Staten Island Auto Repair

by Dale Bertram May 31st 2012 These days, automotive service and repair shops are getting more calls than ever asking for an estimate. We understand that this is mostly due to the economy. People are understandably searching for the best value, and they want to make sure they can afford to pay for the service. Many consumers want to know exactly how we arrive at the estimated price, so I thought I would take a moment and explain. An estimate consists of three parts: The labor rate Parts and supplies Overhead Labor Rate An automotive service and repair shop estimates the labor rate by determining how long any given service or repair should take. These guidelines are further established by the manufacturer of each vehicle estimating the time it takes a trained technician to perform the specific task. Parts and Supplies Since we can’t fix things withou ... read more

By Dale Bertram October 2nd 2012 Car problems of any kind can be frustrating, but the one that seems to annoy people the most is when their car won’t start. People then get doubly annoyed when they call the shop and ask, “Why won’t my car start?” and we tell them, “It could be one of several reasons.” I thought I would go over some of the causes just in case you experience a no start in the near future. There are two types of no starts … one that we call “no crank” and the other we call “crank.” If the Engine Is Not Cranking No crank is when you try to start your engine and you hear nothing. This could be caused by one of three things: the battery, the ignition, or the starter circuit. 1. Check your battery voltage If it is low, try to jump start your battery. 2. Check for corroded or loose battery cables You might also have corroded or loose battery cables. If this is the case, you can ... read more

25 years ago we had a customer come in with a brake squeal… We found the brakes low and suggested replacement. The customer authorized us to change the brakes. A week later we get a call from the customer that their engine belt broke and they were stuck in Pennsylvania. The shop they were in was taking advantage of them and my customer was angry. Not only with that shop but with me. He said that it was my responsibility to have checked the car over and find this potential and now real issue. He was right! Another customer had us check his car for obvious problems. We only looked at a few systems. The customer authorized us to correct the problems we found. Three months later they came back with an issue that was very expensive and was angry that we had not caught it. The customer's complaint was that if he knew all this work was needed he would have rather sold or traded the car in then spend the initial money on the car. I took away his options by not letting him know th ... read more

Hi From Zaloomie Blog:I read this great blog about getting your car ready for Winter by Laura T. Coffey and thought it would help you prepare....By Laura T. Coffey OK, so if you live in Florida or Southern California, you may not need to read this column. But if you live in a cold-weather state, or perhaps if you are planning to visit loved ones in a colder clime over the winter holidays, the following tips literally could be life-saving! And even if you’ve been living in Alaska for many years now, these tips can serve as handy reminders of simple steps you can take to stay safe and keep your vehicle in good working order this winter. 1. Get the right kind of oil change. Are you approaching the time for a 30,000-mile full service for your vehicle? If so, don’t procrastinate! Among other things, the service should include an oil change, and the oil used should have the right viscosity, or thickness, for your vehicle at this time ... read more

I read this in Consumer reports and thought it would be great information for you all. Enjoy How to find a great car mechanic What you should look for in finding a good repair shop If the car dealership you've been using for service has closed, it's time to find a new mechanic. And unless you plan on driving a good way to the next nearest dealership, you might want to opt for an independent shop. Your car will probably still be in good hands. According to a survey we conducted, people who used independent mechanics were generally more satisfied than those who had their car serviced at a dealership. If your car is under warranty, you will still need to go to a dealership for warranty repairs, but you won't need to go to the dealership for routine maintenance. Under federal law you have the right to have repairs performed anywhere you like without voiding the warranty ... read more

You wake up and Monday and find your car that sat all weekend won't crank. You don't remember leaving any lights on or doors open. What Happened?? Well that's a common problem but the solution is not always easy. This Yukon gave us trouble due to the fact that the problem was intermittent. If it doesn't happen it's hard to diagnose or even test. The battery, starter and alternator tested fine. but some days, overnight, we'd come in and the battery is dead. After hours of testing, pulling fuses and tracing wires we found the problem. The transfer case module that monitors and controls the 4X4 system would come on intermittent and run down the battery. So disconnect it and let the customer go, right? Not so easy, the Yukon is 4X4 Automatic. Which means that it has four wheel on demand so without the module the car will possible shift into 4 wheel or 2 wheel intermittently. This is a safety issue and one that warrants repair. Ordered the new Module and repaired the tru ... read more

I am humbled by a letter I received from a friend regarding the service he and his family received at Zaloomie recently. I don't know if I deserve these accolades but I do know we strive for excellence. Great Job to all my staff at Zaloomie. His complete letter is as follows:

It's a Great Day here at Zaloomie.....It's Freezing but it's a Great Day I woke up to a freezing 25 deg day and guess whose battery was dead. Must have left the headlights on. Nevertheless I was able to jump it, take my granddaughter to school and get to work on time. Icy weather is never good for cars. Most of us want to get in and get to our destination. This puts a lot of stress on the cars engine since the oil and other lubricants have thickened and need to warm up before we take off. Some experts have proposed starting and driving at moderate speeds to warm up the car. My problem is my aggressive driving doesn't lend it self to this procedure. And most of us freeze while warming the car up. Auto car starters may be the answer. Most are set to run for 15 minutes while you shower and prepare for the day. Well, waste gas or drive cold

Christmas, Christmas..........Christmas, No more Christmas... That's the thought from my wife's grandmother every year. So much about the holidays and then it's over. Christmas music turns from Silent Night to Rock once again. For what?? What's the season really about? Why all the stress? Taking Christ out of Christmas leaves nothing. If you're a christian celebrate the meaning of Christmas or better yet the Celebration that your Savior is born. It's nice Peace on earth, Joy and all that but we're missing it.......Let's get back to basics and Celebrate our Messiah Savior, Redeemer and King. God bless you all and I pray for a special New Year George

Hope this finds you all Well. God has blessed us with a Glorious fall. And topping off mine was a weekend trip, Columbus Day weekend, when I was invited to a customer's house upstate New York to press apples making apple cider. Rich and Deadra S. were great host as I dragged 10 of my brother and sisters and their spouses to join in the fun. You'll remember the day was warm and the apples were flowing. Rich had purchased this press in the 80's and had been pressing ever since. We got right into the work and my job was having the blankets (used to envelop the crushed apples) re-sanitized after each use. My wife and my sisters filled over 250 gallons of this Fall nectar. After the work, Deadra surprised us with the best pulled pork this side of the border. Over 50 family and friends were in attendance. We got to share our bounty with over 15 families and just finished our gallons last night. We love our customers!!!! God bless you ... read more