West Central Nebraska Drives - 10-31-2014

YOUR AUTOMOTIVE SOURCE FOR WEST CENTRAL NEBRASKA | THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 | C1

Car thefts more likely during certain times of the year

MYSTERY OVERHEATING MAY BE ALL IN HIS HEAD

Automotive break-ins and thefts are something no driver wants to experience. They can leave a person feeling violated, and the hassle of replacing the vehicle and the contents inside the car can bring additional stress.

BY TOM AND RAY MAGLIOZZI

Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1993 Toyota pickup truck, a 4-cylinder base model. It keeps overheating. Usually it happens in the morning and on the way home.

Once it is running awhile, it seems to run at a normal temperature, according to the gauge. I had the thermostat replaced twice and the water pump replaced. I had the system flushed and refilled twice. Nobody knows what it is.

This is a great truck, with 200,000 miles on it.

Statistics indicate that a vehicle is stolen in the United States roughly every 28 seconds. Roughly one million cars are reported stolen each year. According to Statistics Canada, about 100,000 cars are stolen on average each year in that country. Although there are many precautions to help safeguard against car theft, being particularly vigilant during certain holidays might be the best preventive measure a driver can take.

The mechanic at the shop wants to buy it from me since it has almost no rust on the frame or elsewhere. I'm grasping at straws. Could it be some type of sensor? I get lots of hot heat in the cabin when it's overheating. What do you suggest I do next? -- Mel TOM: When you take it back to your mechanic again, Mel, write "For Sale" on the windshield.

RAY: Actually, since you're obviously attached to this truck, I'm going to recommend some exploratory surgery.

TOM: My guess is that you have either a bad head gasket or a cracked head.

RAY: Having a cracked head is far worse. I mean, look at my brother.

TOM: What's happening is that right after you

According to analysis of National Crime Information Center vehicle-theft data by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, car thefts are more likely to occur during certain holidays.

The Bureau reports that, between 2010 to 2011, the most recent span of time for which data is available, there were 20,800 U.S. car thefts during the 11 holidays studied. So on which holiday is your car most likely to be stolen? Here are the holidays as ranked by the number of thefts reported in 2011.

11. Christmas Day: Thieves may be more interested in opening presents under the tree than venturing out in the cold to steal a car or truck. This holiday ranks the lowest among the major holidays.

start the car -- in the morning or in the evening -- the very hot exhaust gases created inside the cylinders are getting through a breach in the cylinder head gasket or the cylinder head, and

10. Thanksgiving: While the turkey and trimmings were being set on the dinner table, 1,526 vehicles were being stolen in 2011.

they're getting into the water jacket (the passages inside the cylinder head that carry the coolant).

RAY: Once those exhaust gases -- which are several hundred degrees Fahrenheit -- mix with the coolant, they heat the absolute bejeebers out of it.

TOM: It's possible that once the whole engine

9. Christmas Eve: Those who are engaging in some last-minute shopping at the mall or visiting friends and family for a cup of eggnog may want to be cautious as to where they park their cars.

would-be thieves from making off with a car on this holiday.

7. Independence Day: Perhaps the fireworks and the revelry of July 4th help to mask the steps needed to steal a car. In 2011, 1,862 vehicles were stolen amid the "rocket's red glare."

6. Valentine's Day: While couples are dining at favorite restaurants or cuddling up on the couch with a movie playing, a car thief may be making off with a stolen car.

5. New Year's Eve: So many people are caught up in the moment of toasting the new year that they may not realize a thief is making his or her own resolution to steal a car or truck.

4. Labor Day: The unofficial end to summer is also a prime time for vehicle thefts. There were 1,947 car thefts reported in 2011.

3. Memorial Day: The unofficial start to the summer entertaining season is also a prime time for car thefts.

2. New Year's Day: While individuals were sleeping off the remnants of their midnight partying, 2,288 vehicles were being stolen on January 1, 2011.

1. Halloween: Although not an "official" holiday, Halloween is the holiday when the most number of vehicles are stolen.

The trick is on the person who comes home to find not only is the trick-or-treat candy missing, but also the family car.

Being aware of these prime car-stealing dates can help drivers protect their valuable assets. In addition, it is advised to always park in well-lit areas, keep belongings out of view, make sure the vehicle is always locked when it is parked -even if it's in the driveway, invest in an alarm or vehicle immobilization system, and to be extra careful if your car driven is one of the most-stolen makes and models.

8. President's Day: Even Honest Abe cannot prevent

gets hot, things expand and the hole in the head gasket or the crack in the cylinder head closes up. That allows the cooling system to catch up and get the engine back down to normal temperature -- until the next time you start the cold engine.

RAY: But eventually, that breach will get bigger and it won't close up at all, and your truck will overheat all the time. And then you'll warp the head and fry the main bearings, and even your mechanic won't want to buy the truck from you then. So you need to fix this, Mel. TOM: If the truck is mechanically sound, other than

the

overheating

(a

question

your

mechanic should help you answer on a 20-plus-year-old truck with 200,000 miles), then I'd pay your guy 300-400 bucks to remove the head and see what's going on.

RAY: Once the head is off, he might see a clear breach in the head gasket. That'd be the best-case scenario, and I'd say there's an 80 percent chance that that's what he'll find. Then he cleans up the head, replaces the head gasket, puts the engine back together, charges you $1,000 for the whole job and sends you on your merry way.

TOM: If he doesn't see a tear in the gasket, then it's likely that your head is cracked. At that point, you'll have three options.

RAY: Option one is to buy a used head. Then the whole job will run you about $1,500, since there's a lot of work to be done prepping a used head for installation.

TOM: Option two is to buy a used engine.

Believe it or not, that would cost about the same. You've already disconnected most of the stuff to pull off the head. And it's such a simple job on this truck that even after you pay a few hundred bucks for a used engine, you'll still get out for about $1,500, maybe a little less.

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RAY: And if you go that route, you'd also be smart to replace the clutch while the engine is

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removed. The extra labor at that point is trivial, and for a few hundred bucks more, you'll walk

Peace of mind with every new Toyota.

away with a brand-new clutch, too.

TOM: Option three is to turn to the mechanic and say, "Hey Frank, any chance you still want

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to buy this?"

RAY: So see if it's the head gasket. If it's not, I'd put a used engine in it. Then you'll be stylin', Mel.

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C2 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

WEST CENTRAL DRIVES

THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH

What to do when faced with an auto recall New cars are purchased or leased to provide a reliable mode of transportation. But some vehicles malfunction even when they are fresh off of the dealership lot. Other times manufacturers or safety watchdog groups determine that certain cars and trucks have an issue that requires a recall to keep roadways safe. Vehicle recall statistics are difficult to pin down. That's because there is no standard rate of recalls per year, as recalls depend on safety statistics for particular makes and models. For example, in 2009 more than 40 million Toyota vehicles were recalled due to a faulty gas pedal.

An automotive recall is how manufacturers inform drivers that there could be something about their cars or trucks that presents a risk of injury or property damage. The recall may be independently conducted by the manufacturer or ordered by a safety group, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall involves the manufacturer providing a free, safe and effective remedy for the faulty component.

The following are steps to take when informed of a recall: 1. Contact the dealer service manager and explain that you are inquiring about work required as part of a recall.

2. If the manager has not remedied the situation and provided the next steps, contact the manufacturer, which should be able to handle the situation.

3. If all else fails, Americans can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.recalls.gov. Canadians can contact Transport Canada at www.tc.gc.ca.

When a recall is announced, drivers may not have to immediately visit a dealership to have the problem corrected. Owners should wait for an official letter. The letter will narrow down which vehicles are affected. There should be a specific window of time presented in which the vehicle can be repaired. Vehicle owners are urged to pay attention to the performance of their cars or trucks to see if they are exhibiting any problems. If so, schedule an appointment for repair according to the recall instructions provided.

The notification letter should include the risk of hazard posed by the problem as well as the free remedy and how long the repair should take.

There also should be a description of what an owner can do if he or she is unable to have the problem remedied within a reasonable amount of time and without charge.

If repair work has been done on a vehicle prior to knowledge of the recall, owners may be eligible for reimbursement for their expenses, provided they kept their receipts. While reimbursement for damages that the defect may have caused are not covered by recalls, owners may be able to solicit reimbursement privately.

Vehicle safety recalls are designed to keep roadways and passengers safe.

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