From an observer’s perspective, it’s clear that the Volkswagen ID.4 is far from perfect as it’s had several issues since its launch. At times, the problems are relatively trivial. However, some of them are more serious, such as when the doors open on their own because they can’t handle water on them. What we don’t often get is an inside look at life with such a car. Now, one man in Florida is telling his troubled story with an ID.4. 

Josh Cowan is a die-hard Volkswagen fan. He’s owned three Jettas, a Tiguan, and an Atlas. His wife’s very first car was a Volkswagen. It made sense to him to get an ID.4 when it came time to buy a new car for his family. What he didn’t know was that he’d end up right back in a loaner Tiguan for over seven months. 

More: VW Bringing Back True ‘Volkswagen’ Looks For Facelifted ID.3 And ID.4

Not long after taking delivery of his low-mileage but used ID.4 from Carmax, he noticed an airbag light on. He took it to the dealer and mentioned to them that he also heard a strange noise periodically. “There was a clunking sound that happened every time you kind of turned a corner and accelerated,” Cowan said to WFTV. 

First, the dealer thought the issue was a motor mount. When that didn’t work, they told him that the ID.4 needed a new transmission. Now, over seven months later, the ID.4 is still sitting at the shop. What’s taking so long? According to the dealer, Volkswagen itself hasn’t supplied it with the tools it needs to swap the gearbox out. 

“So, there it sits. Now it’s been seven and a half months. There are two additional recalls on that car that have happened in the meantime that they don’t have fixes for,” Cowan said. Interestingly, Volkswagen seems poised to wipe its hands of all liability as they offered the Cowans $3,000.

Josh believes that if he accepts it, he’ll release VW from future claims. With that in mind, Josh says “It’s frustrating, and we feel really let down by Volkswagen.” The only thing he can do at this point is wait on the dealer and the automaker to make things right. 

Image Credit: WFTV

The Osceola County School District is in the process of developing an maintenance apprenticeship program, thought to be the first of its kind in the state. Individuals with an interest in learning about school bus technology and to gain training and experience in repairing buses are being paid while they attend school and participate in training.

There have been other school bus apprenticeship programs in the U.S., but none at least in modern-day Florida.

“We currently have three apprentices that are working in our central bus depot in our district. There are plans to expand the program after the initial testing period,” said Borras, supervisor of transportation for Osceola County Schools, located south and east of Orlando.

The program is beneficial for mechanics by providing hands-on experience they cannot receive elsewhere. The program offers the opportunity to learn useful skills in a work environment and will assist in job placement opportunities.

According to Borras, the apprenticeship program is going well. Young people are working and learning through it and more are coming into the program.

“We are growing our new program. Our students have to take an aptitude test and, if they do well, they begin a hands-on learning process. We look for students who have an interest in being a mechanic and like to work with their hands,” he explained.

Borras hopes to get more younger people interested in careers as school bus mechanics. “We are working on creating a flow from local high school technical programs. We want to show them the advantages of working for the school district as a mechanic,” he said.

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Related: Oregon School District Maintenance Internship Program Yields Success
Related: FLorida School Maintenance Workers Feel Left Out Amid Raise
Related: School Bus Driver, Mechanic Among California Classified School Employees of Year

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The students complete book work or academic style courses and then they work with experienced mechanics who have the patience and willingness to teach younger people to become expert bus mechanics.

It generally takes about a year and a half for a beginning apprentice to complete a training program to be considered qualified to work more independently. Those who can pass their course work more quickly can complete the training sooner. The apprentices are being paid while they study and learn from the more experienced mechanics.

For years, young people were not encouraged to pursue careers in the trades but there are many advantages to pursuing an apprenticeship. Young people who are less interested in academics may find repairing engines or learning various trades to be more fulfilling and exciting. One can work with experienced adults and learn valuable skills quickly.

Unlike young people who go to college and pay high tuition costs, school bus apprentices are receiving a paycheck while they learn. And if they stay with Osceola or go to another county, they receive state benefits including full health coverage and a full state pension after retirement.

The post Florida School District Begins School Bus Mechanic Apprenticeship Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

One of the benefits of owning an EV is that they consist of fewer moving parts so should be less expensive to service and maintain. But as one Tesla owner discovered, EV hardware isn’t invincible, and it’s still expensive when it breaks.

This reminder comes from Cybertruck owner Joey Arrowood, who is staring down the barrel of an $8k bill after finding an oil leak on his electric pickup. That’s right, an oil leak – EVs use oil, too. As he shared in a post on the Facebook Cybertruck group, as he returned to his truck one day, he noticed a pool of oil under the rear motor, closer inspection revealing that a small, sharp rock had ground a hole in the motor housing.

Related: Sixth Time The Charm? Tesla Cybertruck Recalled Over Loss Of Drive Power

“At some point a small rock bounced over the belly pans and covers and wedged itself between the rear subframe and gearbox wearing a small hole into the aluminum case,” Arrowood wrote on Facebook. “I find it absurd to comprehend that such a small rock can cause this kind of damage.”

The Tesla is coming up to 9,000 miles (14,500 km) and the owner says the little action its seen away from paved surfaces was restricted to some driving on local dirt roads. But Arrowood’s local service center in Clarkston, MI, claims the proper fix is a new drive unit at a cost of $7,660.55, and says it won’t cover the cost, and will only repair it if Arrowood pays up himself or files an insurance claim.

“I love the truck and driving it, but come on Tesla… a little help here is needed please,” the owner wrote.

Commenters on the thread don’t all agree on the correct course of action: some suggest fixing the hole with JB Weld; others claim a genuine aluminum welding job would be better. But none of them thinks Arrowood should shell out for a brand new motor and most believe this isn’t a warranty situation, just an unfortunate freak accident, possibly made worse by poor design and thin castings on Tesla’s part.

Who do you think should pay, and what kind of fix would you recommend? Leave a comment and let us know.

A Cybertruck owner became so frustrated at Tesla’s inability to deal with a problem with his electric truck that he took matters into his own hands and fixed it with a $13 DIY part.

Jay Larson, an Arizona-based podiatrist, posted on his MyCybertruckLife X account about how he was moved to act after being disappointed with a Tesla’s dealers attempts to fix a wind noise issue on his pickup. The truck, which has been perfectly quiet when he first bought it, began making a high-pitching whistling noise after its bulletproof windshield was replaced due to a factory defect.

Related: Tesla Delays Cybertruck Range Extender Battery To “Mid-2025”

Larson was adamant that the Cybertruck hadn’t been making the noise before the screen swap so went back to his dealer in Tempe, Arizona expecting the technicians to put it right. They made one attempt, telling Larson the problem was gone, but he disagreed, so asked them to take another look.

This time they told him that the noise was normal for a Cybertruck and that they couldn’t replicate the sound he was complaining about even at highway speeds. And for those reasons they said there was no available fix despite Larson insisting that it was fine with the original windshield. A classic case of “they all do that, sir.”

Not happy with that answer and still irritated by the wind whistle, Larson began casting around for his own solution. And he found it on Amazon, where he purchased a roll of 9 mm silicone weather stripping that perfectly fitted the gap at the top of the windshield. He removed some of the backing from the adhesive strip, but not all of it, saying that the weather seal was so snug it didn’t need much adhesive. He also had a hunch that it might have been trickier to fit if all of the adhesive surface had been exposed.

Larson says the truck is now whisper-quiet, even at 90 mph (145 km/h), and cost him only $12.99 to fix. But he shouldn’t have had to spend a penny.

Anyone else have a high pitching wind noise in their Cybertruck?? Tesla service center in Tempe AZ said it was normal but I didn’t have the noise before they replaced my windshield so after 2 trips to the service center with no improvement I fixed it myself. @elonmusk @Tesla… pic.twitter.com/1rMnoFXRqT

— MyCybertruckLife (@jaylarsondpm) October 24, 2024

Image credits: Amazon, Jay Larson (@jaylarsondpm)

In an industry historically short on staff, ensuring new members are in the pipeline remains critical. One recruitment strategy at Beaverton School District near Portland, Oregon, was the adoption of an internship program for its maintenance operations.

One of Cliff Harrell’s first priorities when he took over as shop supervisor a little over two years ago was creating an internship program with the auto tech at one of the school district’s high schools.

During the first year of the program, Harrell said one intern was brought on for the six-month program, worked during the summer, and then became a full-time employee. School bus service technician Chris Fitzpatrick is still an employee now.

He spoke with School Transportation News over the summer about his experience working in the shop.

“I started my internship the last semester of my senior year,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that he came to the shop once or twice a week depending on his schedule.

He shared that his first impression, was that “it’s more money than I’ve ever seen before.” During the summer after graduation, one of the service techs was retiring, and Chris was asked if he wanted to stay on full-time. “I figured I would take a gap year, so it allowed me to work this year and then hopefully I can pay for college next year.”

He joined the auto tech class because he needed credits and enjoys cars and trucks. “Who doesn’t want to go work on cars all day, if you’re into cars, right?” he shared.

Because Fitzpatrick has a dream of one day becoming a firefighter, he didn’t want to take the internship experience from anyone else. However, he said there weren’t many volunteers, so he took a chance.

“I hate sitting in the classroom, and I think that some people would agree with me, sitting, learning and filling out paperwork it just sucks,” he said, adding that sitting behind a computer all day is not his ideal career.

That is why he finds the internship so beneficial, and something that should be offered for more trades like construction and manufacturing. He noted that the internship provided him with a career that he could stay in for the next 30 years until he retires. However, he will be attending the fire academy this year.

Beaverton School District has 11 heavy repair mechanics and two service technicians who perform all the service and repairs. The shop is responsible for everything from the back bumper to the front bumper, including engine transmissions, drivetrains, axles and all safety equipment. “We do it all,” said shop supervisor Cliff Harrell. Only warranty items are sent out. He added that with electric school buses, the maintenance staff perform the initial troubleshooting steps before sending the bus out for warranty service.

Fitzpatrick said he believes the younger generation has an advantage of being a mechanic right after high school because they are open to advances in technology. There are guys who have been working for 20 to 25 years that are used how things normally are,” he shared. “I really don’t know what’s normal. So, if something new pops up, then that’s normal. I can just go with it.”

The second year of the program was during the 2023-2024 school year. Harrell said at least 40 students were interested, and Beaverton had to narrow the candidate to three. He noted that process started with talking with the high school instructors to understand which students stood out, and then Beaverton staff does their own interviews with the potential candidates.

While STN was onsite last summer, two interns were working in the shop following graduation. One of those was Manuel Andrade Botello, who said he wanted to join the internship because he likes hands-on learning and wanted to home in on his auto tech skills.

He noted that while he didn’t know what the program would entail at first, he’s really enjoying it, as every day is different. For instance, he shared that Beaverton had specialists come in and teach all the mechanics of the in’s and out’s brakes.

He encouraged other school districts to offer internship programs. “This place, it’s a welcoming place,” he said. “It’s not a place where you will feel scared to ask a question.”

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Related: Craig Beaver Named 2024 School Transportation News Transportation Director of they Year

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He shared the staff is really nice and will any questions he has, without judgement. “They won’t just give you an answer. They will go on and teach you,” he added.

“We’re hoping just to keep it going,” Harrell said, adding that future plans include creating a bridge from the high school auto tech program to the community college diesel program. “Anything to keep the trades going and involve younger people to know that the trades are out there. That’s ultimately my goal.”

He explained that he feels maintenance is a lost skill on the younger generation, especially with the mentality that the job is viewed as “dirty” and that technicians will go home smelling like gasoline and diesel.

“But with the evolving technology, mostly everything we do is computer driven,” he said, adding that first they hook up a bus, pull codes and diagnose codes through a computer before making a mechanical repair. “A lot of stuff can be repaired with the computer. … But there is that stigma that you’re going to just go to work and get dirty all day long.”

As seen with electric school buses, he said there’s a lot of changes in the bus garage. “It’s causing people who are comfortable in just diesel or gas to learn a new skill and evolve with that skill as well,” he explained. “So, everything is becoming electrical. It’s just the nature of the beast.”

With electric school buses, he said the biggest concern is safety. “Are we fully at the point where we could bring in an EV bus and safely work on it? No,” he said.

Beaverton maintenance staff is able to conduct the initial diagnostic test and then touch base with the manufacturers to see where to proceed. He said in a couple of years, he envisions being able to be at the point where internal staff is able to have the high-voltage training to do the repairs themselves.

In terms of staff acceptance of electric school buses, Harrel said it’s been a mix of reactions. While some employees are thrilled to have a new tool in their toolbox, others are diesel mechanics, and that’s all that they want to work on.

“The more knowledge that we have with it, the more comfortable we’ll get,” he added.

In August, Beaverton hosted an electric school bus class with other districts in the state and had representatives from Blue Bird, Western Bus Sales and others to spread more information throughout districts.

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Related: (STN Podcast E150) Making Informed Decisions: Clean Bus Evaluations, Fleet Maintenance Assistance
Related: Garage Star Recognition Shines Light on the Importance of School Bus Maintenance Professionals
Related: School Bus Technician Shortage Not a Passing Problem

The post Oregon School District Maintenance Internship Program Yields Success appeared first on School Transportation News.

The reason for new construction or remodeling of an existing school bus facility is often that school bus maintenance departments have outgrown facility designs that worked well 30 or more years ago.

School bus operators are discovering the need to adopt facilities to reflect changes in school bus design, technology and technician skills experienced over those years, possibly making the size and functional layout of older shops outdated. Also, increasing services to your own or other districts and the introduction of electrification and other alternative fuels may necessitate some sort of facility change or complete replacement.

Understanding the basics of school bus operation and repair facilities is essential for anyone in the school bus industry when approaching the decision to remodel or replace a school bus facility. From choosing the right location to designing a safe efficient layout and ensuring sufficient size to conduct operations and perform proper maintenance, every aspect plays a crucial role in the success of school bus operational safety and contributes to a sense of pride in the transportation team.

Today’s well-designed school bus facility doesn’t begin simply with design. It begins with understanding the district or company needs and a commitment to good planning by the entire transportation team guided by knowledgeable site and building design experts. Preferably a local architect firm that provides consulting, project management, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.

A facility in California will have different needs than a facility in Maine, so your school bus repair facility remodel or rebuild decision needs to be highly personalized to meet your local needs. That means taking into account a range of considerations, including community impact, climate, environmental assessments, overall property site space, office and training room size, technician (and driver) break area, shop layout, number and size of work bays, what type of maintenance and repair tasks to be performed, parts rooms, shop equipment, utility requirements, traffic flow, fueling site, parking, and vehicle types.

Safety should be a top priority when designing the facility. Working with heavy machinery and potentially hazardous materials requires proper safety measures, an example is designing the facility with fire suppression systems, proper ventilation, and adequate lighting to help mitigate safety risks.

Equipment selection, layout, utility requirements and finishes need to be considered early in the process. The earlier in the design process that all department needs are identified, the more likely they will be approved and the less they will cost.

School bus operation specialists, maintenance managers and technicians are some of the most important people on the design team and must be able to see the big picture. Visiting other facilities and talking to peers from other shops and fleets is encouraged. Managers also should keep staff members informed of the process and encourage any other concerned parties’ input whether it’s other transportation supervisors (dispatch, training, human resources), school administrators, town, city or county commissioners, board members and the public.

I cannot express enough the value of industry peer relationships when undertaking such a large project in your district or company. Leverage the goodwill in our industry.

Whenever I sought advice from attendees or vendors at school bus trade association meetings at the state, provincial or national levels, I was never disappointed by the input received and the willingness of fellow bus operators to share experiences. I encourage you to do the same. Visit a district or company that has completed a new transportation facility and see how the basics (listed on the previous page) have fit into their project.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the September 2024 issue of School Transportation News.

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Robert Pudlewski is STN’s technical editor and a member of the National School Transportation Association Hall of Fame in recognition of his 40-plus year career as a school bus maintenance, technology and procurement expert.

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Related: Does your school bus garage utilize the latest technology?
Related: Transportation Staff Share How Technology Improves Operations
Related: Student Transportation Company Adopts School Bus Optimization Technology to Improve Operations and Safety
Related: Technology and Communication: Crucial for Bus Maintenance and Safety

The post Understanding the Basics of School Bus Repair Shop Design appeared first on School Transportation News.

TULSA, Okla. – National Express School maintenance team members recently participated in IC Bus University’s three-day Level Two Advanced Training.

Team members participated in IC Bus University’s three-day training in Tulsa. They received hands-on training on advanced diagnostics for various engine platforms, electronics, and bus components from several vendors. Trainings were led by representatives from each vendor and included topics such as:

International Gasoline Engine Diagnostics

International Diesel Engine Training and Diagnostics

Cummins Diesel Engine and Diagnostics

Advanced Electrical and Diagnostics

Trans/Air HVAC System Diagnostics

Mitsubishi Starter and Alternator Systems and Diagnostics

BraunAbility Wheelchair Lift Diagnostics

IC Bus Electric Vehicle Overview

As part of the training program, participants were also given a tour of IC Bus’ assembly plants for their standard and electric school buses and learned about the assembly process.

On the last day of training, a “Skills Competition Event” was held to test participants on their maintenance skills and knowledge. The competition required participants to inspect and find faulty issues on five buses using proper diagnostic tools and procedures while also adhering to safety protocols. Topics included Cummins, PSI Propane, Air Conditioning, Advanced Electrical, and Braun lift. Additionally, two of the five bus assessments were timed.

“Our training strategy for our team members includes not only hundreds of videos and courses available through our Maintenance University platform, but we also host hands-on and instructor-led training events throughout the year to ensure that our techs receive the most up to date training available,” said Wayne Skinner, Senior Vice President of Maintenance, National Express. “Our teams are the best-of-the-best in the industry, and I am proud to work with such an admirable, skillful team of experts who profusely give it their all to ensure students are safe.”

About National Express:
National Express LLC (NELLC) is the North American subsidiary of Mobico Group, one of the premier global mobility firms. We operate across 34 states and two provinces. Our organizations share a strong commitment to provide the highest level of safety, quality, outstanding customer service and positive employee relations. National Express School (NEXS) operates more than 15,590 school buses, serves more than 429 school districts and contracts in 30 states and two provinces, and transports more than 1.3 million students on a daily basis.

The post National Express School Maintenance Team Members Level Up Expertise Through IC Bus University appeared first on School Transportation News.

Serious headlines include last week’s school shooting near Atlanta, Georgia, a Kentucky student killed by her school bus, and cell phone bans in schools.

“I’m going to hire for a can-do attitude over technical skills every time.” Greenville County Schools in South Carolina is the home of multiple STN Garage Stars. Adam James, director of transportation and fleet services, discusses his military experience and how he leads the district’s school bus operations and maintenance.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

 

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Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E226) Be Vigilant: Crime Headlines & SC District’s Bus Mechanic Retention Secrets appeared first on School Transportation News.

Right now, you probably pay more per mile to operate than ever. As you explore ways to fortify your bottom line, look to your shop and fleet vehicles. An ounce of prevention is worth thousands in breakdowns, downtime and repairs. Maintain healthier trucks, save thousands in critical repairs, and run a more efficient shop—all through predictive maintenance.

Download Zonar’s complimentary white paper to learn about protecting your bottom line with a more proactive approach to fleet health.

• Consolidate shop visits and reduce workflow disruptions.
• Avoid more on-the-road breakdowns, tows and roadside expenses.
• Resolve certain vehicle faults for immediate savings.
• Empower non-technicians to take a more active role in fleet health.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

The post (Free White Paper) Save Costs With AI-Powered, Data-Driven Predictive Maintenance appeared first on School Transportation News.

Many transportation garages are shifting from paper documents to automated systems or software to help them keep track of anything and everything in the maintenance facility. Some garages are leaning on already developed software to do the trick. Other maintenance professionals are creating their own system of keeping track.

School Transportation News discussed these trends with the Garage Stars featured this month. Temple Independent School District in Texas has been using Transfinder’s Servicefinder but recently upgraded to the new version, Servicefinder 5.0. George Bell, the district’s fleet services supervisor, explained that the updated version took a while to get used to but is much more user-friendly in keeping up with inventory and staff hours.

He explained that Sevicefinder notifies him when the fleet is due for service by tracking mileage. The software also alerts the garage when it’s time to reorder service parts and how many need to be ordered. Bell added that he can set limits on how low he would like his inventory to get before receiving a notification.

“Every piece of equipment is tracked in its own folder in the form of a work order,” Bell explained. “From the time the work order is made until the work is completed and closed out, we can bill for man hours and parts used. Makes it very easy to go back and see the history of a piece of equipment. This system can be viewed by anyone in our district that is given access.”

Scottie McKinzie, the shop foreman for Fulton County Schools in Georgia, said his district integrated a software from Napa Auto Parts, a partner since 2000, to control inventory. He explained the Napa Integrated Business Solutions parts management system, or HUB, has increased productivity and removed the district’s parts investment burden.

McKinzie added the system invoices parts at the time of installation and all pertinent information is saved and transmitted to the separate School Transportation Information Management System (STIMS).

“HUB provides a record of all parts history which can be viewed and printed at any time,” he noted. “STIMS software interfaces with Napa online and has worked well for both Fulton County shops. STIMS allows us to keep records of all work performed on each of our vehicles. A repair or inspection work order is created, then given to the appropriate shop staff. From there, the technician completes the work and inputs labor and notes of the repair into STIMS. Then, the work order is given to a Napa employee and the parts are added to the work order. Lastly, STIMS gathers all the information from Napa, and adds the information to the workorder. We can then review all past work orders, labor, maintenance, and parts costs of each vehicle.”

McKinzie added that Fulton County schedules support vehicle inspections for each academic quarter and school buses every 20 days. During inspections, technicians and mechanics address maintenance items and repairs as necessary.

Six years ago, Suffolk Transportation Service in New York implemented a parts and purchasing program called TMW that helps streamline the warranty and inventory process. Teno Gustavson, director of vehicle and facility maintenance, said the program tracks how many days, how many planned miles, or how many GPS miles a vehicle has used the last PM.

“And as soon as one criteria matches, we are alerted to bring the unit back into a shop for maintenance. Having these reports, we can forecast our usage on what parts to order,” he continued.

Looking at Inventory:
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, parts became harder to obtain and resulted in longer lead times. Gustavson said Suffolk tracked this data, causing the contractor to keep more inventory in stock. However, he noted that the TMW min/max levels help make it sustainable.

Bell added that Temple ISD has had to order certain parts in advance, mainly Cummins fuel filters. However, he added the turnaround time for most other parts has improved. But in the past year, he said he has noticed a spike in the number of exhaust gas recirculation coolers needing replacement. “Over time (in years) the coolant wears through the metal,” he explained.

Currently, he said, Temple ISD has about 400 to 500 parts in its inventory, adding up to around $20,000 or less. As for maintenance trends, McKinzie at Fulton County noted that his staff sees certain buses require replacement of several parts more frequently than should be the case, attributing the issue to “design flaws.”

However, he said that the parts pipeline flows well for the popular items, but these parts do require more stocking depth for quicker service. These items include filters, brakes, batteries and other parts that can be installed quickly, he said.

“HUB is used to evaluate history and set minimum/maximum quantities to be used in creation of stock orders every day which are not automatic,” he explained. “Stock orders are emailed to the vendors and some of the parts arrive the same day. Parts are stocked based on historical data and future requirements in the case of new vehicles. In the event there is a possibility of a shortage or backorder situation, we will place a larger quantity of items in stock.”

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the August 2024 issue of School Transportation News.

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Related: 5 Questions to Ask Before Implementing New Software
Related: 7 Steps to Choosing The Right Fleet Maintenance Software For Your School District
Related: (STN Podcast E221) EV Prognostication, Garage Star Perspective on NY Electric Pioneer Suffolk
Related: 2024 Garage Stars Announced: Embracing New Technology

The post Keeping Track appeared first on School Transportation News.

Ryan and Taylor delve into OEM leadership and business updates, rising electric vehicle insurance, and technology in the school bus garage. The STN August issue has more on fleet management.

“It’s changing a lot lately.” Garage Star and Shop Foreman Scottie McKinzie discusses going back to school, dealing with mechanic shortages, implementing new technology like safety equipment and propane buses, and streamlining inventory and operations at Futon County Schools in Georgia.

Read more about the bus garage.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

 

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Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E222) Tools to Get the Job Done: Georgia Garage Star Talks Maintenance Evolution appeared first on School Transportation News.

• 

How to Jump-Start a Hybrid Car Battery

Just like traditional gas-powered vehicles, a hybrid car battery can be jump started when the battery is discharged. Jump-starting your hybrid shouldn’t stray too far from the process of their gas engine counterpart, though the same amount of caution should be taken.

Please note your jumper cable connectors should not be touching unless they are fully disconnected.

• Park your vehicle on a flat and dry surface
• Turn the vehicle off alongside all electrical components including the headlights and radio
• Place the positive jumper cable clamp (+) colored red on the positive battery terminal of your discharged hybrid battery or positive jump post
• Place the positive clamp on the positive terminal of the functioning car battery
• Place the negative battery (-) colored black on the negative terminal of the functioning car battery
• Place the negative clamp on the negative battery terminal of the dead battery or negative jump post
• Start the engine of the vehicle with the functioning battery and lightly press the accelerate for about five minutes
• Start the engine of your hybrid with the discharged battery
• Remove the negative clamp from the previously-dead battery
• Remove the negative clamp from the functioning battery
• Remove the positive clamp from the functioning battery
• Remove the positive clamp from the previously-dead battery

What Causes a Hybrid Battery to Die?

While it may be difficult to narrow down the exact cause of your hybrid battery dying, there are a few main culprits that tend to pop up:

• Loose battery terminals can cause a discharged battery in both gas and hybrid vehicles. In order to avoid this, inspect your battery terminals when your Toyota is turned off.
• Extremely cold temperatures can negatively affect the 12-volt battery by slowing down battery chemistry
• Parasitic draw happens when something electric, like a cabin light being left or a door not being closed all the way, drains your car battery.

If you’re having constant issues with your Toyota hybrid battery, schedule a service appointment with us at our Toyota service center in Madison. If you have any questions or need more information about caring for your hybrid car battery, contact us online at Smart Toyota.

About Smart Motors

Founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart, Smart Motors is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, the Midwest’s largest hybrid dealer, Wisconsin’s Largest Toyota Certified Used Vehicle dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume new Toyota dealers. Located in Madison, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume.

The post How to Jump-Start Your Hybrid appeared first on Smart Toyota Blog.

Vehicle winterization – whether this will be your first winter in Wisconsin, or you’re born and raised in cheese-country, it’s something every Wisconsinite must prepare for. The morning temperatures are dipping below freezing, highs are lucky to break freezing, accumulating snow will soon be piling up, but have you winterized your vehicle? Thankfully, most of us only need to brave these elements for brief periods at a time, usually as long as it takes to go from a heated building to one’s vehicle and back into another heated sanctuary. But if the freezing temps, gusty winds, and icy snow in the Madison area are hard on you for the few moments you’re out, think about the brutal beating your car takes.

Your vehicle may have been sitting out for hours. The last thing you want to do is trudge over the frozen landscape, reach your vehicle, turn the key in the ignition, and – oh no! – all you hear is a hideous series of click-click-clicks, groans, and exhausted whirs. The engine isn’t turning over. Why didn’t you winterize your ride!?

Luis Roman, Assistant Service Manager at Smart Motors in Madison, says there’s no time like the present to start getting your vehicle in shape for the unpredictable winter season. He says every year he is asked by multiple people what the most important factors are when preparing a vehicle for the challenges winter can pose. And with the Farmers’ Almanac predicting a snowy winter with colder than normal temperatures, it is probably a good idea to take note of the winterization check list he shares with others.

“The top item on any vehicle winterization list is fairly obvious,” he says. “It’s having a quality, fully charged, and undamaged BATTERY.”

Roman says it takes more power to start a car in the winter because battery power decreases as the temperature drops. If your battery is already having problems, your risk of breaking down or becoming stranded increases. It is recommended to have a battery with at least the vehicle manufacturers CCA rating, most hybrids will have 12 volt batteries under 400 CCA which are fine for that application

The second and third items on Roman’s list are TIRES and BRAKES. Thankfully the cold doesn’t necessarily harm these components, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure they are in the best condition to handle the hazards of winter driving. He says most drivers don’t think about their tires until they have to swerve or brake suddenly – often with serious consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about nine percent of vehicle crashes are tire-related and could be prevented with proper tire maintenance.

“All-season tires are what I recommend to most drivers,” says Roman. “They’re great for people with short commutes and little reason to veer far from the beaten path.” According to Roman, all-season tires are also very convenient, as they don’t need to be swapped out with any other set of tires seasonally.

“When people need to commute to and from work from a rural area, I almost always say they should go with snow tires,” says Roman. “They can swap out with their regular tires in early November or so. And having two sets of tires puts less wear and tear on both pairs, so you can have them for quite a long while.”

Top Five Best Winter Tires

• Michelin X-Ice Xi3
• Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
• Dunlop Winter Maxx WM02
• General AltiMAX Arctic
• Continental Winter Contact TS830

Shop for tires for your for your vehicle.

The fourth item on Roman’s list is WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES. He says that there are blades specifically made for winter driving, and they could really be a lifesaver.

“You really never know what winter is going to throw at you, so it’s best to be prepared,” he says. “It could be freezing rain, wintery mix, wet snow, or the car in front of you splashing your windshield with the dirty, salty slush on the road. Windshields really take a beating in the winter.”

The amount of debris that could potentially block your view needs to be cleared for you to be able to navigate the winter roads safely. Roman says he constantly hears about harrowing journeys drivers make with bad wipers that just smear the slush around instead of clearing it off the windshield. Or there are the wipers that don’t make contact with the windshield at all! These wipers need to be replaced for your safety and for the safety of others.

“Wiper blades are inexpensive, and many people can install them themselves,” he says. “So please check yours before the snow flies. The last thing you want to do is drive blind.”

Roman says there are a few other items that you might want to have a professional check for you before winter is in full swing:

What Should I Have My Mechanic Inspect On My Car Before Winter?

• The cooling system – Your automotive service technician can tell you what antifreeze should be used and the appropriate coolant-to-water ratio to avoid potential freezing.
• Belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires and cables – While they can go bad at any time, if they do in the winter, you could be stuck in the cold for an unfortunately long period.

“These areas might seem small compared to the engine or fuel intake system, but without the small things aiding the large items, your vehicle will not function properly,” he says.

Aside from vehicle winterization, Roman says for safety reasons all motorists should have a cell phone and a phone charger handy, and drivers shouldn’t let their gas go much below a half tank in the wintertime, either. Plus he recommends keeping a worst-case-scenario-kit in your vehicle, filled with the following items:

What Items Should I Keep In My Car During Winter In Wisconsin?

• A blanket
• Several heavy duty garbage bags: Can be a makeshift rain coat; keep your clothing off the wet ground when changing a tire, or to collect wet items.
• A shovel
• Kitty Litter – which can help aid in traction
• Jumper cables or a battery-powered portable booster
• Flashlight or emergency light
• First aid kit
• Food
• Jack and spare tire: Know how to use them — practice if necessary.

About Smart Motors

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more information, check out their history.

The post Tips & Advice For Winterizing Your Car, Truck, Or SUV In Wisconsin. appeared first on Smart Toyota Blog.

Potholes Can Cause a Lot of Damage

Spring time in Wisconsin is like when a bear comes out of hibernation. Daytime temperatures are pushing 50 degrees, Wisconsinites are sporting shorts and short sleeve shirts, but when the winter frost leaves our roadways we are left with those pesky “potholes” which can cause damage to our vehicle’s alignment. The constant freezing and unfreezing of water on roadways can wreak havoc, forming supersize potholes destroying the underside of your vehicle. The automotive specialists at Smart Motors service department have the following advice to help prevent and notice pothole-related damage.

Visible damage is the easiest to detect, but may not be the only indication your vehicle needs some attention. One obvious sign of tire damage is when a tire ‘bulges’; which occurs when the steel/fiber ply belt in the sidewall of a tire breaks due to a heavy impact. Luis Roman, Assistant Service Manager at Smart Motors Service Center, says even if your tires don’t have bulges does not necessarily mean you are free from the damage of potholes.

Warning Signs of Pothole Damage

If your vehicle pulls to one side, or your steering wheel is visibly off center, Roman suggests being on the safe side and schedule an appointment with a reputable automotive service center and getting an assessment. This way, the vehicle’s alignment and other signs of damage can be analyzed and fixed before they become a major problem. Repair costs can vary greatly depending on the extent of damaged parts; from a $200 strut to several thousand dollars for an entire suspension system and cradle.

Roman also offers these tips to help protect vehicles against the jarring experience of a pothole encounter:

Tips to Protect your Vehicle from Pesky Potholes

• Maintain full air pressure in all tires to provide as much cushion as possible between the pothole and the rim of the tire. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual for the correct pressure.
• Watch for potholes by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
• If a pothole cannot be avoided, slow down BEFORE hitting the pothole. Hitting a pothole at high speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, shocks, struts or springs.
• When driving over a pothole-filled road, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
• Do NOT brake when directly over a pothole. Applying the brakes causes the car’s weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase damage from the impact.
• Beware of water that may be concealing a deep pothole.

About Smart Motors

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer, is one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers and is Wisconsin’s largest Toyota Certified Used dealer. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more information visit their history page.

The post When Roads Go To Pot… Holes appeared first on Smart Toyota Blog.

Is it worth it, really? Should I wash my vehicle, or just wait for spring? Under normal circumstances most vehicle owners love their car. It’s like an old friend, cheerfully waiting to take you where you need to go. But as the winter months in Wisconsin drag on, you find your feelings changing toward your tried and true buddy. To wash or not to wash; now that’s the question. What was once a summer time escape from reality, suddenly becomes a chore. Come February and March, if you have not washed your vehicle, it becomes salt-covered, sludgy, dishwater-hued beast that is almost indecipherable from most of the other vehicles on the road. And the worst part is you don’t know what you should do about it.

Part of you thinks you should probably wash the poor thing, but at the same time, it’s Wisconsin – it’s going to snow again, plus the streets are just going to be salted again. And on those rare breaks when the temperatures climb into the 40s, everyone and their uncle are in line to run their vehicles through the car wash. Do you just let it go?

Jason Vasen, Master Diagnostic Technician at Smart Motors, says you should absolutely not let it go.

“Salt may keep the streets safe to drive on, but it’s a terrible thing to have on your car for extended periods of time,” Vasen says. “Salt leads to oxidation and rust. It can take years off the life expectancy of your vehicle.”

Car Wash; Outside temperature matters

Vasen says Wisconsinites ideally should wash their cars, trucks and SUVs about once every two weeks even in the dead of winter though only wash when outdoor temperatures are in the upper 30’s or in the 40’s to ensure doors and windows won’t freeze. If you’re fortunate to have a heated or well insulated garage, you could push this to temps a little lower, but it’s always a good idea to dry off your vehicle as well. Pop the hood, open the doors, including hatch/truck and dry them off.

Not all car washes are created equal

“You want to make sure it’s a quality wash, too,” he says. “Just washing the pretty parts may save your paint job for a few years, but it’s incredibly important to make sure salt and slush are removed from the wheel wells and undercarriage.” A touchless car wash with an underbody high pressure spray option/cycle is what you’ll want to look for to help remove the salt, sand and grim from those hard to reach spots.

When salt builds up on the wheel wells and undercarriage, it attacks the vehicle’s braking system and suspension, both of which could lead to dangerous situations on the roads. They are both expensive to repair, too, so making sure they are salt-free could save you money down the line.

“Drivers can also get ahead of the game through routine maintenance,” Vasen says. “Quality mechanics will check for any issues and lubricate or use corrosion inhibitors on parts as needed for the winter months.” And don’t forget wiper blades. They are an inexpensive way to ensure clear vision.

Did you know?

Where one parks during the winter can also play a role in how much damage is or isn’t done to a vehicle because of slushy and salty conditions. Ironically, vehicles parked outside for the duration typically experience less body damage than those that are garage kept. This is because the freezing temperatures do not allow the slush to melt, so it slows down the overall corrosiveness of the salt.

“Bottom line; regardless of whether you store your vehicle inside or outside, it really is worth the time, effort and money to make every attempt to keep it clean,” Vasen says.

Jason Vasen is a Master Diagnostic Technician at Smart Motors – Madison, WI, and was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. See their history page for more details.

The post Winter. Should You Wash Your Vehicle or Not? appeared first on Smart Toyota Blog.

Tips & Safe Start Guide

Icy roads, plows shooting up clouds of snow and blinding light bouncing off packed snow cause all sorts of problems for Wisconsin’s drivers, but one of winter’s worst effects come before people even hit the road—winter causes discharged car batteries and vehicle jumpstarting presents a fair share of issues.

Discharged (dead) batteries won’t jumpstart

Car batteries often become discharged in the winter because the cold affects the vehicle in two ways;

1. A cold battery has less cranking power than a battery at normal temperature.
2. Cold oil is thick oil, and thick oil is harder to turn over in the engine.

While these traits occur independently of each other, they combine and make it harder for vehicles to start, effectively draining a battery down. A discharged battery can oftentimes be recharged and work fine, but immediate action is necessary as a discharged battery could freeze making it unable to be recharged, thus possibly ruining the battery. Charged batteries will not freeze. There are warning signs your battery may be failing.

Traditional Vehicle Batteries vs Hybrid Vehicle Batteries

Discharged batteries can occur in both traditional cars as well as more modern hybrid vehicles. And while many people might know how to jump start a traditional car, the precautions necessary for either jump starting or receiving a jump from a hybrid are slightly different, yet hybrid owners might not even realize this.

“The hybrid is a fundamentally different design and has batteries located in different spots and takes on power differently,” says Smart Motors Master Diagnostic Technician Jason Vasen. “Hybrids with the 12 volt battery inside the passenger compartment like the Prius use an AGM battery which uses absorbed glass mats so there is no “loose” liquid to spray. Some hybrids use conventional 12 volt batteries located outside the passenger compartment which do carry the concern of potential explosion.”

How can one be safe when jump starting a hybrid? Smart Motors’ Jason Vasen put together the following checklists for how to keep vehicles safe and fully powered even through the worst of winter’s fury.

Jumpstarting a hybrid vehicle

1. Don’t make a practice of using your hybrid to jump start other vehicles as you could greatly damage the discharged vehicle’s electrical system.
2. Apply the parking brake and turn off the headlight switch and interior light.
3. Turn off the hybrid system and remove the key if inserted.
4. Open the hood; fuse block cover, and exclusive jump starting terminal cover.
5. Connect positive clamp (red) jumper cable to the exclusive jump starting terminal.
6. Connect the negative clamp (black) to a solid, stationary, unpainted, metallic point of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
7. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle, make sure the vehicles are not touching. Turn off all unnecessary lights and accessories.
8. When boosting, use the battery of matching or higher quality. Any other battery may make for a difficult start.
9. Allow the discharged battery to rest with the jumper cables connected for approximately 5 minutes. At this time, run the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery at about 2,000 RPM with the accelerator pedal lightly depressed.
10. Start the hybrid system. Make sure the “READY” light is on.
11. Disconnect the cables in reverse order: the negative cable and then the positive cable.

Jumpstarting a traditional vehicle

1. Park the booster vehicle close but not touching the one that needs to be jumped.
2. Begin the process by clamping one of the positive jumper cable ends (red) to the positive battery terminal (labeled with a “+” on the battery) of the discharged vehicle.
3. Connect the other end of the positive cable (red) to the positive battery terminal on the booster vehicle (again, confirm that a “+” is next to the battery terminal).
4. Connect the negative cable end (black) to the negative battery terminal on the booster car (marked with a “-“). Finally, attach the other end of the negative cable to an unpainted metal surface on the engine of the discharged car.
5. Start the discharged vehicle and let the two vehicles idle for a few minutes.
6. Once the discharged vehicle is started and running smoothly, disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were connected.
7. Drive the revived car to somewhere safe and secure before shutting off the engine.

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships. Smart Motors is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer, and is located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only dealership to have ever earned the coveted President’s Cabinet Award from Toyota Motor Sales. This award is only given to the top 12 dealerships nationwide for superior customer service & sales volume. To learn more about Smart Motors, visit their dealership history page.

The post Safely Jumpstarting Your Vehicle. appeared first on Smart Toyota Blog.