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A Publication of Sam Giammalvo's Auto Sales & Service
Vol. 10  No. 4         Fall 2004

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Chevrolet Recommends Super Glue Type Material To Cure
Frame Cracks In Impala And Monte Carlo Vehicles


    Just when we thought we had seen it all in the automotive repair industry, we were again in for a surprise. While investigating a noise complaint on a customer’s Chevrolet, we came across Chevrolet Service Bulletin
    # 02-08-61-001. The bulletin is titled: “Sub frame/Frame -Clicking/Creaking Noises.

    The bulletin states that 2000-2002 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo owners may notice a clicking/creaking noise from the front of their vehicles. The noise is most apparent during stationary or low speed turning maneuvers and may be audible from outside the vehicle and/or inside the passenger compartment. The bulletin states that the cause may be small movement between the contacting surfaces of various brackets, cross-members and side rails that are welded together to form the vehicle’s frame/cradle assembly. The slight movement occurs when the assembly is subjected to certain types of load conditions and in some instances may cause a clicking/creaking type noise. The specific areas affected are the steering gear brackets to the rear cross-member and the right/left rear body mount bracket to the rear cross-member and right/left side rails.

    The bulletin goes on to instruct technicians on cleaning the various brackets and frame areas and how to then apply a super glue type thread locker chemical to these areas. The bulletin then states that some early production vehicles may be missing vertical welds on the steering gear attaching brackets. On these vehicles, technicians are instructed to pour the thread locker down the bracket where it makes contact with the cross-member.

    As with all GM service bulletins, this repair is covered for free under the 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. After the warranty period elapses, the repair is considered a customer pay upgrade.

    After all these years of automotive service, we never thought we would be instructed to repair defective and missing frame welds with super glue. It just goes to show that you never know what you’re going to come across in the automotive repair industry.




Wow - $5000 For Your Old Clunker

When you see an add offering, $2000, $3000, $4000 or $5000 for your car in trade, regardless of its age, mileage or condition, try to remember that "If it sounds too good to be true it usually is." These automotive classified ads were designed to capture the minds of "Mindless People."  Anyone who thinks they would actually get $5000 for a car that’s worth nothing, had better think  again!





Have You Seen Our New State Of the Art
Computerized Hunter Alignment System?

 

This past September, we decided to replace our 18-year-old vehicle alignment system and vehicle lift. Although our old system was still reliable, it could not be used to align some of the newer cars with 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels. This new system not only reduces customer wait time, but it also creates a safer technician environment due to the wireless sensors that get mounted on to each of the 4 wheels.

The DSP 600 system utilizes four, high-resolution, digital video cameras that continuously monitor the position of each wheel. The cameras are mounted up high on a fixed center post. The 4 cameras measure the position and orientation of reflection targets that the technician mounts on each of the car’s four wheels. The aligner’s central processor uses this positional information to calculate your car’s current alignment measurements and then compares those measurements to the car manufacturer’s original specifications. If the processor determines that your car’s wheel alignment is outside factory specifications, it will provide the technician with the exact specifications and adjustments needed to return your car’s settings to the factory specifications. This alignment system even tells the technician exactly what size tools will be needed to make the necessary adjustments.

Giammalvo’s is the only service facility in the area with this state of the art alignment system. In addition, the rugged vehicle lift that we also purchased is fully integrated with the aligner system and can lift cars and trucks up to 9,000 lbs. in gross vehicle weight. Feel free to stop in anytime and we will be happy to give you an overview of the system. 


Thailand Finance Minister Trapped In BMW


From CNET Asia News


A high-ranking Thai official was forced to crawl out of the shattered windows of his luxury car following an onboard glitch that sealed all exits.

BMW told CNET Asia that an electronic fault caused the problem, rather than a system crash of the car's Windows-based central computer, as other reports have speculated.

Suchart Jaovisidha, Thailand's finance minister, was on his way to address central bank officials from around the world when his state-assigned BMW stalled, the Associated Press reported. "The engine stopped, the air conditioning shut down, the doors got locked and the windows wouldn't roll down," Suchart was quoted as saying. "We couldn't breathe because there was no air," he added. To draw attention, the minister and his driver waved frantically at passers-by. The incident ended only after a nearby security guard smashed the car's windows with a sledgehammer. Even with the heavy-duty tool, Suchart said it took a long time to break the windows as the "glass proved to be very resistant". The harrowing experience lasted about 10 minutes, he said.

Suchart returned home and took his personal vehicle, also a BMW, to the speech venue, the report said. Reports have speculated that the famously glitchy BMW 745i car, and its Windows CE-powered iDrive car computer, may have been the vehicle in the incident. But when contacted by CNET Asia, a spokeswoman from BMW Thailand said the car at fault was a 10-year old BMW 520i that had suffered a simple electronic failure. She declined to reveal if the firm received identical reports from other users in the country.
According to previous reports, BMW recalled 15,000 iDrive-equipped 7-series cars, one of its most luxurious sedans, globally last May and 286 more in Korea two months after. Linux proponents have said that BMW engineers may be turning to embedded Linux as an alternative operating system.




Is Your Vehicle Ready For The Winter?


Winter weather in New England can be tough on your vehicle. We all know proper maintenance is required to ensure safe driving conditions. Most late model vehicles require cooling systems to be flushed and fluid levels to be periodically inspected to ensure that your vehicles engine runs at its utmost ability. All tires should also be inspected and aired to factory specifications to avoid  unnecessary impaired driving conditions. We at Giammalvo's want to make sure our customers are driving safely this winter season. Our ASE certified technicians are looking forward to winterizing your car and getting you through the cold months ahead.


Odds & Ends

   Here are some funny headlines that have actually appeared in newspapers over the past several years.


    Crack Found on Governors Daughter                                       Cold wave Linked to Temperatures  
    Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says                     Enfield Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
    Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers                      Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
    Iraqi Head Seeks Arms                                                           Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
    Teacher Strikes Idle Kids                                                         Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
    Miners Refuse to Work after Death                                          New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
    Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant                                 Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
    War Dims Hope for Peace                                                       Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
    If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile                      Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

 

 
Checked Your Gas Gauge Lately?


Often times we are asked to diagnose vehicles with strange intermittent noises or running problems. Unfortunately, the amount of time testing your vehicle can be compounded by having to stop at a gas station for more gas. Worse yet is running out of gas entirely, thus requiring additional service expense by sending another employee out with extra fuel.

If you are bringing your car in for a procedure that will warrant a test-drive by us, please try to have at least 1/4 to 1/2 a tank of fuel. Just a small reminder like this can save time for the service technicians and also allow you to get your car back repaired and without further delay.




In Passing.

(Obituaries Courtesy The Standard Times)
Note: Due to recent requests, we will be adding family survivors to our customer’s obituaries as space allows.

Mae L. (Phelan) Bois, 63, of New Bedford died Saturday, June 5, 2004, at home surrounded by family and friends after an eight-year battle with breast cancer. She was the wife of George Bois; they were married in 1960. Born in New Bedford on Oct. 7, 1940, the daughter of the late John and Mary (Welch) Phelan, she was a lifelong resident. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School. She enjoyed traveling with her husband. One of her greatest pleasures was shopping for and spending time with her grandchildren. She was known to comfort and give to those in need. Mrs. Bois savored the good times and made the best of the difficult times. She lived by the saying, "When one door closes, another one opens." For the past 15 years, she and her son Andrew owned and operated the Irish pub Shenanigans in the North End. Survivors include her widower; two sons, William Bois and his wife, Miriam, of Bel Alton, Md., and Andrew Bois and his fiancee, Teresa Timoteo, of New Bedford; a daughter, Michelle Hernandez, and her husband, Robert, of Coral Gables, Fla.; a brother, William Phelan of New Bedford; two sisters, Ruby Golonski of Long Beach, Calif., and Alice Thurmer of Park Ridge, Ill; and five grandchildren, Hayley, Cara, Bianca, Erica and Zachary.

John M. Izidoro, 85, of New Bedford died Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. He was the widower of Martha (Coutinho) Izidoro. A lifelong New Bedford resident, he was the son of the late Manuel Izidoro and Mary O. Martin. Mr. Izidoro had been a shipper at Jemy Sportswear and also worked at the Boulevard Funeral Home. He was a member of the American Portuguese War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6643 in Freetown, American Legion Panthers Golden Ages. He was the president and vice president of various coin clubs throughout the area. He enjoyed bowling and shuffleboard. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include a brother-in-law, Joseph Coutinho and his wife, Alice, of New Bedford; and a nephew, Alan Coutinho of Acushnet. He was the brother of the late Mary Izidoro, Anna Izidoro and Manuel Izidoro Jr.

Jeanne (Bachand) Dalton, 79, of Fairhaven died Saturday, May 15, 2004, at Women & Infants Hospital, after a brief illness. She was the widow of Charles S. Dalton Jr. Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Arthur and Eloide (Dupuis) Bachand, she lived in New Bedford before moving to Fairhaven in 1989. Mrs. Dalton was a communicant of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Survivors include three sons, Mark C. Dalton and his wife, Barbara, of Acushnet, and James S. Dalton and his wife, Deborah, and Charles S. Dalton III, all of Fairhaven; a daughter, Patricia Perras of East Freetown; three sisters, Beatrice Bodeau and Claire Galligan, both of Acushnet, and Irene Duclo of Proctor, Vt.; seven grandchildren, Dalton J. Perras, Nathan J. Perras, Kristen A. Dalton, Daniel M. Dalton, Leigh A. Dalton, Andrea J. Dalton and Lacy J. Langevin; and several nieces and nephews. She was the mother-in-law of the late Robert A. Perras.

Laurent N. "Pat" Gregoire, 76, of Rochester died from colon cancer Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Theresa (Choquette) Gregoire; they were married 54 years. Born in Fairhaven, he was the son of the late Norbert and Laura (Benoit) Gregoire. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church. He established Gregoire and Son Plastering in 1956 and taught the trade to many men who consider him a legend. He retired due to illness a month ago. He was nicknamed "Popsy Bear." He was a past member of Knights of Columbus, Good Sam's Camping Club and New Bedford Local 39 Plasterers Union. He collected antique car parts and took pride in restoring his 1932 Chevrolet. He was gentle, honest and proud of his family. He enjoyed playing pitch with his close friends, Maurice and Helen Bourbeau; traveling with his wife; clambakes; yard sales; singing and yodeling; cradling babies; raising chickens; ushering in each week at 8 o'clock Mass, followed by breakfast with his dear friends, Butch and Doris Boucher; and family get-togethers. Survivors include his widow; three sons, Leonard Gregoire and his wife, Christine, of Freetown, Marcel Gregoire and his wife, Lorraine, of Wareham and Gary Gregoire and his wife, Erin, of Mattapoisett; two daughters, Jeannette Oliveira and her husband, Felix, of Largo, Fla., and Elaine Cellana and her husband, Peter, of Orange; a sister, Cecile Arruda of Fairhaven; 13 grandchildren, Melissa Gregoire, Marcy Gregoire, Aaron Oliveira, Derek Gregoire, Seth Gregoire, Amy Jean Oliveira, Kristen Cellana, Hannah Gregoire, Zachary Gregoire, Nicholas Gregoire, Kyle Cellana, Sorrel Gregoire and Cedar Gregoire; three great-grandchildren, Ayla Gregoire, Annalea Ramseyer, Kaiya Gregoire.
 
Nancy M. (Shiels) Doyle of Marion, formerly of New Bedford, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, at Sippican Healthcare Center after a brief illness. She was the widow of William T. Doyle. She was the daughter of the late Thomas H. and Margaret (Apsey) Shiels, and was a communicant of St. James Church. Mrs. Doyle was a retired Verizon employee, and a former member of the Telephone Company Pioneers. She also was a member of St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary and was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. An avid golfer, she was a member of the Country Club of New Bedford and a former member of the Reservation Golf Club in Mattapoisett. Survivors include Daniel Riley and his wife, Nancy, of Taunton, and Jeffrey Riley and his wife, Johanna, of Mattapoisett. She was the sister of the late Barbara E. Shiels and the cousin of the late Auberta A. Riley.

John P. "Cuddles" Ramos, 70, of New Bedford died at home with his family at his side Monday, Sept. 13, 2004, after a long illness. A lifelong New Bedford resident, he was the son of the late Mini (Grace) Ramos Barrows and Peter Ramos Sr. He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Mr. Ramos was a curer at Goodyear Tire & Rubber and had worked for the New Bedford public school department for 12 years. He was an Army veteran, serving as a mechanic. He was the vice president of the AFSCME Local 641 and the Bisca Tournament Club of New Bedford. He was a Ward 3 delegate and a delegate to the Democratic National conventions. He was the patriarch of his family. He enjoyed traveling, spending time with his grandsons, the company of his family and friends and photography. He was a Cadillac aficionado. Survivors include two daughters, Linda M. Ramos of New Bedford and Gina M. Moraes and her husband, Richard, of Acushnet; four grandsons, Jarrod J. Ramos and Jordan John Ramos, both of New Bedford, and Richard Moraes II and Jonathan L. Moraes, both of Acushnet; his companion, June Cosme of New Bedford; two sisters, Margaret Ramos of Kissimmee, Fla., and Beatrice Ramos-Fernandes of New Bedford; three brothers, Antone P. Ramos of New Bedford, Richard P. Ramos of Sunny Vale, Calif., and Joseph "Butch" Barrows of Somerset; and several nieces, nephews and godchildren. He was the brother of the late Clara Sylvia, Peter Ramos Jr., and Daniel P. Ramos.


We appreciate your business.
Please drive carefully.
 
Sam Giammalvo's Auto Sales, Inc.
1476 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (508) 999-3213

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