December 23rd from 7:30am – 3pm at Hometown Garage.
Our Way of Wishing You a Safe & Happy Holiday Season
Everyone Welcome, tell Your Friends and Family
Enjoy some refreshments & holiday treats while we:
We will be closed the week of July 4th – 8th. Our landlord will be doing some site work / excavation that will make access to the building impossible and to the parking lot very difficult. This has been in the planning stage for sometime and we are confident it will be completed in time for us to re-open on Monday July 11th.
Update Friday 7/8 – Site work is done. You can now have cars towed in or dropped off for next week. We will be open on Monday 7/11.
You can make appointments for next week through the website or leave us a message.
Thanks for your help, patience & understanding during the construction.
Herb
We’ll they’ve refiled this foolish legislation again. Both sides are advertising and battling it out in the media. No surprise – they all lie. The simple truth is there isn’t a problem and if there was a problem it should be handled on a Federal level and not a state level. Anything that requires a manufacturer to something different in one state will certainly raise the cost of a vehicle in that state. Call or email your legislator and tell them you are against the so called Right to Repair Act.
More Info:
www.massautocoalition.org
Below is the post from last year – still relevant.
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Hometown Garage, along with the major industry trade group ASA opposes the so called Right to Repair Act. We do not have a problem accessing trouble codes or vehicle systems. The information is available, for a price of course, and this Bill will not change that. Factory computers and service information is readily available. A factory computer & service information package runs about $4000 per manufacturer, plus yearly subscription fees. So you can see Independent shops have to decide which is economically viable to invest in, based on the brands of cars they most service. This bill won’t change that.
Right to Repair Legislation has been defeated in the 23 (I believe it’s 23) other states that filed it. This type of legislation probably isn’t necessary and if it is it belongs on a country wide federal level. If the manufacturer has to do something different in Massachusetts it will cost you more to buy that car in Massachusetts, it’s basic economics.
This bill has been spearheaded by the discount auto part chains. They deny claims that the information they will get from the bill will make it easier for them to make knock of parts overseas and that they are funding it to help the independent shops. All I can tell you for sure is we don’t have a problem, so follow the money and reach your own decision.
I’ve talked to people from the MA Right to Repair Coalition. In my opinion they are extremely rude. About every other day I get a call from them. The called starts in with we need you to call your legislator and urge them to pass this. My answer is always the same, ” Why would I want to do that, we don’t support it?” They immediately hang up – click. If this bill were at all legitimate I’d expect to hear something like ” but you’re a shop, don’t you have a problem getting information? This is not a bill or group I want to support.
We urge you to oppose this legislation and let your Representatives and Senators know you oppose it.
Hometown Garage Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award
Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service
Hometown Garage has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.
“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing consistently high quality customer service, as judged by the customers who hired them,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.
Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.
Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2010 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.
Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.
Every so often someone comes in and says the oil light has been coming on and going off, often for several days or weeks. They can’t understand why, they’re just due for their oil change. The answer is, this light (or the gauge) has nothing to do with an oil change; it indicates the amount of oil pressure. The best analogy is to your blood pressure. If you have no or very low blood pressure, you have a very serious problem and may even die. If your car has no or low oil pressure, serious internal engine damage is eminent.
These warning lights (and the low section of an oil pressure gauge) are red, just like a traffic light RED means stop now. Any indicator that is red means stop, yellow indicators tell you that you have a problem but it’s not as serious. There are only two reasons the oil light will come on. The oil pressure is dangerously low or there is something electronically wrong with the sensor or wiring. The only way to know which problem you have is to connect a mechanical oil pressure gauge to the engine in the shop. If the light comes on; stop, call AAA and have it towed to the shop.
We often hear “they’re only tires so I went to the discount store”. This is the first in a series of posts about tires. Tires are the only thing between you and the road. A lot of technology goes into making the tire; it’s just as important to select the right tire for the vehicle and then properly mount them.
Today we’ll talk about selecting them. Tires have speed & load ratings. Your tire must meet the size and load rating designated on the tire id plate on your vehicle. In passenger car tires this is a number/letter combination after the tire size, ie: 99S. The 99 is a load rating and the S is a speed rating. The higher the number or letter the higher the rating. It also corresponds that the price gets higher as the rating gets higher.
In trucks we are concerned with a load rating. Typically C, D & E with E being the heaviest. We see many 3/4 and 1 ton pickup trucks with the wrong tires. Either due to ignorance or to get the price down to where they can make the sale shops, they frequently put load range D tires on pickups that require E’s. This is extremely unsafe. If the owner properly loads his vehicle to it’s carrying capacity he will have exceeded the rating of those load range D tires.
The load rating also corresponds to the amount of air pressure the tire can safely hold. Those load range D tires are rated for 65 psi while the E’s are rated for 80 psi. Most vehicles that require an “E” tire have a manufacturer’s tire inflation specification of 80 psi. It’s not safe for anyone, the technician, the owner, or other motorists to put on a lower rated tire.
I bet the next time you’re next to that loaded pick-up truck on the highway, you’ll remember this post and wonder what load range tires he has. But they’re only tires…………………..
Have you ever gotten a rejection sticker? How well was the rejection explained to you? Did they give you a brochure and did you read it? We see customers with rejection stickers every day. Most are misinformed about why they failed and what they should do next.
How many types of failures are there? The answer is two, Safety Rejection and Emissions Rejection. If it’s failed for Safety related items the “R” will be red, as in the picture above. If it’s an Emission failure the “R” will be Black.
If I get a rejection sticker I have 60 days to get it fixed, right? Maybe . This is probably the most often confused part of the sticker process. If it’s an Emission Failure you do have 60 days to get it repaired and reinspected. If it’s a Safety Failure “You must have the problem fixed immediately. You are not allowed to drive the vehicle until the safety issue(s) are resolved.”
Do I have to pay for the re-inspection? No, you have 60 days to get a free re-inspection but you have to go back to the same place that rejected it. If it still doesn’t pass you’ll have to pay for the next re-inspection.
Will my car pass with a Check Engine light on? No, this is how the state tests emissions. The days of a probe in the exhaust pipe are long gone. As you drive, your car’s computer is checking the emissions of your car. The inspection station plugs into your computer. The State’s computer talks to your computer, if your computer says everything is ok, you pass; if the Check Engine light is on it tells the State’s computer things aren’t right and you fail.
I don’t want to fix the cause of the check engine light, can’t I just disconnect the battery to erase the code and then go for a sticker? Fiction, they already thought of that. When the battery is disconnected or the codes are cleared through the computer it resets of series of tests called monitors. These change from a state of complete to a state of not ready. If the State’s computer sees more than one “not ready”, 2 for 1999 and earlier vehicles, it knows the computer has been reset and won’t pass the vehicle. Sorry you can’t fool it. It then needs to be driven for 2-5 days while it goes through it’s self tests and the monitors return to the complete state.
If you’ve been rejected, stop in and we can discuss why you failed and what it will take to make the vehicle road worthy again. Even better would be to have the car maintained regularly.
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween from Hometown Garage – where we take the scary out of auto repair.
*this is exactly how the car was brought in, not a staged photo – thanks for the Halloween Treat!
What has happened to holidays? What has happened to the values & respect we should be teaching our children? I’m amazed at how many businesses open on holidays. I’ve thought about writing this several times this year but told myself each time “oh just let it go”. This time I’ve been pushed over the edge.
On Friday I got five phone calls that wanted to make an appointment for Labor Day. Each of them was surprised and maybe a little annoyed that we don’t open on holidays. I’ll bet they have the holiday off. That got me close to the edge but not over it.
Susan, Kobi and I spend most warm weather weekends in Maine. We bought our cottage in Bridgton partly because of the small town values and the local flavor. The Fourth of July Parade is not to be missed. It’s not commercialized and is truly a community event. On Memorial Day we go to the neighboring town of Fryeburg for their Memorial Day Parade. This is the smallest parade I’ve ever seen. The parade route is about half a mile long. When the start of the parade gets to you, you can see the end just down the road. There are young people, old people, and families all there to show their respect and appreciation to those who gave their lives to give us the freedom and opportunities we enjoy. When a flag passes by people stand and remove their hats. When the veterans , or anyone in uniform, pass by people stand and applaud. It ends at the town park where there is a short ceremony. The entire event, parade & ceremony, only lasts about 40 minutes. A small price for all they gave us.
Memorial Day in Fryeburg
Memorial Day in Fryeburg
Memorial Day in Fryeburg
Saturday morning we went to the local Farmer’s Market. A farmer we’ve gotten to know, Rippling Waters Organic Farm ( a blatant plug for the farm), asked if we’d walk down to the bank and get her some change. As we approached the front door of TD Bank I couldn’t believe my eyes. Over the edge I went.
The bank was open on Saturday, they have an ATM, the Banking System is closed on Labor Day; Why would anyone need or want to go to the bank on Labor Day. If they need cash, there is a 24 hour ATM. What are these people thinking? You can bet the executives at TD Bank won’t be working on Labor Day. Shame on TD Bank.
The first Labor Day was in 1892 and started by the labor movement; it constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Many of these workers worked in unsafe workplaces, for long shifts and earned very meager wages. Things have gotten better but are far from perfect. Today many are forced to work weekends and holidays. Hometown Garage does neither. We value our employees, they are skilled professionals and have families they deserve to spend time with.
Maybe it’s time we get back to some of those old time values. How many of you work 12, 14 or more hours a day? When was the last time your family all sat down together for dinner? When was the last time you took a walk through the woods or strolled downtown with your family? When was the last time you did something as a family?
Right or wrong, I believe that people will only buy a certain amount of things. If they have 5,6 or 7 days it doesn’t make any difference, they won’t buy anymore stuff. If they only have 5 days, they will get it bought in those five days. Business’s being open 7 days a week does nothing productive for our society. This is why Hometown Garage is only open Monday to Friday.
There is also the ecological impact. Image the change in our carbon footprint from closing businesses for 1 day a week? Less energy for heat/ac, no equipment running, no cars driving there, and no lights on; just to name a few.
I urge you to make one small change in your life. Maybe it’s working a little less, having dinner as a family, or not shopping on Sunday and holidays; the choice we made several years ago. It took a while to get used to but we’d never go back now.
What does this have to do with automobiles? Nothing, but it does tell you a little more about us. These are just some of the Old Time Values our slogan refer to. High Tech Service – Old Time Value™
We had an interesting repair last week. It was a 2000 Chevy Malibu. The complaint over the phone was the car wouldn’t turn. We’ve seen this many times before with similar GM products, it’s always been a problem inside the steering rack. the rack is the part that converts the rotational movement of the steering wheel into the side to side movement that turns the wheels. Logical guess was this car would probably need a steering rack, like those before it. That wasn’t the case.
The car was towed in and we confirmed the wheels didn’t turn. Unlike the other cases where the steering wheel wouldn’t turn this one did and it made a significant amount of noise; scraping, banging and grinding. We got the car on the lift and wow!; the frame was all rotted away and the rack wasn’t attached to it anymore. The rack was pretty beat up & leaking from scraping the back of the engine & the frame but it worked. Instead of the wheels turning when the steering wheel was turned; the wheels were staying still and the steering rack was moving from side to side. This car needed a front sub-frame and a steering rack.
If this had failed while driving the result could have been disastrous. If your car doesn’t sound right, doesn’t steer quite right, or feels different than it used to; have it checked as soon as possible for your own safety and the safety of everyone else on the road.
