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.
Techie Tools Episode 2325
This time we’re going to talk about some items that will make the life of the professional technician and the weekend racer easier. We’re going to start with a new line of tools from Ingersoll-Rand. Now these are air tools, and their claim to fame is that they’re composite. Now composite materials make the tool lighter, they absorb vibration, and they make it very… Read More
You Light Up My Life Episode 2425
The peak of frustration is when you’re trying to do something under the hood or under the dash of your car, and you can’t get the right kind of light. You just can’t see what you’re doing. Well, the old standby for a drop light is this metal cage affair here. It works well and it’s quite durable, but it has a significant downside. It uses an incandescent bulb.… Read More
Auto Odds & Ends Episode 2324
This time we have some neat accessories for and around your car. First we’re going to start over here with what’s called the SideWinder. You never have to worry about a dead cell phone battery again, because with a SideWinder you can crank it and actually charge the dead battery on your cell phone. It does a great job. Next, we have what’s called the HotShot. Now… Read More
Battery Care Episode 2323
Just about everyone has some sort of seasonal vehicle that sits for long periods of time. You know, boats sit all winter, snowmobiles sit all summer. Well anyway, all of these vehicles have batteries in them and before you put them in storage, have the battery tested using a commercial battery tester. ItÕs got to be good before you can do anything to save it.… Read More
Acid Reflux Episode 2322
There isn’t much you can do with an automobile when it doesn’t have a battery, but batteries have some inherent problems. They have sulphuric acid in them, and sulphuric acid and the gases that come out of a battery can be very, very corrosive. So you want to make sure that you maintain your battery properly. That means keep the terminals clean. Use the battery… Read More
Pat’s Cool Tools Episode 2314
This time I have a couple of tricks for both professional technicians and do-it-yourselfers. One of the big problems that we face in the automobile industry these days is when an engine misfires we have an absolute rhythmic misfire to the engine. Well, how do you go about testing that without some very expensive test equipment? Well, to begin with, we’ll use this… Read More
Mobil One Oil - Rusty Wallace Episode 2313
Pat Goss: As you know, we get a lot of letters concerning oils, and who better to explain some of the myths about oils than Nascar’s own Rusty Wallace. Rusty Wallace: Hey, how you doing? Goss: Oils, I mean you destroy oils out there. Rusty: We do. No doubt about that. Goss: Now, one of the myths is that oils in race cars, no one would ever use a synthetic.… Read More
Suck It Up Episode 2312
You know we’re always talking about the modern advancements and the changes in cars. But I’ve got to tell you that whether you drive an old car, like this Mustang, or something much more modern, like this Mazda Miata, the basics are still the same. A piston is still a piston, a valve is still a valve, and a noise is still a noise. All right, if you have a noise in… Read More
Diminished Value Appraisal Episode 2311
Pat Goss:Try as we might, accidents happen. And one of the bad things about an accident is that afterwards the car may not be worth as much as it was before. Well, that’s called diminished value, and to help us explain it is Larry Batton. He is the founder and president of Auto Appraisal Group. Thanks for joining us, Larry. Larry Batton: Thanks for having… Read More
Half Baked Episode 2310
If you want a great finish on some of your automotive parts, consider powder coating them. That’s what we did with the wheels on this motorcycle, and they look great and they’re going to continue to look great for a long time to come. That’s one of the advantages of powder coating. It lasts a long time. Now, up until recently, you had to have it done… Read More