My Tucson Blog

As I've arrived safe and sound in Tucson, Arizona, I've had the opportunity to explore a little bit of the area. I've been amazed at how many activities there are to do around here.

That has inspired me to create a new blog that deals exclusively with discovering all of the things there are to do in Tucson.

I invite you to check it out and let me know what you think. Just point your browser to: http://tucsonliving.blogspot.com/

How to Destroy Customer Loyalty (was: A Trusted Mechanic)

In my previous post in this spot, I raved about not being charged for a quick repair on my car. It was a pleasant surprise. I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone to get a car repaired and left without having to pay any money at all.

But this is exactly what happened to me at the Tucson Pep Boys on Speedway a couple of weeks ago. As far as I was concerned, they had a customer for life.

What a difference a day makes. Or more accurately, what a difference a manager makes.

I had made an appointment to get the oil changed with Mobile 1 (a synthetic oil) on Petey at the very same Pep Boys. I arrived at the appointed time and was greeted by a different service manager than had taken care of me when I brought in Petey for the original repair.

Things were going normally... name, address, phone number, license plate, etc. When he finished completing the form the manager flipped it around for me to sign. I noticed the estimate for the oil change: $95.00.

That's right, a nine, a five, and two zeros. For an oil change.

I looked up in disbelief. "Ninety five dollars? For an oil change?" I asked.

"Well, it IS synthetic oil you know. It costs $7 a quart." was the explanation offered.

Let's forget for a moment I've been getting Mobile 1 oil changes since Petey was new, and none of them cost more than $48. Let's just do some simple math. The Pep Boys sign says they do oil changes for $19.99. At $7 per quart the cost of the oil comes to $35. Even if they then still charged me the entire $19.99 they charge for a "regular" oil change it still only comes up to $55.

So the other $40 is for what, labor? It must be a lot harder to change synthetic oil than conventional oil for the boys at Pep.

I ended up buying five quarts of oil ($35) and schlepping it to Tucson Chrysler where I waited in their customer waiting room with free coffee, donuts, newspapers, magazines, and cable TV. They charged me $16 for the filter and labor.

Guess which business gets my patronage from now on?

Moving to Tucson, Final Day

Took A Left Turn At Albuquerque
Well today is the final day of my big move to Tucson. I am starting to feel the effects of the late June heat that is part of the deal when you move to the desert. I know it will be too hot for top down driving by lunch time so I make sure to at least start out the days travel with the sun on my shoulders.


The scenery is now completely different from the Midwestern tall green grasses and filled out oak and maple trees. The cool greens have gradually morphed into warm earth tones of yellows, blue-greens, browns. The gray skies have been replaced by a bright blue canvas that compliments nicely the desert earth tones.

Part of the trip from Albuquerque to Tucson requires that I exit the freeway for about a 20 mile stretch on a freshly blacktopped two lane road. The isolation from the freeway traffic adds to the peacefulness of the journey.

As I cruise along, I notice how remarkably free I am from the aches and pains you might expect from driving for four days straight in a car... any car. The comfortable ride has always been one of the reasons I love the PT Cruiser, but still comfortable after four days on the road is pretty amazing.



Soon enough I am on I-10, the last leg of the journey. As I get closer to Tucson I notice white smoke coming from the mountain range on the right. I learn later that there are 7 forest fires blazing just east of Tucson. The good news is the news is reporting the fires are acting much like a prescribed burn, getting rid of thick brush.

Speaking of prescribed burns, I need two more fill ups to complete the journey. At the first stop in Hatch, New Mexico it takes 10.38 gallons after driving 223.4 miles for 21.5 miles per gallon. The second stop is after 183.3 miles and takes 7.818 gallons for 23.44 miles per gallon.

Totals for the entire trip: 88.328 gallons of premium unleaded took me 1894.9 miles for a total mpg of 22.47.


Finally I arrive at my hosts home. It still seems a little surreal as I unload my stuff from Petey. After the initial hellos, I talk my host into a quiet evening with a glass of wine and a rented movie. It's the perfect ending for an excellent adventure.

Moving to Tucson, Day 3

On The Road Again
Today was the longest leg of the journey, and it sure felt like it. I thought for a moment I was coming upon a forest fire as I drove closer and closer to a plume of dark gray smoke rising up to the clouds and filling the horizon, but it was just a series of controlled burns.


I did drive past quite a few windmills in Oklahoma that looked very majestic standing against the blue sky. Not many of those to be found in Michigan. I thought it made a pretty nice picture.

After Oklahoma comes Texas. Oh. My. God. I've never been on a road that I've wanted to get off more than when I was in Texas. It was almost like being in a third world country. The roads were terrible, the vegetation already had that not-quite-enough-water look and the businesses that lined the highway looked dilapidated and run down. There was a fine show of police force however, as I saw three troopers along this stretch and one that had someone pulled over. At least it wasn't me this time.

I'm not sure if it was from boredom or if I was just tired, but I started literally falling asleep at the wheel. I pulled over for a quick nap at a rest stop.


By this time it was 95 degrees, which is getting too warm to have the top down so I raised it before I continued on. This turned out to be good timing because just after I entered New Mexico the sky turned ominous looking. Lightning flashed in the distance as I drove into the dark horizon. It was a beautiful sight though. Dark shades of gray flashing with lightning covered the southwestern portions of the sky while just north of that were bright white cumulus clouds with blue sky breaking though. A glance in my rear view mirror showed clear blue sky behind me. All of this unobstructed by trees or buildings so the sky seemed larger than life. At least for this Midwestern boy.


The rain came fast and hard, with huge drops splattering the windsheild. The temperature dropped from 93 to 68 degrees in a matter of two or three minuets! I managed to drive through it after a few minutes and was left with a clean windshield and the beautiful New Mexico sky. It was still dark in places, but the sun was peaking through in other spots, so I decided to take a chance and put the top back down. The outside temperature had risen back up to 77 degrees so I had a wonderful cruise into Albuquerque enjoying the beautiful sky set against the mountains I was driving towards while the air had that fresh smell that arrives just after a lightning and rain storm.


It took three tanks of gas to complete this leg of the journey. In Weatherford, Oklahoma I took in 7.62 gallons after driving 163.5 miles for an mpg of 21.45. The next stop was at Vega, Texas where I filled up with 11.48 gallons after driving 219.8 miles. That gives me 19.14 miles per gallon. Finally, at Moriarty, New Mexico it took 10.02 gallons to fill Petey after we had gone 212.9 miles which works out to be 21.2 miles per gallon.

Tomorrow I reach my destination!

Moving to Tucson, Day 2

Deja Vu All Over Again
Today the day started out almost exactly as it did when I left Michigan. Temperatures around 71 degrees and rainy. Fortunately by the time I stopped for lunch the sun was out and the top came down.


Today's trip takes me from Missouri to Oklahoma. One of the things I am noticing is how similar the summer scenery is in the Midwest. Trees and vegetation all look the same, and when you toss in exit signs that all advertise Chilli's, McDonald's, Cracker Barrel and Burger King it all begins to feel like I'm on some non-stop treadmill of middle America.

Today's two stops to refuel were at 228 miles for 10.67 gallons at $4.02 per gallon in Marshfield, MO and again 221 miles later for 11.64 gallons at $4.03 per gallon somewhere on the Oklahoma toll road. That works out to be 21.4 and 18.98 miles per gallon respectively.



Here's a photo that finally shows a little scenic variety. We don't have roads cut out of the side of a mountain in Michigan. Adds a nice contrast to the lush green trees and soft skies, don't you think?

I always thought that Michigan had tons of trees, and they do. You don't have to drive very far away from any city to find yourself in the middle of a forest. But Oklahoma may have it beat. It was trees as far as the eye could see for most of the day here.

Today's Fun Fact
Did you know that unmarked police cars in Oklahoma City include the Dodge Challenger? Neither did I. As I was driving on a four lane freeway on a Sunday afternoon I came upon about 12 cars all grouped together and driving much slower than the traffic flow had been up until that time. This is usually a good indicator of a police car in the mix but as I was searching for my exit I didn't think about that. Not that it would have done me any good. The car was totally indistinguishable from a regular Challenger. No markings at all of course, and the lights were hidden behind the front grill and on the front of the outside mirrors.

Cars grouped together like that is a traffic hazard I like to avoid so I quickly zipped around them, got into the center lane and continued my search for my exit. I noticed a Dodge Challenger zipping around them too. My first thought was: "Cool car." (I have a thing for Dodge muscle cars.) But when the flashing lights came on my mood changed from admiration to disappointment. A cool muscle car used as a cop car? That's just not fair! I rolled down my window as the officer approached. "Nice police car." I said. The officer smiled.

Did you ever notice how police officers always say "I'm going to do you a favor." right before they issue you a ticket? It's like the oxymoron of law enforcement. Please stop doing that. I'm sure it's to soften the blow of getting the ticket but really, it doesn't help. He gave me a speeding ticket (60 miles per hour on a four lane freeway was the limit in case you were wondering.) complete with written instructions on how to mail in my check. I haven't had the courage to look inside to see how much it's gonna cost me yet. "Thank you officer." That's the oxymoron of a citizen just handed a speeding ticket.

George Carlin
I read some sad news today. George Carlin has passed away at 71. One of my childhood heroes, as I remember seeing him in short hair and a suit performing on the Ed Sullivan show. Then later as a counter culture spokesman during my teenage years.

I'll end today's blog with a quote from George: "Atheism is a non-prophet organization."

Moving to Tucson, Day 1

It Was A Warm And Sprinkly Day
That's how I'll remember my last day as a Michigan native. It was 77 degrees and a light sprinkle fell on my windshield. Diamonds on my windshield as Tom Waits puts it.

It is of course a strange feeling knowing I won't be seeing these familiar sights again for a long long while. I was a little sad, but not nearly as bummed as I thought I might be. I'm sure it's tempered by the exciting new life that lay ahead of me as I move to Tucson. Goodbye Michigan winters!!! Goodbye scraping ice from your windshield as arctic air finds every crevice in your clothing! Goodbye ice covered roads! And maybe most importantly, goodbye to only four months of top-down weather!


The photo above was taken the day before I left. See how bright and shiny Petey and I look? It will be interesting to see how we look after four days on the road.



Here is the route for my first day of travel. I've divided up the trip into a four day journey. Day one takes me just past St. Louis, Missouri.

My first stop for gas is at Coal City, Illinois. Wow, gas is only $4.19 a gallon for premium! Oh crap, it's got 10% ethanol in it! That's like getting a deal on a fine wine only to find out it's been watered down. Ok, that's kind of a lame analogy but it's early here in Missouri.

The first fill up is at 237 miles and takes exactly 10 gallons. I like math when it's easy. That makes 23.7 miles to the gallon.

The second fill up is in Hamel, Illinois. The price here is $4.49 per gallon. I've driven an additional 206 miles and it takes 9.12 gallons to fill up. That's 22.58 miles to the gallon. As all PT Cruiser owners have discovered, the miles per gallon figure needs to be averaged out over four or five tanks to get a meaningful figure.



Here is a photo of the sky somewhere in Illinois. As you can see, the sky has cleared a bit and allows me to drive with the top down.

I love clouds like this. The panoramic beauty and the vast perspective make you think the sky goes on forever. Reminds me of limitless possibilities.

What a great day for a drive.


Here is a photo of the St. Louis arch. Either that or a UFO. I'm not quite sure.

My day ends at a Ramada Inn in Arnold, MO. As comfortable as Petey is, after a long day on the road a nice non-mobile bed feels great.

Time for supper (dinner for you non-midwesterners) and a good nights sleep.

First Mods

One of the cool things about owning a PT Cruiser is making it your own by customizing it. Fortunately there are several sources of custom performance and appearance aftermarket parts for the PT Cruiser.

But before you start adding the bling, I would recommend a few 'starter' mods. Some to improve safety, and some that should have been included at the factory.

Tools needed include your basic set of screw drivers and wrenches, and a hand held electric drill. A pry bar tool to remove the plastic rivets that hold on trim will be needed for the air cabin filter and horn mods. This tool looks like a two-pronged fork and can be found at most auto supply stores.

SilverStar Bulbs
The headlights are adequate, but for a brighter, whiter headlight change the stock bulbs with Sylvania SilverStar bulbs.

Here are the SilverStar part numbers for the PT Cruiser:

9006XSST - low beam headlight
9005XSST - High beam headlight
9006 ST - Angled connector for fog lights.

Replacement is fairly simple if you've got a skinny hand. The bulbs are accessible through a plastic door in the wheel well, just ahead of the tires.

Anytime you replace these types of headlight bulbs it's a good idea to wear plastic gloves. They will protect the bulb from touching your skin, and oil from your skin will reduce the life of the bulbs. These gloves are available in bulk at most auto supply stores.

This mod is the most costly of the first mods I recommend. Each pair of bulbs currently runs about $30-$40, so if you have fog lights the total can run over $100.00.

Add a High Tone Horn
From 2003 on, PT Cruisers have been sold with only the low tone horn, instead of the standard low tone/high tone combination. This brilliant marketing plan has probably saved Chrysler a few thousand dollars, but at the expense of safety.

This mod should never have been necessary, but is one every 2003 and newer PT Cruiser owner should do. See my July 16th post for complete instructions.

This mod is "do-able" by just about anyone handy with tools and only costs the price of the high tone horn and a bit of wire: about $20.00 total.

Cabin Air Filter
This mod only affects domestic US Cruisers. PT Cruisers in the export market already have the cabin air filter in place.

The US version of the PT Cruiser vents outside air directly into the inside of the car without any filtration. Admittedly, this mod is not in the "must have" category. Unless you're an allergy sufferer cruising around just about any kind of plant life. I've read a few first hand account of how well the cabin air filter works at removing pollen from the air.

Fortunately, this is a fairly simple mod to do and the filter currently costs only about $16.00.

Rear Mud Flaps
I can hear you from way over here:
"Mud flaps?!!! How old IS this guy?".

But take my word for it; if you want to keep your lower quarter panels paint chip-free a set of mud flaps is essential. Even if you don't plan on driving down any gravel or dirt roads you will almost certainly find yourself on a freshly re-tarred road with a nice thick layer of loose gravel, or a pot hole newly filled with a shovel full of hot road tar.

Mud flaps can even be fairly unobtrusive. You won't need a huge slab of rubber hanging from the back of your wheel well. Simply buy a plain black pair designed for passenger cars and mount them so the bottom edges are about 3"-4" below the bottom of the rear quarter panel.

Total cost: about $10.00.

So there you have it. One weekend's worth of work plus approximately $130.00 and you'll be ready to jump into those fuzzy dice and that chrome washer nozzles you've had your eye on.

Can You Hear Me Now?

How to add a high-tone horn to the PT Cruiser

Incredible as it may sound, Chrysler decided to remove one of the two horns most cars come with on 2003 and newer PT Cruisers. Push the horn on these cars and you'll hear an anemic "neeeeee" sound that will barely get heard above the road noise of most SUV tires.

Here's how to add the high-tone horn to these cars:

Parts and Tools Needed

Photo 1 the parts you will need, which include an aftermarket hi tone horn (about $15 to $20), about 12 inches of stranded 10 or 12 gauge wire, and a sheet metal bolt. The mounting bracket and wire connections were included with the horn itself. You usually have a choice between a 125 db horn and a 132 db horn. Since you're going to all the trouble of adding an aftermarket horn, spend the extra $5 and get the louder horn. If there is a choice between a single wire and two wire horn, get the two wire horn.

The tools you'll need include a socket set, wire cutters, wire stripper, and a crimping tool or vise grip pliers. A drill and a 3/8" drill bit may be required to drill a new hole in the mounting bracket supplied with the horn. A pop rivet pry bar tool is also handy for removing the inner fender splash guard.

Step 1 - Remove the Right Front Wheel

The horn is located just behind the fog lights, and is accessed from inside the right front wheel well. Jack up the car and remove the wheel.

Step 2 - Remove the plastic inner fender splash guard

Photo 2 shows the locations of the three sheet metal screws and plastic pop rivets holding the front half of the plastic splash guard in place. You'll only need to remove the front half of the splash guard. It's a light weight and flexible plastic that can be folded out of the way and held in place behind the disc brake calipers. The three plastic pop rivets can be removed with the pry bar tool, or by placing your fingers behind the splash guard next to the rivets and gently pulling.

Photo 2a shows the existing horn and fog light assembly. The two things to note are the pre-drilled holes for mounting the new horn, and the small space available to add one. The 2003 models are supposed to have the horn mounting bracket and wiring still in place, so your Cruiser may look slightly different than this.

Step 3 - Splice in the new wires

Photo 3 shows the new wires (red and black) spliced onto the existing horn wires. I removed the existing horn to allow more room to work. After the wires are spliced and taped, attach them to the new horn.

Step 4 - Bolt on the New Horn

This is where the lack of extra space rears its ugly head. My first attempt to bolt on the hi tone horn (photo 4a) looked like I had left plenty of clearance, but trying to replace the splash guard proved that looks can be deceiving. I removed the hi tone horn and drilled a new hole in the mounting bracket. Photo 4b shows the second attempt that allowed enough room for the splash guard.

Step 5 - Test it Out, Button it Up

Before putting it all back together again, make sure to test your new horn system. A quick push on the center of the steering wheel provides a very satisfying, I-won't-be-ignored-anymore HOOOONNNKKK!

All that's left to do is to fold back the plastic splash guard with the three sheet metal screws and three pop rivets, and remount the front tire.

There you have it. You've just completed the only mod that should never have been necessary, but the one that just might save your Cruiser from a trip to the body shop!