Now that we are into May, the summer heat is starting to arrive. With the rise in temperatures, many people are turning their air conditioning units on. Unfortunately, not everyone's A/C is working. I wanted to take this time to write about the common repairs that we have been seeing. As well as what to expect for A/C cost.

Due to our climate here in the northeast corrosion is our biggest problem. The most common cause for A/C failure that we see is the condenser assembly. The condenser is mounted behind the front bumper cover but in front of radiator assembly. It takes the brunt of abuse from road salt, rocks, bugs and everything that the road can throw. As a result of its positioning, condensers fail due to corrosion and damage from road debris. To replace A/C condenser assemblies usually requires that the front bumper cover be removed and sometimes the radiator depending on how it is mounted. Just the replacement cost for the condenser typically is 2 hours of labor ($340) and the part averages around $250. That brings up a total of around $590 plus the recharge service which is around $350 with added dye. Before you can blink, with sales tax the bill is around that $1,000 mark. 

If you are wondering if A/C compressors fail, I can tell you that they do. If the internals of the compressor are failing, the compressor makes awful metal on metal grinding type sounds. If the compressor clutch/hub that engages the compressor has failed, then it usually powers up but will not make noise. In the past we would replace the clutch assembly on the compressor. Unfortunately, that is not as common with newer style a/c compressor designs. A/C compressors are typically sold as remanufactured and complete units. Compressor pricing varies wildly depending upon how easy it is to access it. I personally have had to lower sub frames, remove radiator and fan assemblies in order to get A/C compressors replaced. Part pricing varies from $400 to $750. Labor can be as little as 1 hour ($170) to almost 3 hours ($510). Companies that sell A/C compressors require that the filtration unit also be replaced in order for a warranty to be valid. Sometimes the filtration unit is a separate piece that is part of a line assembly. Most of the time, it is built into the A/C condenser. So in order to get a warranty on the A/C compressor, the condenser is also replaced. Fixing the A/C for a compressor failure has shot up to almost $2,000 depending on the type of vehicle. It can be expensive to be cool.

A/C lines do corrode out around hold downs and retainers. Evaporators do fail; however, in our part of the country we do not see them fail frequently. In southern and western parts of the USA they fail more frequently as A/C is used longer and more frequently. Evaporator replacement usually requires removal of the dash. Dash removals traditionally turn into 8 hour long projects. 

If your windows work, then the old time "460" air conditioning maybe a route to consider. Back in the day, it was all 4 windows down going 60 MPH. It was enough of a breeze and airflow to make being in the car tolerable. 

If you have questions about your A/C system, then give us a call. A/C repairs do typically require several hours, so plan on leaving your vehicle for the day. 

Are you planning to travel for Easter this season? If you are looking forward to a road trip to see family, then there are few things to get checked quickly before going on your trip. With 6,000 mile and 6 month service intervals, some of these items may not have been checked recently. What are these things to get checked?
- Tire pressure and tread depth. If they have not been checked since last Fall, then likely the tire pressure has dropped and should be filled to its factory spec.
- Engine oil level and condition. If it is an older car, then it may be consuming some engine oil and need a top off. Running an engine low on engine oil is a recipe for disaster. If it has been 6 months since being changed, it may likely be do for it.
- Wiper blades. Being able to see clearly is important.
- Coolant level.
- Get any clunks or braking noise diagnosed. There will be no fun on a road trip that ends up on the side of the road due to a mechanical failure. 
Plan ahead, a lot of parts are held in warehouses and require being shipped overnight. If you plan on getting the vehicle checked out ahead of your trip and it may need repairs, then please make an appointment several days in advance. 

Enjoy the warm weather and spring travels.  

The 

Posting about vehicle batteries because this winter we have been answering 2 very frequently asked questions. First question is: How long do batteries last? The second question is how much and why is it so expensive? 

To set the stage for these questions we must understand that the 2024/2025 winter has been longer and colder than the previous handful of years.  Batteries fail in extreme cold and extreme heat. Because of the prolonged colder temperatures, we have seen an increase in battery failures. AAA has even stated that they have seen a dramatic surge in the number of battery related calls and services this past winter.

Onto answering the first question of "how long do batteries last?" In our climate they typically last 4 to 6 years. Why the range? Climate, size of battery, how many computers(modules) are in the car and driving habits. Someone who drives just around town and only maybe an hour a day will have a battery that is discharging and not staying fully charged. This type of driver will have a battery replacement sooner than someone who drives an hour commute to and from every day. That longer commute will have a battery that is getting more time being charged by the alternator and will likely last longer. Another important note is that some vehicles have by design a smaller battery to fit a confined space. Other vehicles may have a larger battery in a more open space such as the trunk. Why does size matter? It matters because a smaller battery usually does not have the same storing capacity as a larger one. The storing capacity is important due to modern cars having 20 to 30 computers(modules) all drawing from the battery. So ultimately driving habits and factory battery size play a role in that longevity. 

The second question, "Why are batteries so expensive?" There are several factors in the cost of batteries. The first factor is type of battery, the second factor is size, and the third factor is battery location. There are 3 types of batteries, regular acid, AGM (glass mat) and lithium ion. Regular acid batteries are the most inexpensive and have long been the standard until the past several years. The new standard is an AGM (glass mat) battery. An AGM battery retails from $275 to $310 currently in comparison to an acid battery of about $200. (These prices are pulled from Interstate, a long-time operating vehicle battery manufacturer). The AGM battery has better electrical storage capacity to handle all the computers(modules) in modern cars that are demanding more power out of the battery. More features in a car equates to more electrical demand. If you're wondering why not use an acid battery? Well, indeed you can put an acid battery in a car that came with an AGM; however, it will failure very prematurely. The last type of battery, Lithium Ion, that we used to see in just Hybrid vehicles are in high end gasoline cars as well. I recently had to quote a battery for a 6-year-old BMW M series. The battery was only available from BMW and cost a whopping $2500 for just the battery. It would then also require an hour to install due to its placement and reprogramming to tell the ECM and BCM that the battery was replaced. The total cost on that battery with sales tax was reaching $3,000. (When asking BMW about the cost of it, their response was that the car cost $100k new so a $3000 repair bill should not be an issue for the owner). 

Unfortunately, the cost of batteries is only going to go up. Some batteries are made in the USA. Most are made in Mexico and other countries. With upcoming tariffs, it is very likely to see an increase in battery prices from 10% to 25% depending upon where the battery is coming from. 

My final bit on this post is about installation cost for batteries. Installation prices will vary from .4 of an hour to a full hour of time. Some batteries are easy to install under the hood and can be done in 20 minutes. Other batteries can require much more time. For example, many Ford vehicles have the battery under the hood, but buried halfway under the windshield. In order to replace those batteries, the air box, intake tubing and multiple shields need to be removed in order to do the job. We do not get to decide where a manufacturer and engineer decide to place batteries.

If you have questions about batteries, please call us and reach out. We test batteries as a courtesy as well if you want yours tested. I hope you found this post informative!  

Happy Tuesday, writing an informational post about tire treads, depth and winter driving. I am hoping this post answers many of the most frequently asked questions we get about tires and winter driving. I am also hoping to explain how an "All Season" and an "All Weather" tire are different. 

1. The first question we get asked is, "Aren't my all season tires also good as snow tires?" The answer is unfortunately, not always. According to Federal law, all season tires do not have to meet federal requirements for snow.  Winter in southern and western states is different than the Northeast. In order for a tire to be deemed snow worthy, it must go through specific tests and outperform a designated snow tire as per federal requirements. If a tire can pass those requirements, it gets the 3 peak mountain snowflake symbol, thus deeming it capable for driving in the snow. If a tire gets this symbol, then it qualifies and becomes an "All Weather" tire.
2. So what is the difference between "All Weather Tires" and "Snow Tires?" The answer comes more to tread design, tire compound and tread depth. Snow tires are made of a softer tire compound that helps for gripping; however, it does not equal good longevity. An all weather tire is a hybrid compound using both soft and harder type rubbers to get better mileage use while providing traction. Snow tire tread designs tend to be blocky and directional based. All weather tires commonly use an asymmetrical tread pattern with 1 side of the tire looking blocky designed for snow and the other tighter for water dispersion and noise reduction. (Snow tires tend to be noisy due to open tread blocks causing vibrations). Lastly, tread depths on snow tires often start with more tread around 11/32 to 12/32 of tread, whereas often all weather and all season begin with 10/32 to 11/32 depending upon the manufacture. 
3. This segways into how much tread depth is needed for wintertime driving. I would like to start off this part though with New York State's Inspection requirement for a tire. A tire to be able to pass inspection in NYS must have 2/32 (1/16") of tread. All manufacturers have a wear bar at 2/32 of tread to indicate it is time to be changed. Tire manufactures deem snow tires no longer worthy of snow driving once they reach 5/32 to 6/32 of tread. This is because there is not enough depth to pierce the snow for adequate traction and also because the tread compound changes to the harder base that makes up the tire. All weather tires commonly have a snowflake symbol on the center of tread that will disappear once worn off to indicate that they are no longer good snow weather. If you are already thinking to yourself, "Why is the legal limit below what's needed for necessary winter time driving?" Well, that question should be directed to NYS Government because I don't have a good answer for that one.

So, what is a good rule of thumb to go by for buying tires and tread depth/life in NYS? I will always be recommending an All Weather tire if 1 is available. I want my customers to have confidence and safety in winter driving. When it comes to tread depth, in the springtime we recommend continuing to use tires that have depths of 4/32 to 5/32 throughout the summer and plan on changing in the fall. If your tires in the fall are at 4/32 to 5/32, then we will have a discussion. Although they are roadworthy in NYS inspection requirements, you will be advised that you may find yourself slipping and sliding in snow. It is ultimately the consumers decision to change tires or not; however, it is our job here at the garage to keep our customers informed and educated on their cars condition. That way, our customers can make the best decision for themselves as we are all in different situations. 

If you have tire questions, please do not hesitate to call us and ask! 

This is symbol that indicates that this tire has met the requirements of the law to be deemed worthy of snow conditions.

For conversations and visual sake, here is a picture of a tire that has reached its tread bar wear indicator. This tire needs to be replaced as it has reached 2/32 of tread. 

Hello everyone! This is Clint Ferrel writing to bring up some much needed updates. I have not touched this blog since 2021, ouch. I will do my best to keep at it; however, it has been proven to be difficult with all the other needs of the shop and family life taking up my time. 

I am just going to jump into some important updates. Firstly, the shop has been passed on from my father, Paul, to my brother Will and I. Paul has finally retired (although he comes in frequently still). Will and I have been working at the shop since we were in Highschool. Will is more behind the scenes but I am still going to be at the shop everyday. This segways into the second important update on the front office. I have since hired Keith as my new front end and office manager. He like me, has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry and customer service. If you are wondering why I had to find a new office manager, it is because I cannot do everything by myself. Aside from being in the office, I am still very active in the garage repairing customers' vehicles. I am also constantly training my technicians as I am one of the few ASE Certified Master Technicians around. I like to think I can be in 2 places at once; however, I just cannot juggle multiple tasks. If your concern is "Where is Clint?" if I am not in the office, then please just ask. I am more than likely out in the garage working. I do my best to be present for my customers when I can.

Other updates include the website, new office furniture and some new technicians. Why new technicians? Unfortunately, life has a way of setting some people on different paths. Most of my previous technicians have stayed with us for over 5 years, even 10 years plus. Life events happen that are out of our control and force us to move on. So this goes back to why I am always training my techs. Here at Ferrel's Garage, I have high quality standards that I focus on and that requires eyes and ears watching and teaching so those standards are met. 

We will continue to strive to provide our customers with a great experience and great quality automotive repairs. Going forward with this blog, I plan to post examples of how we strive to perform the best repairs possible. I also plan on posting in here some of the cool and classic cars we work on for your enjoyment.

​- Clint Ferrel

As summer comes to a close, it's important to not forget about your car, which took you to all that summer fun. Here are some end of summer car care tips to help your car stay up to snuff as you enjoy the end of the season.

1: Check your tires! Not only does each car and tire have a specified pressure for how much air to keep in the tires, but check for wear too. Everyone drives more in the summer as we all get outside and enjoy the nice weather. That means more ware on your tires and vehicle. If your tread looks like it's disappearing, or worn out unevenly give us call. Also, remember to regularly check your tire pressure to make sure you have the right amount. Having the right amount of air in your tires is critical to maintaining proper stability and fuel economy on the road. You will gain or loose one pound of pressure per 10 degrees.

2: Check your battery! The summer heat can make the fluid in your battery evaporate faster. This can cause corrosion and effect your battery's ability to hold a charge. If you think your battery needs to be serviced, give us a call. We'll help you extend your battery life by checking the fluid levels, making sure there are no cracks, and cleaning the connections so they are rust, corrosion and oxidation free.

3: Wash your car! This is probably the one that most people don't do, but should. Summer is hot and that means your car has to work harder to stay cool. If you have mud caked on the underside of your vehicle, or even worse it gets up into the underside of your car that can cause it to run hotter. The crud from the road and all the things you pick up driving around from being out and about aren't good for your vehicle either. That's doubly true for bird poop, which is acidic and will eat into the paint if you leave it. So break out the suds and give your ride a wash. If you don't want to do it yourself, head to the nearest car wash and let their professionals handle it. Your car will thank you!

4: Have your radiator checked. The radiator is responsible for keeping your car running at a constant temperature. Any cracks or leaks here will cause you to loose valuable fluid necessary to keep your car from overheating. If the engine or transmission overheat, it can result in severe damage to your vehicle and an expensive repair bill. Your cooling system and radiator levels should be checked at the end of the summer season when hot temperatures could have caused coolant to evaporate.

The leaves are falling. Here in Rochester that means it won't be long before the snow comes calling. As you get ready to hunker down for winter, don't forget to get your car ready too. Here's a few things you can do before the snow falls to make sure that when winter arrives you're ready.
 
1: Check your fluids! This is one of the most critical and most overlooked car care routines. The various fluids in your vehicle lubricate, cool, and perform other vital functions to keep it running and driving. We recommend taking a few minutes to check under the hood and make sure your fluid levels are where they need to be. This goes double for the oil, coolant and brake fluid.
 
2: Check your tires! Your cars tires are super important and shouldn't be overlooked. They affect your braking ability, handling and overall vehicle safety. Use a gauge to check your tread depth of the outer, center, and inner tread of the tire. If any of these read 4/32", we recommend replacing the tire. A reading of 2/32" or less indicates a safety hazard and the tire should be replaced immediately. Also, check your tires air pressure. You can find out how much air should be in your cars tires by looking in your vehicles manual. It's important to have the right amount of air in your tires. As too much air can mean a blowout and too little will make your tires wear out faster. For our fellow Rochesterians, we recommend investing in a quality set of snow tires to help you navigate the winter roads.
 
3: Check your lights! Soon we'll all be driving to work in the dark and coming home in the dark. It's important to see and be seen. We recommend getting a friend or spouse to help you check the exterior vehicle lights and make sure they're all working as they should. The interior lights you should be able to check yourself. Replace any bulbs that aren't working. If you need instructions on how to do so, just check your vehicles manual. If it's something you can't do yourself, or just don't feel comfortable, give us a call. We'll be happy to help you!
 
4: Check your wiper blades! Fall means rain, leaves, and sometimes snow. It's important to make sure your wiper blades are in good shape to keep your windshield clear. If your wipers are streaking or broken, replace them. Consider checking your washer fluid as well when checking your wipers. It's important to have so you can wipe the road salt away. Some brands make freeze resistant washer fluid for winter. Consider filling your reservoir with some when temperatures start to go below freezing.
 
5: Check your brakes! Stopping is important! Your brakes are critical! You should be checking them or having them checked twice a year to ensure they're in top shape. If you check them yourself and find 4mm of friction material left, we recommend replacing them. If you find 3mm or less left they should be replaced immediately, as that's a safety hazard. If you don't feel comfortable checking your own brakes, or don't know how, give us a call. We'll be more than happy to assist you!
 
6: Make sure your heater works! Most people don't use their heater very often in the summer. However, as it gets colder and the nice weather leaves us behind, you're going to want to stay warm while you drive. Automotive heating systems rely on hot engine coolant. So if your heater is blowing cold, it could mean you have a problem. If you have the know-how, you can diagnose it yourself, but we recommend giving us a call to let a professional handle it.
 
7: Take care of any outstanding maintenance! Check your vehicles owners manual for when the manufacturer recommends you should perform routine services. If your car is due, or overdue for service, take care of it now. Neglecting routine maintenance is the most common cause of breakdowns and big repair bills. Also, address any known problems your vehicle is having. If your car has a leak, rattle, squeal, grinding, or any other issues that you've been putting off, put them off no longer. Ignoring problems now can lead to bigger problems later. Also, you don't want to have a breakdown and get stranded in the snow. Fix it today to avoid headaches tomorrow!