Goss’ Garage
Pat Goss, MotorWeek's resident master technician, helps consumers understand car problems and how to speak the same language as their technician. As cars becoming increasingly complex, fewer repairs can be accomplished at home. Effective communication with a repair shop is vital to keeping consumer and operating costs under control. From rattles and squeaks to leaks and drips, Pat covers a myriad of issues designed to keep cars on the road and out of the repair shop.
Handy Helpers
This time we have some handy helpers that every tool box should have and the first one is wrench ID. If you’ve ever made a dozen trips back-and-forth to the tool box to get the right size wrench well this will prevent that. First you zero it like this then you put it over the end of the bolt like this and what you have is the wrench size that fits this bolt and if… Read More
Plus-Sizing Tires
Tires. For most folks, they’re just an essential part of every car. But to others, tires are a fashion statement. So here’s Pat Goss with the truth about plus size treads. This time we’re going to talk about tires with our tire expert Matt Edmonds. Matt welcome back to Goss’ garage. MATT EDMONDS: Pleasure to be here Pat. PAT GOSS: Alright you brought us an… Read More
Parking Brake Issues
Pat Goss: This time we’re joined by our online parts expert Tom Taylor. Tom, welcome to Goss’ garage. Tom Taylor: Thanks Pat, it’s great to be here. Pat Goss: Alright, what did you bring for us today? Tom Taylor: We’ll we’re going to talk about the rear brakes. There actually two systems going on back here. You have the brake that stops the car and then the… Read More
Hybrid Maintenance
This time we’re joined by Michael Smith from the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium from West Virginia University. Michael welcome to Goss’ Garage. MICHAEL SMITH: Thank you Pat. PAT GOSS: Alright, what in the world do we have here? MICHAEL SMITH: This is a training tool that our organization developed to help educate the public, technicians and first… Read More
Replacing Carpet
Probably the most abused part of the interior of any car is its carpeting. Let’s face it, it gets dirty, it gets chemicals from your shoes, you scuff around on it as it moves and so on. That means even relatively late model cars are going to need replacement. Now is it a do it yourself? Yeah, could be, but there are some things you need to know. First, you need… Read More
Two Tricky Fixes
This time I got a couple a problems that well they’ll drive ya nuts trying to find 'em. First is certain Ford vehicles that use this little critter right here it’s called a fuel control module and it controls the fuel pump on these vehicles. Now on pickup trucks this thing is mounted on a cross member back by the spare tire.. some of them are actually almost… Read More
TPMS Tips
TPMS or tire pressure monitoring systems have been around for a number of years now and a mandatory on all passenger cars and light trucks. So you would think a lot of people would understand them, but apparently a lot of people don’t. Number 1, is a lot of people think if the light is not on that means the tire pressure is perfect. That is not correct. All it… Read More
Heat and Sound Shields
Now that the outside of our Wagoneer is almost completed its time to move inside and make that are more hospitable and modern. Now one of the first things we’re going to do is we’re going to treat some surface rust that we see in the floors. Now we’ve taken the carpet out and we see there are minor surface rust areas that we don’t want to become structural rust… Read More
Often Overlooked Issues
This time I want to talk about problems that technicians often overlook. Now, right here we have a hub or axle bearing that is a sealed unit and this is what’s become commonplace on virtually all modern vehicles. Well, not all of them though. See this one no service… if it wears you you replace it that’s it, but there’s still lots and lots of vehicles on the road… Read More
Spark Plug Diagnosis
You know back in the day, cars had a lot of ignition parts that today don’t even exist. Like spark plug wires. But no matter how exotic or mundane, all cars still use spark plugs. And spark plugs wear out, now if you no how to read the spark plugs that you take out of your engine, you can determine the general condition of your engine. Now look at this spark… Read More