Virtual Mechanic

The Dealer Stamp, what does it mean 

Well depends who you ask,

Facts

The dealer stamp is at least a good marketing toolThe dealer stamp records the service history of motor vehicle maintenance carried out.Most dealers would make the private car owner feel the dealer stamp is an aid to provide the maximum resale value.

Reality

Whether the vehicle is serviced at a third party service center or manufacture dealer,
The fact is both will record service history.
Any service history is better than no service history
You are in control of the history,You have a choice to get your vehicle serviced at a dealer and get that nice looking stamp to make you feel validated.
Or you can decide to get your vehicle serviced at an independent service center still providing a service stamp, if serviced according to the manufactured specifications, basically this means using genuine parts. 
I could write a thesis about genuine parts but not right now.
You the car owner,or Fleet owner need to consider the Value of what you think the vehicle maybe worth at the time of disposal for upgrade, trade-in, or change of life.

Let me ask you the question;
Have you ever asked the service history, when considering a second hand vehicle;
If you have decided to purchase a vehicle with no opportunity for resale why would you pay so much at a dealer when an independent service center with less overheads may provide the same service at a reduced cost

More to come by Darren Gow-Brown

Capped price servicing Vs Variable price Servicing

This is attention to detail will make you a very good fleet manager or where it will make you the single car owner a master of detail.

I have been noticing the tricks of the trade, and there are many

You maybe considering the acquisition of a fleet vehicle or a single purchase as a family vehicle and you have decided to leave no stone unturned, right ?

The past known tricks of the trade are the following.

Prolonged service scheduling
The elimination of transmission servicing

Now the new potential trick on the block is fixed or capped price servicing, as apposed to the traditional variable price servicing.

This is more applicable to the fleet manager always looking at ways to minimise the cost of motor vehicle maintenance, you know to look good in front of the boss.

Private buyers this is applicable to you so don’t discard what6 I’m about to explain ok.  

Now lets pick a typical capped price service, if you read carefully it will indicate if you do not achieve the kilometres within a certain time you will be required to have the vehicle serviced every 6 months so this would suit a high kilometre user right ?

Well half right lets take a closer look at the detail
Will your capped price service cover the following items
Drive belts
Wiper blades
Front end alignment
Globes
Etc etc

So why do they call this a capped price service when you get to pay full retail price on the items above.

The question is who made up this marketing proposal, and did this person or team ever think that people would see through the misalignment of the true costs.

Anyone who reads this will clearly understand that a variable service schedule performed within a fair kilometre distance will determine a more realistic analyses of service maintenance cost.

So before you commit to a capped price service, you will need to understand the kilometres travelled per vehicle per year.

You don’t need to understand much about accounting, actuary to know when a service centre paints the floor white, that there is where the revenue is generated.

A vehicle sold from a dealership is not the only way to generate a profile in this competitive market, the real profit is in the lifetime of servicing.

Registration and insurance are the other key stake holders to erode your bottom line.
By Darren Gow-Brown

Traffic Signals are you paying attention

These days part of minimizing motor vehicle costs is make prevent a potential speed camera, red light camera, or speed camera through an intersection.

Whilst I maintain that that speed camera’s are a revenue collecting exercise generating enough money that now the Australian governments factor this revenue into the annual budget.

Ok so now that I have ventilated my agenda lets go further into the traffic camera setup.

Have you ever come across a set of lights not operating or changing too quickly not allowing vehicles to pass through an intersection with sufficient time, now this is where frustration and potential road rage will occur.

Living in Victoria I would have to say Vic roads are setting a high standard of customer service, just today Saturday 11.00am I reported a malfunction regarding the intersection box 442 Corner Springvale and Cheltenham where the green arrow was not staying on long enough to allow the stationary traffic to pass through. 
This  intersection is fitted with several speed and red light camera’s.

To prevent any motorist collecting a potential fine I decided to log a complaint, as the arrow was not within its designed parameter of between 6 to 12 seconds.

I must say I was impressed that when you ring the 131170 you get straight through to the right dept and the person fully trained is able to access live data of most metro intersection and measure the time parameter of light signal activity.

I was told that the arrow was acting in accordance to its dynamic designed formula according to traffic speed and flow of that time of day, I’m sure an engineer will look into it as I have reported the same fault several months prior.

Why Am I writing this ?

Answer its good to know that when you ring Vic roads traffic faults there is someone there to take your call and who knows if you come across an intersection with faulty signals or the lights are out, if you take the time to ring Vic roads you will get through and you just might prevent a potential accident or road rage and that’s worth a call
Well done vic roads, customer service where you would least accept it.

By Darren Gow-Brown

Green Car Tuning
There are many items one can observe to maintain a green car, when it comes to saving fuel.
Regular service intervals
Regular checking of tyre pressures including the spare wheel
Aiming to travel at a cruising speed of 90km where possible and safe
Travelling as light as possible.
At this time I would really like to know how many people just cannot afford to service their motor vehicle due to financial hardship, perhaps you are wondering what would be the best regular item to change to maintain good fuel economy, the simple answer is the AIR CLEANER.
Perhaps the best way to prioritise a tuneup is understand the following.
When performing a tune up the aim is to achieve trouble free motoring and achieve the highest possible fuel economy for the next 10,000kms
Items to affect the fuel economy are the following
Air Cleaner
Fuel Filter (inline and or tank)
Plugs
Let me go one step further, try to use the same Petrol Stations to reduce the potential of fuel contamination, I know this is not always possible but if you ever get caught with dirty fuel, you will never forget the experience an inconvenience, not to mention the cost to repair your vehicle.
Play it safe try to use the same petrol stations to avoid the hassle.
Another item to keep in mind when servicing your vehicle is regular checks on the tyre wear, or getting a front end alignment every service interval to prevent excess tyre wear as well as aiding towards good fuel economy.
By Darren Gow-Brown WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au

The Australian Government Initiative takes you for a drive in the right direction
Below are details directly from this site pointing out the benefits towards greener motoring.
This and much more information can be found at the following address.
http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au
Tips for greener motoring
Your driving habits, the type of vehicle you drive and the conditions under which you drive will affect your vehicle’s environmental performance. Follow these tips for greener driving.
Minimise your vehicle use
Think about your travel needs prior to your travel. Planned travel decisions will result in fewer trips and more efficient/cheaper travel than unplanned decisions made ‘on the go’. Some travel planning tips:
· Plan to do a number of errands in one trip rather than several trips and save both time and fuel (for the first couple of minutes of a car trip the engine is cold and this results in an increase in fuel consumption per kilometre).
· Patronise shops near to you whenever possible to reduce the distances you travel by car. Walk or cycle to your local shops if you can.
· Avoid peak-hour traffic whenever possible.
· Use alternative transport, eg. public transport (bus, train, tram or ferry), walking or cycling. These alternative methods of travel are often cheaper, and may provide other benefits including increased fitness.
Drive in high gear
The engine runs most efficiently between around 1,500 and 2,500 rpm (lower in diesels). To maintain these low revs you should change up through the gears as soon as practical and before the revs reach 2,500 rpm. Automatic transmissions will shift up more quickly and smoothly if you ease back slightly on the accelerator once the car gathers momentum.
Drive smoothly – avoid unnecessary acceleration
Drive at a good distance from the car in front so you can anticipate and travel with the flow of traffic. You will be able to see such things as traffic lights changing or cars turning and minimise your fuel use through braking and accelerating back up to full speed.
Minimise fuel wasted in idling
Minimise fuel wasted in idling by stopping the engine whenever your car is stopped or held up for an extended period of time. By having the engine switched off, even for a short period, you will save more fuel than is lost from the burst of fuel involved in restarting the engine. The net increased wear and tear from this practice is negligible.
Speed kills economy
High speeds result in high fuel consumption. At 110 km/h your car can use up to 25% more fuel than it would cruising at 90 km/h.
Minimise aerodynamic drag
Additional parts on the exterior of a vehicle such as roof racks and spoilers, or having the window open, increases air resistance and fuel consumption, in some cases by over 20%.
Look after your vehicle’s tyres
Inflate your vehicle’s tyres to the highest pressure recommended by the tyre manufacturer and make sure your wheels are properly aligned (remember to keep your spare tire inflated as well). Looking after your tyres will not only reduce your fuel consumption it will also extend tyre life and improve handling.
Travel light
Don’t carry more people or cargo than you have to. The more a vehicle carries the more fuel it uses.
Service your vehicle regularly
Keeping your vehicle well tuned will minimise its environmental impact.

VM Service maintenance analysis, Holden Cruze 2010
Make Holden
Model Cruze
Auto Petrol
Year 2010
Service schedule intervals up to 60,000kms
3,000km Free of charge by selling dealer
15,000Kms cost $306.00
30,000Kms cost $356.00
45,000Kms cost $396.00
60,000Kms cost $546.00
————————————————————————
Make Holden
Model Cruze
Auto Diesel
Year 2010
Service schedule intervals up to 60,000kms
3,000km Free of charge by selling dealer
15,000Kms cost $411.00
30,000Kms cost $461.00
45,000Kms cost $501.00
60,000Kms cost $741.00

New vehicle Warranty for period of 3 years or 100,000kms
Its worth noting, dealers set there own prices on the above service intervals.
The prices were quoted by Sam at Bay City Holden it this dealership a mobile service van that provides service to
their customers in the metropolitan area for just the cost of the service.
Whlist this dealer is not offering a fixed price service its worth pointing out that only one service maybe required each year.

VM Service maintenance analysis, Toyota Yaris 2010
Make Toyota
Model Yaris
Year 2010

The following vehicle is offered with a fixed priced service maintenance schedule
Toyota is offering a 4 year or 60,000km capped price service (whichever occurs First) conditions apply.

The following spreadsheet will indicate the total cost of the capped price service.

10000Km $130.00
20000Km $130.00
30000Km $130.00
40000Km $130.00
50000Km $130.00
60000Km $130.00

Total Cost $780.00 but consider the following items

But it will not include the following items and please read carefully

It seems the dealer standard is set at offering a capped price service up until 60,000Kms

The capped price service do not include

Replacement of worm wiper blades
Brake system inspections
Headlight realignments
Balance and rotation of wheels for even wear
Valve clearance adjustments
Testing and re-gassing air conditioning.

I’m not sure if belts are included in the capped price service either

The item that concerns me the most is the fact that the Automatic transmission is not indicating a service schedule, but only an inspection every 40,000kms.

The last time I looked on the parts catalogue, transmission fluid is cheaper than a transmission.
Toyota will need to consider a fast reply to my observation.

If the automatic transmission is never serviced then who is taken the risk here, I hope that I’m wrong or a typo
has occurred the transmission is serviced at some point within a 100,000km parameter.

If the transmission is never serviced or the fluid is never changed I will need to conduct a oil analysis to determine the condition of the oil, to ascertain if the transmission will indicate a metal percentage in the oil thus causing premature failure.

If this is the case then the product will only maintain a value inside the warranty period.
The cost task to service and maintain this vehicle may become costly if you need to repair or replace an automatic transmission.

By Darren Gow-Brown,   WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au