Solo (also called Autocross or Slalom) is a contest of driving skill. We run against the clock  on short courses that put an emphasis car handling and agility rather than speed or power. Speeds and hazards to spectators, participants, and property do not exceed those encountered in normal, legal highway driving. But it is a lot more fun!

We pulled the transmission out and sure enough, the clutch disc was worn down to the rivets. The clutch pressure plate and the flywheel, both had heat spots on them, and the release bearing was worn out. The rear main seal on the engine, which is behind the flywheel, was leaking as well. We went ahead and installed a new seal to stop the leak which could have ruined the new clutch parts by getting oil on them.

We resurfaced the flywheel and mounted the new clutch parts. Like I had said before, the new parts consist of the clutch disc, the pressure plate, release bearing and a pilot bearing. After reinstalling the transmission,  we refilled the transmission with fresh synthetic fluid and a friction modifier additive to help promote smooth gear selection.

When the car got here I popped open the hood, and sure enough, the belt had come off. Now I needed to ascertain why… I figured one of the pulleys seized up. It turned out the water pump had seized and stopped turning and that caused the belt to flip. Of course, when that happened, the alternator stopped turning, causing the charge light and the dash lights to go all wonky. The power steering pump stopped turning as well, causing the steering wheel to become very hard to turn. Suddenly, the car became nearly impossible to drive so she shut it off.

Good thinking on her part. If she had continued to run the car, it would have overheated due to the water pump gone bad.

We went ahead and replaced the water pump and the serpentine belt and filled the system with fresh coolant. The car is back to normal now and runs great.

After they dropped it off, we checked the fuel pressure. Sure enough, it was low. It should be between 55-62 psi and it was several psi below that, plus it was bleeding back, which means it wasn’t holding pressure like it should.

Replacing the fuel pump on a Chevy Suburban involves removing the gas tank…not fun. Luckily, the customer didn’t have that much fuel in the tank, otherwise it could have been messy…and dangerous.  The pump resides inside the tank, so the only way to get to it is to have the fuel tank down.

Once re-installed, the truck started promptly and had the correct fuel pressure…and it held it…Hooray!

The customer picked up the Suburban later that afternoon and was delighted to have their truck back.

Of course, the most important bit of care-taking is the oil change. Most shops these days recommend doing an oil change every 5000 miles…I agree. If you choose to use synthetic oil, you can bump that up to 7500 miles. Much more than that, and the filter starts to clog.

Next up would be to check your tire pressures at every fill up. If you have a car with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), then it will do this for you. Just make sure to fill up the tires that get low. This will get you increased gas mileage, better tire wear and a more stable vehicle during emergency maneuvers. You don’t need a fancy gauge, a pencil type will do, although one with a dial gauge is better.

Your air filter should be checked at least every other oil change. If you drive in a dusty environment, check it at every oil change. If the filter gets clogged, it will affect your power and gas mileage.

The fluid inside your automatic transmission should be replaced along with the filter (if it has one) every 30,000 miles. This will keep the build up of wear particles down to a minimum. The more build up inside the transmission, the faster it will cause problems. Automatic transmissions are not inexpensive to repair when something goes wrong, it could easily run up to $2500 or more to rebuild. Consider a fluid change cheap insurance.

Make sure all other fluids are kept topped off or changed on a regular basis. Replace your wiper blades before the start of the rainy season. Have the brake fluid flushed out every couple of years to prevent deterioration. Power steering fluid should be changed when it gets dirty. The concentration of the anti-freeze/coolant should be checked every year, certainly before you head off to the mountains to go skiing.

Another overlooked item is the cabin filter. This filters the air entering into the passenger compartment. If you have a dog as your co-pilot, or if you suffer from allergies, replace this once a year to keep it clean…your nose will thank you for it.

Doing these simple things will keep ol’ Betsy humming along quite nicely. We can even help you to remember when to do these things. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call…we’re here to help.

Q: Where are you located?
A: Our address is 6743 Dublin Blvd. ste 5, Dublin, Ca. 94568. We are across the street from the sports park between Dougherty Blvd. and Sierra Ct., in the Murco Center.

Q: What kind of cars do you work on?
A: We work on all Domestic, Asian and European cars and light trucks.

Q: Do I need to have my car serviced at the dealer to keep it in warranty?
A: No. The only reason to have the car worked on by the dealer is if the repair or service is covered by the warranty. If it’s not free, then take it to an independent repair facility like Tri-Valley Automotive and save money. In fact, if the dealer tells you that you have to have it serviced by the factory dealership, they are lying and breaking the law.

Q: But aren’t the dealership mechanics factory trained on my car?
A: Yes, but only on new, complicated systems that require specialized knowledge to repair. Most cars don’t fall into this category. If your car does, and the system fails, it should be covered. We can advise you on this free of charge.

Q: What warranty do you give on your repairs?
A: We will give you an 18 month/ 18,000mi. parts and labor warranty on all of our service or repairs. For a clutch repair, we provide a lifetime warranty on clutch parts, 2yr./ 20,000mi. warranty on labor.

Q: Will you install factory parts on my car?
A: We use brand new (in most cases) OEM quality parts. The car manufacturers don’t always make their own parts, but will contract out to other companies. I try to use the same parts, but purchased from aftermarket suppliers to give you a better price.

Stop by Tri Valley Automotive soon for a free quote.

Our women customers are important to us.

And not just because they deserve the same respect as men, which they do, of course. It’s because women are now handling more and more of the auto repair duties. More single women are feeling empowered and not calling the boyfriend or Dad. Married couples are splitting the chores and it’s no longer just up to the men to handle getting the car repaired.

We think it’s great! More power to them! We’ll explain everything that’s happening in easy to understand terms, without making you feel ignorant. A more informed customer is a happier customer.