(Timing Belt)
You may have heard about an important part of your vehicle’s engine called a timing belt, and many know that if that belt breaks, it can cause some very serious engine problems.
Flat Tire? Three’s the Charm (Tire Repair)
For most drivers, at some point you’re going to have a flat tire. Depending on how it was damaged, it may have to be replaced. But sometimes, a repair will do the trick, as long as the puncture isn’t on the sidewall and the hole is smaller than ¼ inch/6.35mm in diameter. Here are the three common ways your tire can be fixed.
No Fueling Around (Fuel Filter Replacement)
A driver called in to the shop the other day saying his European sports sedan had an odd problem. He was driving when his car started to slow down. Applying more throttle didn’t help. He pulled over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and waited a few minutes before starting it up again. It ran fine… for a couple of minutes. Then the same thing happened. He was able to finally get home by stopping and restarting, and he was calling to see if we could take a look at it.
Easy on the Wheel (Power Steering)
Steering a vehicle these days doesn’t take much effort, but if you got behind the wheel back before power steering was invented, you’d need to practically have the strength of Hercules to turn the wheel.
Lubricate Driveshaft
See if any of these are happening to your vehicle. You feel it vibrating excessively underneath when it’s running, or you hear strange clunking, grating, or grinding sounds coming from beneath. Maybe it’s hard to turn your vehicle, or you can hear squeaking when you’re going slow. Perhaps you feel a shudder when you step on the throttle.
When it Comes to Air Filters, Change is Good (Clogged Air Filter)
Engine air filters may not seem like a big deal, but when they’re clogged up with dirt, dust, and insects, your engine could wind up choking for air and not delivering you the power and performance it was designed to give.
Smooth Operator (Shocks and Struts)
Few of us ever drive somewhere without encountering some pretty rough roads, and it’s amazing how well our vehicles are able to smooth out the ride. Thank your shocks and struts.
Out of Joint (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)
If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it has components called CV joints which enable you to turn your wheels smoothly. The CV stands for “constant velocity.” In essence, it’s a set of gears that connect a shaft that allows power from the transmission to be sent to the wheels. When you turn the wheels, no matter what angle, the input velocity rotation will be equal to the output. Thus, the name, CV (constant velocity) joint. Other vehicles with 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive also use CV joints.
A Clean Connection (Battery Cleaning)
A clean connection is a wonderful thing. Think of a good cell phone signal or an airline connection with ample time and short distance to the next gate. Good connections are also important for your vehicle’s battery, and one secret to that is to make sure it’s periodically cleaned.
