Chesapeake Auto Repair

The West Service Center, Inc. Guide To Custom Wheels   If you’re interested in customizing the wheels and tires on your van, there are a few things you should know first. Most importantly, the wheels you buy need to fit your vehicle. Not all wheels are created equal. Too many Chesapeake motorists have bought a set of wheels that caught their eye, then, after going to the work of mounting them, have found that the wheels don’t fit right and the tires rub against the van when they turn or go over a bump. To ensure a proper fit, you can consult with your West Service Center, Inc. tire professional. He/she can also help you find tires that are suited to your driving habits as well as your van. You may find their auto advice invaluable, and you’ll probably be happier with your new wheels once you purchase them. But if you just have to have that set of wheels, and you’re wi ... read more

Serpentine Belt Service At West Service Center, Inc. In Chesapeake   Don’t you hate it when you hear that squeal from under the hood when you’re zipping down a busy Chesapeake interstate? It usually means there is a problem with the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine accessories. It runs the alternator – which charges the battery; the water pump – which cools the engine; the air conditioning and the power steering pump. All pretty critical parts. It is called a serpentine belt because it snakes around a bunch of engine components. Serpentine belts are amazingly tough. They can last for years and go for tens of thousands of miles. Like all critical moving parts, however, they eventually wear out. If your belt breaks while you are driving around Chesapeake, everything will come to a halt within minutes. You need to stop the van immediately or it will overheat, potentially causing costly engine damage. You can b ... read more

Why is My Check Engine Light On? Your browser does not support video   The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Chesapeake car owners and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us Chesapeake auto owners. Let’s get the urgency issues out of the way first. If your check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause critical engine damage. Naturally, you need to get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at Virginia expressway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to your Chesapeake service center. If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your honest West Service Center, Inc. service advisor to get it checked out. Some more Chesapeake information on how the Check Engine Li ... read more

Battery Replacement For Your van   Modern cars and trucks in and around Chesapeake run on 12 volt electrical systems. 12 volts is enough to get the job done for Chesapeake drivers without having so much power that there is danger of electrocution. But today’s vehicles have more electrical components and do-dads than ever before. This really strains your electrical system, making it hard for the battery to keep up. Think about it: electric seats, seat heaters, power locks, windows and sun roofs. And then us Virginia drivers have all the power outlets for our cell phones, computers, and DVD players. We also have navigation systems and powerful stereos. Plus there are all the engine and transmission computers, traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes, sensors and on and on. Even the security system is running off the battery while the car is turned off. Fortunately, battery technology has given Chesapeake auto owners resilient batteries that are able to meet th ... read more

Fuel Injection: It Keeps Getting Better for Chesapeake Drivers Your browser does not support video Chesapeake auto owners know that engines need to burn fuel to operate. Fuel is pumped from your fuel tank to your van engine where it is squirted—or injected—into your engine’s cylinders. This is the function of the fuel injectors. There are two ways to inject fuel into an engine. Fuel needs air to burn, so in the first method, fuel is injected into a port and allowed to mix with air and before it is drawn into the cylinders. In the second method, fuel is injected directly into the cylinders and mixes with air after it enters the van engine. Direct injection engines burn fuel more efficiently than conventional van engines. Some models can deliver the power of a V8 with the economy of a V6. For example, in one family of engines, the conventional version (a V6) delivers about 250 horsepower. The direct injection version delivers over 300 horsepow ... read more