Denver Express Car Care

6 Car Smells That You Should Never Ignore

May 7, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

Have you noticed your car smells? What is it?

No matter how many times you clean out your car, sometimes things get trapped in the back. Especially if you have kids. A pb&j falls between the seats. Old gym socks are waded up and thrown in the corner. Until eventually, you can’t help but pull everything out of your vehicle to find the culprit.

What we’re talking about here is more than a moldy snack or old gym socks. It’s that smell that lingers when you turn the car on. It’s very distinct. In your gut, you know something is wrong.

Luckily, different parts of your car produce different smells when something goes wrong. If you learn to troubleshoot them early, it can save you by avoiding higher ticketed repair bills, and reducing the risk of being stranded on the road.

Ask yourself these questions.

Is it safe to drive a car that smells like rotten eggs?

This is the one smell you might mistake for an old, moldy snack left under the seats. As your car operates, you notice a rotten egg smell coming through the vents.

A smell of rotten eggs in your car is from a compound called hydrogen sulfide. This comes from the small amount of sulfate they mix into the fuel you use for your car. If your car is working correctly, sulfur is converted to sulfur dioxide, which doesn’t have an odor. When a part on your fuel system breaks down, the sulfur isn’t transformed correctly, and it can release a rotten egg smell into your car. It’s a malfunction somewhere in your fuel system.

It might be the catalytic converter. It might be a bad fuel filter. It could even be a fuel pressure sensor that causes the system not to work. But when sulfur gas leaks out from the system, you’ll know it. And it won’t go away without repair.

In fact, it can be downright dangerous. This is a problem with your fuel system. That means this is one repair job you can’t put off.

What if my car smells like gas?

Every time you fill up your car with gas, the scent of fuel may linger for a bit. You’re surrounded by it while you get in and out of your car to fill up.

But if you notice it long after you drive away, pay attention. Did you spill some on your hands or clothes while maneuvering the nozzle? Did you step in it and now have it on your shoes? Cleaning it up should solve the problem.

But if it doesn’t, it may be a bigger problem. It might be a problem with your gas cap or a leak in your fuel line. Not only will either of these hurt your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, but they can also lead to dangerous situations. Being that close to fuel vapors can also impact your health.

If the scent won’t go away, it’s time to bring it in and have your car checked.

Why does it smell sugary sweet inside my car?

Your engine coolant is treated with an ethylene glycol, which gives off a sickly sweet smell. You’ll most likely smell it after the engine has warmed a bit, or when your car shuts down.

This toxic fluid is usually a green or orange color when it’s healthy and freshly installed, but will turn a rusty color as it wears down. This tells you the rust inhibitor has been broken down and it’s no longer providing rust control and scale buildup inside your vehicle. If you see drips or a puddle underneath your vehicle in this color combination, it’s time to check for a coolant leak.

This also means it’s starting to impact various parts in your car. It could be coming from a radiator hose, a failed intake manifold gasket, or a bad cylinder head. It might be coming from a leaky radiator cap, or a problem with the radiator itself.

Pay attention to where the smell is worse; inside or outside of your car. If it’s stronger inside, it may be a bad heater core.

Why can I smell exhaust fumes inside my car?

Exhaust fumes have a distinctive odor. You’ve probably noticed it if you walk by a running car, or leave your car in the driveway to warm up on a cold winter day.

You may smell it as you enter your car and prepare to drive away. But if you continue to smell it inside your car, you should never ignore it. Exhaust fumes inside the car most often indicate a problem in your car’s exhaust system. You might also have a problem with the seals on your windows or doors.

This can lead to a dangerous situation. Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, which can be deadly to humans and animals. If you smell exhaust, unroll your windows to let fresh air in, and bring it into our service station as quickly as possible.

What creates a burning smell, almost like burnt carpet?

This is another distinctive smell you’ll notice right away. Because we live here in the Rockies, and free time often means heading into the hills for a day of fun, we tend to wear brake pads differently than other cities across America.

If you’ve been using your brake pads a lot, or pressing down hard because of sporadic traffic, you may notice a burnt carpet smell. This is a sign your brakes are overheated.

While this may be somewhat normal as you’re moving down the mountain pass, back into the city, it’s also a warning. It’s telling you that too much pressure is being placed on the pads; downshift to control your speed instead.

If you smell this on your normal commute here on most flat Denver roads, it’s telling you something else is wrong. You might have a brake problem caused by a seized brake caliper piston. Or maybe you forgot to release the handbrake. This can be checked with a glance.

What is that smell?

While we’ve mentioned some of the more popular smells your car will make when it’s trying to tell you there’s a problem, this by no means is all. Every part operates in its own way. Every problem can create its own unique set of circumstances.

That’s why it’s a good idea to really get to know your car.

If you pay attention to what it looks like, how it drives, and the various smells when it’s operating correctly, you’ll be able to notice quickly when something no longer works well.

Have a question? Give us a call. We’re happy to help you get to the bottom of your car smells, and get you back on the road safely and quickly.

Is Your Car’s Air Conditioner Not Working?

May 5, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

There’s one thing Colorado isn’t short of – sunny days. Colorado advertises 300 days of annual sunshine, mild temperatures, and record snowfalls – all of that makes it the perfect place to live, no matter how you like your weather.

Of course, once you live here, you have to drive in said weather. Those record snowfalls can be troublesome if you’re trying to get somewhere on time. And when the temperatures creep higher – 80s, 90s, 100s – you’ll be sweating it out as you make a break from your home to the car, and everywhere you choose to go.

But what if your car air conditioner doesn’t work when you need it most? You open up the windows, drive for a bit, and wait for the system to cool down. Only it never does, and you’re stuck roasting in a hot car, stuck to your leather seats.

Why won’t your car air conditioner work?

What is black death?

Imagine a sludgy, sticky, dark goo slowly flowing inside your car’s internal workings. As the refrigerant in your car’s air conditioning system breaks down, it slowly moves inside the compressor.

Refrigerant is a fluid that helps your car operate at its best. Think of it as the motor oil for your air conditioning system. But as this fluid breaks down, it thickens. And as it moves into the compressor, it gums up everywhere, including the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and all the moving parts.

And that sticky, grimy substance won’t just disappear. You have to replace the major pieces, and flush the lines clean. Yep, you guessed it, this isn’t an easy (or budget-friendly) process.

Of course, this is the worst case scenario. There are warning signs your car’s air conditioning system is having trouble long before it completely shuts down. Catch it early, and it’s a much easier (and less expensive) repair.

It starts with knowing your car’s air conditioner

From the moment you drive your car home, it’s important to take note of how it runs. Pay attention to the noises it makes, the feel of the drive, the smell as you turn different systems on. This is your base.

Two things make all the difference in keeping your car operating as it should.

1. Paying attention to changes – if you notice any change, don’t ignore it. The sooner you get it checked by one of our mechanics, the easier it will be to fix. And in most cases, a lot less expensive too.

2. Performing regular maintenance – along with oil changes and tune ups, if a mechanic completes a diagnostic test regularly, it can alert you to potential problems long before they create lasting damage to your vehicle.

These are the things you should watch for with your air conditioning system.

An air conditioner with weak airflow

Remember when your car was new, and you could barely handle the cold blast when you turned your air conditioner on high? Slowly, that blast has disappeared. The main causes of weak airflow include:

A hose has come loose. Through all of its use, the blower hose that connects to the blower unit has wiggled free.
The ventilation fan no longer works. If the fan is broken, it can’t push air through the system.
Seals have been compromised. Think of all the rattling, clanking, and banging going on underneath the hood as you drive each day. Bumps, potholes, and even speed on the highway can slowly rattle connections apart. There are a variety of seals within the air conditioning system that can eventually wear down, such as the core case seal or the blower hose seal.
Contaminants such as mold and mildew can build up over time. Water flows in the air conditioning system. That residue moisture from the cooling process sometimes accumulates. When this happens, mold and mildew can start to build. Not only will it impact the air flow, but it can also impact your health as it blows this contaminated air supply into your vehicle.

An air conditioner that isn’t as cold as it once was

Your air conditioner is still working … sort of. There is cold air, but it’s not as cold as it once was. That lack of cold air can be caused by a number of things.

A failed blower motor
A vacuum leak
A failed switch or fuse
A damaged condenser or evaporator
A failed compressor
A clogged refrigerant hose
A refrigerant leak

When one part of the air conditioning system no longer works, it throws the entire system off. If you’re experiencing an air supply that isn’t as cold as it once was, chances are there’s a problem somewhere in the system. Even the smallest leak can quickly escalate into a major repair.

An air conditioner that smells bad when you turn it on

This goes beyond the smell you first get when you turn it on for the first time. If you continually notice an odorous smell that resembles an old gym locker, it could be:

A dirty air cabin filter
A moldy evaporator case

Because the system has been compromised, you’ll continue to get that smell until you fix the system.

Is there a way to test for an air conditioner leak?

Since one of the biggest reasons for an air conditioner problem is a leak somewhere in the system, there are a few ways you can test to find out where it’s starting from.

The first way is by using a fluorescent dye. This is the least expensive and does a good job at detecting a leak. However, if the leak is tucked away from your line of vision, it can be difficult to detect.

The second way is with a sniffer. This is a tool that is placed near a suspected problem area to find the leak. When it finds a refrigerant leak, it emits a warning signal to the user. A faster beep means the leak is larger in size.

Both of these are dependent on knowing your vehicle and how it operates. You can trust one of our mechanics to find the root of the problem, and offer you the best solution to fix your car’s air conditioning problem.

Why fix your air conditioning problem right away?

Because the longer it goes unfixed, the bigger the potential problem can grow. If left unchecked, it can further damage your air flow system, and spread into other systems throughout your car. If a leak or crack turns worse, corrosion can occur on other parts, belts and lines can snap, doing further damage to parts nearby.

Are you set for the summer season with your air conditioner? How can we help you stay cool no matter how high the temperatures climb?

How Long Can a Car Battery Last? 5 Answers You Need Right Now

April 30, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

When was the last time you drove your car?

For most of us, that question would have been comical a few short months ago. But moving past a month of stay in place, that question now may take some thought. A week ago? A month ago?

Your wallet may be thanking you for not spending a lot on gas these days. But if you don’t pay attention to caring for your car the proper way right now, you may pay for that as we come out of lockdown. Cars are meant to be driven. The more they sit, the more problems can arise.

Which is why we’ve put together a series of questions and answers about one of the first things that can happen to your vehicle the longer it sits: problems with your car battery.

How long can a car sit before a car battery dies?

A car battery isn’t like a battery you put into your phone or your remote control. It isn’t fully charged, dropping down ever so slowly as it sits or is used.

Instead, a car battery is typically a lead acid cell battery made up of 6x 2V cells or piles. A lead acid battery is bigger and heavier than other batteries, and is designed to produce high current over short durations. Alkaline batteries produce low current over longer durations, and are in general safer even when leaking, as they won’t eat through what’s around it the way the sulfuric acid from a lead acid battery will.

With this set up, a car battery is designed for short spurts of energy. It’s designed to jolt the car engine to life as the key is turned or button is pushed. This charges the alternator, which is what continually powers a variety of things in your car, such as the lights or radio.

To stay in good function, the car battery needs that jolt periodically to recharge the cells. Without it, the power continues to drain until the battery no longer works.

How long a car can sit before the car battery dies depends on a variety of things:

How old the battery is
Under what circumstances the car battery has been used
Temperatures and road conditions
The make and model of the battery
Driving conditions

Predicting how long a car battery will last if it isn’t used is difficult at best. A month? Two months? Longer?

Your best takeaway is to realize the importance of operating your car regularly, even when you’re staying in place.

How do you change a car battery without losing your settings?

What’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen when you replace a battery? Having all of your presets disappear. And in today’s modern cars, that can be a wide variety of details.

That’s why it pays to watch your battery carefully, and change it for a new one long before it dies and leaves you stranded. If you replace a battery while it’s still holding a charge, you can do so and keep all of your presets in place.

To do so, you’ll need a secondary power source. You can use a secondary battery, or a jumper/booster pack. After attaching the secondary battery to your car, you can disconnect and replace the main battery. This will hold the charge in place during the process. With the new power supply in place, test the system and make sure it’s working.

You can also attach a memory saver, which is a small device you can plug in that will provide just enough power to hold your presets in place while the battery is changed.

How long can you play the radio before the car battery dies?

Have you ever sat with the engine off and the radio on, listening to your favorite tunes? Of course. We’ve all done it.

Did you know that’s one of the heaviest drains on your car battery?

How long you can play depends on a variety of things. How old your battery is. Temperatures. The power of your radio.

We Googled this question to find out what some of the answers were, and had to laugh. Some were very specific – how would anyone know you can get exactly 125 minutes of radio time before your car dies? The general consensus is: it depends.

Is your radio standard equipment? Does your radio have a digital screen – this will require more power from the battery.

The bottom line is, if you aren’t using your car regularly, find another way to play your tunes. Keep all listening to a minimum if you aren’t operating your car.

How do you reconnect a car battery safely?

If your car battery is dead, you’ll have to replace it. For safety’s sake, remember that this is an electrical device. “Dead” isn’t really dead, and it can still be harmful – fatal – if not handled properly.

Even if a car battery is dead, you should never let any metal object touch both the negative and positive posts on the battery at the same time. This can cause a current to spark, even to explode.

When removing a battery, identify the positive and negative posts – the positive will have a red plastic cover, while the negative will have black markings. Remove the black/negative cable first, followed by the red. When you reattach, reverse the order – attach the red first, followed by the black. It’s always in this order for safety.

Remove the battery carefully to ensure you don’t spill acid from the battery. They can weigh between 40 and 60 pounds.

Clean all the connections before you insert the new battery. Then reinstall the cables, red/positive before black/negative. Carefully double check all connections and ensure the battery is secure.

Of course, to ensure this process runs smoothly, we recommend never doing this as a DIY project unless you have been trained in auto mechanics. Because you’re dealing with dangerous chemicals and electrical current, it’s important to know what you’re doing before you try it.

What else happens to the car if the battery dies and isn’t replaced right away?

Car batteries die for a variety of reasons. And in some cases, it might not have to be replaced right away.

When you jump a car battery, be sure to keep it running for 10 to 15 minutes to ensure it regains its charge. Don’t take it far from home; remain in a location where you can have access to another jump if you need it.

If it holds its charge, you should have nothing to worry about. If it needs a second charge, it’s time to replace the battery.

The key to good car maintenance is being aware. Watch for signs. Evaluate how well your car is working.

How long a car battery lasts is all about knowledge. Knowing how old your battery is, the conditions it’s operated in, and how well it’s been treated since it was installed.

Do you have any questions about replacing your car battery? We’re here to help.

Air Blend Box

April 27, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

You push a few buttons or turn some knobs, and voila, you have warm air blowing on your feet or cool air chilling your face. How does it all happen? Well, it’s all thanks to the air blend box. This box lives behind your dash and serves up just the right air temperature right where you want it.

Here’s how we break it down. First there is the blower fan that circulates the air through the heating/air conditioning system. The fan can blow at different speeds, depending on how much hot or cold air you need to be comfortable. The air blend box can either draw in fresh air from outside or recirculate air from inside the cabin. People often choose to recirculate air when first starting the vehicle until it starts to either cool down or warm up.

The next thing the blend box does is direct airflow over the heater core to warm the air, or over the air conditioner evaporator core to chill it – or a blend of hot and cold to get it just right. From there the blend box can direct the air out into the passenger compartment through the floor vents, the panel vents, the defroster, or a combination of them. All of this allows you to customized the climate just the way you like it.

Some vehicles have different climate control zones, like one for the driver and one for the passenger – or even more zones for the back seat. Additional air blend boxes are used for this. Climate controls could be manually adjusted, or computer controlled depending on your vehicle.

The blower motor and all the little actuator motors that open and close the various blend doors can fail and need to be replaced. Most new vehicles come with a cabin air filter. This filter cleans the air before it gets into the blend box. If you neglect changing the cabin air filter, it can get clogged, smelly and even allow mildew and other microorganisms to build up in the blend box. Your service center can perform a heating/air conditioning system cleaning service that will clean and disinfect the system, restoring a fresh clean scent. If you are not getting enough hot or cold air, your service center can inspect your system, diagnose the cause and set things right. And don’t forget to replace your cabin air filter on schedule. If you live and drive in dusty conditions or where there is a lot of pollen or other pollutants, you may need to replace your cabin air filter more frequently.

6 Ways To Keep Your Brakes Working All Year Long

April 21, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

What’s one of the most crucial systems in a car? The brake system should be one of the first to pop into mind.

No matter how much you drive, your brakes are used over and over again throughout the trip. You use them to stop. You use them to slow down. And while you might not think of them much, you would if they ever started to fail.

Keeping them working their best is crucial. No matter what the Colorado weather throws at you, it’s important to be able to stop on a dime.

What the car experts say

Depending on what make and model you drive, your car will need to have new brakes installed every 25,000 to 65,000 miles. Of course, this is just a general rule of thumb. The number of miles you drive is only one of the determinants for how long your brakes will last.

A vehicle’s brake system is complicated. In contains multiple pieces that each need to be monitored separately, to ensure it works together as one complete system.

Brake pads – these are replaced more frequently than any other part in the braking system.
Brake rotors – these are the part of the brake system attached to the wheels. They are one of the most difficult to judge for lifespan.
Brake fluid – it needs periodic checking to ensure it’s at its full level.
Brake clamps and lines – these are designed to last the life of the car, barring no damage from accidents or rough driving conditions.

While parts wear down due to age and mileage, there are also a few other ways you can help keep your brakes working and extend their life, to ensure your safety no matter what the driving conditions.

Stop speeding

One of the biggest enemies of your braking system is speed. The higher your speed, the more effort is needed by the braking system to bring your car to a stop. Think about it for a moment, and it becomes obvious that the brakes would wear more trying to bring a car going 65 or 70 miles per hour to a stop than it would a vehicle traveling at 30 miles per hour.

We’re not suggesting that you slow down on the highway to try and save your brakes. Instead, it’s a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and travel at the speed limit and for travel conditions. If you’re racing through town traveling at the highest speed possible, chances are you’re going to be pouncing on the brakes a lot to maneuver through traffic. Slowing it down means you’ll fit in better with the traffic around you.

Drive with one foot only

It used to require two feet to drive – one for the brake and gas pedal, the other for the clutch. Most cars have eliminated the need for a clutch, yet some people haven’t removed the need for wanting to drive with their left foot.

If you use your left foot for the brakes, you have a better chance of applying pressure – even the lightest pressure – to the brake pedal long before it’s needed. That means the two actions will counter each other. You’ll be applying gas to go while at the same time causing a dragging action by having the brake system engaged. This is known as brake riding, and it can significantly lower the number of miles between brake jobs.

If this is your new habit, find a firm place for your left foot far away from the brake pedal and leave it there. Your brakes and your gas mileage will thank you.

Stop tailing

We get it; traffic can be horrendous on some days. A drive that would normally take you minutes can sometimes double or triple in the heart of rush hour. You’re in a hurry. You try and “push” the person in front of you to go faster. Guess what? It won’t work.

When you’re antsy, sitting in traffic, you tend to ride close to the car in front of you. That means you’re more likely to have to punch down on the brake pedal more often as you adjust to different road conditions.

Keeping your distance means you can apply pressure softer, which doesn’t wear onto the brake pads as quickly. Leave a little earlier and stop stressing about the drive.

Handle braking in the mountains the right way

Depending on where you live, you might face mountain driving on a regular basis. But even if you just head up into the hills for weekend ski trips, practice good mountain driving behavior to keep your brakes working the way they should.

Here’s how.

As long as the roads are safe to drive on, no icy or wet conditions, use your gears to bring you down in elevation instead of riding your brakes. Most cars, even automatics, have the ability to shift into a lower gear. This slows the vehicle down through engine power rather than riding your brakes.

This is also a safety issue. If you leave the brake pads engaged for miles coming back down into the city, heat can build and possibly cause the braking system to fail.

Control your weight

Did you know that the average SUV weighs can weigh 5,000 pounds or more? That’s empty, without passengers or cargo.

The trouble with SUVs is they have a lot of cargo space. And that means you can throw in a variety of things for the “just in case” and leave it there as storage. All of that adds extra weight, which requires more from your braking system to bring the vehicle to a stop.

Follow the three-second rule

If you think back to your driving school days, you’ll recall the instructor telling you to leave three-seconds between you and the car in front of you. It’s still great advice.

Leaving space gives you a longer reaction time. It means you won’t be pouncing on your brakes in stop and go traffic, and can tap on the brake pedal lightly to slow down. This saves on the wear and tear of your entire braking system.

Drive smarter and keep your brakes working longer

Your entire braking system – brake pads, brake rotors, drums – it all needs maintenance and replacement eventually. Stick with manufacturers’ guidelines to determine what’s right for your vehicle. If you think something’s wrong, or nearing the dates in your owner’s manual, don’t wait for the problem to grow. Stop by today and get your brakes checked.

Stay safe.

Diagnosing a Failing Alternator

April 17, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

How do you know if you have a failing alternator?

Let’s start at the beginning and define what an alternator actually does.

The job of an alternator

Why do the lights stay on in your car? What controls the radio? What gives the starter the ability to start your engine running?

Nope, it’s not the battery. It’s the alternator.

The battery provides a sudden surge of electricity to the motor to start the car. Once this occurs, it’s the alternator that provides the energy to feed the electrical system, and to provide a charge back to the battery.

Think of the alternator as a generator. As the engine runs, the alternator provides electrical power throughout the system to keep everything running. It’s bolted to the engine, and is operated by a serpentine belt.

In most cases, your alternator is a maintenance-free component on your vehicle. You don’t have to add new fluids, or rotate parts out on a regular cycle. For some cars, the alternator can easily last ten, fifteen years or more without creating a problem within the system.

If an alternator does fail, it defaults back to the battery, relying on it for the short term to keep things running. But as the battery charge depletes, the engine will stall.

Because the alternator is a vital component of your car, it’s important to learn the warning signs and know how a problem will impact the ride. Here are some of the warning signs that may materialize.

Warning light

Thanks to technology, your dashboard lighting system will warn you of almost any problem your vehicle faces. When a light appears, it’s your job to recognize it and find a solution as quickly as possible. This is the best way to avoid bigger, more costly problems down the road.

On most vehicles, a problem with your alternator will show up as a small battery light. Some will light up “ALT” or “GEN” for alternator or generator. Because people see the battery light, it’s easy to slip into a mild comfort, making plans to have the battery checked at a later date. But in this case, this isn’t why the light turns on.

The battery light covers a whole host of different systems within the car. It also monitors the voltage output of the alternator, and when it goes below a predetermined limit, the light comes on. It will remain lit until action is taken.

Sometimes the light flickers, or comes on when more energy is needed. For example, if you have the windshield wipers on during a rainstorm, and your lights turn on too. In this case, small amounts of energy does not trigger a problem. But when multiple systems are used, it drains the alternator. If the battery light pops on then, it’s the alternator warning you it’s not working at its full potential.

Dim lights

Because the alternator provides power for the electrical accessories in your vehicle, if you notice a problem with any of them, it could be a sign of a weak alternator.

One of the most used accessories is your lights, both inside your car and the headlamps on the outside. If you find yourself thinking it’s darker inside your car when you flip on the lights, or you see very little difference between the standard lights and the brights, it could be a sign your alternator has an issue.

Likewise, if you notice them flickering, it could also be a sign the alternator isn’t generating enough power to keep the accessories fully charged. To be able to help a mechanic out and pinpoint the problem, watch for patterns. Can you determine when the problem happens the most? That will help narrow down where the trigger points lie.

Dead battery

Batteries are only designed to last several years. Keep that in mind, especially if you start noticing problems with the power in your car.

Diagnosing a problem with the alternator instead of a dead battery is easy. Use jumper cables to jumpstart your car. Remove them as quickly as possible. If the battery cranks over, and the alternator fails to charge, the car will die shortly after removal.

Use caution when jumping to conclusions about what’s wrong with your car, especially if it’s an older vehicle. A good mechanic can help you pinpoint the problem, and give you viable options for different ways to handle every situation.

Difficulty starting

Sometimes you turn the key expecting it to start and the car won’t engage. This can be a symptom of a problem with the alternator. However, because so much is attached to the electrical system, and controlled by the connection between the battery and the alternator, it’s important to evaluate all pieces before making a final call.

Strange smell

If the alternator isn’t working correctly, it might be producing too much heat somewhere in the system.

Have you ever smelled burning from an electrical fire? That can occur if your alternator overheats.

Have you smelled burning rubber? It might smell a little like that too. The belt that keeps the alternator moving, doing its job, is made out of rubber. So if the system overheats, it might produce the smell of burning rubber.

Strange sounds

When certain parts wear down, they start impacting other parts near them. And as this happens, it can create strange sounds. A failing alternator is often described as having a “whining” sound.

The alternator is driven by a serpentine belt, which works in conjunction with a crankshaft pulley to produce power. This belt spins faster than the pulley system, and if it’s not supported properly on the shaft it sits on, it can create friction resulting in a whining sound.

Of course, if you ignore the problem and the alternator continues to wear, it can cause further damage. The whine can move to other sounds, possibly clanking or rattles if belts brake, bolts fail, and parts disappear.

Your course of action matters

Bringing your vehicle in may not be on your list of to do’s. But the sooner you bring it in, the quicker action we can take when we figure out what’s wrong.

A failing alternator can require less repair work if you catch the problem early.

If you have a question about anything not working correctly on your vehicle, bring it in. We’ll diagnose it and give you your options, and help you make the best decision for your situation.

What Happens When Your Car Sits For Too Long Without Running

April 14, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

The weeks are slowly starting to blur together. Have you stopped to calculate how long it’s been since you slipped behind the wheel of your car?

With so much else on your mind, your car might be the last thing to worry about. Yet depending on the age of your car, it might be time to give it a thought.

Why?

A car is designed to drive. Each system is created to be started and used on a regular basis. When that doesn’t happen, the internal workings can start to change.

If your car sits without running for too long, there are a number of things that can happen.

Battery

We’ll start with the first issue you may face. If you turn the key or press the button to start your vehicle, and nothing happens, it might be a dead battery. There’s a reason for that.

If you take a look around your house, you probably have a variety of things that use batteries. Your television remote. A child’s toy. Your digital devices.

These devices have a battery that holds its charge. Through use, it slowly drains until it’s time to either replace the batteries, or recharge them. It’s an ebb and flow, where you know you get a certain lifecycle from the device until it’s time for replacement.

Car batteries work differently. Its sole purpose is to jolt your car’s engine into service. It also works to keep your accessories working, such as your headlamps and your radio. The battery relies on this jolt to keep the battery flowing.

If your car doesn’t start, you’ll have to jumpstart it to try and get it going.

Jumpstarting your car

Every driver should have a pair of jumper cables in the trunk of their vehicle for safety reasons. While any set will do, if you’re buying new ones, look for ones that are 4 to 6 gauges and at least 20 feet in length. Err on the side of heavy duty; they’ll be more durable and reliable in the long run. This isn’t something you have to replace regularly, so starting out with a good set will last you a long time. And having the extra length will make it easier to connect two cars, especially if you can’t get them right next to one another.

When using jumper cables, it’s better to have two people, one at each end. Keep the red and black clamps free from touching one another as this can cause sparks. Open up the plastic hood that’s covering the battery to have access to the posts. Determine which is positive and negative. Brush away any dirt or corrosive material, then start with the red clamps. Place one red clamp on the dead battery, another one on the live battery. Next, connect the black clamp to the negative terminal on the dead battery, but instead of finding the negative terminal on the live battery, place it on an engine bolt or on the vehicle’s frame and secure for a safer jump situation.

Start the engine with the live battery first, then attempt to start the vehicle with the dead battery.

If your vehicle fires up, keep it running while you carefully disconnect the jumper cables, ensuring they don’t touch. Drive your car for a bit to ensure the battery receives a full charge.

If your vehicle clicks but won’t turn on, it might be a bad starter. If the lights come on and you hear the engine turning over without starting, it may be another issue.

Is the battery the only issue when your car sits without running?

While a car battery dying is one of the most obvious problems with leaving your vehicle sit for an extended period of time, it isn’t the only one. Several other problems can start to surface as it continues to sit.

Engine – the engine compartment is one of the main systems inside your vehicle. It’s an intricate set of wires, belts, nuts and bolts, all holding the various components in place. The longer your vehicle sits, the more these pieces start to wear. They are designed for movement; sitting can actually make them wear faster.

Rubber can harden and start to crack. Various belts and wires can corrode and stiffen. Animals can also play their part as they find a sitting vehicle the perfect place to create a home. And once they settle in, they can chew up wires and loosen parts.

The engine also pushes oil and other fluids through all the various systems located throughout your vehicle. If these fluids aren’t moving, it can impact the entire system.

Brakes – the constant pressure of stopping and going ensures brake fluid moves throughout the system. As the car sits, fluid doesn’t move, which can cause the braking system to lose their gripping ability.

Electrical system – without a jolt and coming to life, sometimes the interior accessories can develop a fault. You may discover a problem when you press the buttons to operate your windows, your seats, or your mirrors.

Fluids – fluids are meant to move throughout the system they were designed for. When not moving, they break down, lose their ability to lubricate the internal parts, and eventually stop working in the system altogether. Keep in mind that this takes an extended period of time, and won’t happen in just a few weeks. But the longer your car sits without running, especially if your car hasn’t been serviced in a while, it can cause internal problems that might not surface right away.

Keep your car safe no matter how long it sits without running

A car is designed to run. And while leaving it at rest for short periods is expected, longer patterns start the process of making internal systems weaker.

Before we start moving again as a nation, spend some time getting your vehicle in top operating condition. Start it up and drive it 10 to 20 miles to ensure all systems get the chance to be fully operational.

And if you notice anything out of place – a noise, a vibration, or a smell – drive it in, and we can test it out. Replacing small parts early will help prevent larger problems down the road.

Simple Answers: Check Engine Light

April 13, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

Question: My check engine light is on and my boyfriend thinks he can get the code read and know what part to replace to fix my car. I say it’s not that simple. Who’s right?

Answer: The simple answer is you are! But let’s look at it logically and break it down. There are hundreds of things that can go wrong with your vehicle. Some are simple but some are actually quite complicated.

In today’s vehicles over 80% of engine functions are computer controlled. The computer receives information from dozens of sensors. When a sensor reading is out of range, a trouble code is automatically entered in the computer and the check engine light is illuminated.

Unfortunately it’s a common misconception that the trouble code will tell you exactly what is wrong. Because the truth is, that for any given trouble code, there are any number of faults that would trigger that code. For example, a code indicating a misfire on cylinder three could be due to a bad spark plug, a failed coil, ignition problems, compression issues, etc. Each of those possibilities requires additional diagnosis to confirm or rule out a cause. Once a trained technician with state-of the art diagnostic tools and access to extensive research databases, can then nail down the problem, and set about getting it fixed.

A complicated diagnosis may take some time. Your boyfriend might be tempted to bypass a diagnosis charge by taking a trouble code reading with an inexpensive scan tool and start replacing parts. He might get lucky, but chances are he’ll end up like a recent customer who ended up spending hundreds of dollars on parts that weren’t needed and didn’t fix his problem because he tried reading the code himself. So save yourself time and money and have a professional with the right equipment check your vehicle.

Just one more thing… a flashing Check Engine Light indicates that a condition exists that could lead to serious damage. You should get to your service center right away. A steadily illuminated Check Engine Light is less urgent but still needs to be checked out. Keep in mind that a minor issue today can become more serious if left unresolved.

Why Your Car Tires Keep Going Flat

April 10, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

Staying in place has brought a lot of “newness” to your life. Maybe you’ve joined the craze of making your own bread. Perhaps you’re finally up to speed with navigating Zoom and attending virtual meetings.

Yet every time you head outside to drive to the grocery store, you notice a flat tire. Why? It’s been sitting in a garage. You haven’t driven anywhere! Why do your car tires keep going flat?

Like every component on your car, there are a variety of reasons your tires could be flattening between uses.

Puncture

Have you inspected your tire to ensure nothing is in it? Often, a sharp object embeds itself into the tire and punctures it, leaving a slow leak in its place. Nails, shards of glass, bits of metal, and more can sometimes hit the rubber just right as you drive over it, and leaves a tiny hole. This can be a slow leak, or cause your tire to go flat in a matter of hours.

While a lot of this debris is difficult to avoid as you’re driving down the road, do you best to avoid situations where you know your risk is higher. Head around construction sites. Leave enough space between you and the person in front of you so that you can make split decisions. It can save you from having to buy new tires before their time.

Age

Like every part on your vehicle, your tire is only designed to last for so long. Rubber degrades over time, even if you don’t use your car as frequently as you used to. (That’s also why you should inspect your spare tire regularly too.)

Of course, not every tire is created equal. Because different manufacturers use different materials in their final product, the life of your tires depends on the type of tire you select.

Even if a tire is never used, it still succumbs to the effects of age. As rubber ages, it stiffens and cracks. They can be difficult to see, even close up, which is why it can develop a slow leak without you knowing where it’s coming from.

As a tire ages, it weakens and develops slow leaks. It will appear flat even if it’s sat for an extended period of time. If a tire gets too weak, it runs the risk of a blowout as you drive. A low tire, no matter how flat it appears, is worth investigating further to ensure your safety.

Valve stem

The valve stem is the tiny tube that sticks up from your tire. You unscrew the cap when you need to add air. Even though this valve stem is set back in the middle of your wheel, it’s still at risk of being damaged as you drive. If you knick it while turning a corner, for example, it can puncture it and allow a slow leak to develop.

Like your tire, the valve stem can only last for so long. It can corrode from use. It can wear down with age. It can clog from dirt and debris. And as this occurs, it can develop a crack and allow your tires to lose air.

Dry Rot

The older a tire is, the more susceptible it is to deterioration. A lot of that is from wear and tear. Dry rot can also occur, which is the natural deterioration of rubber.

You may be used to dry rot in an old tree stump in your backyard. It’s similar in rubber too. As rubber is exposed to different elements in day to day life, it slowly starts to wear. Cracks and flaking can be caused by things like:

The extreme temperature variations we frequently face here in Colorado
The mag-chloride we use on the roads in wintertime
UV damage from our intense sunshine
Long periods of sitting without use

Inspect your tires regularly to catch potential problems that might impact your driving.

Tire bead

Sometimes your tire won’t hug the rim of the wheel the way it should. This connection is known as the tire bead, and can cause slow leaks if not properly connected.

The tire bead is the rubber edge that attaches to the rim of the wheel. It’s made of a metal-reinforced rubber compound that is specifically designed to help hug the two pieces together. It seals it into place to prevent problems as you drive.

If your tires aren’t installed properly, it can cause a slow leak. This is almost always the case if you’ve recently purchased new tires. Bring your car in and have it inspected to get to the root of the problem.

Vandalism

Depending on where you leave your car throughout the day, vandalism can occur. One of the most common acts is simply letting the air out of the tire. After accessing the tire for damage, the situation is easily remedied by inflating it once again. The best way to avoid vandalism is to be aware of where you park your car.

Monitoring system

In a lot of cases, drivers are alerted to a flat tire through their monitoring system. On the dashboard, the tire pressure alert icon turns on, alerting you to a potential problem. If you’ve checked all four tires and they appear to be inflated correctly, it might be a problem with your monitoring system.

The tire pressure monitoring system is designed to warn you when tire pressure is low. A malfunction with the sensors is possible due to a variety of factors, including faulty wiring, weak batteries, or improper sensor programming. One of our mechanics can ensure your tire pressure meets your vehicle’s standards, and if the dashboard light is still on, we’ll run it through diagnostics to determine where the real problem lies.

Road hazards

Even if you are a careful driver, always aware of your surroundings, road hazards can pop up that are out of your control. When you hit a pothole, swerve to miss unexpected debris, or bump a curb as you’re turning, it can cause damage to your tire, and result in a flat tire.

Not all tire problems can be fixed. Sometimes your best solution is to purchase a new set of tires.

We’re here to help you navigate it all. Whatever questions you have about your vehicle – from a flat tire to your transmission system and more – we’re here to help you and keep you on the road, safely, no matter what the road conditions entail.

Keeping Your Car Battery Charged When You Don’t Drive a Lot

April 7, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

As a society, we’re busy, busy. It’s hard to imagine surviving in Denver without the use of a car. We start it, stop it, and start it up again as we drop the kids off at school, drive to work, head out to a meeting, stop by the store, and run to a friend’s for dinner plans.

They might only be short trips of twenty miles or less, but we rely on our cars to go at our beck and call.

Yet times are changing.

Maybe you’re like one of many who has decided to move in from the suburbs. Urban living is your thing. You’ve invested in a condo right in the heart of the city to make your life easier. You walk to shops and restaurants. You work from home – who needs a car during the week? So your vehicle sits there in its space, only ready and waiting for when you decide to roadtrip it for a little time away.

2020 has also taught us that the world can stop on a dime. Suddenly, we can go from our normal routines to staying in place overnight. Your car can sit there week after week, never starting up.

Which brings up the question: What does it take keeping your car battery charged if you don’t drive very much?

If you search online, you’ll find a host of answers.

One site will tell you to start it up every few days and let it idle in the driveway or parking space for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. Another tells you you’ll have to drive it to get the full benefits of keeping your battery healthy and charged. Still another says today’s technology has improved enough, you really don’t have to worry about your battery much – just start it up once a month.

What do you believe?

How a car battery works

Even if you don’t know much about cars, you probably realize that a car battery is different from the battery you pop into your television remote, or into your smartphone.

The purpose of a battery is to translate chemical energy into electricity. A battery is made up of cells that hold chemical energy. When a connection is made, it moves stored chemical energy into electricity. That’s what powers up your devices.

Car batteries are a bit different as they rely on a lead-acid chemical reaction. Most vehicles come standard with an SLI battery, which stands for starting, lighting, and ignition. Instead of a steady stream of electricity, it provides short bursts of energy to power up your engine and jolt it into life.

If you were to look under the hood of your car and find your battery, you’d notice that it’s made up of six cells. Each cell has two plates attached, one of lead, the other lead dioxide. Each cell produces about 2 volts of energy. Six cells – two volts – that makes it a 12 volt battery.

These plates are submerged in sulphuric acid, providing a catalyst between the two to trigger a chemical reaction. Electrons race around each plate and generate electricity. It flows out of the battery terminals and into various parts of your car. Like the starter to kick your engine into gear. Or your headlights or radio.

Why car batteries die

Your car battery dies for one of three general reasons:

Problems with your car battery
Electrical system problems
User error

If you run your vehicle properly and on a regular basis, keeping your car battery charged isn’t something you have to think much about. But over time, that changes. And that’s where problems begin.

Leaving the lights on – if any interior lights or your headlights stay on for an extended period of time, they drain the battery down.

A weak battery – batteries only last three to five years. The older it is, the weaker it is, the easier it can stop working.

Extreme temperatures – too hot or too cold conditions further weaken a battery, especially if it is already weak from age.

Corroded or loose connections – if the battery isn’t connected properly, or there is corrosion on the connections, it can weaken the battery.

Keeping a car battery charged

All of these lead us back to understanding why your vehicle may have trouble keeping a car battery charged.

Your car is designed to run. It’s designed to have the engine started, taking it out on the road, and having each system operate to its fullest capacity while you make your way from place to place.

Your vehicle has thousands of parts that all work together to keep your car running well. When a piece isn’t working at its optimal level, it compromises the system. And that’s when your problems begin.

The battery is the key to making sure everything works. When you turn the key or press the start button, it kicks all of the systems into gear. But it isn’t everything. It may start the engine, it may start gas flowing, but it doesn’t allow each part to perform its job.

That only comes when your car moves.

And that’s the reason it’s important to operate your vehicle once in a while.

Idling your car in the driveway is bad for two reasons. First, you’re not really using the battery as it’s designed. It doesn’t recharge it, so it actually weakens the battery overall.

Second, as the engine runs, gas combines with air through combustion and creates water vapor. If you don’t move your car and allow it to heat up through movement, that water vapor sits there and can start to damage many other parts.

What you should do to keep your car battery properly charged

Starting your car battery regularly doesn’t have to be a long process. Schedule it like you do other home maintenance projects, every few weeks is sufficient. Once you start it, operate it as intended. Drive ten to twenty miles to really give it a chance to work.

This charges the battery and removes water vapor. It also moves every part, keeping potential problems at bay.

Keeping your car battery charged when you don’t drive very much isn’t difficult. Just make plans every few weeks to save yourself the headache of having your car not operate when you need it most.