Today, we want to talk about timing belts. Many drivers know they’re important, but they don’t know why or, more importantly, what happens if that blessed belt breaks. Best case scenario: Your vehicle stops running on the spot. Your engine shuts off; your car isn’t going anywhere without a tow truck. Worst case scenario: All of the above, plus you’re likely looking at thousands of dollars of engine damage because an untold number of internal engine parts have collided at high speeds.

Here’s why this simply named belt can cause such a tale of woe: It ensures that key engine components move into the right position at the right time. As you may know, the engine’s power is generated in the cylinders. A piston rides up and down in the cylinder. During the first down stroke, an intake valve at the top of the cylinder opens and air and fuel is drawn into the cylinder. (Click the video above for a video illustration of how this works.) Then the piston returns to the top, compressing the fuel and air mix. At the top, the spark plug fires, igniting the fuel and pushing the piston down. As the piston once again returns up in the final stroke of the cycle, an exhaust valve opens at the top of the cylinder and the exhaust is pushed out. The coordinates the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. It’s called a timing belt because the valves have to open and close at just the right time.

Not all vehicles have timing belts. Some have timing chains. Like the name implies, they use a chain rather than a belt to perform the function. It used to be that most engines used timing chains, which are extremely durable. Manufacturers started using belts rather than chains to save money in the manufacturing process.

If your car has a timing belt, replacing it will be part of your maintenance schedule, and on many cars, a new belt is recommended at 90,000 miles. (Ask us or check your owner’s manual.)  If you neglect to replace it, the design of your engine will determine whether your car simply stops running or if you’ll be left with a costly repair decision. There are two broad categories of engine design: interference and non-interference. If the timing belt on a non-interference engine breaks, the engine simply stops running. That could be very dangerous depending on where you are at the time, but it causes no internal engine damage.

Interference engines, on the other hand, will get real messed up when the timing belt breaks, because the valves will moving down into the combustion chamber as the piston is moving up into it. The valves and pistons can’t withstand the force of the high-speed impact, and you won’t know the extent of the damage until the cylinder head is disassembled. It can easily cost thousands to repair the engine.

So, what are the warning signs that the belt might be about to break? Unfortunately, there really aren’t any. There aren’t telltale sounds. In some vehicles, a technician will be able to glimpse part of the belt for a visual inspection, but many have a cover that’s in the way. The reality is that if the belt slips even one notch, it might as well be broken for all the damage it will cause. There’s no middle ground.

We’ve painted a grim picture here, but we would rather lay out it for your now than watch you learn the hard way. Sometimes, you can get away with ignoring the timing belt, but you have to ask yourself: Is it worth the risk? Even if the engine isn’t damaged, do you want to deal with the stress, inconvenience and cost of unexpected breakdown?

What does it cost to replace a timing belt and avoid a tow truck? It varies with the type of car you have, but in general, it ranges from $550-$1,000. This is because it’s a time-consuming procedure and because it’s smart to replace the water pump at the same time. The timing belt is attached to your intake and exhaust valves (the top of the engine), as well as pulleys that run off the crankshaft (in the lower portion of your engine).

Your technician will have to remove a number of components and covers just to access the belt. And then once s/he’s in there, the water pump is usually right there. By the time you replace the timing belt, the water pump has 90,000 or more miles on it. It has a limited lifespan. For the cost of the pump (and sometimes a tad more labor), you can ensure you’re problem-free for the next 90,000 miles. But if you leave the old pump in there and it begins to leak in another 10,000 miles, you’re paying for the entire timing belt procedure again.

When you weigh all your options, you’ll see that this is one clear-cut case of  “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Posted by Jack

The good news in all this is that Toyota announced today its engineers have developed a way to reinforce the accelerator pedal assembly in the 2.3 million recalled vehicles, and repairs will begin this week. Parts to reinforce the pedals are being shipped to Toyota dealers, and dealer training is under way.  Many dealers will work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly as possible.

What should you do if your Toyota has been recalled? Wait for further notice. In a video news release to consumers, Toyota Motor Sales USA President Jim Lentz says owners will be notified by mail when to set up a dealer appointment. Some owners are affected by this recall and the floor mat recall, and the carmaker is hoping to coordinate a single trip to the dealer for you. They ask that you wait to contact the dealer until your receive your letter in the mail.

However, if that seems painfully slow, you can read all about the recall on Toyota’s web site, or you can call their hotline at 800 331 4331. You can also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 888 327 4236. Of course, we are always here for you, too. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need some guidance or information.

The January 21 recall affected eight vehicle models:

• Avalon (2005-10)
• Camry (2007-10)
• Corolla (2009-10)
• Highlander (2010)
• Matrix (2009-10)
• RAV4 (2009-10)
• Tundra (2007-10)
• Sequoia (2008-10)

The hybrid versions of the Camry and Highlander are not affected by the recall, and neither are Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highland vehicles with VINs that begin with “J.”

Read the latest from Toyota.

Read Toyota’s FAQs regarding the recall.

Posted by Angi

Much to Toyota’s dismay, though, routine wear and environmental conditions may cause these neighboring surfaces to stick and release, instead of operating fluidly. In some cases, the pedal can become slow to return to the idle position, or the pedal could stick in a partially open position. Toyota says the latter happens in rare cases, but that is the driving force behind the recall.

Toyota’s solution for vehicles owners is this: A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. The carmaker says it has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.

Separately from the recall for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in the process of recalling vehicles to address instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal. The company is notifying owners about how it will fix this issue, and in cases when a vehicle is covered by both recalls, Toyota intends to remedy both at the same time.

Read the latest from Toyota.

Read Toyota’s FAQs regarding the recall.

America's best-selling car is among those being recalled.

Toyota’s supplier, CTS Corp., is cranking out new accelerator pedals in its Elkhart, IN plant in a mass effort to address the issue that caused Toyota to recall 2.3 million vehicles in the United States and countless more in Europe and China and to halt the sale of affected vehicles.

Toyota said it has worked closely with CTS Corp. on the revised gas pedal design, which eliminates the possibility of the pedal becoming worn and sticking open. The carmaker and CTS continue to test ways to repair, rather than replace, the pedals that are already on cars on the road and in dealership showrooms.

As the modified parts ship across the country, it is unclear whether they’re going to Toyota’s stalled production lines or to dealership service centers for new and recalled vehicles.

To make matters worse for the carmaker, it recalled an additional 1.1 million vehicles this week for problems with an unsecured or incompatible floor mat causing the accelerator pedal to stick open. This is related to an October recall in which 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles were recalled. The newly recalled vehicles are:

• Corolla (2009-10)
• Highlander (2008-10)
• Matrix (2009-10)
• Venza (2009-10)

In the floormat recall, Toyota will initially instruct dealers on how to reshape the accelerator pedal. As replacement parts become available, the dealer will install those at no cost to the client. (Clients who have had their pedal reshaped will have the opportunity to have it replaced once parts are available.) For information, you can call Toyota at 800 331 4331. (Of course, you can always contact us by email or phone at 847 816 0011.)

Read Toyota’s FAQs on the new recall.

Read the latest from Toyota.

Posted by Mike

On the heals of its decision to voluntarily recall 2.3 million vehicles, Toyota is temporarily halting sales of the eight affected models, including the Toyota Camry. The carmaker announced the recall on Jan. 21 because of a problem that could cause the gas pedal to stick.

According to Toyota, there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. The company says a sticking accelerator pedal is unusual, and it rarely occurs suddenly. The problem will usually develop gradually and can occur when the accelerator pedal mechanisms become worn. Warning symptoms include: the pedal becoming harder to press, the pedal returning slower when released, or sticking in a partially depressed position.

Company spokespeople say Toyota has investigated isolated reports of the sticking gas pedal. The pedal recall and suspension of sales affect these models:

• Avalon (2005-10)
• Camry (2007-10)
• Corolla (2009-10)
• Highlander (2010)
• Matrix (2009-10)
• RAV4 (2009-10)
• Tundra (2007-10)
• Sequoia (2008-10)

The Camry and Highlander and hybrids are not involved, and neither are Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highland vehicles with VINs that begin with “J.”

Because of the sales suspension, Toyota is expected to stop production of new vehicles at the following facilities for the week of February 1:

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (Corolla, Matrix, and RAV4)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (Sequoia and Highlander)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky – Line 1 (Camry and Avalon)
• Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (Camry)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Tundra)

If you believe your vehicle is affected or if you have any questions, you can call Toyota at 800 331 4331. (Of course, you can always contact us by email or phone at 847 816 0011.) This recall is separate from the campaign announced in October in which a loose floormat could become lodged under the gas pedal and cause it to stick open.

Read Toyota’s FAQs on the new recall.

Read the latest from Toyota.

According to Toyota, there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. The company says a sticking accelerator pedal is rare, and it rarely occurs suddenly.

The problem will usually develop gradually and can occur when the accelerator pedal mechanisms become worn. Warning symptoms include: the pedal becoming harder to press, the pedal returning more slowly when released, or the pedal sticking in a partially depressed position.

Affected vehicles include:

• Avalon (2005-10)
• Camry (2007-10)
• Corolla (2009-10)
• Highlander (2010)
• Matrix (2009-10)
• RAV4 (2009-10)
• Tundra (2007-10)
• Sequoia (2008-10)

The Camry and Highlander and hybrids are not affected by the recall, and neither are Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highland vehicles with VINs that begin with “J.”

Toyota is working rapidly with the supplier, CTS Corp. of Elkart, IN, on a solution to the problem. The company will notify owners of affected vehicles as soon as possible. If you believe your vehicle is affected or if you have any questions, you can call Toyota at 800 331 4331. (Of course, you can always contact us by email or phone at 847 816 0011.) This is separate from a recall announced in October in which a loose floormat could become lodged under the gas pedal and cause it to stick open.

Read Toyota’s FAQs on the new recall.

Read the latest from Toyota.

Screeching tires, crunching metal, it happens in a split second. And with ice and snow on the roads, this time of year is prime for fender benders and major collisions. If you’ve ever been in a car accident, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It’s hard to think straight and know what to do.

Let’s review what you should do in case of an accident:

• You should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident is considered a crime, even if it’s not your fault. Hit and run penalties can be fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your driver’s license or even jail time.
• Call emergency services, if necessary, as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed. Perform first aid if you are able.
• Warn other motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood.
• Always attempt to file a police report.** It’s tempting to skip this if everything seems to be ok. But without a police report, the other driver can say whatever s/he wants about the accident later, and you’ll be without an objective report to help defend yourself. (** Note: We say “attempt” because a 2009 Illinois law requires drivers to file a police report only if someone is injured or if the estimated damage exceeds  $1,500. If it’s a minor accident, the policy may choose not to respond, or they may tell you there’s no need to file a report.)
  
• Discuss the accident only with the police. Emotions are strong after an accident and we naturally want to talk about it. Don’t do it! And never admit fault or guilt to anyone, including the police officer. Sometimes we may feel at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the other party may be responsible.
• Give the officer the facts truthfully. For example,  “I was going thirty miles an hour” vs. “I wasn’t speeding.” Remember, anything you say to the officer or anyone else can be used against you.
• Write down the officer’s name and ID number and ask how you can obtain a copy of the accident report.
• Get the facts on the driver and owner of the other vehicle, including the following: name, address, phone number, date of birth, driver’s license number and expiration date, insurance company and policy number, the vehicle make and model, the vehicle license plate and the vehicle identification number (VIN). (Most insurance companies will track the vehicle by VIN vs. license plate.)
• Ask witnesses, including passengers, to wait for the police. If they can’t wait, ask for contact information and request that they write a brief description of what they saw. If someone refuses to leave their name, write down their license plate number so the police can track them down later if necessary.
• Call your insurance agent or your insurance company as soon as possible.
• Call or see a physician if you think you may have been injured.

We hope that you never have to use this information, but remember, you’re always welcome to contact us if you have any further questions—especially as it relates to repairing your car after a crash. That is a matter for a different blog post.

Read the Illinois Rules of Road.

By now, we probably all recognize that we live in a disposable society. It’s amazing—and shocking—all the stuff we throw away.

New gadgets, toys, cell phones, computers, etc. hit the market at a breakneck pace, and we just have to get our hands on the latest and greatest. In the process, we toss the old and move on. But when we were kids, it seemed like our parents were real sticklers about taking care of our stuff. You know, “hang up your clothes,” “polish your shoes,” “put away your toys.” If something got lost or ruined by neglect, tough. We had to do without. We also couldn’t afford new cars very often, so we tried to make them last as long as we could.

Today, cars are much more reliable. They don’t break down as often, and the modern car can easily go 200,000 miles with proper care. The engineering’s there, as is the manufacturing quality. The missing ingredient: Making sure we follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules.

You may wonder: Is it really that bad to get off schedule? Well, it all adds up. Every time you go a couple thousand extra miles between oil changes, you’ve created an opportunity for sludge to form and passages to clog. Then some parts don’t get oiled as well (or at all), and they start to wear out faster.

Skip a cooling system service, and the corrosion inhibitors become depleted. The radiator starts being damaged – one step closer to a failure. The same thing is true for transmission service and fuel system cleaning – really everything on your schedule.

Preventive maintenance is even more important for older vehicles. Those engines and other systems have had more time to get dirty, so they’re already more stressed. But it’s never too late to get back on track with your maintenance and to hold off further damage.

It all starts with the oil change. When you take your vehicle for an oil change at a full service auto repair shop, like Star Auto Authority, we’ll top off all your fluids and thoroughly inspect your vehicle for maintenance and repair needs. We’ll make sure you’re up to date with your maintenance schedule, and we’ll help you prioritize your needs. Consider us your safety net. Let your Star Auto Authority service advisor keep track of everything for you.

While you may think the quick oil change shops are incredibly convenient, they’re simply not set up to do complete inspections or to track all of your maintenance needs. With Star, your car will last longer, and it will cost less to operate! (Statistics show that you can save 40% over the life of your car by doing preventive maintenance rather than waiting for catastrophic breakdowns.)

Of course, some things are going to wear out along the way. We can’t prevent a failed battery or alternator or water pump, and the brakes and tires will eventually wear out. But we can help prevent unexpected, costly breakdowns, and even these repairs are less expensive than a new car payment. (AARP estimates that you can save $3,800 a year by keeping your vehicle longer.) And taking care of problems early means they have less time to cause other problems. It’s like having high cholesterol—you don’t want to wait for a heart attack before you address it.

As carmakers consider fuel efficiency and the inevitable rising cost of gas, you’re going to hear a lot more about diesel engines. We’re not talking about semi-trucks and buses. We’re talking about diesel engine cars, pick-ups and SUVs.

Most American consumers are surprised to learn that about half the cars in Europe have diesel engines. Nearly all import auto manufacturers offer a range of diesel engines abroad—even the ultra-luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. For the most part, these diesel engines haven’t been available in the United States. But that may be about to change.

In the past, North American diesel fuel has had a much higher sulfur content than European fuel. Recent environmental laws required changes to this diesel formulation and emissions standards, paving the way for more diesel options in this market. Why the sudden interest in diesels?

To begin with, diesel fuel is more energy dense. There’s more power in a barrel of diesel fuel than there is in a barrel of gasoline. That means better performance with better fuel economy. Diesel-powered vehicles get about 20 percent better fuel economy.

And as for power, why do you think the majority of new heavy duty pick-up trucks are being sold with diesel engines? If you think back to the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, you may shudder when you think of the diesel-powered cars of the day. They were noisy, smoky, under-powered beasts that rattled and shook their passengers. Modern diesels are nothing like that. They are quiet, clean and very powerful. They’re so refined that many people can’t even tell they’re riding in a diesel-powered car.

In addition to fuel savings, diesels generally last longer than gasoline engines because of their heavy-duty construction.

Another thing that intrigues the environmentally conscious is that it’s possible to use bio-diesel as fuel. Bio-diesel is made from vegetable oil, even recycled cooking oil from restaurants. Hybrid cars have gotten everyone’s attention these days. Look to diesel-electric hybrids in years to come to make a good idea even better.

You should know that properly maintaining a diesel engine is somewhat different than a gasoline engine. Fluid change intervals are different. Emissions control devices have to work harder to filter diesel fuel and to scrub the exhaust. And the fuel injection system operates at much higher pressures than gas fuel injection systems, so it’s critical to keep your fuel system clean with a diesel.

The good news is that at Star Auto Authority, we’re keeping tabs with this new diesel technology and will be able to service and repair these vehicles as they hit the American market. Imagine being able to enjoy the service convenience of Star with the money-saving convenience of a highly fuel-efficient modern diesel.

Posted by Jim

At our client’s request, we contacted the dealer and learned there wasn’t a recall on either of her vehicles. Even though we didn’t hear the initial phone message, we saw how much it confused our client and we couldn’t help but think the dealer had been hoping to spur business using the lure of a safety recall. While we certainly appreciate reaching out to clients we haven’t seen for awhile, we think this is a much different tactic than saying, “We miss you. Come back for a visit.”

The danger in vague messages like this one is that they mistakenly led her to believe there was something critical wrong with her vehicle. On the same level, another client recently shared his disgust with us at receiving an email marked, “Urgent notice about your Toyota!” When he opened the email, it was nothing but a generic advertisement for an oil change and maintenance special. (It was coincidental that his experience was also with a Toyota.) If you receive enough misleading ads like this, you may begin to ignore this type of messaging—at the risk of someday ignoring an actual safety recall.

That’s why we thought now would be an ideal time to explain how safety recalls work:

1) As the name implies, safety recalls are issued when there is a safety issue with a vehicle. They are not something you generally want to ignore. The reason for recall can take many forms: a fuel line may fail and cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire; an airbag may not deploy during an accident; the engine could stall while driving, increasing the risk of an accident. It can also be as simple as an information label containing incorrect information.

1) If there is a recall on your vehicle, you will almost always be notified by the manufacturer: Acura, Chrysler, Chevy, Ford, Honda, Toyota, BMW, Jeep, etc. You will rarely be notified by the dealer, unless you take it in for service and they mention it at the time of the appointment.

2) Recall notices are currently sent via postal mail, not by phone or email.

3) You can always check for recall notices online at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site. They usually announce a recall a month or two before before the carmaker begins to notify consumers. (We post new recalls to our web site each month, too, but if you miss a month, you’ll have to defer to NHTSA.)

Please keep these three basics in mind, too, if you receive emails insisting that you’re due for urgent service or clever direct mail letters from companies hoping to sell you extended warranty contracts. While extended warranties are a different animal altogether—and we generally find the good ones to be a worthwhile purchase, some of the marketing can cause confusion.

Perhaps most importantly, remember that we’re here to answer any questions you may have about any emails, voicemails or letters you receive and any car ownership questions that come up in general. Consider us your untapped automotive resource. We enjoy sharing our knowledge, especially when it directly benefits you.