The Mechanic: car knowledge

December 20th, 2011 -

How many drivers out there are unaware how a car works?

Engine-smoking-view-image

Photo: Shutterstock

Basic car knowledge goes a long way

By Dave Redinger

Part of our business model at the shop includes the use of loaners – replacement vehicles.

Here in the “Big Smoke” you really are lost without a car so we try and ease the pain by loaning customers our vehicles when their regular rides are down.

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Loaners aren’t new cars. Far from it. Loaners are basically end of life vehicles that we have resurrected. We usually supply Japanese branded cars because they’re bullet proof we make sure they are safe and mechanically fit. Typically they are over 10 years old (although the fleet includes a five year old Cadillac and a four year old Jeep Wrangler). On average loaners last three to four years before we mile them out.

Due to operator error, we lost two vehicles because the motors were destroyed. Why? Because the drivers ran the cars in first gear. How dumb can you get!!!

I agree that some of today’s cars are complicated. I agree that the simplest tasks are now fully automated; but give me a break. If the engine’s roaring and the car isn’t performing, an intelligent driver would think there might be an issue.

How many drivers out there are unaware how a car works? Few it appears even know when something’s wrong. For example; we have all seen cars at night running without taillights. Why? Because the dummy behind the wheel doesn’t realize that daytime running lights are not meant to be operated in reduced lighting conditions. RTFM, buddy – read the F!@#$%^ manual.

I some countries you are required to have some mechanical knowledge of what goes under the hood before you get you driver’s licence. Perhaps we should be making mechanics a prerequisite to getting our driving permit. Just simple stuff – like how to reduce wear on your engine by choosing a higher gear.

 

Dave Redinger has more than 40 years’ experience as a mechanic and has run his shop, Doctor H Honda Specialists, in Toronto for the past 26 years. He’s also a radio talk show host and produces several television shows.

5 comments

  1. jeb says:

    i think you meant to say taillights or running lights your brake lights dont come on unless you apply the brake pedal.

  2. jimmy says:

    um i think the author means ‘tail’ lights not ‘brake’ lights. since tail lights are on the back and need to be switched on, and brake lights only come on when the brakes are applied and are fully independent of daytime running lights, head or tail lights. so i think he meant to say ‘tail’ lights. RTFM author.

  3. Eric says:

    As a class ‘A’ licensed mechanic myself, I listen to Dave regularly on radio, and he is usually 100% accurate.

    I do, however, object when he refers to a vehicle’s parking brake as the “emergency brake” and, in the case of this column, the tail lights as the “brake lights”.

    A licensed mechanic should know better, even if he is using common, incorrect terminology.

    I love his comment about “RTFM” – don’t know how many times I’ve said that!

  4. Murray says:

    The automobile is the most expensive item that we spend our money on in our lifetimes if you add up the replacement cost of a new vehicle every 5-7 years and the little residual value left. People remain ignorant to this believing home ownership is the big ticket but it is not. $300 to $500 per month for 40 years in car payments or lost investment capital adds up to quite at total. Add the $1000 or more a year in maintenance and repair on top of that.

    You need an art credit to graduate high school but not a tech credit. It would make sense to require a car ownership/maintenance course and a basic home maintenance course but our education system is designed as a filter for post secondary education and these courses do not fit into that role so they will never be important enough to be required of all high school students.

    There is value to all courses – it is unfortunate that much of society choses to remain ignorant to something that would provide life long benefit.

  5. KMc says:

    Obviously the author of this article has a few pet peeves. I get it – loaner cars are not new cars. But if people are driving the car in first gear, it must be a standard you are referring too. Why would anyone agree to drive a standard if they don’t know how. OF COURSE they will burn out first gear!!!

    Tail lights and daytime driving lights – sometimes those daylight driving lights are bright. My question is WHY don’t people turn on their lights as you cannot see the dashboard in the dark!

    When you go to get your license, I WISH people would take a basic course of car maintenance. CAA offers the course in and around Canada. It’s called a woman’s information course or something. I grew up with a dad who fixed it all. I can change my oil, change my breaks, grease joints, and change a muffler. I am fortunate to do that however I still go to a mechanic when certain things arise. I wouldn’t expect anyone to do what I do, but checking the oil level, anti freeze, belts…visual things, should be standard. People should not be intimidated by what is under the hood.

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