If Your Mechanic Says You Need a New Catalytic Converter, Try These Steps Before You Spend Unnecessary Money

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A catalytic converter is an essential component of your vehicle's exhaust system, which helps reduce harmful emissions. It's responsible for converting harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide into less harmful gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen. But if your mechanic tells you that you need a new catalytic converter, it can be a bit of a shock. Catalytic converters can be expensive, so it's important to know what to do if you're told you need one.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure you're not spending unnecessary money on a new catalytic converter:

1. Ask for a second opinion: Before you agree to any repairs, it's always a good idea to get a second opinion. Find another mechanic and ask them to take a look at your vehicle. They may have a different diagnosis or may be able to offer a more affordable solution. I recommend finding a mechanic that has welding equipment, as you may only have a pinhole exhaust leak that can be easily and inexpensively repaired

   
   

   Before you invest in a new catalytic converter, try an exhaust system cleaner. I found the one from Duralube that worked to get my check engine light to go out, and get my car through emissions inspection. You may need two treatments, especially if you car is an older model. Even though catalytic converters are designed to last the life of your vehicle, if your vehicle is over 20 years old, that’s pushing the limit. Make sure you follow the instructions to the letter. If Duralube doesn’t work, give CataClean or Rislone a try.

2. Check your warranty: If your vehicle is still under warranty, your catalytic converter may be covered. Check your vehicle's warranty to see what is covered and what isn't. If your catalytic converter is covered, you may be able to get it replaced for free or at a reduced cost.

3. Get a diagnosis: Ask your mechanic to show you why they believe your catalytic converter needs to be replaced. They may have conducted tests or inspections that have led them to this conclusion. Make sure you understand the diagnosis and ask questions if you're unsure.

4. Check for recalls: Sometimes, car manufacturers will issue recalls for certain parts, including catalytic converters. Check with your vehicle's manufacturer to see if there have been any recalls that may affect your vehicle.

5. Research prices: If you do need to replace your catalytic converter, it's important to research prices to make sure you're getting a fair deal. You can use online resources to get an idea of how much a new catalytic converter should cost. Make sure you're comparing prices for the exact same make and model of catalytic converter.

6. Consider aftermarket parts: If your vehicle is no longer under warranty, you may want to consider using aftermarket parts instead of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts. Aftermarket parts can be just as good as OEM parts, but they may be more affordable.

   
   

   

   
   

Dishonest Car Repair Shops

Recently, the blower motor for my heater and air conditioner in my car stopped working.  I had to take my car into Gateway Kia in Quakertown, PA for an oil change anyway, so I asked them to check out the problem with the blower motor.  They told me that I needed a new wiring harness, a capacitor, and a new relay switch to the tune of a total of a little more than $500.00.

Since, I don't happen to have an extra $500.00 laying around, I decided to get my car re-checked by a mechanic I know I can trust.  I learned that the only problem was some burnt wiring around one of the plugs on the wiring harness.  All I really needed to fix the car was that plug and a length of wiring that attatched to that plug.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find any parts supplier that sold only that part and the wiring, which would have probably only cost a couple of bucks.  I did find the wiring harness, so I purchased that for $83.00 and the total cost to replace the wiring harness was $25.00.  So, for a job that Gateway Kia told me required in excesss of $500.00 to fix, the whole thing was fixed for $108.00.

It's very sad that today in America it is so difficult to find an automotive service center where the mechanics will be honest.  Maybe it isn't that their dishonest, maybe it's just that their service mechanics are poorly trained and just don't know how to do the proper repairs, so they just guess and tell you that you need to replace every part that goes inbetween point A and point B to fix a problem.

That being said, the best solution is to learn how to do your own car repairs or find someone you know you can trust (which isn't always easy.)

An Open Letter to the New Owners of My Mobile Money Pages

Dear My Mobile Money Pages Owners:  Dear you think it is unreasonable for us to expect for you to honor your commitments to your subscribers?  Do you think it is abnormal for us to expect responses from support when we complain about probelms that are your responsiblity to correct?  Do you think it is unreasonable for us to expect you to give us what we paid for and what we were promised?

You have attempted to hide your ownership of My Mobile Money Pages by keeping your domain registration transfer private, but I am giving you fair warning, I WILL find out who you are and if you don't fix all the problems that My Mobile Money Pages is having right now, I WILL take you down by any legal means necessary. You have the audicity to still be advertising, and everyone who has purchased this item is now left high and dry and can not even access any of their sites. How can you still be advertising legally, when you are not even giving your previous customers what they paid for?

Summertime Road Construction

I know it needs to be done, but every time I travel somewhere and have to get hung up in traffic for multiple extra hours, it really ticks me off.  OK, I know the deal on I-81 in Harrisburg couldn't have been avoided due to the nature of the situation, but  I'm certain a much better job could have been done guiding people around Harrisburg in the aftermath of that diesel truck explosion.  I saw signs that said "I-81 Detour follow Red Detour Signs," so I followed them, and ended up going around in a big circle and being stuck in the same place again.

Then, this last weekend, I went to Rochester, NY and I-81 in Binghamton, NY was all FUBAR because of road construction.  Why can't  you guys put up signs that say something like "Take Rte. 17 West to 390 North to Rochester," instead of letting us sit in I-81 North one-lane traffic for an hour-and-a-half.  Would that be so much to ask?  Geez Leweez!!!

I barely made it to my daughter's graduation on time thanks to the lack of helpful signage, and then to make matters even worse, there evidently was an accident on one of the highways around Rochester, which caused another traffic nightmare.

Obama Care-Who Does it Benefit

I don't know who Obama care is supposed to benefit, but it most certainly is not benefiting people in my income class.  In 2012, the total amount I had to pay out of my pocket for the entire year for doctors visits, surgery, etc was $400.00.  This year, we are only in February, and I've already had to pay MORE than $400.00 out of my own pocket.  So, I think the ONLY people who are going to benefit from Obama care are people who either shouldn't even be living in America, or people who are sponging off of the government and getting free health care that they don't deserve to have.  And WHO pays??  It is us, the hard-working middle class that is always getting the shaft in the end.  The rich have loopholes and/or they have enough money that the don't need medical benefits, and the sponges and illegals get a hand-out from the government.  As Chris Rock says "That ain't right."

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Comparative Studies and the Politics of Modern Medical Care by Marmor, (Google Affiliate Ad)

American Government: Roots and Reform, 2011 Edition (Hardcover)

Food Labeling Tricks

It's been awhile since something really ticked me off, but a couple of recent trips to the supermarket set a new fire on my fingertips and I had to let my readers know about this little, deceptive food labeling trick.  I went to two different supermarkets last week, and purchased a jar of mayonnaise at each one.  I just looked more closely at the labels on each jar, and I noticed that one is labeled "light" and the other is labeled "lite."  Same thing, one might think???  Not so mes amigos.  When I looked at the nutrition facts labels, I discovered that the "light" mayonnaise has 7% fat and 45 calories per serving, while the "lite" mayonnaise has 1% fat and 25 calories per serving.

So, guess what I'm going to do?  I'm gonna be writing some letters to ask the company that labels their mayo as "light" why they are attempting to deceive their customers.  I'm sure the response I will get from them will be that "light" means that it isn't dark, and they'll send me coupons to get a per cent off more of their deceitfully labeled products.

I guess "buyer beware" is applicable everywhere you go.

Spectrum Lite Canola Mayonnaise Eggless( Value Bulk Multi-pack)

Things That Tick Me Off

OK, So you know when you fill out an employment application online, every single one that I've seen assumes that you were educated and previously employed in America.  You fill out the part where you're supplsed to list your previous education, and then you get to a pull-down menu that requires you to a enter a state (which, of course has to be an American state).  My wife was born, lived most of her life, was educated in, and worked in Russia before she came to America.  She can't ACCURATELY fill out one of these online applications, because the way they are set up doesn't allow her to answer the questions truthfully.  Then, at the bottom the ask you to electronically sign in order to verify that the information you entered is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.  Right off the bat, you've lied because the prospective employer doesn't give you the option to be truthful.  My solution was to use Alaska as the state for my wife, because at least Alaska USED to part of Russia and it was part of Russia when my wife was young, so it really isn't a lie, its just a derivative of the truth.

And, of course there is the other issue.  Every online employment application I see is available in English and Spanish.  Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Spanish speaking people.  I have many Spanish speaking friends, not mention many other nationalities.  The problem with this, the way I see it, is that it is giving preferential treatment to one ethnic group.  There's a little thing called the "Equal Opportunity Employment Act," which clearly states that an employer can't discriminate in either the hiring OR the application process.  So, if this isn't discrimination, I don't know what is?  If they don't offer the application in every language that is spoken in America, then they shouldn't offer it any language other than English.  Otherwise, they should make available to potential applicants an interpreter that help them in understand the application in their native language.

Then, there's always the psychological profile test at the end of the application, which is also offered in English and Spanish.  I tried translating the questions into Russian for my wife with Google translate tools, but of course, there are always some words that don't translate correctly.  It doesn't help anything that they ask the same question four different ways to make sure that the applicant answers each variation of the question with the equivalent answer.  Some of them aren't even easy for a native English speaker.  Bon-Ton Department Stores has a test at the end of their application that is something like 125 questions.  I thought Wal-Mart was bad with a 65 question test. 

Of course, not only do employers discriminate, even our wonderful Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, also offers the driving permit test in both English and Spanish, but as far as I know, not in any other language.  California offers it in Russian, so I don't know why pennsylvania can't.  I did manage to find a general USA Driver's Manual written in Russian; however, since laws vary from state-to-state, we don't really know how useful it is yet.

My wife has got a job now.  Since she doesn't drive, I thought it would be no problem for her to get back and forth from work using public transportation...............WRONG!!!!  Her work is in Quakertown, PA which lies inbetween the Lehigh Valley and Delaware Valley in Pennsylvania.  More specifically, between Allentown and Philadelphia.  There IS a Bieber Bus that goes from Bethlehem, Allentown,  and Hellertown and through Quakertown on its way to Philadelphia.  I have followed the bus on several mornings, and they always take a shortcut through Trainer's Corner (a shopping center on Rte. 309) to get between Rte. 309 and Rte. 663 because the bus stops at the Quakertown Park & Ride (three miles from Trainer's Corner).  So, you probably wondering WHY this ticks me off.  Well, the reason it ticks me off is that if the bus STOPPED at Trainer's Corner, my wife could walk 5 minutes from there to where she works.  But, I guess that would be too convenient.  This is a very busy shopping center, and I can't imagine that there aren't many people who would love for the bus to stop there so they could go shopping, or to one of the many eateries.

Racism and Antiracism: Inequalities, Opportunities and Policies by Bra (Google Affiliate Ad)