It's a good time to get your car seviced.

I'm sure that all mechanics have less business than normal so choose your favourite.

Yesterday, my car wouldn't start. I usually get my car serviced at Escalera because I can drop it off and walk home, and it is better than ever now the "owner" is back on site. I called and the guys came and gave me a boost in less than 10 minutes. However, this morning the same problem occurred even though I drove around for an hour yesterday to make sure it was fully charged. Well, I sure didn't know you're supposed to replace the battery every five years and the one giving me problems was installed in 2012. So, I called again at 9 am to come give me a boost and asked them to install a new battery and please check the air conditioning since the guy is usually there on Tuesdays. At 9:30 I was in the shop and at 10:30, I left with a brand new battery and a new air filter for the air conditioning (it was clogged with dust). Car not only starts now but it's cold on #1 and it blows really hard now! Total $2650 pesos.
I'm so happy!!!

Being a curious bug by nature, of course I followed up on the air conditioning filter. I'd never heard of it before nor, considering the condition it was in, had anyone ever changed it before. And I'm asking quite honestly if any of you knew about it? I have heard people complaining about their air conditioning and going to specialists (like Eurofreeze) to get it fixed but not being happy (like Camille Waters).
We live in a dusty place and it seems to be a no brainer to change this cheap little filter once a year to ensure your comfort and health.

https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-ac-air-filter

https://cartreatments.com/clean-car-air-conditioner-filter/

Car batteries last even a shorter time here where I live on the coast, where it's so hot and humid. One thing to keep in mind is that while it's nice to have your mechanic deal with all that, if a battery fails before its guarantee date, Autozone will give you a pro-rated discount on a new battery, so I prefer to buy them myself and hold onto the receipt and guarantee. I had a battery go bad within 2 years, and I was glad I had done that.

Yes, and like the engine breather filter, should be checked regularly. Otherwise it starts to choke the air.

mudgirl wrote:Car batteries last even a shorter time here where I live on the coast, where it's so hot and humid. One thing to keep in mind is that while it's nice to have your mechanic deal with all that, if a battery fails before its guarantee date, Autozone will give you a pro-rated discount on a new battery, so I prefer to buy them myself and hold onto the receipt and guarantee. I had a battery go bad within 2 years, and I was glad I had done that.

I would have bought the battery at Autozone if they had a drive through. LOL. There was no warning at all. Just bang, you're dead. And, I highly suspect that my having to jack the air conditioning to #4 to get the slightest cool breeze is what did the battery in. I may be a dummy but I'm teachable. I will have the new battery, in hand, four and a half years from now. The air conditioner filter will be getting changed every year during maintenance from now on.

I use the LTH battery place immediately east of Autozone: best pricing, and they do it for you. And of course you get the pro-rated replacements. Just park in front.

Even better. Thanks

[quote="ferret"]

mudgirl wrote: There was no warning at all. Just bang, you're dead.

Same here. I'm used to the car being hard to start, you can hear it trying to catch, as a warning that the battery is going, but mine just left me dead in the middle of PV one day.

ComputerGuy wrote:I use the LTH battery place immediately east of Autozone: best pricing, and they do it for you. And of course you get the pro-rated replacements. Just park in front.

Mike, Walmart is just immediately east of Autozone, is that who you are referring to?

You are right, sorry, I'm thinking of that place in Riberas... Car City. And of course they tore the place down at the beginning of Covid... You know, I am hardly out in the car anymore; great excuse, huh? Okay, so just east of where Car City was. Huge LTH sign. Thanks, Slainte.

Speaking of Car City, does anyone know if they have opened up at a new location?