At Herb’s, we use a vast array of automotive technical tools, gauges, sensors, analyzers, and computers to help us diagnose and repair the advanced automotive systems of the latest Volvos and Mercedes.
Whether it’s an engine check light, ABS (automatic brake systems), ETC (electronic transmission control), tracing electrical or mechanical faults or just about anything else, we have the tools that take out the guessing and get your car back on the road.
Welcome to our website!
The rest of this era will be an important one for Herb’s Foreign Car Service (herbsvolvombz.com) which specializes in Volvo®, Mercedes Benz®, Volkswagen®, Smart® and Japanese vehicles, and the clients that have supported us over the years in Fullerton, Orange County, CA and adjacent cities. We have a few new service programs which will be explained in the following paragraphs that will cover new incentives for our clients. For one, as personal computers are more prevalent, Herb’s Foreign Car Service is migrating away from traditional print media so that we in turn will lower our operating costs which will mean more savings to our clientele. Also, we have made improvements on the way we are handling our customers to inform you of our current service specials via email and also by keeping you up-to-date on the status of your vehicle as it is being serviced here by email as well.
The automotive repair industry is challenging as ever with developing technologies in vehicle maintenance programs, hybrid brake systems, engine management, engine check light diagnostics, advanced suspension systems, and a multiplicity of interior body electronics. Nonetheless, we are keeping up to date with diagnostics and service programs where many other independent repair shops and retailers may not be, so we are more than just a repair shop. We are recognized as a BOSCH CAR SERVICE facility. Bosch has established itself as the world’s largest network of independent repair shops and is best known for automotive service and repair solutions in the market. BOSCH is the number one parts supplier for foreign automobile manufactures. BOSCH supplies us with with original equipment manufacturer parts such as: alternators, starters, fuel pumps, platinum sparkplugs, fuel filters, air filters, dust filters, etc.
Also as an established auto repair facility we offer: Predictive repairs™ inspections. What this means is that we can offer a complimentary evaluation of your vehicle to ascertain if it is a good investment and help predict future problems. For our existing clients we continue to offer complimentary vehicle inspections with service as well.
To continue being a viable enterprise, we would also like to mention our referral program:
Refer a friend, co-worker, relative, or an organization member to our establishment and we will reward you with a discount or coupon offer* to help you jump-start this year. To make this program successful, we need to ask our existing and new clients to register your name on our secured site so we can involve you in our referral program. Your continued patronage is appreciated and we look forward to seeing you!
*Please call for more information.
Since 1989, foreign cars come equipped with an on board diagnostics (OBD) system incorporated in the engine management module which monitors the exhaust emissions for the most part and it was simple system. Since 1996> (OBD2) a second generation of diagnostic capabilities has been incorporated into the engine computer with much improved and with many more fault code diagnoses capability. Factory specific scantools are needed to retrieve fault codes on OBD2 that generic scantools are not capable of retrieving information on modules such as the electronic transmission, air conditioning system and activations of various engine components for engine testing; the most important feature in the new factory scantools have is the ability to view so many different values (ranges) of the input signals and output signals which help the technician in ascertaining the nature of problems.
When the engine check light comes on it is an indication that a certain system or component is out of range. In many cases, a part has exceeded its life expectancy. If the light flashes, it means that the catalytic converter may be damaged by a misfire or another fault in the engine management system. The automobile needs to be towed preferably to a qualified shop (US) that has factory scantools to help diagnose the source of the problem and keep in mind, just because there is a fault code on a read-out does not mean that the part is bad. A qualified technician must review all the parameters and then test the component if possible.
If the engine check light came on but does not come back on, that may be because after a number of car restarts, the gas cap may have been reinstalled correctly after refilling the gas tank. The monitors (software that checks primary sensors) in the system have not detected a gas vapor leak for instance.
It’s not a good idea to drive a car that is shaking or running rough as some of my customers have described. If it has an engine check light that is flashing, it may be a vehicle that is not running on all cylinders and should be towed to an independent repair shop. The catalytic converters are expensive to replace if they are damaged by too much fuel being dumped into them by an engine misfire, or excessively rich (too much fuel) mixture in the exhaust system.
“Predictive”
Well, this is a new buzz word, and it might as well be me that coined it for the automotive industry…
Over the years there has been a trend occurring in various automobile parts that are under duress because of friction, pressure, and vibration or combinations thereof which will breakdown at certain mileages and/or years of usage.
Here is a short list of the most common components that constantly fail when not replaced sooner than recommended:
Timing belt replacement is required at about every 105,000 miles for the late model Volvos® but we would like to see the timing belt and tensioner and associated parts replaced at a lower mileage due to the belt teeth wearing down or the belt stretching, and in short not quite living up to the expected usefulness by the designers of that automobile.
On water cooled Volkswagens®, it’s suggested to have the timing belt and tensioner and associated parts replaced at 75-85,000 miles versus the 105,000 miles it was designed for. We have seen many interference timing belts go out and break which cause severe engine damage because it was not replaced at a lower mileage or year interval. In addition, the original water pump is not made out of metal and the impeller is known to break apart and lower the water volume output which leads to the engine overheating, so it also suggested to have an upgraded water pump replaced at the same time when the timing belt is replaced.
Fuel pump, the fuel pumps have been wearing down internally at the following mileages: 120,000: 145,000; 171,000 miles on Volvo® models 850 and 960. This is why it’s so difficult to predict. We have the mentioned fixes on file just in case you wish to view them. Our call is to replace the fuel pump (in the fuel tank) at 150,000 miles.
Timing chain on the Mercedes Benz® 380 series with a single row timing chain , or any other model with a single chain since 1981>1990 approximately, has been upgraded to a two row timing chain. Replace it before it breaks or derails at 125,000 miles or so… On late model Mercedes®, they all come with a two row timing chain and so far they are holding up well. Volvo® has now gone to a timing chain system as of 2008>.
Our establishment practices the same quality of scheduled maintenance as the factory requires for maintaining the new car warranty and we also stamp and keep accurate records on maintenance preformed as well. The maintenance procedure includes inspections and services which are necessary for the proper operation of your automobile. Periodic maintenance keeps your vehicle running at its optimum. When an automobile comes in for periodic service, we perform the following services that go beyond regular service:
1. Test voltage output of the alternator- to insure optimum charge rate for the high demands of electronic consumers on most 1992> on automobiles.
2. Test the vacuum value of the engine crankcase with a magnehelic gauge- to insure the crankcase oil vapors are circulating properly (most name plates).
3. Measure the tire depth and record- for safety
4. Test the air flow rate of mass sensor- to avoid an engine check light situation.
5. Scanning the engine module for recorded faults and reporting with state of the art equipment.
In between maintenance visits, the owner should regularly or as needed:
Check the engine oil – level and keep track of oil change visits and mileage.
Check the coolant level (when engine has cooled down).
Check the windshield washer level and keep the windshield wiped clean to maintain visibility.
Check the tire pressures (use tire manufacturer specs on tire).
Our oil change and filter service includes manufacturer recommended engine oils which are also approved by the American Petroleum Institute. The rating is SM for all automotive engines as of November 30, 2004, the highest ranking.
We do not use SH rating which is obsolete yet is still available in the retail market…In addition, we only use oil grades approved by society of automotive engineers (SAE)…
We are often asked, “What kind of oil should I use on my automobile?“
Answer: What kind of driving do you do and what does the manufacuturer recommend to maintain the new car warranty?
The name brands are many: Valvoline, Mobile, Quakerstate, Castrol, Lubromoly, and here are the climate tables, similar to what is shown on the owners manual which explain the basic oil grades to use)…
It’s the temperature that the automobile will be under that determines what oil viscosity is given consideration:
If lowest expected outdoor temperature | Typical SAE viscosity grades
0 C(32 F) > 5w-20, 5w30, 10w-40, 20w-50
-18C(0 F) > 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30, 10w-40
Below -18C (0 F) > 0w-20, 5w-20, 5w-30
Multigrade oils, such as SAE 5w-20, 10w-30, and 10w-40, are widely used because under all but extreme cold or hot conditions they flow well when cold under low outside temperatures and are thick enough to perform satisfactory under hot temperatures…
Another Popular Question: “Can I use synthetic oil on my automobile?“
We have noticed that motorist that have used synthetic oils on their automobiles have visually a cleaner internal engine components because of the properties in the oil cause it to flows better and does not coat internal engine parts with combustion by-products as organic fossil based oils do…yet, that doesn’t mean you can drive a car with synthetic oil for extented miles.
Keep in mind, synthetic oil cost more to to produce, so the cost is higher as well.
One practice is, the more often oil is changed, the better it is under extreme driving conditions.
Case Study (and there are many on our files):
An XC90 Volvo with twin turbos, 65,000 miles on it, driven 16,250 per year, higher than average, excessive smoke out the exhaust. Oil crust was on the underside of the oil cap. The result was one of the turbines on the turbo was damaged due to oil protection breaking down damaging the turbos.
One of the new problems we are faced with is oil sludge build up due to infrequent oil changes and associated problems with organic fossil based oils. If you are driving under extreme conditions, say freeway and city driving, that’s most motorist, in my opinion, and 10>15,000 miles perYear that’s extreme these days. What we are saying is that you should consider changing the oil and filter for frequently than is recommended in your case and that is only our point of view based on the mechanical failures we have seen over the years in the workshop due to “scheduled service” recommended.
In the meantime, you are invited to contact us directly for faster service.
Address: 810 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton, CA. 92832
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Phone: 714-526-8080
Fax: 714-526-5957
Herb's Volvo & Mercedes Independent Service
810 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton, CA. 92832
714-526-8080 fax 714-526-5957
Hours of operation: M-F 8:00AM - 6:00PM
