Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Signs Your Car Needs A Tune Up

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Has your vehicle been acting up lately? Are there signs your car needs a tune up?

In a way, cars and people are a lot alike. We both operate well when we take in the right “fuel.” We both have early warning signs when something isn’t right. And problems can easily grow if we continue to ignore those warning signs.

Check ups and tune ups are very similar; both are designed to test from every angle, and make suggestions as to how to proceed. Once you discover there’s a problem, no matter how small, you can use that data to make minor repairs. And hopefully, that can help prevent bigger problems down the road.Signs Your Car Needs A Tune Up

You know when it’s time for a tune up in one of two ways.

1. Your car starts giving hints it’s time for a tune up. It vibrates, squeals, shakes, hesitates, misfires, stalls, fails an emissions test, or has trouble starting.

2. Your car hits a mileage marker. While older makes and models would require tune ups every 10,000 miles or so, today’s technology allows vehicles to travel much further before a tune up is needed. Check with your manufacturer’s guidelines to determine what’s best for your vehicle.

When you bring your vehicle in, the mechanic on duty should talk with you about your car’s condition. Just like a doctor should never start testing without a few questions first, a mechanic shouldn’t start with routine maintenance without talking to you about performance.

You can help even more by noting your car’s behavior a few days before your appointment. In some cases, you may have overlooked a warning sign, simply because you’ve grown accustomed to the noise. Use your phone’s note feature to keep track of any issues, or keep a pen and paper handy and write down any concerns. This will give you critical information that can help your mechanic get to the root of the problem.

What should you watch for?

Warning lights

Yes, those pesky little lights that crowd your dashboard are there for a reason. When they light up, they are signaling something is wrong (if nothing more than a tripwire gone bad.) In modern cars, you’ll have warning lights for small things, such as a tail light burning out, to more complex problems, such as transmission failure. Every warning light is designed to light up and give you plenty of time to get the problem fixed. Pay attention to these warning lights, and get your car analyzed as quickly as you can. It can be the difference between paying a small amount for a small problem, and a costly problem from an emergency situation.

Poor gas mileage

Do you track your gas mileage each time you fill-up? It can be a great indicator when something starts to go wrong. When your car starts losing efficiency, it can be from a variety of causes. Maybe your tire pressure is waning. Maybe it’s an air filter that’s clogged. Or something more. When you track your mileage, you can use it as a baseline, so you have advanced warning of when something goes wrong.

Starting problems

People have all kinds of reasons for slowing down and taking more time to get out the door in the morning. Your car doesn’t. When running correctly, it should always start without hesitation. If it doesn’t, it’s a warning signal that something isn’t right. If you have to turn the key more than once for it to fire up, or it won’t stay running, you have a problem. It could be a sign of a weakening battery, or a sign of something more.

Stalling

Have you ever sat at a stoplight and had your car stop working? Or maybe you try to accelerate, and your engine sputters out? This can be a sign of bigger problems with your engine, which could be dangerous as you’re out on the road. If your engine can’t provide reliable performance, it can leave you in precarious situations. You never want to be sitting by the side of a busy road, wondering what’s wrong with your car.

Regular maintenance

There are certain car maintenance items you do continuously just by owning a car. You fill it with fuel when it runs empty. You replace the motor oil on a regular basis. You add in a new air filter when you’re changing the oil. These simple tasks can sometimes reveal other problems. Is your air filter clogging more between changes? A clogged air filter can impact both fuel economy and acceleration.

Rough shifting

Even if your car is an automatic, it still shifts into gear as you accelerate and slow down. There’s a smoothness to it; if you hear it and it clunks, it’s not as efficient as it should be. Pay attention to the noises as you speed up and slow down. Do you have trouble when you try and put it into reverse? All of this is a sign your transmission needs a little attention. The gears in your car rely on transmission fluid, filters, and screens to operate properly. If these aren’t properly maintained, they can impact the way your car drives.

Noises

Those squeaks, bangs, squeals, and pings are trying to tell you something. It’s your job to listen to where they are coming from. Your brakes should be quiet, for example, without making noise as you press down on the pedal and come to a stop. When they start to squeal, they are telling you something is wrong. Brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid all wear and eventually need replacing.

Of course, that isn’t the only part that will start to make noise. It may be a worn belt, low fluid, or a noise from a failing part. Turn down the radio and listen; what do you hear? How would you describe it? Where do you think it’s coming from? When does it occur? The more information you can provide, the faster it will be to diagnose the problem, and get to the root cause.

Start with your owners manual

Do you know the signs your car needs a tune up? Do you pay attention to what your vehicle is trying to tell you? The best place to start is by reading your owner’s manual. How often should you get a tune up? What are the manufacturer’s guidelines? If you don’t have it handy, you can always Google it and find it.

Then pay attention to your car’s warning signs. And bring your car in today for a tune up; we’ll help you keep it in top shape for years to come.

How Can I Make My Brakes Last Longer?

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The brakes on your car are one of the most important mechanisms for safety. If you’re driving on the road, entrusting your family’s safety as you drive around the city, dependable brakes are a mandatory part of car safety.

Yet nobody likes to make frequent trips to a mechanic. If you can stretch out the time in between visits, all the better. How do you know if your brakes are working correctly? Is there a way you can make brakes last longer?

The more aware you are of how brakes work and the potential problems, the more you can ensure they are working at their optimal level, and possibly gain more wear from your brake system.How Can I Make My Brakes Last Longer?

Brakes, and how they work

You don’t have to be a mechanic to understand how your brake system works. Without getting into the intricate details, it’s important as a car owner to know your car has two parts to concern yourself with: the brake pads, and the rotors.

Your brake pads are exactly as the name implies; they are made of a hard material that uses friction to stop the car.

Brake rotors are the round plates that the pads clamp down onto, slowing it, and eventually stopping the car.

With most cars on the road today, they use disk brakes where the brake pads are contained within calipers. Every time you push the brake pedal, pressure is applied to the rotor, and the car slows down. You use this process over and over again, every time you drive. So it’s not surprising that replacement of both brake pads and rotors will occur at some point in the future, depending on how much you use your car.

What causes brakes to wear?

Brakes wear out from day to day use. The more mileage you put on a car, the faster your brakes will wear out. Of course, it depends on personal use too. Someone who drives more highway mileage will get more wear than a person that does a lot of city driving. If you “ride the brakes” and always have your foot on the brake pedal, you’ll see more wear on your brake pads than someone who isn’t as aggressive with their driving habits. If you want to make your brakes last longer, become a less aggressive driver.

Speed also plays a factor in brake longevity. Applying the brakes when you’re at lower speeds requires less momentum than applying brakes at higher speeds. This is one of the reasons you’ll find your brake pads wear quicker if your daily commute involves highway driving. At rush hour, you’ll have a lot of speeding up and slowing down, sometimes with very quick action.

You may also notice that your front brakes wear faster than the rear pads. That’s because the front of your vehicle has a lot more action in the braking process than the rear, causing them to wear faster. Over time, heat and friction wear until there is little left to do the job effectively.

It’s also important to know that brake wear isn’t an exact science. Manufacturers can’t list it in their guidelines to have brake replacement based on mileage. Some brakes will last up to 75,000 miles, while others may need replacing at 25,000 miles. It depends on the make and model of your car, your driving habits, and many other factors.

How to make brakes last longer

What can you do to make your brakes last longer? The answer is surprisingly simple.

One of the easiest ways to increase the wear on your brake pads is to change the way you drive. Even a few simple changes can increase brake life, and make you a safer driver too. Change your driving by doing the following things:

  • Start by following the flow of traffic instead of fighting it. If you find yourself continuously creeping up on the car in front of you, slow down. If you stay with traffic, it will require less heavy braking.
  • Lighten your vehicle if at all possible. Clean out your trunk or backend space instead of leaving heavy objects in place.
  • Keep your speeds low in heavier traffic. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your final destination, so you aren’t pushing the limits of what traffic will allow you to do.

You can also spend an extra couple of minutes giving your brake rotors a cleaning every time you wash your car. As you drive, brake dust settles in on the pads and rotors. This increases the amount of friction whenever they brake, which shortens their life. By keeping the brake dust to a minimum, you’ll give your brakes the longest life possible.

Brake inspection and servicing

There are several simple steps you can take to ensure your brakes are properly maintained.

Check your brake fluid regularly. You need to make sure it’s in good condition, and is at the appropriate level. If brake fluid has a milky color, it means condensation has accumulated in the fluid, and it’s time to change out the brake fluid.

Pay attention to any noises you hear while you’re driving. That squeaking, squealing, or grinding noise is trying to tell you something. And while noises may start for various reasons, it is a good indicator that you have a problem.

Of course, you can also rely on the brake light coming on. Depending on the age of your car, today’s modern vehicles have sensitive electronics that are very accurate when a problem arises. When the pads get below 25 percent of their total thickness, you’ll be alerted, and you can have them replaced before they become a big concern.

Schedule your service with Express Car Care today

At Express Car Care, we offer you full service on everything your car needs, from brake pads, rotors, drums, brake shoes, calipers, hoses, and more. If you suspect your brakes aren’t working the way they once did, don’t delay. Stop by today and keep your car in top working condition, safe for you and your family.

Maintenance Mindset

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Maintenance MindsetWe know we need to take care of our cars, but it just seems too hard to remember to do it.  We generally accept that there are many things in life that require regular maintenance, but we just may not have applied it to our vehicles yet.

For example, we water and mow the lawn regularly.  Most of us weed the flower beds and rake leaves in the yard.  We go to the dentist twice a year and some of us even go to the gym regularly in an effort to maintain our health.  Flu shots and doctors check-ups for the kids before they start school.  We all have a maintenance mindset when it comes to life, we just have to learn to apply that mindset to our vehicles.  If you never brush your teeth or go to the dentist, you’ll become painfully aware of your neglect when you get cavities.  And if you never maintain your vehicle with regular oil changes and inspections, your vehicle isn’t going to run.  Too many people have had to learn the hard automotive lesson when they have to bring their vehicle to the auto center on the back of a tow truck.  So many times, a little routine maintenance would have prevented a breakdown.

A maintenance mindset will help:  The key to good vehicle maintenance starts with the oil change.  Think about it – when you go in for a full-service oil change, your tech will check all your fluids.  If one of them is low, he can look for the reason why.  If your serpentine belt is worn, he’ll see it and let you know.  Corroded battery cable- they’ve got you covered.  All of this takes a trained and experienced eye – more than you find at a quick lube center.  And they’ll check to see if your manufacturer has recommended any services at your current mileage.

To get started on your maintenance mindset, come in for an oil change, and you’ll get a visual inspection and a reminder for recommended services so you can avoid total failure.  And remember your service adviser can help you work out a maintenance and repair plan, prioritizing and scheduling the work to make sure you and your family are safe and help you avoid expensive breakdowns.

6 Signs My Car Needs Suspension Repair

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When someone talks about car performance, what do you think? For most people, they think horsepower. How fast it takes for a car to move from zero to sixty. How quickly a car moves off the line.

That’s all a part of performance. And the engine is a big part of how well a car performs.

But without the suspension system, there wouldn’t be a way to control a car. The car quite literally would be out of control.6 Signs My Car Needs Suspension Repair

The job of a suspension system is stability. It’s designed to maximize friction between the tires and the road. The steering should be stable and easy to control. All of it is to ensure the passengers are comfortable and safe throughout the ride.

If all roads were perfectly flat, the suspension system wouldn’t be necessary. But even a short drive around the Front Range shows you are roads are rarely straight. Instead, they curve and wind. And from years of wear and tear, you’ll find bumps, potholes, and other irregularities that can make each venture away from home more challenging than the last.

Whenever you hit these irregularities with your car, the wheels take the brunt of the impact.  They move up and down, readjusting based on road conditions. If they didn’t adjust and move, the force would have a direct impact on the frame of your car. If you’ve ever been in an auto accident, you know that’s not a good thing.

The suspension system is designed to take this energy and absorb it before it impacts the rest of your car. It leaves the frame, the body, even the passengers safe and secure … if the suspension system is doing its job.

When cars are built, they are designed with two dynamics in mind:

Ride – how well the car handles on a bumpy road

Handling – how well a car accelerates, corners, and brakes

Of course, safety is always the number one factor. If a car is built that won’t keep passengers safe, what’s the point?

Which means occasionally, you might notice your ride and handling failing. They aren’t performing as they did when your car was younger. Here are six signs to watch for; experience any of these, and you know it’s time for suspension repair.

1. When a car ride’s roughly

In most cases, when you ride in your car, you enjoy the ride. When the suspension system starts failing, you start to notice every bump and curve. As you move over a bump, or slow for a dip in the road, your car “bumps” right along with it. You notice a “bouncing” action as the car continues through the bump in the road.

This is a sign your suspension system is failing. A rough ride is a sign your car is in need of suspension repair.

2. When a car drifts or pulls

When a suspension system is failing, it often develops a drift or a pull. As you’re driving down the road, do you feel like you need a tighter grip on the steering wheel because your car always drifts either right or left? That’s a sign the suspension is failing.

The suspension system is designed to keep the car stable at all times; that includes moving forward and staying in your lane. As you maneuver around corners and curves, it’s the suspension system that keeps your car grounded, and prevents it from rolling over.

When you start to notice your car pulling or drifting as you drive, it’s time to schedule an appointment for suspension repair.

3. When a car nose-dives when stopping

As your suspension system continues to wear, you’ll notice it as you are stopping. When you come to a stop, does the front of your car dive down as you apply pressure to the brakes? That’s your suspension system failing.

As the suspension system wears out, it decreases the ability to stop. By some estimates, you’ll need several seconds more for your car to stop. That impacts the safety of everyone in your car.

4. When a car’s tires are impacted

Next time you’re about to head out, spend a few minutes walking around your car, and look at the tires. If your car is operating the way it should, you’ll see even wear on the tread. If you notice unevenness, or bald spots in some areas while it looks less worn in others, it’s a sign your suspension system isn’t working the way it should.

It’s important to ensure your tires are always filled at proper levels. If your suspension system is operating correctly, it will put even amounts of pressure on all four tires as it moves you from point A to point B. Unevenness is a sign that your suspension system isn’t working the way it should.

5. When a car has oily shocks

If you know what you are looking for, you can look under your car and inspect the shocks or struts. If they are working properly, they won’t have an oily glean to them. If they are damaged in any way, you’ll see the appearance of fluid leaking from within. This is a sign of failure, and a notice to you that it’s time for suspension repair.

6. When you fail the bounce test

There’s an easy test to determine if your car suspension is failing. With your car in park, press down on the hood of your car and release. Does the vehicle bounce more than once or twice? Do the same in the back. Do you get the same results?

A worn out suspension system will have a lot of give. You’ll have a car that isn’t safe for you or your passengers. You’ll know it’s time to bring your car in.

The actual repair job depends on your car’s make and model. Different cars need different parts and service.

Yet it’s important to remember that it’s not just the parts that need replacing; a reputable mechanic will look at the overall condition of the vehicle too. If your suspension system has been failing for a number of weeks or months, more damage could have occurred, increasing the costs of making the repairs. That’s why it’s a good idea to get in quickly, the minute you suspect you have a problem. It can be the difference between a simple or a costly repair.

Think you have a suspension problem? Looking for a reputable mechanic to get your questions answered? Give us a call today. We can help you with your suspension repair and get you back on the road today.

What Happens If Your Brakes Overheat?

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Our modern society can’t survive without driving a car. Eighty-three percent of all Americans drive on a frequent basis. 

Here in Colorado, it’s more than a choice; it’s a necessity. If you want to get to work, school, and enjoy your free time a little bit more, owning a car can get you where you’re going in a fraction of the time. 

Of course, owning a car means certain responsibilities. If you own a car, you have to maintain it, so it becomes reliable whenever you need it. What Happens If Your Brakes Overheat?

Have you noticed the brakes squealing? Or maybe you notice a new smell as your brakes heat up. All of these and more may be a sign that you have a problem with your brakes. 

What happens when you brake?

Most people assume it’s the brakes that stop your car. That isn’t the case. Instead, the brakes are designed to stop the wheels from moving. It’s your wheels slowing down that stops the car. 

Modern disc brakes are a large plate-sized disc attached to each wheel. The clamping of the discs causes friction. This is what slows you down. But this friction also generates heat, and that heat has to go somewhere. Disc brakes are designed to dissipate the heat in different ways. Heat will transfer to the brake pads and the brake fluid. It may have a ventilated core with air ducts that help keep them cool.

The system is designed to work flawlessly … for a while. But like everything, sometimes things don’t happen the way they are intended. 

What happens if brakes overheat?

When you push down on the brake pedal inside your car, your vehicle’s brake pads generate friction. This friction is what slows the car down or brings it to a stop, depending on the level of force. 

This action occurs over and over again as you move through the city. But sometimes as heat builds, there’s too much of it. How do you know if your brakes are overheating?

Your brake pedal feels soft

This is where it helps to pay attention to how your car handles. When you press down on the brake pedal, does it have a “spongy” feel? Over time, water can start accumulating in your car’s brake fluid reservoir. As that heats up from use, it starts to reduce the effectiveness of your brakes. This isn’t always a sign of brakes overheating; it could be several other things. Like damage to the brake line. Or low brake fluid. No matter what the problem, if you notice this “soft” feeling when you tap the brake pedal, it’s best to come in for inspection quickly to avoid the consequences of brake failure. 

Your brake pads smoke and smell

Instead of feeling a problem, you may see or smell it instead. Do you notice smoke coming from the wheels? Or maybe you notice a smell every time you brake? This is your brake system telling you something is wrong. 

When brake pads overheat, they put off a similar scent to burning carpet. Once you smell it, you’ll recognize it every time. This is a sure sign that it’s time for a checkup. 

Your brakes are squealing

You can also hear when brakes are failing. They often make a lot of noise. When the friction from the brake action generates enough heat, the pads start to wear and smooth. As they wear down, the glaze on the pad has more difficulty creating the friction. If you’ve ever thought it sounds like metal on metal, that’s literally the case. Press down on the brake pedal, and you’ll hear it squeak and squeal. That’s a sign it’s time to head in for an inspection. 

What to do when brakes overheat

Because there are many signs of brake failure, think of it as your car’s early warning signs. It’s telling you there’s a big problem; you need to slow down and find a safe place to pull over. Only when you’re in a safe place should you let your brakes cool down and determine if they are safe to drive or you should call for a tow. 

Are there ways to avoid overheating?

While overheating often comes with age, there are other factors that can make it more of a possibility. 

The way you drive

Are you the type who pounds on the brake pedal? Do you roar up to the car in front of you and constantly ride the brakes? You’re more likely to experience overheating. By making your ride smooth and steady, you’ll use your brake pads in a more appropriate manner. You’ll give your brake pads a chance to cool in between your stops and starts. 

The way you use your car

Here in Denver, we have a relatively flat city driving experience. But that changes the moment you head up into the hills. As you drive back down from a weekend of playing, try engine braking instead of riding your brakes. Engine braking means downshifting to let the engine take over the slowing process. This means you won’t have to leave your foot on the brake pedal as you spend minutes – hours – coming down out of the mountains. 

The way you maintain your car

There are two ways to approach vehicle maintenance: routine or emergency. Either way, we’re here for you. Routine maintenance allows you to take charge of how well your car operates. We’ll check everything out on a routine basis to ensure it’s working in its best condition. Emergency maintenance means we’ll replace the brake system after you experience some type of failure. Of course, this isn’t the most desired way, as you never know when that will occur. But in the event something happens, we’re here. 

What happens if your brakes overheat? Your first course of action is to stop and get to safety. But how you proceed depends on your situation. 

We suggest bringing your car in and having a full inspection. Your braking system is one of the most important systems on your vehicle; let’s ensure it’s working safely. 

Have additional questions about your brake system, brake repair, or how well your car is operating? We’re here for you anytime; give us a call and ask. 

Car Brakes 101: How They Work and How To Repair Them

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What’s the most overlooked part of your car? Yep, it’s your car brakes.

You enjoy taking your car to the carwash and driving a sparkling car. You have a little sticker on your windshield, reminding you of the need for oil changes. But car brakes? When was the last time you gave them any thought at all?

Yet they aren’t something you can ignore.Car Brakes 101: How They Work and How To Repair Them

What brakes do

Brakes don’t stop the car. Instead, brakes stop the wheels from turning, which in turn slows down the car and brings it to a stop.

Most modern cars use disc brakes for the stopping process. Disc brakes consist of:

  • Brake discs
  • Calipers
  • Brake pads
  • Brake lines
  • Brake master cylinder

Every wheel has a plate-like disc attached to it. Also called a rotor, this plate is squeezed by the brake pads within the caliper every time you want to slow down.

Brake pads have two layers: a metal backing and a high-friction material molded onto the backing plate with heat and pressure. It’s also coated with an adhesive that helps the brake pad and caliper withstand high temperatures and excessive heat buildup.

What are brake pads made out of?

If you head back in time, the original brake pads that grew in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s were made from asbestos. It was thought to be a great material because of its heat-resistance and durability qualities. However, as health ramifications were discovered, auto manufacturers looked for alternatives to make a safer product.

The organic brake pad was created from a variety of materials and fibers and mixed together with binding resins to hold them together. You might find glass, rubber, carbon, Kevlar, and other fibers mixed in. Because they are inexpensive to create, the majority of new cars are still installed with organic brake pads today. They’re easy on the brake rotors, suitable for all driving environments, and don’t require a lot of heat to generate good friction. That makes them the perfect choice in most conditions.

The metallic brake pads are manufactured with steel, iron, copper, or other metals, added to friction modifiers and fillers to create the final product. Metallic brake pads are thought to be one of the most versatile on the marketplace, being more durable and longer lasting than the organic composition.

You’ll find better braking performance, a wider operating range in heat and cold conditions, a firmer feel in driving conditions, and more resistant in the long term. But because the brake pad is created from metal, it is noisier than other brake choices, and will produce more brake dust.

The newest brake pad on the market is made from ceramic. Ceramic pads are created from a dense ceramic material – think pottery – with copper fibers added during production. They are quieter than metallic brake pads, and produce a finer brake dust which won’t stick to wheels. And because it has the longest lifespan of any brake pad, they can be a great choice if you’re investing in your car for the long term.

What causes brake pads to wear

The biggest enemy to a brake pad is heat. As the brake pad moves against the brake disc, friction occurs, and heat is produced. To remove this heat, a car is designed with several systems to prevent buildup, especially in the front brakes where more action occurs. The brake disc is ventilated to allow cooler air to be pumped in and spread to the outer edges of the disc. The more hot air is kept away from the center, the less likely the disc will “fade.”

Fading is when brakes overheat. If car brakes are continually used while overheated, brake fluid can impact the calipers, which reduces the ability to brake. You may notice this if:

You’ve had to depress the brake pedal farther to the floor

You’ve pushed the brake pedal all the way to the floor without any braking

It takes you more distance to come to a stop

You smell a burning odor during the braking process

Your brakes start smoking or catch fire

This is where higher performing brake pads come into play. While an organic brake pad will provide excellent performance in standard conditions, only you can decide how you drive. If you need better performance, talk with one of our technicians about which option is best for you.

Keep your brake system happy

While it might be a glamorous purchase, brake pads are vitally important to your car’s safety and performance. Of course, so is regular maintenance.

Like an oil change, your brake fluid should be changed regularly too. Brake fluid attracts moisture. And moisture isn’t a good thing for your car’s braking performance.

Moisture reduces brake fluid’s boiling point, which makes it easier for brakes to overheat, especially in summer conditions.

Boiling brake fluid also enhances fading, which means your brakes can fail at the most inopportune time, like driving down long hills. That can be a big problem if you’re coming home after a fun-filled weekend in the mountains.

Moisture also corrodes metal. And since your brake pads are created from metal, it can wear down or even cause your brake pads to cease long before you anticipate.

Your best bet is to replace your brake fluid on a regular basis, according to your car’s manufacturer recommendations, or every couple of years. It’s the perfect way to keep your car happy and running well no matter what type of driving you do.

While brakes may not be the sexiest piece of equipment on your vehicle, they are one of the most important. If you want to keep a well-maintained car ready for all sorts of driving conditions, the best place to start is at the bottom – with your car brakes. Well-maintained car brakes will have better braking capability and keep you and your car’s occupants safe and secure.

And that can be a very good thing, whether you’re driving home from a day of skiing, or heading to work in the middle of the summer. Make the right choice, and your car brakes will be happy for the life of your car.

Brake Rotor Problems

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Brake Rotor ProblemsDisc brakes are called disc brakes because of the big metal disc or rotor that spins with the wheel.  The brake pads rub against the rotor to slow the vehicle.  In technical terms, the motion energy of the moving vehicle is transferred into heat energy by the brakes.  The job of the rotor is to absorb that heat and dissipate it into the atmosphere.  To do that effectively, the rotor needs a certain amount of mass ( measured by the thickness of the rotor) and a good surface to mate with the brake pads.  Let’s talk about those two things.

First is the thickness.  A new rotor is nice and thick and can absorb a lot of heat and dissipate it effectively.  Over time, the rotor will wear away slightly.  If it wears away too much, there isn’t enough metal to take care of the heat transfer and the vehicle will not brake as well.  In fact, each rotor is stamped with the minimum thickness the rotor must have, when the rotor reaches this “discard thickness”, it must be replaced.

The next thing for our consideration is the rotor surface.  This isn’t just about the quality of the rotor’s surface, but also about how evenly the brake pad sweeps the rotor.  Several things can affect the “swept area” of the rotor.  A common problem is a scored or scratched rotor.  When brake pads wear past the point in which they should be replaced, metal parts of the brake can meet the rotors and grind grooves into the rotor.  Imagine putting new brake pads on a scored brake rotor.  The pad would only contact the ridges.  This can significantly reduce the contact area and hurt braking performance.  When a brake rotor has been scored, it may be able to be resurfaced on a brake lathe which smooths the surface.  If the brake rotor isn’t thick enough to be resurfaced, it need to be replaced.

Another common brake rotor problem is something called run out.  This is when the rotor is slightly off axis or crooked, so the brake pads don’t come into contact fully or evenly with the rotor.  Run out is measured in thousandths of an inch, so we are talking about very small variations that can affect braking.  Run out can be caused by a bit of dirt or rust between the brake rotor and the wheel hub, or even by slight variations in the mating surfaces of the brake and hub.  Your technician can determine the cause and take the appropriate measures to restore proper brake pad contact.

When run out isn’t detected and corrected early, the rotor itself can wear unevenly leading to thickness variations.  This condition is called parallelism because the inboard and outboard surfaces of the rotor are not longer parallel.  The variations are small, measured in 10 thousandths of an inch, but they can significantly affect braking performance because of limited brake pad contact.  This condition used to be referred to as “warped” rotors.  If the rotor is still thick enough, the brake technician will correct the underlying run out problem and resurface the rotor to restore the contact surface, but if the rotor is severely worn it must be replaced.

So, if you hear a grinding sound when you brake, or if your pedal feels unusually soft or hard, bring your vehicle in for an inspection.  We can get you the quality parts you need to fix the problem.

Tire Rotation & Balancing

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You can make the tires on your vehicle last longer with a regular tire rotation and balancing.

Let’s start with the tire rotation.  In normal driving around town, your front tires wear more on the shoulders because they handle most of the cornering forces in the turns.  If you’re driving a front-wheel drive vehicle, there is even more force put on the front tires.

The reason we rotate the tires is so that all of the tires have some duty on the front end and it also gives the back end a little break.  By doing a tire rotation, all four tires should wear more evenly over their life, this helps them last longer.

Most vehicles have their tires rotated front to back, but some manufacturers recommend a cross rotational pattern that includes the spare tire too.  If you drive a high performance vehicle, they might have different size tires on the front and rear, or they may have unidirectional tires that can only be on the left or right side of the vehicle.  If you drive this type of vehicle be sure to ask your service adviser to help you figure out just the right tire rotation for your vehicle.

Tire manufacturers always have recommendations for how often they want you to rotate your tires.  These recommendations usually fall somewhere around 5,000 to 8,000 miles or 8,000 to 13,000 kilometers.

Now let’s talk about wheel balancing.  Balancing is when there are heavy spots on the tire and wheel that causes it to wobble.

Wheel balancing is adding weights to the wheel that balance it out so it doesn’t wobble.  These are very small weight differences.  There are variations in tire and wheel manufacturing that can cause slight imbalances.  The valve stem and the tire pressure monitoring sensors in the tire can also make a difference.

Even small differences can cause annoying vibrations.  The wheel is basically bouncing as it travels down the road.  Say you were driving on the freeway, if your wheel is out of balance it can slam into the road 14 times a second.  Besides being annoying it also causes your tires to wear out quicker.

If you have a front wheel out of balance, you’ll feel a vibration in the steering wheel, and a rear tire will vibrate your seat.  If you have any type of vibrations in your vehicle, come in and see us.  We’ll see if it’s a balance issue or another problem.

EGR Valve

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Have you ever stopped to think how amazing it is that auto makers have been able to consistently build more powerful engines in vehicles that get better fuel economy while at the same time meeting increasing environmental standards.  One of the little miracles that helps make this happen is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve or EGR Valve.

The EGR valve routes some exhaust back into the air intake system in both gasoline and diesel engines.  The exhaust gas takes up some space in the engine cylinders, replacing some of the oxygen-rich air that would otherwise be in there.  This means that the fuel burning event is cooler.  Cooler combustion means fewer harmful nitrous oxides are produced.

Your EGR valve can get gummed up, messing up the timing and the amount of exhaust that is supposed to be recirculated in the engine.  Symptoms of EGR valve problems are a rough idle and poor engine performance.  Performance can be restored by cleaning or replacing the EGR valve, depending on how dirty it is.

EGR valves in diesel engines are particularly susceptible to becoming clogged because of the high soot content in diesel exhaust.  ( The soot is ultimately filtered out of the exhaust further down the exhaust system, but not before it passes through the EGR valve).

There are a couple of things you can do to lengthen the life of the EGR valve in your diesel engine.  First, extended idling allows for more soot buildup because the engine operating temperature is reduced as it idles; the valve is not opening and closing, allowing particulates to accumulate in the valve.  Next is fuel quality.  Diesel fuel has a cetane rating:  the higher the rating, the better the combustion.  Unfortunately, the cetane rating is rarely posted on the pump and can vary from location to location.  Adding a cetane booster to the fuel tank can help with this problem.

So, if you’re experiencing rough idling or poor performance in your gas or diesel vehicle, have one of our Express Car Care technicians diagnose the problem.  They can set things right and restore your vehicle’s performance.

Engine Air Filter

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Today we want to talk about your engine air filter.  That’s the filter that cleans the air before it’s burned in your engine.  Many people wonder how often they should change their engine air filter.  The simple answer is ” when it’s dirty”.  That’s a function of how much air has passed through the filter, so your vehicle manufacturer will recommend a mileage interval for replacing the air filter.  But it’s not hard to imagine that how dirty the air is will greatly affect how quickly the filter gets filled.

If you drive in a city or town where there’s lots of dust, pollution, or pollen, your engine air filter will get dirty more quickly and will need to be changed sooner.  That’s why we check the air filter with every full-service oil change at Express Car Care.  We can visually tell if the filter needs to be changed.

Your filter can only hold so much dirt.  Once the filter is full, dirt will pass through to the engine.  This dirt gums up the combustion chamber, hurts fuel economy and may cause damage.  It can also contaminate the Mass Air Flow Sensor, which will affect drivability and can be fairly expensive to replace.

A dirty engine air filter would also restrict the amount of air that gets to the engine, which diminishes fuel economy.  We can replace your air filter with one that matches the factory specifications or you can choose to upgrade your filter for enhanced performance.

So the next time your service adviser at Express Car Care shows you your dirty air filter, remember how important it is to have it replaced.

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