The passing seasons

It's been busy around here. Summer flew on by, and I can hardly remember the sun. That's too bad, because it'll be dark and gloomy soon, and we'll all be talking 'bout next summer.

Why so glum David? Well, someone has to put those things away. We got our order of snow tires in. We bought 60 this year right off the bat. We can get more, usually within a few hours, but it's nice to stock a bunch too.

It smells like rubber in here!

We found space for all these tires in our little shop, but we'd like to sell some of these soon so that we can move around... If you are going to buy snow tires this year, buy them from us in October, and we'll give you a special deal. Lets call it the early bird special.


We've got sizes for most import cars in stock. We can order any size you like, and any brand you've heard of. If we order in the morning, we'll get them by the afternoon.

We've got some nice looking alloy wheels too. They are cheap enough for winter wheels, but nice enough to make you happy to put them on.

So there you go: winter tires. Something to smile about! (even if the picture is blurry)

Check Engine Light- a bit techy, a bit geeky, a bit preachy.

Nobody likes that light. Some people ignore it. I wouldn't, but that's because I'm curious. Despite what some people want to think, it's always on for a reason.

First we plug in the scan tool. We have a scan tool that works with all european cars, and that is what I'm using here. We also have a VW/Audi specific scan tool and a generic japanese/american scan tool.

It takes about 5-10 minutes to load the software and to talk to the computer.

Our codes. These codes are both "wide open" codes, meaning they could have many, many causes. The fact that they are together is a good clue though. Right away, I'm thinking this car has an air leak, which is very common on european cars. Bad German rubber!

I haven't even popped the hood yet. I want to, but before I do that, I'll check see how to properly test the engine when these codes are present. We use Alldata and Worldpac Assist as information sources. We also have lots and lots of books and CD info sources on specific European cars.

As I suspected, on this car these codes are often associated with vacuum leaks and MAF sensor problems. I write down the specifications for checking the MAF sensor live data, and head back to the car for a visual inspection of the engine.

I start at the intake manifold and visually inspect the hoses all the way back to the airbox. Whoa, what's that? Someone has left a giant air hose off.

I guess I should have started with the good old visual check after all.

This is why you don't let quick lube shops touch your car. They aren't mechanics, just salespeople.

Well, that was a quick one, and a good starter. Stay tune for check engine light round two...hopefully a tougher one!

The Oldsmobile

Every once in a while we get a really neat car in the shop. In all honesty, we try to keep the fleet we work on as homogeneous and new as possible. New, normal cars, that's our bread and butter.

As cars age, they develop quirky problems that are time consuming to find, and most of the time it just isn't worth the money it costs to have an old car fixed professionally.

That's why old cars are usually hobby cars. Their owners tinker away on them, giving them the hours and attention they deserve. Occasionally, their owners need a bit of help. If we have time, and the car is well sorted, we do minor work on old cars...usually for old friends.

Today we had a 1936 Olds in the shop. It's owner, our neighbour and friend, brought it over to have some new white-walls installed.

That's our biggest hoist, and the car barely fit. We've had full size SUV's on there!


Take a look at that grill.

That's one long hood.

The reason for the long hood: a straight 8, with one tiny carburetor. Note the massive horns. Also note that those are Robert Bosch wires.
It's actually amazing how little cars really have changed. Sure, this thing is archaic, but 70 years later, we still have spark plugs, thermostats, and starters that look just like this car's!

One door panel, three handles. Yes, even the vent window deserves a well ornamented handle.


It never occurred to me that a car so big would have a manual transmission. A floor shifter. Not sporty. Just the way it was.

An art-deco clock the size of a dinner plate. When I was a kid, if I needed to know the time, I'd always search for a Volvo 240. Their clocks were the only ones big enough to see from the outside. Kids in the 30's would have had an easier time with that particular problem, but they also wouldn't have had calculator watches.

Every cloud, I suppose.

The new boots. Coker Reproductions. Nice.

I've never put tubes in tires that didn't end up on my bicycle. This car got tires made in the USA, tubes made in China. I guess they still use car tubes in China.

Sadly, It was a bit too dark to get a good picture of the final product when I finished. This is one of the left rear wheel.

Someday I'll figure out a way to make money fixin'old cars, and maybe that's all I'll do.