Genesis GV70 in for service

A phone call came in and the client said " I have a 2026 Genesis GV70 AWD, do you work on those vehicles?" Absolutly!, was the answer. I was perplexed however, why whould such a new vehicle be coming into our auto repair shop for repairs or maintenance.? It's the first oil service on the vehicle, is that something you can perform? Furthermore, if I do the work with you, will my warranty be cancelled? -No, absolutly not! It is illegal for a manufacturer or a new car dealer to refuse to honor the vehicle warranty because the maintenance work is being done elsewhere, I said. Sure enough, the client said he would have prefered the vehicle got the first service at the dealer but, being that the nearest Genesis Car Dealler in Ventura County is in LA county, it became too much of a burden to drive 45 miles, and then wait all day for a regular service. 

A phone call came in and the client said " I have a 2026 Genesis GV70 AWD, do you work on those vehicles?" Absolutly!, was the answer. I was perplexed however, why whould such a new vehicle be coming into our auto repair shop for repairs or maintenance.? It's the first oil service on the vehicle, is that something you can perform? Furthermore, if I do the work with you, will my warranty be cancelled? -No, absolutly not! It is illegal for a manufacturer or a new car dealer to refuse to honor the vehicle warranty because the maintenance work is being done elsewhere, I said. Sure enough, the client said he would have prefered the vehicle got the first service at the dealer but, being that the nearest Genesis Car Dealler in Ventura County is in LA county, it became too much of a burden to drive 45 miles, and then wait all day for a regular service. That's when he started looking for a nearer alternative. So, even though he had a prepaid maintenance agreement for the first 45 K miles, thought better than have to give up his day to get the work done "free" We assured him we can perform any kind of auto repair on his vehicle, the only difference is he would have to pay us for the work done, whereas if he took it to the Genesis Authorized Center, he would not, at least not during the warrenty period. So, to all Genesis car owners, be it a GENESIS GV60, Electrified GV70, GV70, GV80, G70, Electrified G80, G80, G90. If your time is worth more than the price of an oil service, we are an alternative in Ventura county.

When it comes to air conditioning work, Ask for more,

 

The beauty of ignorance.

How much to charge the air condition system in my car? That’s how frequently it starts. A simple question with a very complex answer.

You see, due to environmental conditions, in the State of California, this is what you must do as a minimum requirement anytime the mere mention of any air conditioning work is requested on a repair order. But most shops don’ t know it and only key on “recharging the air condition system”

The following is a copy from the Bureau of Automotive Repairs code of auto repair conduct. Recharging the air conditioning system without any other work to find out why it needs recharging in the first place, is a  disservice to a client.

Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16 § 3366

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 34, August 23, 2024

Section 3366 - Automotive Air Conditioning

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any automotive repair dealer that advertises or performs, directly or through a sublet contractor, automotive air conditioning work and uses the words service, inspection, diagnosis, top off, performance check or any expression or term of like meaning in any form of advertising or on a written estimate or invoice shall include and perform all of the following procedures as part of that air conditioning work:

(1) Exposed hoses, tubing and connections are examined for damage or leaks.

(2) The compressor and clutch, when accessible, are examined for damage, missing bolts, missing hardware, broken housing and leaks.

(3) The compressor is rotated to determine if it is seized or locked up.

(4) Service ports are examined for missing caps, damaged threads and conformance with labeling.

(5) The condenser coil is examined for damage, restrictions or leaks.

(6) The expansion device, if accessible, is examined for physical damage or leaks.

(7) The accumulator receiver dryer and in-line filter have been checked for damage, missing or loose hardware or leaks.

(8) The drive belt system has been checked for damaged or missing pulleys or tensioners and for proper belt routing, tension, alignment, excessive wear or cracking.

(9) The fan clutch has been examined for leakage, bearing wear and proper operation.

(10) The cooling fan has been checked for bent or missing blades.

(11) Accessible electrical connections have been examined for loose, burnt, broken or corroded parts.

(12) The refrigerant in use has been identified and checked for contamination.

(13) The system has been checked for leakage at a minimum of 50-PSI system pressure.

(14) The compressor clutch, blower motor and air control doors have been checked for proper operation.

(15) High and low side system operating pressures, as applicable, have been measured and recorded on the final invoice; and,

(16) The center air distribution outlet temperature has been measured and recorded on the final invoice.

(b) Whenever the automotive air conditioning work being advertised or performed does not involve opening the refrigerant portion of the air conditioning system, refrigerant evacuation, or full or partial refrigerant recharge, the procedures specified in subsection (a) need be performed only to the extent required by accepted trade standards.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 3366

So, for those shops that don’t know the rules and only quote to “recharge the system”, I can see why they would do it for a very low price since it does not take that long to perform. However, if you follow the State Guidelines and do as you are required to do, then it takes much longer to accomplish and as such, a more expensive job.

So, I’m sorry I have to quote a higher price to do a “recharge of the air condition system” but, my shop’s job comes with all 17 of the previously printed items which makes for a much, much

better job.

 So, what is the value of a relationship in business?

For your consideration:

My next-door neighbor owns a 2022 Ford F250 diesel 4x4. My shop performs all the services on their truck. They faithfully maintain it by having the oil and filter replaced every 5,000 miles, they replace the air and cabin filters once a year regardless of condition, they replace the fuel filter once a year as well. Suffice to say, they take care of the vehicle. They tow a fabulous looking 36-foot 5^th wheeler with that truck.

A few days ago, they started a one-month long trip. We did not expect to see our neighbors for a whole month. To our surprise, they were back home in a rental car 6 days later. Turns out the high-pressure pump on the diesel engine of the Ford truck, hand grenade, as stated by the Ford dealer in Southern Colorado. This is where relationships matter. They said they could not start even looking at the vehicle for at least 6 weeks. In the meantime, my neighbors had to find a place to store their beautiful 36-foot-long 5^th wheeler after they had to pay a great deal of money to have it towed from the highway. It’s probably going to be there for a minimum of 2 months. Fast forward to things here in Ventura. Our business got a phone call from someone stuck on the freeway. Turns out their GMC diesel truck lost all power and it’s now blowing white smoke out the tailpipe. Can we work on it right away as they are stuck here while going through town?

We truly are backed up for about three weeks to the point we had to say no.

Then it dawned on me about the countless loyal clients we have who call and want (and get) an appointment for the next day. Now! that is relationship business.

With the huge shortage of automotive mechanics, most good shops are running at full capacity much of the time. The only way to get an appointment in the very near future is to have a relationship with your mechanic. One way to endear yourself to your auto mechanic is to start with a great 5-star review that is clear, concise, and to the point.

Air conditioning cabin filter

 A Lexus ES 330 came in with a no air from vents complaint. We proceeded to start testing the blower motor and control circuits, we looked at factory bulletins and tested it's power supplies. To our surprise, all tested fine as we noticed the blower motor in the air condition system was working but not moving any air. We then removed the cabin filter to see if there was anything to impeed the air tra
ffic through the air ducts. This is what we found (please see the photo). It took only 8 months for the filter in the picture to get to that point. Mind you, the vehicle was parked every night under a bottle brush tree. Cabin air filters due a great job at providing vehicle passengers with clean breathable air. How long has it been since the one in your car was inspected and or replaced? On most cases, ABC Auto Care in Ventura will do the inspection as a courtesy if you call them to schedule the appiontment. Go to https://www.abcautocare.com/appointment/

    
Interesting thing. Many times I've asked myself how is it we managed to survive without this wonderful (cabin filter) feature. I'd like to thing that today, we are able to manage our drives with far less respiratory issues such as allergies, colds and flues. The filter is an important part of your health. We are lucky, in the Ventura and Oxnard area, we enjoy a tremendously good quality of air. As you get closer to LA county, that changes dramatically the closer you get to densly populated urban areas. Replacing your air condition cabin filter once a year is good enough around Ventura, unless there are other circumstances such as dust, tree leaves, pollen or recent fires in the way. 

 

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata came into the shop for repair, the owner asked us how much it would cost to replace a purge valve solenoid as the vehicle had failed the smog test. We provided a quote but warned the client that it would be best for us to diagnose the issue and make sure that was indeed the problem.

Upon hearing the price to start the diagnosis and testing, the owner declined and decided to do the work as is. No diagnosis.

The job was done quickly, and the vehicle left. Fast forward to three weeks later and we get an email from the client. He was very disappointed that after bringing the vehicle here specifically to repair the vehicle to pass smog, it had failed for the same reason he had brought the vehicle here. The code P0449 was still in the computer memory just as before.

He further stated he wasn’t the type of client to post a bad review on Yelp or Google because he understood “things happen” and was certain we would take care of it at no additional cost.

This is where I came in. I looked at the initial signed work authorization. It was perfect! We wrote down that the replacement of the valve was an owner request and not we did not guarantee it would correct any problems. It was clearly stated and signed. Imagine my surprise when I read the client’s email to us.

The client further said he would be happy if we provided the diagnosis at no cost as he had already spent money on something he didn’t need.

How would you have handled it? 

  

How We Turned a Hostile Call into a Happy Customer

Every interaction at our auto repair shop often begins with a phone call. Sometimes these calls are pleasant, sometimes they are challenging, and other times, they start one way and end up completely different.

Let us share a story from the first week of January, when we had the privilege of working on a 2011 Chevy Tahoe with a Diesel engine. The vehicle was towed in with a major coolant leak. After diagnosing the issue, we identified a broken radiator and quickly got approval from the client to move forward with the repairs.

As part of our commitment to thorough service, we always recommend performing a full vehicle inspection as a courtesy. The owner agreed, and after documenting everything we found, we completed the repairs, ensuring the Tahoe left our shop in great condition.

The Call: "Ever Since You Worked on My Car..."

Fast forward a few months, and we received a call from the same client. This time, the conversation started on a tense note. He told us, “Ever since you worked on my vehicle, the air conditioning hasn’t been working. It was fine before, so you must’ve caused the issue.”

Answering these kinds of calls is always a balancing act. You can’t jump to conclusions, but you also need to show empathy and willingness to investigate. As the client explained, he had a friend who wanted to be a mechanic, and that friend suggested the radiator repair might’ve caused the air conditioning to fail.

How We Handled It

While speaking with the client, we pulled up the vehicle's repair history in our system. There, under the recommendations, we had noted that the air conditioning system wasn’t working well even before the radiator repair. We calmly pointed this out and asked the client to review his copy of the repair order.

The moment he saw it, his tone shifted. The conversation became less combative, and he agreed to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic work on the air conditioning, at his own cost.

Diagnosing the Real Issue

When the vehicle returned, we performed a full diagnosis and found that the air conditioning compressor had a leak at the front seal. Interestingly, the system had been previously charged at another shop, but they hadn’t fixed the underlying issue.

In the end, what started as a tense phone call turned into a great working relationship. By addressing the client’s concerns with professionalism and care, we turned a potential conflict into another success story.

Why Attention to Detail Matters in Auto Repairs

This story highlights something we see often: customers become very aware of their vehicle’s issues after they’ve had repairs done. It’s only natural for them to associate new problems with recent work. That's why our team always provides comprehensive inspections and clear documentation, ensuring our clients know the exact condition of their vehicle before and after every service.

If you’re experiencing vehicle issues or just need an expert team that you can trust, give us a call today. Whether it's diagnosing an air conditioning issue or handling a major repair like a radiator replacement, we’re here to keep your vehicle running smoothly.

---

Key Takeaways for Vehicle Owners:

• Always ask for a courtesy inspection when your car is being repaired—it can prevent surprises later.
• Review your repair orders to keep track of your vehicle’s condition before and after service.
• Trust a shop that values transparency and clear communication with its clients.

For expert auto repair services in [Your City], contact us today!

Another video from ABC Auto Care in Ventura, Ca. 93003

The value of a thorough vehicle inspection

I got a phone call and the callers asked me to quote on a set of 4 tires and rear brakes. I asked "what is wrong with the ones you have on the car now?"

 The client was traveling through town when she heard a loud noise while applying the brakes on her car. Turns out, she had it at another shop and wanted another quote on the suggested repairs. I offered to give her my opinion and then, upon inspection, I'd provide a quote. 

She came in for the inspection and she did need both suggested items. This is were things went in different directions between us and the repair shop that had the before. One side of the rear brakes pads were metal to metal.

Tires were down to the steel belts on the inside but had about 60 to 75 % left on the center and on the outside. 

The difference was that the other shop did not to look any further beyond her original complaint. We did. The rear brakes were metal to metal because one of the rear calipers had stuck in the locked position. The tires were down to metal on the inside due to worn struts causing the suspension to sag. Without extra repairs, the replaced components would have failed soon, once again . After we showed proof to our claims, she approved the work. Our client is glad we noticed the underlaying cause of the failed components. Soon after that, she approved the work.

When something fails on your vehicle, ask yourself and your mechanic this question ... "What caused this component to fail?"

 A few years ago, I was having a conversation with an expert in the field, an old front end and alignment man. So Lee, he said, when is the best time to suggest an alignment to a client?

I said for me, it was after I inspected the tires for abnormal wear, and it indicated the need for an alignment. To which he replied, “why would you want the tires to get damaged first before you recommend the alignment? Would not be better if you suggested an alignment before damage took place to those tires and thus allowing them to go their full-service life?

I had to agree as it does make sense. Whether you do it before or after tire damage, the client is still paying for an alignment. Then why not do it before the tire is damaged?

Today, my business suggests the suspension be inspected for alignment once a year. For those who think that may be too frequent, Tesla recommends their vehicles be inspected for alignment every 6 months. 

Again, if you had asked me some time back, if an Asian* car (Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, Infinity, Subaru, Mazda, Kia and Hyundai to name a few) would need to have the engine valves adjusted when they are not noisy, I would have said NO!

Today I know better, a lot of Asian car engines, when the valves fall out of adjustment, they tighten rather than loosen up. That is why they do not become noisy when they need adjustment. Once they tighten up, the car develops stalling problems, erratic idle, no power, poor fuel economy and a check engine light with P0300 misfire codes. All of which are difficult to accurately diagnose. Ultimately, the engine will develop burned valves and then the repair becomes very expensive. 

Finally, I suppose the oil change does the same thing. You do it before the engine fails and cost you a lot more. 

The old saying about you cannot teach an old dog new tricks may not be entirely accurate. I have learned new tricks!

*Whereas I enumerated all the Asian brands, the ones with the valve issue are Honda and Acura.

Porsche 911 and Mercedes Benz cars at ABC Auto Care and Christensen Perf...

Can you identify the car by looking at the clues at the bottom of the car?

Toyota Land cruiser spotted in Ventura

Walking the dogs at Arroyo Verde Park and look at this beauty I found in the parking lot. One of the original Land Cruisers in stunning condition. The owner must be proud, this Toyota appears in new condition. What a nice 4 wheel driver car.

Air condition compressor replace on a Nissan Altima with 4 cyl engine at...

The best Toyota I've ever had

        

The best Toyota I have ever had

This is the tale of a Toyota Highlander with lots of miles on the odometer.

The owner had the vehicle at the local Toyota dealer and didn’t like the recommendation they had made. They looked for great reviews on Google and Yelp and found us. So they decided to call and get a second opinion.

They referred to the Highlander as the best car they ever had. And why so you would ask?

“In all these years, we’ve never spent a dime on the vehicle, It has been just great!”

I cringe every time I hear that, and the reasons are simple. They’ve driven lots of miles and all they do is change the oil. But what about the transmission fluid, what about the power steering fluid, the coolant antifreeze, the brake fluid, what about cleaning the fuel injection system for better performance. Yeh! What about it?

All those fluids along with the fuel injection system need to be serviced as well for the car to maintain a great level of performance. After so many miles, what about suspension control arms, struts, shocks, outer tie rod ends, sway bar bushings and links, What about engine mounts, belts, water pump, power steering pump, and cooling system as well as heater hoses.

All these items have a finite life and typically will start to fail soon after 7 years or 80,000 miles.

By the time they brought the Toyota to us for inspection, the list of items needed was long and expensive. I should point out the Highlander also needed tires and brakes all around.

After a long conversation, they optioned to let the car go and trade it for a new vehicle.

Mind you, had they asked me for an opinion whether to fix it or buy new, I would have said to keep what you’ve got (if it is paid for) and fix it. It’s a lot less costly to fix your car than it is to replace it with a new one.

Don’t believe me?  Follow this link from edmunds.com where you can find out the true cost to own a car, new or used.  And here is the link https://www.edmunds.com/tco.html

Maserati at ABC Auto Care in Ventura

Christensen Performance working on a Mercedes C300 suspension

Isaiah working on a Ford F150 sunroof at ABC Auto Care in Ventura, Ca.

We are open at ABC Auto Care

As an essential business, we are choosing to remain open and continue to support our community. Comprised of the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Filmore, Ojai and Camarillo, we asked everyone in the shop for their opinions after we had a meeting where we discussed safety and sanitation procedures. This is what they said. All our auto repair mechanics, all the front office along with support personnel, "We are open!"

When the Audi owner called

It was late in the afternoon after a busy Monday. The phone rings and I’m quick to answer it.

“I have a late model Audi and need some work. What I’m looking for is to find a repair shop where I can start a relationship. I want an auto repair mechanic who’s work I can trust, and prices will be the best and lowest. As a matter of fact, I want to be able to bring my own parts so I can save some money. Is that you?”

“But wait! I actually have three Audis all late models, If you can earn my trust, then you get all three cars to work on!”

Sir, I said, let me start by thanking you for giving me the opportunity to bid for your repairs. However, I’d like to explain what it takes for me to continue in business for the long run and be able to back up all the work we would do on your vehicles.

The formula to stay in business is relatively simple. First, of course, you need clients!  But when it comes to pricing, you can break the pricing principle once or twice and in the short run it appears to not be detrimental. But, if you make it a habit, you’ll soon find yourself like all the other shops that followed those steps. Out of business!

I explained that the comments he started out with were at odds with each other. For us to have a healthy working relationship, both parties must understand and respect each other’s business practices. If you want me to work on your A4, your Q5 or your A7 Audi, then you are going to have to understand that if I don’t maintain my pricing matrix, we are not going to have a long term relationship.  Simply because I will soon be out of business.

Will you as a consumer be able to find someone who will give you lower prices? The answer is an absolute yes!  But I know they won’t be able to match what I have to offer to you as a whole.  You see, part of the charges are for updating and maintaining the equipment, training for technicians and service writers, and upgrading the infrastructure and facilities to accommodate latest technology. I knew a low-price competitor who would pray before using their tire changer when they were working on cars with fancy wheels.

When I asked him why, he said “I can’t afford a new machine and this one tends to cause damage to some of the wheels, I hope and pray this is not this one”

Is this what you are looking for I asked the client on the phone?

“Wow, I didn’t know!”

To date, the client doesn’t bring his parts (we provide them with a full two-year nationwide warranty), he makes appointments and keeps them, has posted a great review of our business and, last but not least, pays on time without griping about it.

A year has passed, and I asked him how the relationship was going.

“I don’t have to think about it.  I love the transparency and the consistency of your good work. I’m glad I took your challenge a year ago”

P.S. I remember well when I took the call, my reaction after hearing the first few sentences, was to thank him and hang up. I’m really glad  I didn’t.

The 5 things your auto repair mechanic would love for you to know

I often find myself browsing through the internet looking for interesting automotive stuff. Recently, I came across an article that both intrigued me and infuriated me at the same time.
I wish they would have allowed for a counterpoint as an accompanying piece to the original. Since they didn't, then here it is!
First, here is the link so you can read the original article. That way you will know what I'm rebutting about.
Here is the link  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-things-your-mechanic-do_b_5516820

Number 5:
Huff post : Mechanics don't want you to know the amount of hours allowed for the job.
Mechanics DO! want you to know what the labor guide allows for the repair. If they show the labor guide, clients will find out more often that they are being charged less than allowed. Why you ask?
Most shops are aware that if they push the price to the limit, that there is always another shop out there hungrier and willing to undersell the job just to take it out of your bay.

Number 4:
HP:  Mechanics guess more than what you think they do.
That is correct! And why is that?
Shops are afraid to ask the client for diagnostic time. AutoZone advertises on the radio they will "test" your car for free (mind you, they are a parts store and not a repair shop). It's grossly misleading as they do not test. They only retrieve the computer code and 100% guess the rest with hopes to sell you the part (which you are not able to return once used)
Consumers resist paying diagnostic fees and often will ask you to waive them if they do the repair with you. Diagnostic time is the most expensive, most time consuming and most riddled with the propensity to be wrong.  You can never ever be 100% certain without comprehensive testing that the one obvious thing you found, is the only problem your car has.
I tell people, the more you allow me to test, the less I will guess, It's your call!

Number 3:
HP: Certifications don't mean what the industry would want you to believe. Maybe! But I certainly wouldn't want my foot surgery to be done by a doctor certified in Proctology.
Certifications mean the person who has them, has spent the time and hours necessary to show they are committed to the trade. They are also required to pass a competency exam at the end of the training.
My guess is the person who wrote the article for the Huffington Post, did not have as many certifications as he should have at the end of 20 years in the trade.

Number 2:
HP: Not all causes of the check engine light need to be repaired.
I agree with that, however,,,
Any codes in the evaporative emissions system can go indefinitely without being repaired. We tell this often to our clients. But you'll definitely be required to repair them when the vehicle is due for smog test. In California, a check engine light on is an automatic failure.
If you allow the check engine light to go unrepaired, the next time the check engine light comes on for another reason, you are not going to know it because the check engine light is already on! And that additional check engine light could be potentially something that could damage other components or the whole system if left unheeded.
That's why I feel any check engine light should be taken care of ASAP regardless of how severe it may be.

Number 1:
HP: Mechanics want you to believe you need to bring your vehicle to them for every repair.
Couldn't be further from the truth!
For the do-it-yourselfer, it's more likely your neighbors are the ones opposed to you working on your vehicle in the driveway - bringing down home prices for the neighborhood, leaving large oil or coolant stains on driveways, and endangering pets as they could come in contact with coolant or more nefarious fluids.
Someone who wants to do their own repairs at home is not our competition. Actually, most shops like mine are very willing to help some clients with advice and even loaning some tools. We know if we are helpful to the client when they are trying to do things at home, then we often will get the vehicle in our bays if things don't go right for them.
Regarding "flushes"
We don't want clients to "flush" the fluids every time they come in as the article states. If we did so, we wouldn't have any clients. We want them to do it every 2 years or 30,000 miles. We have the data to prove if you do them at these intervals, it will save money, time and inconvenience over not doing them at all. My business has a fleet of 8 loaner cars and guess what? We exchange all the fluids as I stated in the previous paragraph, because we believe in them.
Last but not least 
Give people credit for knowing what they represent to every business as a consumer. I know what I represent to my dentist when I go there happily three times a year for dental cleaning (the more I go for dental maintenance, the less I go for dental repairs).  I know what I represent to the coffee shop every morning when I get a Latte. Consumers do know what they represent to a repair shop as they do to every business they frequent.  And we want them to know!