Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

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All new cars and light trucks in Denver since 2008 have come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS.  The tire pressure monitoring system detects when a tire becomes under-inflated and lights up a warning light on the dashboard.

So what’s the big deal for drivers?  Well, underinflated tires can be a real safety concern.  First of all, they don’t handle properly and that can lead to an accident.  Second, underinflated tires can overheat and cause the tire to come apart, which could also lead to an accident.

Government regulations requiring TPMS systems aim to reduce accidents in Colorado and save lives, a very worthy goal.  There are also positive environmental effects because underinflated tires are fuel wasters – they lose 1 percent of their fuel economy for every 3 pounds of pressure below ideal.  So proper tire inflation can save you a tank of gas a year.  Your tires will also last longer so you won’t have to replace them as often.

There are two kinds of TPMS systems.  So called, direct systems have a battery powered sensor in each wheel that measures tire pressure.  The sensor sends a signal to a receiver that illuminates the warning light if pressure is low on a tire.

Indirect systems use a computer program to detect underinflation by measuring wheel rotation speeds and other data.

Drivers will have to replace TPMS parts as they wear out.  Obviously, the batteries in the sensors will run out someday.  Road salt and grime can damage sensors too.  The system needs to be reset when you rotate or change your tires.

Because the TPMS system is so important to your safety, you should make the repairs when they are needed.  Also remember, a tire pressure monitoring system is no substitute for regularly checking your tire pressure – at least once a month is recommended.

Clean Air For Your Engine

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Every vehicle owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told at one time or another that their engine air filter is dirty.  These are the steps that go into determining when your engine air filter needs to be changed.

First, your vehicle owner’s manual will have a recommendation of when to change the filter.  Second, a visual inspection by your service technician may determine that your filter is visibly dirty and needs to be changed.

So between your vehicle owner’s manual and your technician’s inspection there is very little guesswork involved.

Now, most air filters purchased in the Denver area don’t cost a whole lot to replace, but most of us don’t really enjoy getting caught with an unexpected expense.  On the plus side, though, changing a dirty air filter at Express Car Care can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change.

You can compare it to a dirty furnace filter in your home.  When it’s all clogged up, enough clean air can’t get through and your furnace struggles to heat your home.  In your vehicle, a dirty air filter means that your engine can’t get as much air as it needs to burn the fuel efficiently.  So it makes do with less air and has to use more gas to move your vehicle around on the roads.

Your vehicle actually needs about 12,000 gallons of clean air for every gallon of gas it burns to run efficiently.  So give your vehicle some clean air for your engine and have your air filter changed.  It doesn’t cost a lot initially and saves you money in the long run, while also protecting your engine and giving it better performance.

Serpentine Belt

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Question:  My car repair shop said I need a new serpentine belt, but I don’t see any cracks in it.  Does it really need to be replaced?

Express Car Care Answer:  I appreciate your concern.  Old style neoprene belts would crack with age, making it pretty obvious to drivers when they needed to be replaced.  Nowadays, serpentine belts are made from different material that doesn’t crack or glaze the way neoprene did.

Just to explain, the serpentine belt transfers power from the engine to various accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump and air conditioning compressor – even the power brakes and water pump on some vehicles.  Modern serpentine belts have several grooves running their length.  These grooves mate with the pulleys on the accessories.  When the belt is within its useful life, it spins the accessories at the designed speed.

Over time, belt material is worn away.  When as little as 5% of the material is lost, the belt can slip and won’t spin the accessories properly, leading to stress and damage.

Using a special tool, your knowledgeable service adviser can measure the material lost in your serpentine belt.  He will indicate if it needs to be replaced.

It’s important for drivers to understand that the serpentine belt is part of the accessory belt drive system, which also includes the serpentine belt tensioner and any idler pulleys.  The belt tensioner has the same service life as the belt itself, so if it is time to replace the belt, you should also replace the tensioner and idler pulleys as well.

A worn belt tensioner can cause the belt to slip and not do the job it’s suppose to do.  Running too long with a worn belt, tensioner or idler pulleys causes excessive heat at the accessory pulleys, resulting in inefficiency, damage and premature replacement.

Express Car Care can perform tests to see if your serpentine belt is worn and should be replaced.  Ask your service adviser if it’s time for a serpentine belt system replacement

Diesel Vehicles?

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Let’s talk about some of the myths out there about diesel powered vehicles.

  1. Diesel Vehicles Burn Dirty – This was true years ago.  Since 2006, however, U.S. diesel vehicles have been required by law to use ultra-low sulfur diesel or USLD.  Modern diesels are soot-free and have a smaller carbon footprint.
  2. Diesels Are Sluggish – Not anymore.  They are as fast off the line as similar gasoline-powered cars.  If your idea of fun is to spend an afternoon test driving new cars, go take a spin in a diesel BMW or Porsche.
  3. Diesel Vehicles Are Loud – Back in the day, you could hear a diesel motor from a mile away.  Today’s diesels run quiet.
  4. Diesels Have a Bad Resale Value – Actually, diesel vehicles have a lower depreciation rate.

Another often overlooked benefit is lower risk of fire.  Diesel fuel is less flammable and won’t explode like gasoline.

Diesel engines require parts that are heavier and stronger.  At Express Car Care, we occasionally service diesel cars and trucks with over 300,000 miles/ 500,000 kilometers.  The heavy duty parts make diesel vehicles a little more expensive new, but due to the extra burliness, diesel engines last a lot longer.  This is one of the reasons Cummins diesels inspire such a loyal following.

Cons?  Cold weather starting.  Diesel engines can be hard to fire up when the temperature drops.  However, an engine block heater can solve this problem.  Talk to your knowledgeable service adviser for more information.

If you are in the market for a new vehicle that’s easy on fuel, you might want to explore your diesel options.  You can save money and may qualify for a tax credit if you buy a clean diesel vehicle.  Of course, diesels require regular maintenance just like any other vehicle and the services are usually a little more costly due to the nature of the engines.  But the extra cost is offset by the better fuel economy and longer engine life.

Bottom line?  The diesel vehicles on Denver roads today are not your grandfather’s diesel.

Car Vent Cleaning

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Do you ever get musky odors coming from your car’s air vents?  It’s a fairly common experience for Denver drivers.  Moisture can accumulate in the air conditioning/heating ventilation system allowing mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria to grow.

Disinfecting and deodorizing is a process.  Depending on how serious the problem, there are a couple of approaches Express Car Care may take to get rid of the unwanted smells.  For mild situations (especially on newer vehicles)  a special deodorizing disinfectant is introduced into the ventilation system.  This may be an aerosol or a mist application.

The treatment kills the offending organisms and deodorizes the system.  Sometimes in older vehicles, a good deal of mildew or other microorganisms can grow on the air conditioning evaporator, which is housed in the heating/air conditioning air blend box behind the dashboard.  In this situation, the blend box is filled with disinfecting foam that can eliminate stubborn organisms and return a fresh, clean scent.  In all of this, don’t forget your cabin air filter.  This is the filter that cleans the air coming into the passenger compartment of your vehicle.

Denver residents can have the cabin air filter replaced to eliminate unpleasant odors.   This is the first line of defense.  Changing the cabin air filter as needed can actually prevent further contamination problems down the road.  If you are experiencing any unusual odors, sounds, or vibrations, talk to your knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser.  He can recommend the needed steps to discover the problem and what it will take to set it right.

Air Conditioning

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Let’s talk about air conditioning service and repair issues today.  Most of us in Denver don’t give our air conditioning a second thought – just as long as it’s making cold air.  But it’s a complex and expensive system that we should think more about before it starts blowing out hot air.

The refrigerant in the air conditioner contains a special oil that lubricates and cools the A/C parts.  When enough refrigerant leaks out, your air conditioner still makes cold air, but the parts don’t have enough oil to protect them and they wear out faster than they should.  That’s why it’s so important to service the air conditioner as recommended by your service center.

Replacing old refrigerant has another benefit:  refrigerant tends to gather moisture and become corrosive.  That causes leaks in the system which can be expensive to repair.  Fresh refrigerant protects the air conditioning components and keeps the system operating at peak efficiency so it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you cool.

Even with regular service, A/C parts can just wear out.  Normal wear and tear eventually affects all moving parts.

Addressing early problems can save on more extensive repairs down the road.  For instance, a common failure is the clutch that turns the compressor on and off.  If you can take care of a bad A/C clutch when it first starts having problems, you may be able to save the compressor.  But if you wait too long you’ll have to replace them both.

Check your owner’s manual or ask your service adviser for service recommendations.  And if you are hearing strange sounds when your air conditioning turns on, or if it just isn’t as cold as it used to be, have us give it the once over and see what it will take to keep you cool.

Question on Your Cooling System

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Express Car Care Question:  I was driving down the freeway in Denver and smoke started coming out of my car.  I pulled over and called my husband.  I had to be towed to my mechanic.  He said my car had overheated.  What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future?

Express Car Care Answer:  It sounds like you had a rough experience.  Unfortunately, overheating is the most common engine problem in Denver.  It’s also one of the simplest to prevent.

The basic idea is this:  you need to keep enough coolant/antifreeze flowing through your vehicle’s engine to keep it cool.  Problems come up for drivers when they develop leaks in their cooling systems – like in the radiator or a hose – and the coolant leaks out.  Sometimes the coolant gets so contaminated that it blocks up the radiator so the coolant can’t get through.  Too much of that and you can’t help but end up broken down on the side of the road.

Your owner’s manual recommends a schedule for coolant replacement.  That’s because your coolant actually becomes corrosive over time and starts to eat away at the cooling system, causing leaks or blockages.  Fluid that was once beneficial to your engine becomes damaging.  New coolant puts an end to that process.

Ask your knowledgeable service techs at Express Car Care about inspecting your vehicle cooling system for leaks, spongy hoses and other damage.  If it’s time to replace your coolant, hoses or other cooling system parts, have it done right away.  Prevention is the key to your cooling system question.

Axles

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The axle assemblies in your vehicle transfer power out to the drive wheels.  On the rear-wheel drive vehicle, there is an axle shaft that goes from the differential in the center of the axle to each of the rear wheels.  On the front-wheel drive vehicle, the axle shafts go from the transmission to each front-wheel.  All-wheel drive vehicles have axle shafts connected to all four wheels.

Axle assemblies are pretty tough parts: they transfer torque from the engine to the wheels to move the vehicle.  Tough as they are, they are still subject to normal wear and tear.  The axle shafts are in a sealed housing with lubricant that protects the axle shaft.  When there is a leak anywhere in the axle assembly, lubricant gets out and dirt, water and other contaminates can get in.  This can greatly accelerate axle wear.  If an axle assembly fails, you’re not going anywhere.

A worn or damaged axle assembly on the front will make a clunking sound during low speed turns – often just when turning one way.  A worn rear axle also makes noise but may be more difficult for the driver to hear.  Also, if you see any oily leaks around your wheels, have them checked out.

If you have a bad axle assembly, your Express Car Care technician can make the repair.  It is often more cost effective to replace an axle assembly than it is to take it apart and rebuild it.

If you are hearing strange sounds coming from your front or rear wheel area, have Express Car Care inspect your vehicle.  We can determine if it is an axle problem or perhaps a worn steering, suspension or brake component.

Simple Answers: Windshield Wipers

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Question:  When should I replace my windshield wipers?

Express Car Care Answer:  Well, most Denver drivers wait until they fail.  The problem with that is that you find out they have failed when you actually need them the most – than it’s a little too late.

Wiper blades are really a safety system for Denver drivers.  As you can imagine, 90% of our driving decisions are based on what we see.  If you can’t see well because your wipers can’t clear your windshield, your ability to make good decisions and drive safely is significantly impaired.

So the simple answer – Denver drivers should change their windshield wipers if they don’t work well, but replace them before they go bad so they are always ready when that unexpected storm hits.  For some drivers, once a year may be enough.  For others, those who drive a lot, or their wipers are exposed to a lot of sun or they use them more often, replacing the blades a couple of times a year might be a better plan.

There are several types of wiper blades.  The conventional blade is the base model.  On the other end of the spectrum are beam blades.  These have a solid beam that provides uniform pressure over the entire wiper surface for better contact with the windshield.  There are also hybrid blades that are a combination of the conventional and beam blades.

Upgraded wiper blades last longer and provide a cleaner wipe.  Drivers can always upgrade but should never go with a lower grade blade than what was installed on your vehicle from the factory.

Finally, there are special winter blades.  The special design of winter wiper blades resists snow and ice build-up in the blade.

Remember, using your windshield wipers on an icy windshield will tear them up.  Scrape your windshield before running your wipers.

Your knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser can give you wiper blade options and help you select what’s best for you and your vehicle.

Do Not Disturb

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After a recent experience of driving on hazardous roads with dangerous drivers I think it’s a good idea to share this article from AAA written by J. Skyler McKinley

Motorists across the country agree: Distracted driving is dangerous driving.  In fact, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2016 Traffic Safety Culture Index, more than 80 percent of drivers say that texting or e-mailing while driving is a serious threat to safety.  Still, more than 40 percent report having read a text or e-mail while driving in the past 30 days.

The reason for this “do as I say, not as I do” attitude may be rooted in human biology.  A 2014 study from the University of Connecticut’s Center for Internet and Technology Addiction found that the brain releases dopamine, a neurochemical associated with pleasure, at the sound of an incoming text, e-mail, or social media notification.  Simply put:  It’s difficult to avoid glancing at your phone while driving, in part, because your brain is chemically conditioned to do just that – no matter the risks.

And the risks are significant.  A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report estimates that distraction contributes to 16 percent of all fatal crashes – around 5,000 deaths every year.  With that terrible toll in mind, tech companies are making it more difficult to use their products while behind the wheel.

Take Apple’s iPhone, for example.  In the device’s latest operating system update, iOS 11, Apple included a Do Not Disturb While Driving mode.  With this feature enabled, iPhones detect when your car is in motion.  The app mutes incoming phone calls, notifications, and text messages; and users can configure their device to respond to text messages with a preset, polite response letting friends and family know that they’re driving.  For both iPhone and Android users, the DriveSafe Mode app, available in both Google Play Store and the iPhone App Store, allows parents to create an account to notify them when a teen driver is not using DriveSafe Mode.  The app automatically silences your phone, and prevents use of the keyboard, while driving.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

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