A: Most people probably assume the answer is either, "Because we want to charge you" or "Because we don't trust another shop to know what they're doing." I'm in no position to explain why other repair facilities do what they do. But I can share with you why we at Star Automotive prefer not to give estimates in these situations.

The question usually arises when a vehicle is currently in (or recently out of) another repair shop, and the owner desires a "second opinion" to make sure he or she is not being taken advantage of. That's one area where auto technicians and medical physicians have something in common: we are both regularly approached to provide second opinions. But neither of us would - or should - do this without first examining the "patient" to determine the diagnosis and treatment for ourselves.

No physician worth his license would treat your medical condition based on another doctor's diagnosis, staking his reputation (not to mention your life!) on information gathered and relayed by someone else. It's the same with automotive repair.

If you call Star Automotive and ask, "How much is it to replace the water pump on my Mercedes?" don't be surprised if we answer your question with a few of our own. For example, "Why does your Mercedes need a water pump?" If you answer, "Because my car is overheating," there's a chance that replacing the water pump will only treat the symptom rather than the real cause of the overheating. We would likely recommend testing your engine cooling system and offer to schedule an appointment.

At this point, you might feel like replying, "Shop XYZ told me that my car just needs a new water pump. Why do you want to charge me to inspect my vehicle again when all I want is an estimate for replacing the water pump?"

Here's why. Suppose that instead of inspecting your vehicle, we simply give you our estimate for replacing the water pump, schedule an appointment for replacement, and special-order the necessary parts. When your vehicle arrives, our service technician performs a preliminary inspection of the water pump to be replaced, only to discover that the car is also in need of a thermostat bypass hose, clamps and some engine testing. The reason? The water pump bearing failed because the hose burst and leaked all of the antifreeze out of the engine - a sequence of failures involving more than just the water pump.

In this scenario, which I have seen occur many times in my 25 years of auto repair experience, both you and the shop are faced with problems that must be sorted out: a revised (higher) estimate, additional parts to acquire, a longer time without the use of your vehicle, reduced shop productivity and reduced technician income, to name but a few. None of these affect the original repair shop that gave you the water pump diagnosis - they have moved on while you and our shop suffer the consequences.

Needless to say, it's a situation we should both want to avoid. The best way to ensure this? Don't be a "shop hopper." Seek a trustworthy repair facility and stay loyal to them. No second opinions required. No shortcuts. No surprises. Just reliable diagnosis and treatment to keep our "patient" - your vehicle - operating dependably.

Keeping the smile on your face, and the Star on your car - Star Automotive! Close

A: I usually get this question when a client's "newer" vehicle requires a substantial amount of maintenance or repair to be roadworthy. And it's one of those questions that can be asked of 10 different technicians and get 10 different answers. For my answer, I'll rely on my experience with Mercedes-Benz vehicles I have personally owned, the oldest being a 1973 model and the newest a 2006 model. Currently, I own two Mercedes-Benz vehicles: a 1990 model and a 2001 model. (I consider a vehicle to be "older" when it's more than 20 years old.)

While I have greatly enjoyed owning and driving both older and newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles, I would never expect them to have the same performance, safety, styling or operation. Let's look at each of these categories individually to better see the differences between older and newer models:

Performance: I realize there are some exceptions here, but by and large I think we can all agree that newer vehicles have a significant advantage in performance. For example, we now have vehicles with smaller engines that produce over 200 horsepower and 30 MPG. Score one for the newer cars in the performance category.

Safety: In the event of a collision, an older vehicle may only protect you with a traditional seat belt and the hope of "mass wins" (an old automotive expression that says a larger, heavier vehicle will always "win" in a collision with smaller, lighter vehicle). But newer vehicles are manufactured with crumple zones, airbags, pyrotechnic seat belts and many other safety features designed to protect you. Score another for newer cars when it comes to safety.

Styling: I know this area is highly subjective, but I prefer the distinctive styling of older vehicles to the "cookie cutter" styling so common with modern vehicles. There's actually a good reason why many of today's cars look so much alike: manufacturers are all under mandate to make their vehicles more fuel efficient, which means using computer-designed exterior styling that keeps air drag to a minimum (i.e. sloping vehicle profiles). While there are some newer models that stand out from the crowd with unique styling - the Mercedes-Benz SLS model, for example, which draws its styling cues from the classic 300SL Gullwing - I have to score one for older vehicles in the styling department.

Operation: It's a fact of life with older vehicles: they require a trip to the mechanic every 3 months or so just for ordinary, routine maintenance. If you have a newer car, you'll see your mechanic much less often, thanks to the advanced technologies built into recent generations of vehicles. (At Star Automotive, we see most of our clients twice a year: once for routine maintenance, and once for a repair.) And then there are the differences in how older and newer vehicles are physically operated. Remember having to pump the gas pedal or pull the choke lever while praying your older car would start? Or trying to install a set of ignition points on the side of the road in the dark? When I started in this business back in 1986, we'd see cars towed-in about twice a day. Today, it's about once a month. All thanks to the more reliable operation of today's newer vehicles. Score another for the newbies.

The final score? Newer: 3, older: 1. That said, there are many reasons to appreciate older vehicles. Maybe it's a sentimental attachment - memories of childhood travels or a loved one who owned a memorable vehicle. And of course, there's the pride that comes from driving a piece of automotive history. But I would never suggest using an older vehicle for your daily transportation. The safety systems, such as braking, are nowhere near as effective as those in newer vehicles. So in my opinion, if you were to own only one vehicle, you would be better served if it were built within the last 20 years. That's why my wife and I use our 2001 model for trips, and our 1990 model for seeing the local sights in beautiful San Luis Obispo County.

Keep the smile on your face, and the Star on your car! Close

Q: I see promotions during certain times of the year for specific auto repair services. Do mechanics target some repairs seasonally? Open Answer

A: You could ask this question of 10 automotive technicians and get 10 different answers! As for me, I'll answer by sticking to the facts as they apply to Mercedes-Benz gasoline powered vehicles. (There are special fuel guidelines for Mercedes-Benz diesel powered vehicles, so if you drive one, please check your owner's manual for information on approved fuel additives and proper usage.)

Mercedes-Benz has shared its position on fuel additives with automotive technicians (via a 1990 bulletin titled "Fuel Additives for Mercedes-Benz Engines") as well as consumers (via owners' manuals for most vehicles manufactured since that year).

In short, their position is: Fuel additives can cause too high a concentration of chemicals within the fuel supply, and these chemicals can affect engine performance and cause engine damage.

You may be wondering, "How can one little bottle create too high a concentration?" The answer may surprise you. Virtually all gasoline sold in the U.S. already contains a fuel additive, right out of the pump! Mixing a bottled additive into fuel that already contains an additive can, indeed, result in a high chemical concentration.

Do different fuel brands contain different additives? Again, the answer may surprise you. I have an uncle and a cousin who have worked in fuel refineries. (And no, I don't get a family discount on gasoline!) They both confirmed that there are only a handful of refineries operating in the U.S., and the fuel produced by one refinery is commonly sold at hundreds of different stations under many different brand names all with the same additive.

So the short answer to the question, "Should I be using a fuel additive?" is no. There is no reason to double-up on what the fuel already contains. Close

A: Most drivers are familiar with the practice of "jump starting" a vehicle. While the jump starting procedure is covered in most owners' manuals, what is not covered is the damage that can result from jump starting. Now, I don't intend to replace the manufacturer's information in your owner's manual, but I would like to tell you how we perform the process at Star Automotive based on our 32 years of combined auto repair experience.

Most vehicles manufactured since the late 1970s have an on-board computer. In fact, late model Mercedes-Benz vehicles have over 20 computers, and some models have as many as 50! Most automotive computers are designed to operate reliably with a supply voltage between 10 and 14.5 volts. When another vehicle is connected to your "dead" vehicle, you run the risk of a "voltage spike" during which the voltage momentarily jumps above 14.5 volts. Even though the spike lasts only a fraction of a second, that's more than long enough to damage a computer. The result can be costly, sometimes running into thousands of dollars' worth of supplemental repairs.

We have determined that the safest way to jump start a dead battery is to connect it to another battery rather than another vehicle. Most auto parts stores sell "jump boxes" which basically consist of a battery and jumper cables in a single unit. Likewise, most reputable repair shops and towing companies have a jump box in their tool supply. Of course, using another battery to jump start your vehicle is no guarantee of avoiding damage, but it is certainly safer than connecting to another vehicle. Once the engine is started, it is advisable to wait 4-5 minutes before disconnecting the jump box or second battery.

On the subject of batteries, Star Automotive sells factory Mercedes-Benz batteries because we've found them to be the only batteries that fit the application properly and allow the venting hoses to be attached correctly. (All liquid-acid batteries emit harmful gases that should be vented outside of the vehicle.) If you have questions about your battery, please call or stop by Star Automotive - we'd be happy to help. Close

A: There's usually nothing "funny" about a strange new noise coming from your vehicle. In fact, it may be a warning that one of your vehicle's components is failing. Ignoring a funny noise may result in the repair cost escalating dramatically.

Now, I'm not just saying this to cause you concern over what could be a minor issue. But the fact is, there are certain noises that signal problems which, if not addressed, have the potential to cause serious complications.

For example, I recently had one of our most loyal clients ask me to listen to a noise. I sat in the vehicle and, sure enough, noticed the same sound that had caught my client's ear. So I popped the hood and did some sleuthing, ultimately finding that the water pump bearing had failed. This allowed the water pump pulley to wobble and make a noise when it contacted the front of the engine. Fortunately, my client had brought the sound to my attention almost immediately upon noticing it. The engine wasn't losing coolant or overheating, and a straightforward water pump replacement solved the problem. If my client had ignored the sound and allowed the water pump bearing to completely "break", the damage to the front of the engine could have been extensive, and the repair cost could easily have been four times that of replacing the water pump.

Of course, as a vehicle ages, it will commonly produce a variety of "normal" noises over time. Usually, these are simply coming from wire harnesses, weatherstripping, plastic panels, dry leather and other components. If these noises are bothersome, they can certainly be repaired, but if not addressed should pose no reliability issues with your vehicle.

How do you know if the noise you're hearing is "normal" or "funny"? The only way to know for sure is to see a professional automotive technician and have them locate the source of the sound. Close

A: Most Mercedes-Benz vehicles manufactured in 1998 or later have a computerized system that monitors the vehicle's operation and counts down to the next scheduled maintenance service. The system takes into account the type of driving you do (i.e. city or highway, gentle or aggressive) and tracks the elapsed time and mileage since your last service. The computerized maintenance system then alerts you when the next service is due, enabling you to schedule an appointment at your convenience.

In San Luis Obispo County, most Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with this computerized system will require servicing once a year or every 10,000-13,000 miles. Additionally, the recommended level of service will alternate between "Annual" and "Biennial" (usually referred to as "A" and "B" services). These levels of service include replacing the engine oil and filter, checking fluid levels, testing the battery, inspecting brake pads and ensuring proper tire pressures. Additionally, "B" services typically include replacing the climate control system filter(s) and wiper blades. Other maintenance items, such as replacing spark plugs, air filters and fuel filters, are usually handled at mileage intervals during the next scheduled "A" or "B" service.

If your Mercedes-Benz alerts you to a service letter greater than "A" or "B" (such as "D"), your vehicle is equipped with the latest generation of maintenance monitoring system. For these vehicles, we recommend scheduling an annual service appointment. If we observe any additional recommended service items during that appointment, we will inform you so that you can decide how you would like us to proceed. Close

A: The "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" light is required by the EPA as standard equipment on all vehicles sold in the United States. It is designed to light when the engine management computer system detects a condition that may cause increased vehicle emissions, which not only impact our air quality but can also reduce the vehicle's fuel economy and performance. (In my opinion, the light should be labeled "Emissions" or "Emission Service Required" to avoid confusion.) Here's how it works:

Your car's computer monitors signals from a variety of sensors and actuators. If one of those signals is outside of the acceptable range, the computer turns on the "Check Engine" light to alert you. In many cases, you would have no other way of knowing there was an emissions problem until it had worsened to the point of causing a serious operational issue.

In extreme cases, the "Check Engine" light will flash, indicating that damage may be occurring and the vehicle should not be driven. Otherwise, if the "Check Engine" light is on and the vehicle is operating normally, it is probably safe to drive to a repair facility. It is important to address the condition as soon as possible to prevent additional damage from occurring and to avoid a breakdown that leaves you stranded. By driving for prolonged periods with your "Check Engine" light illuminated, you have no way of being warned if a second issue should occur or if your original problem is worsening. Close