Home | About The Experts | Contact Expert Staff      Expert Login

Lee Lizarraga
ABC Autocare
4745 Market Street
Ventura, CA
Phone: 805-644-1238
URL: http://www.abcautocare.com

Ask Lee
Name:
Subject:
E-mail:
Question:

characters left        
Type the random string in the form field below: tlxht
Lee Lizarraga
 Auto Repair & Maintenance

 Lee has been in the automotive industry for 31 years, 20 of those as the owner of ABC Auto Care in Ventura. He graduated in automotive performance and diagnostics from the Southern California Occupational Regional Center in 1976. His strength as a technician was diagnostics and trouble shooting with a emphasis on General Motors vehicles. His background included courses and seminars taught at the General Motors and Ford Motor Company training facilities as well as speciality classes from various training schools. His strength now as a business owner is communicating with customers and providing quality automotive repair in a family like setting. He is on the advisory board for Ventura College Automotive School and for the Ventura County ROP (Regional Occupation Program) located in Camarillo. He also travels the country as a trainer of specialized automotive classes for CTI based out of Raliegh, North Carolina.

ABC Auto Care is a family owned, full service auto repair facility capable of performing all maintenance and repair work. We are an AC Delco service outlet and use AC Delco parts on all GM vehicles. All of our technicians are factory trained and are required to attend a minimum of 48 hours per year of additional classes. We have the most modern equipment in the industry for brakes, alignment and diagnostics.

Understanding the needs of our busy customers, we strive to make the visit to ABC as convenient as possible including ...
- rides home or to work (or to the golf course!!)
- vehicle pick up and delivery at your home or office
- loaner cars when available
- one year, unlimited mileage warranty
Please feel free to come by at any time and meet our staff.



Hi! I'm Lee and I welcome your questions and comments. As you may guess, there are some questions that cannot be answered fully without seeing the vehicle but hopefully I can give you a general answer that will give you a direction in which to go. Remember to give me the basics - year, make, model, engine size, whether its automatic or manual transmission and 4WD or not. I look forward to talking to you.


Subject: LEATHER STAINS

June 18, 2009 - I would like to know if you can inform me of how i can remove milk stains from the black leather seats in my car.

Thanks,
Letty

Dear Letty, I trully don't know what it would take to remove the stains, I deal primarely with auto repairs. If you were to contact a detail shop, they would be able to answer your question accuratly. Next time you have a repair concern, I'll be able to help. Thank you Lee Lizarraga ABC auto care 80 644 1238
Subject: distributor cap

June 10, 2009 - How do I remove the cover of a distributor? I've removed the two machine screws holding the cover in place, but the cover won't come off. Also, the points are no longer available at the dealer. Can I take the old points to a part's house and get a match? Tx, bill

Hi Bill, I need to know the year, make and model, the engine size. Then I can be of help. When you are ready to buy the points, the parts store will need the same information in order to get the part for you. Lee Lizarraga ABC auto care
Subject: 2008 Ford Focus SES 2-door

May 05, 2009 - I have a really weird question that I'm looking for an answer to. I wanted to know if you knew if the 2008 Ford Focus SES 2 door coupe had a drain hole in the bottom of the drivers side door? I'm not sure if the hole is factory or recently I had some work done on the car and I'm not sure if the individual who did the work put drilled the hole.

Thanks
Christy

Hi Christy, On a lot of vehicles, the factory does put a small drain hole at the bottom of the door towards the rear. It's very small and hardly noticeable. Regarding the hole on your car, if you can see bare metal around the circumference of the hole, it was not done at the factory. The factory hole would be weather sealed and painted with no bare metal seen. I can give you a much better opinion if you want to stop by - should only take a minute or two. Thanks for your 'wierd' but interesting question! Lee Lizarraga ABC Auto Care 644 1238
Subject: transmission

April 22, 2009 - '89 Lincoln Town Car. Trans shutters a few seconds upon initial hard accelleration. It also slips in upper gears causing increase in rpms. Past maintainance schedule is unclear. Do you think a general inspection and flush with new filter would solve? Also, do I have to take it to a trans place or can any shop do this. How do I not get taken and told I need a new trans?

Hi Jeff, Unfortunately everything you describe points towards a serious transmission problem. The shuttering upon initial acceleration could also be a broken engine or transmission mount. I would still get a second opinion to be 100% sure. If we can be of further service call us at 805 644 1238 to make an appointment for the inspection of your transmission. Lee Lizarraga ABC auto care
Subject: Timing Belt Problems

April 19, 2009 - I have a 2000 Ford Focus that I just replaced a timing belt on. Now I have noticed that the engine stalls, the car idles lower than normal and rev's higher than it should when gently pushed. I would like to know if this is a timing belt problem and I should take it back to the mechanic? The car has over 100,000 miles and no previous problems.

Hi Jennie, It's not uncommon for carbon deposits in the throttle body to cause lower than normal idle speed, but carbon deposits should have no bearing with the engine revving higher. By your description, it sounds very possible that the timing belt may have been installed one tooth off. Ask the technician who performed the job to verify once more the installation of the timing belt. What you did not mentioned is whether the vehicle is still performing properly otherwise. An incorrectly installed timing belt should trigger the check engine light to come on. The power output should also feel lower than normal. If you are unable to get the results you are looking for, call us for an appointment. We'll be happy to take your call. Lee Lizarraga ABC Auto Care 805 644 1238
36 Questions found | Showing 1 - 5         Next>