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.
Cat Converter Issues
Extremely important but extremely misunderstood, that’s the lot of catalytic converters on your car. Most people don’t know what they look like or how they work. Here we have a typical catalytic converter. It’s made up of several different pieces: we have this outer heat shield that helps keep it cool and keep the things around it cool; then part of the shell… Read More
Spiff Up Your Convertible Top
Convertibles are a lot of fun but they have some extra maintenance requirements. If your convertible happens to have a cloth or vinyl top on it, follow the instructions in the owners manual as far as keeping it clean. And if it’s cloth and it loses its water-proofing, go to a marine supply where they deal with canvas and they can re-waterproof it for you. Now… Read More
Roadside Safety
Sooner or later we’re all stranded beside the road with a broken car or in a minor fender bender. Some of the things that you want to do to make sure that you’re safe: get the car off the road as far as possible. Then you need to be seen. First, personally, that means you need to wear a vest that glows and makes you a lot more visible. But you want the car… Read More
Goops and Gaskets
As automobiles have evolved so have the methods and products used to seal them. It's important to chose the right one, and to use it properly. Here to give us some tips about the modern stuff is Pete Rohde, district manager for Permatex. Pete, welcome to Goss’ Garage. All of these new products and there seems to be one common mistake that people make all the… Read More
Heat Treatment
No matter what you’re working on, if it’s been in service a while, sooner or later you’re going to end up with a seized nut or bolt or pulley or something like that. Well, lots of times heat is going to be the answer: get it glowing red and it comes right off. One way to do that is with this Mini-Ductor from Induction Innovations, a pretty clever tool. It’s… Read More
Upgrade Your Headlights
PAT GOSS: In order to have a safe car you have to have good headlights, and here to give us some tips is Jason Ryan from Philips-Automotive-Lighting. Jason, welcome to Goss’ Garage. RYAN: Thanks, Pat. GOSS: There are some basic things that a lot of people don’t understand about automotive headlights - number one, that they wear out over time. RYAN: That’s true,… Read More
Replacing Those Shocks
PAT GOSS: There’s an age-old test to check for the conditions of shocks and struts on a car, but that may not be the best way to do it anymore. Here to give us some pointers is Mac McGovern from KYB America. Mac, welcome to Goss’ Garage. MAC McGOVERN, KYB AMERICA: Thanks for having me here today. GOSS: All right, so the bounce test: why does it… Read More
Handy Helpers
I’m sure you’re like me. You’ve been in the middle of a job and you say “gee I wish there was this little something that would help me out of a mess.” Well maybe there are some things. Let’s begin with products from HELP. Here we have a tail-lamp socket assembly that fits general motors pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. In the past what you would have to… Read More
Tire Basics
PAT GOSS: Critical to a safe and economical car are our tires, and here to give us some basic tips is Bob Toth, he’s a tire engineer. Welcome to Goss’ Garage. BOB TOTH: It’s wonderful to be here, thanks for having me. GOSS: Okay Bob, one of the common questions that we get concerns tire pressure. What is the proper tire pressure for my car? TOTH: Well most… Read More
Getting Your Car Ready For Winter
Most of us have either toys or tools that only get seasonal use, the rest of the time they have to be prepared for proper dis-use or lay-up, and that means if you have a liquid-cooled engine you want to make sure that you have a good clean mix of coolant of the proper type in the cooling system and you want to have fresh oil in it. You never want to lay anything… Read More