Mobile Services Automotive Repair

Thanks for visiting the Mobile Services Automotive Web Page. We Specialize in Automotive Electrical & Mechanical Services to Vehicles on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Fuel pumps in most new cars are located in the fuel tank where they can be expensive to replace. A submerged fuel pump needs at least ¼ tank or more of fuel surrounding it to cool and lubricate the pump properly. In addition, a low fuel level also concentrates dirt and other contaminates within the remaining fuel where they are more likely to be drawn into the pump creating more problems. For optimum fuel pump life, keep plenty of fuel in your tank and change your fuel filter every 30,000 miles.

One of the great debates in automotive service is oil drain intervals. The correct oil change interval is the one prescribed by the engine manufacturer that can be found in a vehicle owner’s manual. Oil drain interval is determined by the engine type, drivetrain, vehicle type and expected use. Each OEM tests its own vehicles to determine the proper drain interval.

Some OEMs may have changed to longer drain recommendations as engines and motor oils are far more advanced over those produced even a few years ago. However, this is not always true, so you should check the owner’s manual for the specific drain interval for every vehicle. Understanding the type of driving a customer does with their vehicle is also beneficial. Generally speaking, most consumers drive a severe cycle of short-trip or stop-and-go type service, so using the severe service drain interval is recommended. With summer comes increased travel, which may include towing a boat or trailer. Those who use their car, SUV or light-duty truck for towing should also follow recommendations for severe service.

There are no downsides to more frequent oil changes. A shorter drain will provide the best defense against harmful engine deposits, better oil consumption control, improved fuel economy and lower wear on engine parts. More frequent oil changes also may help you discover a more serious engine problem, such as a coolant leak, before serious damage occurs.
Engine deposits and wear are slow, sure killers of performance and engine life. In most cases, by the time you are aware of an issue, the damage has been done and often cannot be reversed without an engine rebuild. Changing the oil in a vehicle at the appropriate drain interval is the easiest, most cost-effective insurance against lubricant-related engine damage....Source: Pennzoil Oil Company

OBD II is an acronym for On-Board Diagnostics II, the second generation of on-board self-diagnostic strategy. On-board diagnostic capabilities are incorporated into the hardware and software of a vehicle's on-board computer to monitor virtually every component that can affect emission performance. Each component is checked by a diagnostic routine to verify that it is functioning properly. If a problem or malfunction is detected, the OBD II system illuminates a warning light on the vehicle instrument panel to alert the driver. This warning light will typically display the phrase "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon." The system will also store important information about the detected malfunction so that a repair technician can accurately find and fix the problem. Required on 1996 and later vehicles sold in the US.

On-Board Diagnostics I (OBD I) required manufacturers to monitor some of the emission control components on vehicles. Required on all 1991 and later vehicles, OBD I systems were not as effective as possible because they were limited to monitoring only a few of the emission-related components and they were not calibrated to a specific level of emission performance. OBD II was developed to address these shortcomings and make the system more user-friendly for service technicians.

NGK Spark Plugs Inc. recently opened its third manufacturing facility in the U.S. with a grand opening ceremony on Monday, May 19, 2008 for its new state-of the-art plant, located in Sissonville, near Charleston, WV.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the largest decrease in driving ever recorded in the USA. During March, 2008 Americans drove 11 billion fewer road miles than they did during March 2007. The 4.3% drop represents largest decrease in driving ever recorded n the USA since the federal government began keeping records in 1942.

The Tesla Roadster is the world’s first electric powered zero emissions sports car. Powered by 6831 Japanese-made lithium-ion cell phone batteries, using Lotus lightweight engineering, and Silicon Valley high tech, the car can push itself down the road at a top speed of 135 miles per hour. In addition, the speedster can jump from 0-60mph in less than 4.0 seconds and cruise more than 200 miles before needing a charge.

Ford Motor Company has recalled more than 650,000 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a defective brake hose on the 2005 and 2006 model year Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark L-T trucks could poor braking and needs to be fixed.

Plug-in hybrids cars and trucks will soon be rolling on American roads. Toyota has confirmed it will have a commercial plug-in hybrid on the road by 2010. The Japanese automaker has early versions of its plug-in, based on the existing Prius, undergoing tests.
General Motors will begin selling a plug-in version of its existing Saturn Vue, plus the more exotic Chevrolet Volt, an electric car that uses a small gas engine solely to keep the batteries charged for extended range.
Ford has developed a small fleet of plug-in hybrids that are undergoing testing. Chrysler has the first plug in van on the road. Called the “Sprinter,” it’s being sold as a limited edition. Fisker automotive announced ambitious plans for an $80,000 plug-in sports car to be available by late 2009. Chinese carmaker BYD said it will build a plug-in sedan for US highways in three to five years.

General Motors Corp. has agreed to pay as much as $800 each to millions of its customers to settle lawsuits over the use of Dex-Cool, a coolant it first introduced in its vehicles in 1995. Thousands of customers complained of problems ranging from small coolant leaks to complete radiator and engine failure in cars that came from the factory filled with the long life coolant. Court documents revealed that GM received thousands of repair requests linked to Dex-Cool. GM sold about 35 million vehicles between 1995 and 2004 with the faulty coolant.

Tata Motors of India has reported that it will buy Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company for $2.3 billion, less than half of what Ford paid for the two luxury brands. Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion in 1989 and Land Rover for $2.7 billion in 2000.

The sleek new car can travel from zero to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds. The high performance was achieved by improving the friction of the mechanized gears, improving the power to weight ratio and engine design by drawing on technology from the Volkswagen AG, which acquired Lamborghini in 1998.

The Canadian Federal Government says it will dole out $250-million to the auto industry in the country over the next five years in an effort to help it research and develop new green technologies. However, the manufacturers, auto parts makers and the Canadian Auto Workers union have blasted the Government’s effort as being too little to stop the massive numbers of layoffs that are occurring in the industry.

General Motors product development chief Bob Lutz recently told reporters in what he thought was a a closed door session that global warming was “a crock of sh*t”. Lutz is part of the same General Motors team that invested $hundreds of millions redesigning full sized trucks and SUVs in 2005 and 2006 while fuel prices were starting their steep rise. Those vehicles are not selling in today's tough economic times costing the auto giant dearly.

Kevin and Candice Miggels Kevin and their two sons, Andrew and John, resided in the home located at 7001 Old Manns Harbor Road. The structure was valued at $360,600.



*	Thanks for visiting the Mobile Services Automotive Web Page. We Specialize in Automotive Electrical & Mechanical Services to Vehicles on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.		*
	Have Computor Scan Tool, will Travel
	Car Care Tips
	Long Fuel Pump Life
	Fuel pumps in most new cars are located in the fuel tank where they can be expensive to replace. A submerged fuel pump needs at least ¼ tank or more of fuel surrounding it to cool and lubricate the pump properly. In addition, a low fuel level also concentrates dirt and other contaminates within the remaining fuel where they are more likely to be drawn into the pump creating more problems. For optimum fuel pump life, keep plenty of fuel in your tank and change your fuel filter every 30,000 miles.
	How Often Should Your Oil be Changed?		*
*	One of the great debates in automotive service is oil drain intervals. The correct oil change interval is the one prescribed by the engine manufacturer that can be found in a vehicle owner’s manual. Oil drain interval is determined by the engine type, drivetrain, vehicle type and expected use. Each OEM tests its own vehicles to determine the proper drain interval.
	Some OEMs may have changed to longer drain recommendations as engines and motor oils are far more advanced over those produced even a few years ago. However, this is not always true, so you should check the owner’s manual for the specific drain interval for every vehicle. Understanding the type of driving a customer does with their vehicle is also beneficial. Generally speaking, most consumers drive a severe cycle of short-trip or stop-and-go type service, so using the severe service drain interval is recommended. With summer comes increased travel, which may include towing a boat or trailer. Those who use their car, SUV or light-duty truck for towing should also follow recommendations for severe service.
oman Walking Towards Car on Sand Dune Ridge, Khor Al-Adaid, Qatar Photographic Print Daffey, Mark Buy at AllPosters.com	There are no downsides to more frequent oil changes. A shorter drain will provide the best defense against harmful engine deposits, better oil consumption control, improved fuel economy and lower wear on engine parts. More frequent oil changes also may help you discover a more serious engine problem, such as a coolant leak, before serious damage occurs. Engine deposits and wear are slow, sure killers of performance and engine life. In most cases, by the time you are aware of an issue, the damage has been done and often cannot be reversed without an engine rebuild. Changing the oil in a vehicle at the appropriate drain interval is the easiest, most cost-effective insurance against lubricant-related engine damage....Source: Pennzoil Oil Company		1953 Black VW Beetle Photographic Print Greenberg, Jeff Buy at AllPosters.com

*	TECHNICAL RESOURCES
	Ask a Technician Repair Information Service Diagnosis, Wiring Diagrams, R&R Information $25.00 Per Inquiry E mail for details

	OBD-II Trouble Codes 1996 and newer		*
	OBD II is an acronym for On-Board Diagnostics II, the second generation of on-board self-diagnostic strategy. On-board diagnostic capabilities are incorporated into the hardware and software of a vehicle's on-board computer to monitor virtually every component that can affect emission performance. Each component is checked by a diagnostic routine to verify that it is functioning properly. If a problem or malfunction is detected, the OBD II system illuminates a warning light on the vehicle instrument panel to alert the driver. This warning light will typically display the phrase "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon." The system will also store important information about the detected malfunction so that a repair technician can accurately find and fix the problem. Required on 1996 and later vehicles sold in the US.
36th Salon de l'Automobile et du Cycle Giclee Print Delpy Buy at AllPosters.com	OBD I Trouble Codes 1995 and earlier		*
	On-Board Diagnostics I (OBD I) required manufacturers to monitor some of the emission control components on vehicles. Required on all 1991 and later vehicles, OBD I systems were not as effective as possible because they were limited to monitoring only a few of the emission-related components and they were not calibrated to a specific level of emission performance. OBD II was developed to address these shortcomings and make the system more user-friendly for service technicians.
	Dare County Gasoline Prices
	New EPA Fuel Mileage Ratings
	Find Recalls for Your Vehicle
*	2008 Fuel Economy Guide		*
	OBD-II Trouble Codes
	Automotive News
	Hyundai Says Rising Commodity Prices Cause of U.S. Accent, Elantra Price Hikes of $200 and $300 Respectively
	US Government Crash Test Ratings get Upgrade
	General Motors Stock Falls Below $10 Share, Analysts Say Bankruptcy is Possible for Company
	Smart for Two Earns Top Ratings for Protection to Occupants During Front & Side Crashes
	Chrysler Boss Says U.S. Auto Sales Tanking in 08, Company Vehicle Sales Down Almost 20 %
	NGK Spark Plugs Made in USA
	NGK Spark Plugs Inc. recently opened its third manufacturing facility in the U.S. with a grand opening ceremony on Monday, May 19, 2008 for its new state-of the-art plant, located in Sissonville, near Charleston, WV.
	US Drivers Cut Back on Driving at Record Pace		*
	The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the largest decrease in driving ever recorded in the USA. During March, 2008 Americans drove 11 billion fewer road miles than they did during March 2007. The 4.3% drop represents largest decrease in driving ever recorded n the USA since the federal government began keeping records in 1942.
	Toyota Prius Hybrid Sales Pass One Million
	New Sports Car Runs On Cell Phone Batteries
*	The Tesla Roadster is the world’s first electric powered zero emissions sports car. Powered by 6831 Japanese-made lithium-ion cell phone batteries, using Lotus lightweight engineering, and Silicon Valley high tech, the car can push itself down the road at a top speed of 135 miles per hour. In addition, the speedster can jump from 0-60mph in less than 4.0 seconds and cruise more than 200 miles before needing a charge.
	Tesla Roadster Price from $98,950 Engine: 245 bhp at 8000 rpm Max torque 192 lb ft at 2500 rpm Performance 0-62 mph 4 sec, Max speed 135 mph Charge Time 4 hours Emissions 0g/km
	Ford Recalls Pickup Trucks		*
	Ford Motor Company has recalled more than 650,000 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a defective brake hose on the 2005 and 2006 model year Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark L-T trucks could poor braking and needs to be fixed.
	Hybrid Cars Gain Popularity with Gas Price Increases
The Ladies of the Cars, 1883-5 Giclee Print Tissot, James Buy at AllPosters.com	Plug-in Hybrid Cars Are in the Pipeline
	Plug-in hybrids cars and trucks will soon be rolling on American roads. Toyota has confirmed it will have a commercial plug-in hybrid on the road by 2010. The Japanese automaker has early versions of its plug-in, based on the existing Prius, undergoing tests. General Motors will begin selling a plug-in version of its existing Saturn Vue, plus the more exotic Chevrolet Volt, an electric car that uses a small gas engine solely to keep the batteries charged for extended range. Ford has developed a small fleet of plug-in hybrids that are undergoing testing. Chrysler has the first plug in van on the road. Called the “Sprinter,” it’s being sold as a limited edition. Fisker automotive announced ambitious plans for an $80,000 plug-in sports car to be available by late 2009. Chinese carmaker BYD said it will build a plug-in sedan for US highways in three to five years.
	General Motors to Slash Production of Full Size Pickups and SUVs by 143,000 Units.
*	Beijing, China Hosts Largest Auto Show in World more that 100 Manufacturers Display Products
	GM to pay Customers up to $800 Each Over Use of Defective Coolant
	General Motors Corp. has agreed to pay as much as $800 each to millions of its customers to settle lawsuits over the use of Dex-Cool, a coolant it first introduced in its vehicles in 1995. Thousands of customers complained of problems ranging from small coolant leaks to complete radiator and engine failure in cars that came from the factory filled with the long life coolant. Court documents revealed that GM received thousands of repair requests linked to Dex-Cool. GM sold about 35 million vehicles between 1995 and 2004 with the faulty coolant.		*
	Troubled Ford Motor Company Sells Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian Car Manufacturer
	Tata Motors of India has reported that it will buy Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company for $2.3 billion, less than half of what Ford paid for the two luxury brands. Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion in 1989 and Land Rover for $2.7 billion in 2000.
	Volkswagon Owned Lamborghini Launches Gallardo LP560-4
1953 Black VW Beetle Photographic Print Greenberg, Jeff Buy at AllPosters.com
	The sleek new car can travel from zero to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds. The high performance was achieved by improving the friction of the mechanized gears, improving the power to weight ratio and engine design by drawing on technology from the Volkswagen AG, which acquired Lamborghini in 1998.		*
*	Consumer Reports Names 10 Best and Worst Cars for Depreciation
	Canada Gives Its Auto to Industry $250 Million to Make Things Right
	The Canadian Federal Government says it will dole out $250-million to the auto industry in the country over the next five years in an effort to help it research and develop new green technologies. However, the manufacturers, auto parts makers and the Canadian Auto Workers union have blasted the Government’s effort as being too little to stop the massive numbers of layoffs that are occurring in the industry.
	German Domestic Auto Sales Grow by 17 % in the first two months of 2008
	General Motors Development Chief Calls global warming “a crock of sh*t”
	General Motors product development chief Bob Lutz recently told reporters in what he thought was a a closed door session that global warming was “a crock of sh*t”. Lutz is part of the same General Motors team that invested $hundreds of millions redesigning full sized trucks and SUVs in 2005 and 2006 while fuel prices were starting their steep rise. Those vehicles are not selling in today's tough economic times costing the auto giant dearly.
Ferrari 250 Monza Giclee Print Buy at AllPosters.com	Arnold Schwarzenegger Tells Detroit to "Get Off Your Butt"
	Search Car and Truck Models for Fuel Economy
	Consumer Reports Names Best Models for 2008		*
	OBX Familly Loses Home after Ford Truck Parked Under House Catches Fire
	Kevin and Candice Miggels Kevin and their two sons, Andrew and John, resided in the home located at 7001 Old Manns Harbor Road. The structure was valued at $360,600.
	Smart Cars Coming to America

Brooklands, The British 1000 Miles Race Art Print Buy at AllPosters.com	SMART CAR SPECIFICATIONS		*
	Length: 106.1 in. Width: 61.4 in. Height: 60.7 in. Wheel Base: 73.5 in. Curb Weight: 1653 lbs. Gross Weight: 2248 lbs. Interior Luggage Capacity: 7.7 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 8 cu. ft. Maximum Seating: 2 Number of Cylinders: 3 Engine Size: 1 liters Engine Type: Inline 3 Horsepower: 71 hp Torque: 68 ft-lbs. Drive Type: RWD Turning Circle: 28.7 ft. Fuel Tank Capacity: 8.7 gal. Fuel consumption (City/Highway) 40/45 Maximum speed 90 mph Acceleration 0–60 mph 12.8 sec
*	Top Fuel Economy Vehicles for 2008 by Model Type		*
	TWO-SEATER CARS Mercedes-Benz Smart For two 33/41 Mazda MX-5 manual 22/27 MINICOMPACT CARS MINI Cooper automatic 26/34 MINI Cooper manual 28/37 SUBCOMPACT CARS Toyota Yaris automatic 29/35 Toyota Yaris manual 29/36 COMPACT CARS Honda Civic Hybrid automatic 40/45 Toyota Corolla manual 28/37 MIDSIZE CARS Toyota Prius automatic 48/45 Nissan Versa manual 26/31 LARGE CARS Honda Accord automatic 21/31 Honda Accord manual 22/31 SMALL STATION WAGONS Honda Fit automatic 27/34 Honda Fit manual 28 Volkswagen Passat Wagon manual 21/29 SMALL PICKUP TRUCKS Toyota Tacoma 2WD automatic 19/25 Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD manual 21/26 Mazda B2300 2WD manual 21/26 STANDARD PICKUP TRUCKS Chevrolet Silverado C15 2WD automatic 15/20 Chevrolet Silverado C15 2WD automatic 15/20 Chevrolet Silverado C15 2WD automatic 15/20 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD automatic 15/20 GMC Sierra C15 2WD automatic 15/20 GMC Sierra C15 2WD automatic 15/20 GMC Sierra C15 2WD automatic 15/20 Honda Ridgeline Truck 4WD automatic 15/20 Mitsubishi Raider Pickup 2WD automatic 15/20 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD manual 16/20 Mitsubishi Raider Pickup 2WD manual 16/20 CARGO VANS Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 2WD automatic 15/20 GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (cargo)automatic 15/20 MINIVANS Mazda 5 automatic 21/27 Mazda 5 manual 22/28 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES Ford Escape Hybrid FWD automatic 34/30
	Also See the 2008 Fuel Economy Guide
Best and Worst Vehicles According to Consumer Reports Magazine

Small Cars Most reliable Honda Fit Toyota Yaris Honda Civic Hybrid Toyota Corolla Least reliable Chevrolet Cobalt 2006 Nissan Sentra Volkswagen Jetta (5 cyl.) Chevrolet Aveo		Family Cars Most reliable Honda Accord Hybrid Toyota Prius Honda Accord (4-cyl.) Ford Fusion Mercury Milan Least reliable Volkswagen Passat (4 cyl.)
Sport cars Most Reliable Lexus SC Toyota Camry Solara (4-cyl.) Subaru Impreza WRX Honda S2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2006 Mini Cooper hatchback Least reliable Pontiac Solstice Mercedes-Benz SL Mercedes-Benz CLK Mercedes-Benz SLK (V6) Chevrolet Corvette Porshce 911 Carrera Ford Mustang (V6)		Midsized SUVs Most Reliable Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota 4Runner Toyota Highlander Honda Pilot Lexus RX400h* (hybrid) 2006 Acura MDX Least reliable Mercedes-Benz M-class Land Rover LR3 (V8) Cadillac SRX (V8) Mercedes-Benz R-class Volkswagen Touareg Jeep Grand Cherokee Hummer H3* 2006 BMW X5 (V8) Volvo XC90 (I6 and V8) Ford Explorer (V8) Mercury Mountaineer (V8
Pickups Most reliable Subaru Baja Toyota Tundra Toyota Tacoma Nissan Frontier (V6) Least reliable Nissan Titan Ford F-250 (diesel) Dodge Dakota (4WD) 2006 Cadillac Escalade EXT		Large SUVs Most reliable Toyota Land Cruiser Lexus LX Toyota Sequoia Chevrolet Tahoe GMC Yukon Least reliable Nissan Armada Infiniti QX56 Lincoln Navigator Hummer H2
Wagon/Minivan Most Reliable Pontiac Vibe Scion xB Toyota Matrix Toyota Sienna Least reliable Buick Terraza Chevrolet Uplander Saturn Relay Nissan Quest		Small SUV Most reliable Toyota FJ Cruiser Honda Element 2006 Honda CR-V Toyota Rav4* 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander* Subaru Forester Least reliable Kia Sportage
Luxury Cars Most reliable Lexus LS M Least reliable Cadillac STS (V8) 2006 Mercees-Benz S-class Mercedes-Benz CLS Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan BMW 7-series Jaguar S-type		Large Cars Most reliable Lexus ES350 Lincoln Zephyr Hyundai Azera Acura TSX Acura TL Least reliable Jaguar X-type Chrysler 300 (V8) Saab 9-3

Citroen C4 Automobile Giclee Print Buy at AllPosters.com	Special Features		Mini Cooper Poster Buy at AllPosters.com
	Automotive Learning Library
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	Links
	Automotive News AutoWeek Consumer Guide Detroit News Edmunds.com New Car Info Free NC Road Map Import Car magazine Kelly Blue Book Maintenance Schedules and recall Info Motorcycle News Motor Magazine Motor Age Motortrend Magazine Nascar News National Map Viewer NC DOT Outer Banks Free Press Technical Service Bulletins The Auto Channel Underhood Service Vin Number Trace Wards Auto News

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