At Star Auto Authority, we don’t see a lot of diesel engines right now, but there is an undercurrent of interest and intrigue surrounding the new diesel engines that will soon be available in U.S. passenger cars and SUVs.

While diesel engines have long been popular in Europe and Asia, they were never embraced by the American motorist. But a number of carmakers are banking on superior fuel efficiency and new, quieter engines to drive an increased demand for diesel-powered cars in the U.S. market.

BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Subaru have announced or are expected to announce new diesels for North America. U.S. auto makers are expected to expand their diesel offerings as well.

You may ask: Why has it taken so long for carmakers to bring new diesels to the North American market? There are a number of reasons, including fuel tax policies, but the biggest hurdle was the high sulfur content in the diesel fuel. It was too high for the latest generation of highly refined diesel engines. Recent government mandates to remove sulfur now opens up Illinois and the U.S. market to the engines the rest of the world has been enjoying for a long time.

Why are diesels so popular worldwide? Well, for starters, they get up to 30 percent better fuel economy than gas engines. They also last longer. And unlike older diesels, modern generation engines are refined, quiet and powerful.

Some people think that diesels create more pollution, but that’s not the case. A modern diesel engine is as clean as a gas engine, and environmental pollution standards for diesel cars and light trucks are scheduled to be as strict as they are for gasoline vehicles.

As with gasoline engines, proper maintenance is the key to long engine life and to avoiding repairs. While we don’t have the maintenance schedules just yet to make direct comparisons with gasoline engines, our experience tells us that we can expect fluid drain intervals to be similar to gasoline engines. And while the engine air filter needs to be changed more frequently because diesels require very clean air (and fuel and oil), braking, steering and suspension systems are pretty much the same as gasoline-powered cars. If you like to keep your vehicles for a long time, a properly maintained diesel engine can last for hundreds of thousands of miles.

You may also have heard a lot in the news about bio-diesel. The exciting thing about diesels is that they’re not limited to fossil fuels. They can run on fuel made from vegetable oil. There are refineries that make diesel fuel from cellulosic waste, such as wood chips from lumber mills. There’s even a cool new process where a special strain of algae is used to convert carbon dioxide, water and sunshine into bio-diesel. That’s still a ways off, but the possibility is there for diesel to become a sustainable source of fuel.

When it comes to our health, we often seek a second opinion when the doctor gives us news we don’t necessarily agree with. When it comes to auto repair, a lot of us take the same approach.

Posted By Bill

Perhaps we don’t quite trust the shop that recommended A, B and C items, or maybe we want to compare pricing to find the best value. For items that can be inspected visually—tires, belts, hoses, fluid leaks, worn shocks—it’s easy enough to confirm or quash the recommendations and to provide an apples-to-apples cost estimate.

But it’s a different matter entirely when there’s poor engine performance, weird suspension or steering noises, braking issues, and  “Service Engine Soon” lights. (Or similarly, antilock braking (ABS) or airbag (SRS) lights.) Understandably, we field phone calls from motorists asking questions like, “How much to replace the EGR valve in my 2004 Toyota Camry?” and “I was told I need new rotors because of a vibration. How much will that be?”

We can certainly estimate the replacement cost for you, but the next part is tricky. What if you bring the car to us, we replace the EGR valve or rotors based on the prior shop’s diagnosis, and your problem is still there? You will have spent money fixing a non-problem, and chances are, you’ll be angry and frustrated—with the situation, with us and with the other shop.

I can hear your objections now: “Yeah, but how often does that happen?” or “Doesn’t the computer tell you what’s wrong?” Surprisingly and unfortunately, we see incorrect diagnoses regularly—at least 50 percent of the time. This is not meant as a dig on our fellow auto repair shops. We can get into the reasons for misdiagnoses another time. But rather, I’m sharing this with you to explain why we think a second inspection or evaluation is, more often than not, worth the money.

If you are bringing the vehicle to us after another shop has seen it, there’s a reason. Does the answer just not seem right to you, or do you not like the pricing? Do you really want to risk us taking their word for it and replacing said item? Or is it worth it to you to pay a second diagnostic fee to ensure the diagnosis was correct—or incorrect?

Countless times, I’ve explained this to clients. They’re doubtful at first, and I can understand that. It’s one thing to pay another $35 co-pay at the doctor’s. It’s another to spend another $100+ on a second diagnosis for your car. But also countless times, I’ve been able to come back and say, “Hey, you don’t need that $500 part after all. All you really need is a $100 wire repair.” One client who was told he needed a new engine in his Toyota pickup truck, when he actually needed a knock sensor. Another client was told she needed a head gasket when she needed an intake gasket. I could go on and on with the examples.

Obviously, I’d recommend that you find and stick with a repair shop you trust to give you the right answer the first time. But if you find yourself in a position where you have doubts, definitely ask yourself the questions above. Chances are, you’ll see the wisdom in paying for a second formal opinion.

Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in Vernon Hills and across the country?

Is it:

1. Stereo
2. Wheels
3. Airbag
4. DVD System

Well, if you said stereo—you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft. About 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. While new airbags cost about $1,000, stolen ones sell for $50 to $200 on the black market.

Unfortunately, some stolen airbags make their way back into cars that have been in collisions. There have been reports that 1 in 25 airbags are replaced with stolen units or, possibly worse, no airbag is installed at all.

Aside from the obvious legal issues, having a stolen airbag installed in a car poses a danger to the consumer. You can never be sure what may have previously affected the airbag and whether it will work in the event of an accident.

This is definitely one car part you don’t want to take a chance with. At Star Auto Authority, we recommend following these guidelines:

• Choose a reputable collision repair center. Look for a shop with the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence designation and/or one whose employees are ASE-certified or I-CAR trained. Look for AAA approved shops** or Chamber of Commerce members. Ask for referrals from friends and family. Read consumer reviews online.  (If you need assistance, please let us know. We can help you find a collision repair shop to suit your needs.)
• Inspect the invoice to ensure that the repair shop purchased the airbag from a manufacturer, dealer or recycler. If you can inspect the airbag prior to installation, it should be packaged in a sealed container from the manufacturer.
• Look for your SRS light (Supplemental Restraint System) on the dashboard when you first start your vehicle. This is a quick test of the system, and when the light flashes on for a moment, it tells you the airbag system is activated. If you do not see the SRS light, there is likely a problem with the airbag system.

Even though thieves have taken a liking to airbags, always remember to lock your doors and keep your valuables out of sight (or out of the car). GPS systems, satellite radios, stereos and the like are still tempting “rewards.” You don’t want to lose your electronics and deal with a broken window at the same time!

** Note: A search for AAA shops in the Chicago area turned up no results, but there a search in Indiana produced a number of AAA collision shops. Keep checking back! We assume they are expanding their program.

Chrysler is recalling nearly 600,000 Jeep Wranglers, Chrysler Town & Country minivans and Dodge Grand Caravans for two separate concerns.

Nearly 300,000 Jeep Wranglers, model years 2007 – 2010, are being recalled because of a potential brake fluid leak. Low brake fluid can cause a partial loss of brake service, increasing the risk of a crash.

The issue is caused by contact between the right and left front inner fender liners and the right front and left rear brake tubes.

At the same time, Chrysler is recalling nearly 300,000 minivans for an issue with an improperly routed wiring harness that could lead to a fire. The recall applies to 2008 and 2009 Caravans and Town & Country minivans that were built between February and September 2007.

If the wiring harness was improperly routed, the lower sliding door hinge bracket could wear through the insulation. This could cause a short circuit inside the door, overheating the latch and possibly leading to a fire.

Chrysler will notify owners, and the dealer will repair the vehicles at no charge. NHTSA’s campaign number is 10V236000 for the Jeep recall, and Chrysler’s campaign number is K13. NHTSA’s campaign number is 10V235000 for the minivans, and Chrysler’s is K14.

For more information, call Chrysler at 800 853 1403 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 888 327 4236.