Archive for March, 2010

All Electric, Zero Emissions, Nissan Leaf to cost about $25,000

Nissan Leaf Dashboard

Nissan revealed its retail pricing for the 100% electric Nissan Leaf at $32,780, which after the $7,500 federal tax credit will bring the price down to $25,280.  Some states also offer an additional state tax incentive which would bring the price down even further.  For example, California offers a $5,000 tax incentive towards the purchase of an electric vehicle.  The Leaf will be sold with a home charging station which run about $2,200 installed.  Nissan plans to offer a 36 month lease at $349 per month with $1, 999 down.

Replacement Estimate on a 1999 Ford Taurus Power Steering Replacement – $180 to $335

1999 Ford Taurus Power Steering Pump

Hello my name is Wendy and I have a 1999 Ford Taurus, with a 3.0 litre, 6 cylinder engine that needs the power steering pump replaced. How much would that be?

Wendy M.   Portland, Oregon

Hello Wendy we estimate the repair to break down like this.

Labor cost range  1-2 Hours  $75.00-$220.00 (depending on hourly rate)

Parts cost range -Power Steering Pump  $30.00-$90.00 (depending on engine model and quality)

                                   Power Steering Pump Pulley $8-$20.00

                                   Power Steering Pump Seal  $5.00-$10.00

Estimated Total Repair Cost Range = $118.00-$335.00 (depends on part quality,hourly shop rate and engine model)

Spring Cleaning for your Car

Spring Cleaning your car

Weather is starting to warm up and spring is in the air. Suddenly your car looks very dirty in the bright sunlight. It's time for some spring cleaning.

2001 Chevrolet Blazer Water Pump Repair Estimate – $125 – $310

2001 Cheverolet Blazer Water Pump

I have a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer that has some problems.  How much would it be to repair my 2001 Chevy Blazer's Water Pump?

Victor R. Baltimore, Maryland

We would estimate the repair to break down like this.

Labor cost range 1-2 Hours $75.00-$220.00 (depending on hourly rate)

Parts cost range- Water Pump $45.00-$75.00

                                    Water Pump Seal $5.00-$15.00

Estimated Repair Cost Range = $125.00-$310.00 (depending on part quality and hourly shop rate)

You will also need replacement coolant and you may want to flush the radiator and cooling system while this job is being done.

How to remove a dent from a car door

Dented Car Door

Sometimes it happens. You ding your car door or somebody has put a dent or a scratch on your car that you discover when returning to your car from the local coffee shop. It's always frustrating to see a dent on your car, especially if it is the first dent. However, on a positive note, you can remove the dent (or fix a scratch) by yourself fairly easily and often without having to repaint the surface.

Repair Estimate for Starter Replacement on a 1991 Ford Ranger – $160 to $355

1991 Ford Ranger Starter

Hello,

I am trying to get an estimate for replacing my starter on my 1991 Ford Ranger

Mike D.     Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

Mike we estimate the repair to break down like this.

Labor cost range estimate 1-2 Hours  $75.00-$200.00 (depending on hourly rate)

Parts cost range estimate- $85.00-$155.00

Total repair cost range= $160.00-$355.00 (depending on part quality and labor rate)

Estimate does not include taxes, incidental parts and materials and/or disposal fees of the old parts.

How to change a brake light in a pickup truck

Pickup Truck Brake Light

Changing a broken or burned out light bulb in pickup truck is a little more complicated than changing it in a regular sedan. If you are not prepared it may turn out to be a frustrating experience. Luckily, it's not that much complicated, especially when you are prepared for a little more work than when changing the brake light in the family car.

If you are not sure if your brake light is burned out, you can check the brake lights yourself.

Causes and Fixes for an engine that overheats quickly and on short trips

Overheating Car

How do you find out the cause of your overheating engine? Your car's engine overheats quickly, briefly after you start the car. You may notice it within the first few minutes of driving. You might see some steam coming from the hood or there may not be any steam.

There are a few things you can do to check for possible causes for the overheating on short trips.

General Motors to Make Second Loan Payment of $1 Billion to the U.S.

2011 Chevrolet Volt by General Motors

General Motors Co. said it will make its second loan payment to the U.S. and Canadian Government on March 31st and reaffirmed their plan to pay back the loans by mid year.

GM will make a payment of $1 billion to the U.S. Treasury on the way to paying back $6.7 billion. At the same time General Motors will send $192 million toward paying off its Canadian loan of $1.4 billion. The first payments to the U.S. Treasury and Canadian government were made in December of 2009.

2005 Dodge Durango Wiper Motor Repair – $160 to $450

2005 Dodge Durango Wiper Motor

Hello I Would like to find out how much it would cost to repair my windshield wiper motor on my 2005 Dodge Durango.

Michael W.        Aurora, Colorado

We would estimate the repair cost to break down like this.

Parts

Wiper Motor cost range-(Refurbished)  $30.00-$50.00

Wiper Motor cost range-(New)  $90.00-$150.00

Wiper Armature cost range- $80.00-$150.00

Labor  1-3 Hours

Labor cost range- $80.00-$150.00 (Depending on the shops hourly rate)

Total Repair cost range (Refurbished Part)= $110.00-$350.00

Total Repair cost range (New Part)=$160.00-$450.00

How to check by yourself if your brake lights are working

Mop on Brake Pedal

If your brake lights are not working you can get a ticket or rear ended. To avoid any unnecessary money leaving your hand or repairs or even injury it is good to periodically check to make sure your brake lights are working.

No it can be a hassle to ask somebody to help you, especially when you can quickly do it by yourself. Grab a broomstick or a mop and you are ready. That's right.

I have a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser that needs a timing belt replacement

Timing Belt

I have a 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser that needs a timing belt replacement. How much would it be for parts and labor to have this repair done?

Rick T.    Lyman,South Carolina

We estimate that the repair cost would break down like this (Usually includes having to replace the water pump)

Labor Estimate 6Hrs-8Hrs (for both the water pump and timing belt)

Labor cost range $400.00-$720.00 (depending on hourly rate)

Parts cost

Water pump cost range $35.00-$50.00

Water pump gasket cost range $1.00-$10.00

Timing belt tensioner cost range $60-$150.00

Toyota Prius crash in N.Y. is likely caused by driver error police say

Toyota Prius

On March 9th the crash of a Toyota Prius in New York appears to be a case of driver error, police said.

In this case the vehicles accelerator was depressed 100 percent at the time of the collision. "There is absolutely no indication of any brake application", said Captain Anthony Marraccini, acting chief of the Harrison Police Department.

"I belive that this is what this case in telling us", Marraccini said of the data collected in the investigation.

On March 9th Toyota announced that its investigators could not find evidence to support the drivers claim.

Plug-in Hybrids could be 10% of new car sales by 2020

Tesla Electric Sports Car uses Lithium Ion Batteries

According to consulting firm PRTM, plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEV) could account for 10% of all new car sales.

However, lithium ion batteries needed to power electric vehicles and plug in hybrids will be in short supply later this decade unless manufacturing capacity is greatly increased, according to PRTM.

The firms findings contradict recent concerns that too much large format lithium ion capacity is planned, says Oliver Hazimeh, head of PRTM's global mobility practice, but, hey says battery manufacturers will add capacity slowly in part to bottlenecks in production.

How to avoid an Overheating Car Engine

Radiator Coolant

What is going on when your engine is overheating?

Your car's radiator or cooling system is probably not working correctly which makes your engine overheat. The cooling system probably needs to be repaired to fix the problem.

How to avoid engine overheating?

* If your car's air conditioning (or defroster)  is on, turn it off.
* Turn heater on to the highest setting - if it's summer times you may want to open your car windows...
* Set the climate control to vent and set the fan blowing at the highest setting

How to flush a car radiator

Radiator Cap

Keeping up with regular car maintenance is important for safety and for longevity of your car. Flushing a car radiator is one of the critical maintenance jobs you should not ignore.   Over time  deposits can build up and create blockages in the cooling system. Flushing the radiator is a fairly simple job to do it yourself.

How do you flush a Radiator?

First you need to gather all items you will need to do the job including a Phillips screwdriver or a wrench, a rag, a container of radiator flush solution, funnel, coolant and a container to place the used coolant.

2003 Toyota Matrix Fuel Pump Replacement – $400 to $550

2003 - 2004 Toyota Matrix Fuel Pump

I have a 2003 Toyota Matrix that I believe needs a new fuel pump.  How much would this cost to have it replaced and installed?  Benny R. Glendale, Arizona.

We asked a couple of repair shops in our network and found the following.  We're told it will take about 2 to 3 hours of labor, a new fuel pump and various filters and gaskets. 

We found the fuel pump part to range from about $190 to $267 online.

Total cost to have it installed will probably range from $400 to $550 - not including tax, disposal fees and other miscellaneous expenses.

United Kingdom to give $551 million state aid to Ford and Nissan for green cars

Zero Emissions Nissan Leaf

Ford Motor Co. plans to invest 1.5 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) over five years to develop technologies to reduce low carbon emission in diesel and gasoline engines and will protect around 2,800 jobs.

The UK government announced 360 million pounds ($551 million) in aid from it's Automotive Assistance Program (AAP) to Ford Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. for the development of eco friendly technologies as the country seeks to become a world leader in ultra low-carbon vehicles.

1997 Chevrolet S10 – Catalytic Converter – $450 to $825

1997 Chevrolet S10 Catalytic Converter

We found a pretty big range in quotes.  Most of the cost is definitely in the parts - principally the new catalytic converter.  The price for that part alone can range from $313 to $750.  Labor is pretty reasonable.  Most shops can get it done in less than 2 hours.  Total cost including parts and labor will range from $450 to $825 depending on the repair shop or dealership.  (these quotes do not include taxes, disposal fees on the old parts, or other miscellaneous fees.) 

2001 Ford Taurus Heater Core Replacement – $350 to $450

1996 to 2006 Ford Taurus Heater Core

I have a 2001 Ford Taurus that needs the heater core replaced.  Can you give me an estimate on how much you think this might cost me?  Bill P. - Acworth, GA.

We're figuring that it will probably cost you between $350 and $450 in labor and parts.  You'll need a new heater core and new radiator coolant which will probably run about $100 in parts costs.  It will take about 5  hours of labor which will cost you between $250 and $350.  Check with your local auto repair shop and your Ford Dealership.