Chesapeake Auto Repair

Drive Train – What You Need to Know In Chesapeake   One Chesapeake automotive service issue that doesn’t get much attention is driveline service. Drivelines don’t get talked about very much around Chesapeake, but they’re very important. First let’s define what the driveline is: Taking a small step back, the power plant is comprised of the engine and transmission. The driveline starts there and includes all of the components that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. That’s not really a lot of components, but they handle the full force of the engine. Without the driveline you’re not moving. So we need to take good care of it. The driveline components differ depending on whether your vehicle has front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive or four wheel drive. For purposes of our discussion, we’re going to have to over simplify a bit. Let’s start with front wheel drive ... read more

Tracking True In Virginia: Wheel Alignment In Norfolk       Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy Norfolk and Suffolk car owners until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment by hitting a curb or pothole on a Chesapeake expressway or surface street. When a vehicle’s out of alignment, one or more of the wheels does not track true and pulls against the others. This causes several serious problems. First off, the tires will wear out faster and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to expensive van suspension problems. When undergoing an alignment service at West Service Center, Inc., your van is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings. Precision adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment.  ... read more

Battery Basics For Chesapeake   It’s important for Chesapeake car owners to know battery basics. First, let’s talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold Virginia weather. Most Chesapeake drivers think it’s cold weather because that’s when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold van engine. However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short Chesapeake trips because the alternator doesn’t have time to fully recharge the battery from starting the engine. Chesapeake drivers can top off the charge with a computer controlled battery charger – say, once a month in the summer and every three months during the winter. As far as how long a battery will last, statistics show that 70% have given up the ghost within four years. By ... read more

Fuel System Cleaning at West Service Center, Inc. in Chesapeake for Better Performance A fuel injector is a valve that delivers fuel to a vehicle’s engine. It has to deliver the precise amount of fuel, to precisely the right place, precisely when the engine needs it. The fuel also has to be mixed with air before it can burn in the engine. Fuel injectors are engineered to spray fuel in a specific pattern into the engine. (The pattern varies by engine type and design.) In order to achieve these spray patterns, the fuel must be pressurized. The pressure in a fuel injection system varies depending on its type. Many gasoline engines use port injection systems, which operate with a pressure of 60 pounds per square inch. Newer direct injection systems operate at 10 to 30 times that pressure. Some diesel passenger vehicles have fuel injectors that operate at 30,000 pounds or more per square inch. Vehicles have one fuel injector for each cylinder in the engi ... read more

Emergency Items For Your van   Local Chesapeake roadside emergencies can range from a flat tire downtown to being stranded in a snowy ravine for three days. So you may want to consider a basic emergency kit to keep in the car at all times and a travel kit tailored to a specific trip. Your close-to-home kit for around Chesapeake would have some basic items to work on your car: everything you need to change a tire, gloves, a couple quarts of oil, some antifreeze and water. A can of tire inflator is a great temporary fix for minor flats. You’ll also want jumper cables or a booster box, flares, a flashlight and some basic hand tools. Now for your comfort and safety: a first aid kit, drinkable water, high calorie food (like energy bars), blankets, toilet paper, cell phone, towel, hat and boots. Keep some change for a pay phone, emergency cash and a credit card. People who live in areas with frequent severe weather or earthquakes may want to ca ... read more