I’ve been collecting mechanics’ hand tools for most of my life. I’ve shopped in stores, tool catalogs, and tool trucks. I’ve owned just about every kind of tool, except one…a crystal ball. I’ve seen them in movies and on TV, but alas, I’ve concluded that they don’t exist. So, you’re probably wondering what a crystal ball has to do with automotive repair. Well, many customers call and ask, “Is my car safe to drive?” Or “How long can my car be driven in its current condition before something serious breaks?" Most often, I’ll hear, “I know my tires are bald or getting low, but how many more miles can I go on them?” These are the moments I wish I did have a crystal ball, so I could answer with confidence and assurance. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS, 2005-2007), the data represents an estimated 2,189,000 crashes nationwide. They concluded that about 94% of these crashes were caused by the driver. The next statistic really caught my attention. Only about 2% of crashes were caused by a vehicle component’s failure or degradation. That 2% of crashes caused by vehicle parts failing isn’t tiny when you consider how many cars are on the road. It means moms, dads, kids, and loved ones are in danger not only from driver mistakes, but also from mechanical failures that often go unchecked. When safety is in question, there is no room for guessing. Too many variables can come into play, and the consequences can be disastrous. So here are my 3 defaults: Fix what is broken now. Don’t wait for it to get worse. Catch up on all past due maintenance and keep up with preventive maintenance. Oil changes, brakes, tires— stay ahead of the curve. Find a trusted mechanic and have them inspect your car at least twice a year, or in between services. If you do these three things, you’ll have a much safer car and be a more confident driver. And you can finally toss aside that imaginary crystal ball (if you were ever lucky enough to have one). Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

With gas prices climbing higher, we’re all looking for ways to stretch each gallon of gas just a bit further. It reminds me of a story I shared years ago. Let’s jump into the past, and I’ll tell you about the time when I ended up on the wrong side of the road with an empty tank. Here’s how it went: Sometimes I swear my gas gauge doesn’t work in my own car. There’s this annoying yellow light that glares at me and the needle seems to be permanently stuck on “E”. My wife, Lisa, is always worried that I’m going to run out of gas, so I constantly must reassure her that I’m in complete control of this fuel thing, and I don’t worry about it, so neither should she. A little background on the car I drive: it is classified as an ‘SAV’. No, it’s not an SUV (sport utility vehicle) but an ‘SAV’ (sport activity vehicle). I think the word ‘activity’ is supposed to make me feel better about driving this car, but the only activity I ever do in it is chauffeur kids around. And let me tell you, it seems like every kid activity uses a lot of gas. Hey, it could be a conspiracy theory, but I’ll save that for another time. Burning up fuel seems to be my specialty, but running out? Never. Well… until last weekend. I pride myself on proving my family wrong when it comes to that little trip computer. You know, the one that claims it can calculate exactly how many miles you’ve got left before the tank runs dry. My wife and kids watch that computer like a hawk. My son will look at it and say, “Dad you’re gonna run out of gas.” I tell him to mind his own business. He’s just looking at the gauge from a bad angle. I’ve repeatedly proven that when this little computer says “0” miles to empty, I can still squeeze a few more out of the tank. And then there’s the fuel pump myth. Some mechanics say that keeping less than half a tank of fuel can damage the pump since it’s not fully submerged in fuel. I don’t agree. My car has 92 thousand miles on the original fuel pump, and it’s still running strong. I love the TV show “Myth Busters”, and I like to think my fuel pump is up for the challenge of proving this myth wrong. Like my wife, many people have an innate fear of running out of gas, and this is for good reason. Being empty on the interstate or at an intersection could be dangerous. I always thought I could outsmart the system. That was until last week. There I was, sitting on the side of Whiskey Road, waiting 30 minutes for a “true” friend to show up with a gas can (no way was I calling Lisa). Meanwhile, cars flew by, and I was recognized by several of my kids’ friends, them waving at me as they drove by. The secret was out. Did they stop to help? Of course not, but probably because I was playing it cool, acting like I had everything under control. Pro tip: the A/C doesn’t work when you’re out of gas! Knowing that the “I told you so”, “you just wouldn’t listen to me”, and the “you deserved that” were waiting for me when I got home, I figured it was time to admit that Lisa might have been a little right. Maybe keeping the gas needle above halfway is the safer, smarter play. These days, I’ve retired from running on fumes. Giving the little yellow light a break, I have started paying attention to other parts of my dashboard’s instrument cluster. Like my speedometer. Hmm, I wonder how accurate that really is... Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

How many of you look forward to the weekend and driving through the credit union parking lot? Or, as my wife and her friends call it, the SRP Car Flea! I love driving through and looking at all the used cars for sale. It’s my ritual after church on Sundays. Often, I am asked to inspect a used car and give my opinion after the purchase has already been completed. And more times than I’d like, I’ve become the bearer of bad news. Most used car purchases are done “as is” and without any kind of warranty and no guarantee to protect the buyer. Before buying a used vehicle… WAIT! Do whatever you want to do with the vehicle you’ve got your eye on (sit in it, smell it, touch it, drive it), but just pause before making the purchase. No matter what anyone says or does or promises, don’t buy it. Not yet. This is not the time to flex your impulse buying muscles. I have 3 rules that may save you time, aggravation, and money when shopping for a used car. 1. Bring it In Before negotiating, ask the seller if you can take the vehicle to your trusted mechanic for an honest, professional opinion. Getting the car up on a lift makes it much easier to spot potential problems. No matter how much “car knowledge” you think you have, you don’t have X-ray vision. You can’t see a control arm bushing about to fail or a rusted floor pan hidden under the car. A good mechanic will drive the car, look it over carefully, and give you the good points and the bad points. Now with this information, you have a little more negotiating power to get a better deal on your purchase. 2. Find Out Costs Don’t just focus on the price tag; find out how much it actually costs to maintain this vehicle. I mean all oil changes, tune-ups, brakes, and tires. Everything you would spend money on at your repair shop. Your mechanic can give you a pretty good estimate of average monthly expenses using their software program based on the current condition and mileage of the car. And don’t forget to factor in auto insurance and property taxes. If you don’t know what to expect, your budget could take a major hit later. 3. Drive It My last rule: drive the car as much as you can before making a decision. This extra driving reveals many unknowns and hidden quirks about the car. When driving, remember the three C’s: comfort, convenience, and clarity. Comfort – Is the seat comfortable? Are the armrests in the right place? Think about how you would feel after a long road trip. How’s the backseat? Would your passengers be comfortable? Convenience – Are all the power controls easy to reach? Can you see the dash gauges without craning your neck? Is the trunk or storage area big enough for your lifestyle? Clarity – What about blind spots? Where are they? Can you operate this car safely? There are plenty of great used cars deals out there, and with a smart, measured approach, you can get that sweet ride and a fair deal. See you at the “Car Flea”! Drive Safe! Brian Bernard– Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

After 8 children, Lisa and I are FINALLY done parenting teenagers. YES! Our youngest just turned 20, leaving those teenage years in the dust for our family. If you’re like me and have parented teens, there will eventually come a time when you must consider getting them a car to drive. Ask yourself, “Do I really need to get them a car?” You will first answer NO, and then you will answer YES. I need to get this kid a car so I can get a break from driving them all over God’s creation! It’s their time to be the chauffeur for a while! But then reality hits. Car prices. Ouch. In our household, new cars were never an option. The kids got decade-old hand-me-downs or inexpensive used cars. Practical, affordable, and, most importantly, replaceable. As the owner of an auto repair shop, I’ve had access to plenty of decent used cars, which has been a blessing as the parent of eight children. Still, I eventually realized that instead of running an auto repair shop, I would have been better off owning a paint & body shop! I’ll never forget the joy of seeing my teenager sit behind the wheel of her first (very used) car, grinning from ear to ear. She proudly promised me she’d be the safest driver in family history. Twelve hours later, the minivan had a shattered right front wheel, a mutilated tire, and a bent strut. Thirty minutes after putting on the spare, the left front tire was destroyed by— you guessed it— a curb. And thus, the carnage began. From there, we saw dents from poles at gas stations, rear-ending other cars, distracted driving, and totaling out your neighbor’s car. Shortcuts through parking lots resulted in lost side mirrors, taillight assemblies, a front door, and so on. Not pretty, but reality. The truth is, becoming a good driver takes time and experience. We must be patient with our teens while they are learning to drive. Safe decision-making behind the wheel isn’t automatic, it’s learned through experience. If you've never had a teen driver, I can assure you that you’ll be scared to death the first time they head out alone. My wife and I have now been through eight teen drivers. Our experience has shown that the dings and dents are going to happen, whether it’s our child’s fault or not. Our decision to give our children used and well-worn cars as their first ride has paid off. They not only survived the learning years, but they also developed a true appreciation for the cars they own now. If you do decide to get a car for your teenager, make sure it fits the budget, fits your child, and fits their needs. And remember, whatever you buy, there’s a good chance it’ll be a “bang-up” car in the end! Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

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This morning, while drinking my coffee and taking my routine stroll through the shop, I ran straight into a wall of tires. Literally. The wall hadn’t been there last week, but somehow, in just a few days, it had grown into a six-foot-high tower. Sure, I’m glad that tire sales are up, but I wasn’t too thrilled about the fresh coffee dripping down the front of the new birthday shirt my wife bought me. No, honey, I wasn’t dribbling today!  As I wiped off the mess from my shirt and started fuming about why these tires were still piled in the shop instead of waiting outside for pickup, something caught my eye. Looking closely at this mountain of rubber, I realized some of these weren’t just used tires. They were dangerously worn out, bald, with steel belts showing, the kind that could blow at any moment! Wow! I couldn’t help but wonder: who would keep driving on tires like these? Certainly not me or my family. Not my employees. And definitely not my regular customers. As new customers come into the shop each day, I’ve noticed a troubling trend I call “saving over safety”. The mentality of “If I’m not spending money on my car, then I’m saving money” can be dangerous and expensive in the long run. Many people put off maintenance until something breaks, usually at the worst possible time. What starts as a quick, affordable fix often turns into a costly crisis. To make matters worse, auto manufacturers have stretched routine service intervals, sometimes recommending only one major check-up per year! Not having your car checked over several times a year can be costly and risk dangerous failures, like tire blowouts! We rely on manufacturers to provide a quality product. However, it is up to us to maintain that quality. I’ve seen firsthand how serious ignoring maintenance can get. In one case, a driver ignored warnings about a bald rear tire. The very next morning, the tire blew out, sending the vehicle into a rollover accident. Both the driver and passenger ended up in the hospital. The old saying “You can pay me now or pay me later” holds true many times in the auto repair business, and often, the “later” costs you a whole lot more! For me, keeping my family safe will always come first. I know it’s the same for you. So, before that “later” moment sneaks up on you, let’s make sure your car is safe today. Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

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