we get there different.
You go from a you know, a little high rod
to a quarter of a million dollar Ferrari or something
(24:53):
that comes to it, and just these things stick out
unbelievably well, because everybody should understand, this isn't just this started.
When this show started, it wasn't the train station parking
lot right now, now you guys, you take over the streets,
right it's overflowed the parking lot that that corner of
the town gets shut down and there's cars parked everywhere
(25:16):
up and down Houston and out towards Prospect and the
train station, and you're working way up the side streets.
The show just seems to get bigger every year. Yep,
it does. And we do take over about four of
the side streets with the permission of the township, and
it's gone overwhelming actually because they were kind of laid
back with it. We don't give anybody any hard time,
(25:37):
and guys love it that we offer. We offer the entertainment.
We have the stage there with the Elvis guy, and
we have the School of Rock, We have the Odell
brothers with their bands, I mean, and we also have
our beer garden there, you know, and makes everybody, you
have happy in that in our food trucks, it's all good.
There's something there for everybody. Oh, in the food trucks
with the hot dogs and everything else and all the
(25:58):
food that they serve, so um. You know, always a
good time. Let me ask you this. Let me ask
you this question real quick. I know, I know, I know.
Chuck has a as as a as a small car collection.
What's what's new in the car collection this year? What
do you really like? What and why did you buy it?
I'm just curious and the listeners always seem to want
to know this too. Yeah, all right, Well there was
two actually, and we actually end up with the whole
(26:20):
Colgan car, which is a viper and what is his car?
We ended up what it was for the He does
a thing called the fifty Legs for kids that you know,
he makes these prosthetic legs. So we we just got
into a little idea with that and end up with
helping him and we got his car. That was one
of the best things that ever could happen in our
life to help out something that was really worthy. And
(26:43):
then the other one thing that we have purchased this
year was at Chevy Pick up from one of our
customers basically that did it from the body off restoration
and he's had it for like thirty years and he
didn't want nobody to grab it. He didn't want to
be just like to see if you can put with
our collection. And that's what we did. It all the
fun stuff that we all like to see and enjoy
(27:05):
and drive. Right when you when you started in the
business truck and you know you've been doing this longer
than me. You've been in a while, brother, Um did
you you know with with with three twelves and three
deuces and to four barrels, and how mechanical it was.
Did you ever think you'd see such an electronic age
of the automobile? No, No, never did. Actually was one
(27:28):
of the things just probably as you will now too,
that when they all started coming along so that we
don't need that, right, we don't need that. And now
it's just it's just you can't describe the automobile industry
to anybody, you say, you have to be in it
and live it. And I think that applies to cruising
and hot rods as well, right, Yeah, And seeing some
of that technology became very worthwhile for the cruisers because
(27:50):
it took what went pretty good, now it goes fantastic,
right right, Hey, listen, Chuck. The weekend of June six,
that Sunday, If the listeners want more information for our
local affiliates that are gonna you know that are airing
this show live, uh this weekend. You know, where can
the listeners get more information? There's a website somewhere w
(28:11):
W Community Alliance dot com. Okay, And if they can't
find that or they forget it, all they have to
do is think of the town of Waldwick, New Jersey,
June six. The show starts what time it's it's around
thanks starts showing up around nine o'clock. I mean they
sometimes said they're there earlier than that, but we kind
of tell everybody just started around nine, but they're usually
(28:32):
there in time a little way before that. And it
runs till what about three o'clock in the afternoon. So
a great Sunday, and hopefully the weather is as good
as it has been in the past, and you guys
will have a good turn out. So yeah, it's a
good good day to get away and have a good
time with no grief, right, and we all need that, right,
We all need a little d stress and maybe that's
(28:53):
a stress. A stress free weekend event with family chalk
is always a pleasure. We're glad to have you and
we'll catch up again during the week you and thanks again,
thank you, thanks very much. You're very welcome. I'm Ronny
in the Car Doctor. We are back right after this
Don't Go Away came first real sistry out the five
(29:17):
and it's in the fingers. What was the summer of
sixty What a back n the Car Doctor once again
thanks to Chuck Wanna Maker. And if you're free next
weekend or the weekend of June the six not not
next weekend, um, get out to the world. But car
showed down there and then you might see the Car
(29:38):
Doctor sneaking around. You never know who's gonna show up.
I'll be the guy wearing the mask. Ha ha. I
want to talk about Frank's car. Frank is a listener
from South Jersey who sent me an email this week.
Run My nephew has a two thousand, nine miles the
six with nine thousand miles. He's had all kind of
problems with check engine lights, key five is not working
in poor guest miles. He took it to a reputable
(29:58):
shop here in South Jersey who said they believe the
problem is in the main computer and they recommended that
he get rid of the car because even replacing the
computer doesn't fix them. They told him that they chatted
with MAZA, who told them that this was a problem
on these vehicles and there was no guarantee of a solution.
He called MASA directly and they advised him the diagnosis
would be six and likely to repair over three thousand
with no guarantees. As a software developer, this seems so
(30:20):
odd to me and wrong. It seems that no one
wants to fix the car. I believe that with a
little work in the direction, it can be fixed. The
car is very nice and otherwise well taken care of.
What I'm thinking is that the computer could be repaired
and put back in the vehicle. Do you have an
experience with these vehicles and unreliable computer issues? Also, do
you do you or have you used any of the
repair services such as this one? And he sends me
a link for a computer repair service. Your guidance would
(30:41):
be appreciative. Thanks, Frank. You know what, Frank, I think
everybody's taking the wrong approach for diagnosis here. I'd love
to know what the fault codes were. I'm going to
assume it's at P zero six hundred, which has got
into be a common mass the sixth fault that is
an internal error inside the PCM. It puts the vehicle
in limpmode. We've seen this a few times. The biggest
problem you're going to have as the key fobs. If
(31:02):
the key fobs require programming, that's difficult and after market world,
and that's you need a locksmith license and some various
other legislation to get through that. But let's talk about
the problem with the check engine light in the computer.
I don't understand the six diagnosis. I would call another
MAS the dealer and and ask them, hey, listen, I've
got a vehicle with check engine lights, key fobs not
(31:24):
working just like you describe it. What is the diagnosis,
where does that start? And what could this possibly be?
And I would get a second opinion. Here's a case
where I would get a second opinion because you've got
no relationship with any of these guys and you're walking
with this cold hardcore driveability problem. So it's a question
of let's talk to a few more people. I think
this is a good vehicle to do some research. I
(31:45):
agree it's twelve years old. I'd be worried about rust
if there is none. Get a good look at the
vehicle overall. But I think before you condemn this car
and just write it off, you need more diagnostic information
and some more testing before they can make this determination.
I would ask look think back in memory. Have has
this car been in the family or has he owned
it since new? Could you possibly be dealing with a
(32:07):
wiring harness issue I've seen that affect these computers and
create the P zero six. Could you be dealing with
a wiring harness issue from an accident that wasn't properly
repaired and that might lead you down the wrong path
as far as getting the computer repaired. Listen, it's worth
to try. Provided you get to that point in the diagnosis.
Keep in mind this could also be a problem with
(32:28):
PCM or engine computer connectors. That's a that's a problem
or a person a possibility as well. Call me back
or you know, call me with information or send me
an email back. We can go over this further. Ifew
and need more help, Glad to do what I can
for you. Zero Ronning of the Car Doctor. I'll be
back right after this. Welcome back Ron the car Doctor,
(32:55):
winding things down this hour. A recent report came out
at the beginning of the month from the Federal Trade
can Mission. The FTC jumped in uh talking about the
right to repair. It seems that all the claims are
not all the claims, but some of the claims by
the automotive aftermarket have been true. Look at that that
the automotive manufacturers are creating monopolies and monopolizing and restricting
(33:17):
repairs by not providing correct and enough information. And I
hear rumors from time to time of different manufacturers that
aren't following the guidelines. But this article went on to
point out, let's see the report summarize the problems that
consumers are facing from a variety of monopolizing manufacturers that
restrict independent repair and repair by consumers through product designs
(33:37):
that complicator prevent repair, unavailability of parts and repair information,
designs that make independent repairs less safe, policies or statements
that steer consumers to manufacture repair networks and application of
patent rights, and enforcement of trademarks, software locks, firmware updates.
In other words, they're starting to list, they're starting to
see the issues that are being created. You know, the
(34:00):
sad part is if the independent automotive repair shop, and
I admit it, I'm one of those guys, and I'm
coming to the end of the game. No, no time soon,
I hope, because I enjoyed too much of having too
much fun fixing cars, and I'm gonna keep going as
long as the big guy lets me. And the point becomes,
if independent repair shops like myself and like so many
(34:21):
of those out there, we're gone. You wouldn't be able
to get your car fixed because there's just no way
the dealer network could support the volume of vehicles that
will need repair. I've had cases where family vehicles are
going into dealerships under warranty and it's a three week
wait to get an appointment because they're backlogged. And you
(34:44):
sit there and I say to myself and sometimes, you
know what, it's auto repair is like dating. Sometimes dating
that next girl teaches you that you're better off where
you are. Um Becres says, no always greener as I
like to say, But auto repair is just a very complicated,
involved process. I would think the manufacturers would get more
provided they share the information at a at a level
(35:05):
that everybody can relate to and make work and improve
their product image in the aftermarket, and not so much
that they're the bad guys where to come from the FTC.
Good job, guys, I'm glad you're on top of the
right to repair. That wraps it up for this week,
until the next time I'm running eating the car doctor
reminding you this time, like every time, good mechanics aren't expensive,
they're priceless. See U
Host
Ron Ananian
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.