When fall approaches and cold mornings begin, it is a good time to have your vehicle’s charging and starting system inspected and tested. The battery is the heart of the system, supplying power to start the engine and the current to operate the accessories when the vehicle is not running, and it protects the Power […]

The fuel system of your vehicle is either mechanical or electronic. Most of today’s cars are equipped with an electronic fuel system. The fuel pump is responsible for pressurizing fuel from a vehicle’s gas tank and sending it to the engine. Since the electronic fuel system is most common, we will discuss that design in […]

Preventative Maintenance is the Key to Longevity What do we mean by preventative maintenance is the key to vehicle longevity? It means replacing fluids and parts when they are worn by age or mileage, not waiting for them to bad first. Whenever we have a customer with a 10-year-old, approximately 100,000 mile car and say […]

We hear this question a lot and, according to the US Department of Transportation, the average life expectancy of a vehicle is 13 to 17 years. The USDOT just published that the average age of vehicles on US Highways is 11.5 years old, which is the highest the average has ever been. The life expectancy […]

A proper mix of water and coolant is designed to protect your engine from extreme temperatures of heat and cold. Coolants carry special lubricating properties to keep all moving parts lubricated while circulating through the cooling system of the vehicle. Having the proper mix in the cooling system raises the boiling point and lowers the […]

There are times when a vehicle, though still drivable, should be towed. Many times a consumer will drive their vehicle to a repair facility to save money on a tow bill. Isn’t spending $75 to $100 on a tow bill much less expensive than a bill for several hundred dollars for additional repairs? As the […]

If the temperature on your vehicle is in the red zone, it is getting hot, or your warning beeper goes off, pull over and turn it off immediately. If you see coolant leaking, smoke from under the hood or smell coolant (sweet syrup smell), pull over and turn it off immediately. Cooling System Inspections Whenever […]

Essentially, motor mounts are typically made of rubber or a fluid filled rubber that are bonded to metal brackets that bolt to the engine and frame of the vehicle. They are designed as insulators that support, hang, or cradle the engine and transmission assemblies. There are usually 3 to 4 engine/transmission mounts on a vehicle. […]

You should know now where to look for referrals and how to research an automotive repair business. We’ve also discussed the questions that you should ask of the repair facility about their warranties, training, and equipment. Additionally, there are some things that you should be able to expect as a customer from the repair facility […]

In the last article we talked about referrals, review sites, and researching a business to help in finding a reputable, trustworthy shop. We also talked about trying out a repair facility with minor repairs to begin the development of a relationship with them. This week, we will discuss some of the things to ask and […]