Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Archives for January 2012

Worst Car Break Down Stories

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It was the end of June and we were anticipating a relaxing but fun vacation.  We were on our way to small lake cottage in Michigan, near Indiana, to spend some time with family.  We had dreams of water skiing, sailing, swimming and just winding down from a stressful work environment.  Little did we know, we were about to embark on one of the worst car break down stories we had ever experienced.                                                   

We set out on our trip expecting that our vehicle  was running properly and that all would be well, but shortly after we passed the Kansas border the engine started to run a little hot.  We were feeling a bit hungry and decided it would be a good time to stop and get a bite to eat and give the engine and ourselves  a chance to cool off, since the outside temperature was about 90 degrees at the time.  We enjoyed our lunch and set out on the road again, not anticipating any problems.  And we didn’t have any,  until we had just driven through Joliet, Illinois.  It was late afternoon, traffic was extremely heavy, and it was beginning to get very hot!  Both under the hood and in the front seat!  Did I mention we were driving a truck with a camper?  Here we are, in the middle of rush hour traffic in unfamiliar territory, driving an overheating truck with a camper.   There weren’t any shoulders wide enough for us to pull over for any extended length of time and we didn’t have any water bottles.   So we emptied out our milk jugs, filled them with water to pour in the radiator, and attempted to get to the next exit ramp.  We continued this very slow and tiring process for several miles until we were finally able to reach an exit ramp, only to discover we were in one of the worst parts of the city! What a lousy place to break down!  This isn’t the end of the story, but we are interested to hear about YOUR worst car break down stories!  Write to us by clicking on the comments line and tell us your stories so we can post them for others to read.  We can’t wait to hear from you!

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

Transmission Troubleshooting

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Since we have gotten quite a few questions concerning transmissions in recent weeks, we thought we would reprint a prior blog that could supply some answers to those questions.

Your transmission is the one piece of equipment that is  multi faceted.  It controls everything from shifting your car from gear to gear, to controlling how fast your car goes.  While you may never change out a transmission or spend time learning how it works, there are some tips to help you with transmission troubleshooting, so you will know when its time to call in a mechanic.   

While there are many pieces that make up a standard automatic transmission system, all transmissions have a few basic parts.

  • The bell housing, or metal case that sits underneath your car
  • The gears
  • The transmission fluid
  • A filter to keep the transmission operating properly

You’ll usually notice a problem with your transmission in one of two ways.  Either your car will simply stop, or it starts to run roughly.  These two problems are generally caused by:

  • Low transmission fluid level, which causes your car to shift poorly and can eventually lead to transmission damage.
  • A leak within the system.  This is usually easy to spot as transmission fluid has a red tint.
  • A clogged filter, which limits the cars performance.

Because of the many parts associated with a transmission, and the specialized tools you’ll need for troubleshooting and fixing it,  its usually wise to leave it up to a professional.  A professional understands what can be causing the problem, and can usually spot the problem quickly.  They will test a variety of things before moving on to a rebuild or replacement.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

Radiator Flush

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During the winter months when the temperatures can be as cold as below zero and in the summer when the temperatures can be so hot you’re sweltering, it is crucial your heating and cooling system is working properly.  These are the perfect times to have a radiator flush performed on your vehicle.            

The engines in today’s vehicles are filled with parts that are made of aluminum.  Water pumps, manifolds, engine blocks and the heater and radiator are all made of aluminum.  In order to protect the aluminum in these essential parts from corrosion, you need fresh anti-freeze in your engine.  Your anti-freeze should be checked during routine maintenance visits but you should also have a radiator flush done at least once a year, maybe twice a year, depending on the vehicle you drive and how it’s driven.

Every time you drive, your radiator is using up a coolant (anti-freeze) and water mixture to help bring down the temperatures in your car’s engine system.  The longer and the faster your car is driven the more stress is put on the engine, causing temperatures to soar.  These high temperatures increase the potential for your vehicle to overheat.   One of the ways to avoid overheating your engine is to keep fresh coolant in the radiator.

Coolant, like other fluids used in your vehicle, will break down over time.  This is why it is important to replace or flush your coolant mixture.  When the coolant breaks down more stress is placed on your radiator and your engine runs hotter than it should.  Dirt and deposits also build up and can reduce your vehicle’s performance.  Prolonged use of dirty coolant can result in costly damage to your radiator.  So if you haven’t had a radiator flush in the last year, take the necessary steps to get one and maybe save yourself some headaches in the future.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

When To Replace Shocks and Struts

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During the winter, as we are driving around on roads that may or may not have had the snow or ice from the prior day removed by a snowplow.  While we are bouncing and bumping along, we might wonder if all the movement we are experiencing is actually caused by the road conditions or is it time for us to replace the shocks and struts on our car.  If you have found yourself asking that question anytime recently,  I invite you to click on the link below for one of our earlier blogs and see if the information there helps you determine the answer. Shocks and Struts-How Do You Know When They Need Replacing?

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

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Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

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