Do you have an electric car? Its motor relies on special brushes to keep it running, and they do wear out. Starting at about 50,000–60,000 miles, you should have them checked and replaced when worn down.
Always have oil, fluids, belts, and other milestone maintenance performed at the recommended intervals in your car's owner's manual. This is the best way to ensure you can get more than 100,000 miles out of your vehicle.
Have you ever noticed that many of Volkswagen’s cars are named after various types of wind? For example, The Passat, is German for “trade wind,” Polo is German for “polar winds,” and the Jetta means “jet stream.”
At over 300 million, the United States has more cars than any other country in the world. China comes in a distant second, at 78 million.
If the temperature gauge on your car’s dashboard suddenly spikes, you need to pull over and stop your car; continuing to drive could cause serious damage to the engine. Once you are off the road, call us for help.
Do you know that around 60 million cars are manufactured every year around the world? This means around 165,000 cars move through the assembly line every 24 hours.
With proper maintenance, it's reasonable to expect your vehicle to run for at least 200,000 miles. Regular oil changes, lube jobs, fluid changes, brake maintenance and timely repairs will keep your vehicle in top condition.
While it 's good to know how vehicles work, this doesn't mean that you're automatically qualified to fix them. In fact, attempting to DIY a complicated job on a car or truck might make the problem worse or might jeopardize the safety of anyone who uses it.
Want to help your tires last longer? The best thing you can do for them is to check their air pressure on a regular basis and keep them inflated to the proper pressure. You can the correct amount on a sticker on the driver's side door jamb.
Tired of the cup holders in your car getting gunked up and sticky? Here's a simple hack to prevent that: place cupcake liners in them. Not only do they protect the holders, they are easy to remove.
Brakes not responding as you would like them to? It could be something as basic as brake fluid, or it could be a bigger problem. Rather than taking chances with your safety, have the brakes checked.
"Car designers are just going to have to come up with an automobile that outlasts the payments." - Erma Bombeck
What do you put into your car's radiator? If it's only water or coolant, you could be headed for trouble. Check the owner's manual and use the proper mix of water and coolant.
Do you own an electric car or a hybrid? Because the battery is sealed, it's not recommended that you perform maintenance on it yourself as it could damage it or void the warranty.
If your car is overheating, and the upper radiator hose is significantly cooler than the lower hose, this is most likely due to a failed thermostat. Overheating is a serious issue that should never be ignored.
If you notice your vehicle swaying or leaning when you make a turn, the problem is with your suspension system. Coils, shocks, springs, and other elements could need adjusting or repair in order to restore the proper level of handling.
Pulsing from the brake pedal when it is depressed or vibration in the steering wheel when driving at higher speeds are signs that the brake rotor is failing and needs to be replaced.
Among your vehicle's consumable components are its serpentine belts. However, this really isn't something you should work on if you don't have the experience as getting to them, taking them out and replacing them with new ones can be quite a task.
The United States has more cars than any other country in the world, at 300 million. China comes in a distant second, at 78 million.
Deposits of carbon and gunk can build up on the cylinder heads, reducing power. To prevent (or correct) this, the heads, valves, valve seats and ports need to be inspected and cleaned.
Anti-lock brakes have sensors on each wheel to monitor speed and prevent skidding when the brakes are suddenly applied, eliminating the need to pump the brakes in an emergency. Have them inspected when you rotate tires to keep them in good order.
Gas charged shocks improve ride performance by increasing the ability of the fluid in the shocks to do its job, improving the ride on rough roads, and increasing stability when cornering. They may be a better choice than heavy-duty shocks for passenger cars.
A pool of yellow-green liquid under your car, or the sudden, sickly smell of leaking coolant is never good. Get your car to us and let us make repairs to the engine's cooling system.
Diesel engines tend to run much hotter than gasoline engines. Because of that, have the cooling system checked regularly and make sure all scheduled maintenance is performed.
If your car has a bent aluminum alloy rim, straightening it is not a good idea as it can contribute to tire failure or other problems. If the wheel is bent or dented, replacement is the safest option.
The cars of decades past are certainly less complex than what's available today. However, this doesn't mean that they're easier to fix. In fact, they may prove to be a serious challenge as there are no onboard computers that can tell mechanics exactly what's wrong.
Can you list a few factors that can potentially damage your tires? Well, some of them include overheating, heavy loads and high-speed, aggressive and sharp turns.
When you wash your car, are you cleaning the undercarriage? This area is just as important as the rest of your car because salts, gunk and grime can build-up and attack the metal causing it to corrode and weaken.
Pay attention to, and become familiar with, the sounds your car makes when it is running normally. When you hear something you do not recognize, don't turn up the radio to drown it out, bring it in for service.
Do you know that after any suspension or chassis work, performing an alignment is a requirement? Your vehicle may be unsafe to drive without this.
If you drive on rough roads, and your car's shocks are worn, it will increase the braking distance you need to stop as well as increase the likelihood of skidding on wet surfaces.
What's that noise? If you hear clicking from under the hood while the car is stopped, it usually means you are low on oil. Do not wait - get the vehicle in to a mechanic as low oil can permanently damage your engine.
For most modern cars, especially for those with aluminum alloy rims, straightening a bent wheel is not recommended as it can contribute to failure or other problems. If the wheel is bent, replacing it is the safest option.
If your car's emissions control system fails, it will cause the check engine light to turn on and off, rather than remain constantly on. It typically indicates a problem with the catalytic converter and needs immediate attention.
Did you know that some cars may have more than one differential? While cars with two-wheel drive have one, four-wheel drive vehicles have two, and those classified as all-wheel drive have three.
If your engine is stalling, it could be because a sensor is faulty or an electrical component is damaged or has gone bad. Bring your car in and we'll perform a diagnostic check to find out the cause.
If you notice clear or yellowish fluid leaking from your vehicle, it indicates that something is wrong with it. In this case, bring your vehicle at our auto repair facility and one of our skilled technicians will diagnose the issue.
Over time, the rubber bushings holding your vehicle's suspension components in place will wear out and cause it to rattle. In this instance the only thing to do would be to have the undercarriage thoroughly inspected and have any failed or failing components replaced.
"When Solomon said there was a time and a place for everything he had not encountered the problem of parking his automobile." - Bob Edwards
If corrosion should build up on the battery terminals, this could lead to a loss of power.
Do you know that in terms of efficiency, diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines? While a diesel engine is 40% fuel efficient, a gas engine is only about 20% efficient.
While car's today are very efficient, they are quite complex so anyone attempting to perform a repair will need special tools. This is in stark contrast to the cars of decades past that only required traditional tools to fix.
Always have oil and fluid changes, belt and hose replacements, and other milestone maintenance tasks performed at the recommended intervals to get your money’s worth out of your ride.
Buying a used car? Whether it's from a dealer or a private transaction, make arrangements to have us inspect it before completing the deal. Unless the seller is willing to give you a warranty, it's "buyer beware."
Pro tip: It's frustrating to drive an unfamiliar car and not know which side of the pump to pull up on. Look at the gas pump icon on your dash - there should be an arrow near it or under it that will indicate which side of the car the tank is on.
Signs of transmission problems include a feeling of "dragging" while the car is in motion. There may or may not be signs of a fluid leak. If you suspect transmission trouble, have the car towed to a repair shop.
While replacing a faulty part on your vehicle may seem straightforward, this isn’t always the case. More often than not, a lot of other parts will need to be removed before you get to the target component so it would be advisable to have an experienced mechanic take on the task.
Whenever the engine temperature warning light comes on, pull over and turn your car off and wait at least thirty minutes before opening the hood. If the problem persists, bring your car to us for repair.
If your car’s check engine warning suddenly lights up and you lose a significant amount of power, this means that the vehicle has entered limp mode. This built-in feature allows you to continue driving so you can make it home or to a service center without making the problem worse.
Did you know that it takes very little water on the road - only 1/12th of an inch - and a speed of 35mph for conditions to be right for hydroplaning? It's better not to use the cruise control under these conditions.
To check if your shock absorbers are still good, you’ll need to do a bounce test. This involves pushing down hard on one corner of your vehicle to see how many times that corner bounces. A good shock will arrest the motion after a bounce while a bad one will not be able to counter the movement effectively.
How can you tell if a repair is worth it? If a recommended repair will cost more than the value of the car, it is probably time to replace the vehicle. Repairs that are less than that should be made – a much less expensive option than buying a new vehicle.
To check if your shock absorbers are still good, you’ll need to do a bounce test. This involves pushing down hard on one corner of your vehicle to see how many times that corner bounces. A good shock will arrest the motion after a bounce while a bad one will not be able to counter the movement effectively.
If you notice that your vehicle is consuming oil at an unusual rate, the first thing to do is check for a leak. Place a clean sheet of cardboard underneath the car, and check later for signs of an oil leak. If there isn't any indication of one, have the engine analyzed for other problems.
How can you tell if a repair is worth it? If a recommended repair will cost more than the value of the car, it is probably time to replace the vehicle. Repairs that are less than that should be made – a much less expensive option than buying a new vehicle.
To check if your shock absorbers are still good, you’ll need to do a bounce test. This involves pushing down hard on one corner of your vehicle to see how many times that corner bounces. A good shock will arrest the motion after a bounce while a bad one will not be able to counter the movement effectively.
While 70s muscle cars are simpler than performance vehicles available today, they can be quite hard to fix. This is due to the fact that all their systems are mechanical and there are no onboard computers that register the faults that occur.
When it comes to your vehicle, one thing that you'll have to pay close attention to is the state of your tires. Tire wear in particular is something to take note of because premature degradation can mean a camber alignment issue.
If you notice that your vehicle is consuming oil at an unusual rate, the first thing to do is check for a leak. Place a clean sheet of cardboard underneath the car, and check later for signs of an oil leak. If there isn't any indication of one, have the engine analyzed for other problems.
How can you tell if a repair is worth it? If a recommended repair will cost more than the value of the car, it is probably time to replace the vehicle. Repairs that are less than that should be made – a much less expensive option than buying a new vehicle.
To check if your shock absorbers are still good, you’ll need to do a bounce test. This involves pushing down hard on one corner of your vehicle to see how many times that corner bounces. A good shock will arrest the motion after a bounce while a bad one will not be able to counter the movement effectively.
