Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

8 Tips For Finding a Great Auto Repair Center

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When your car is in need of repair, it can be tough to find a repair center. You want one that is affordable, yet will provide quality service. With so many repair centers available, it can be hard to figure out which ones are actually worthwhile – and which ones should be avoided at all costs. The following tips will help you find a great auto repair center:

1.    Find an auto repair center in your community. If they are in your community, they will be more focused on their reputation, as word spreads fast. Don’t be afraid to go in and talk with the sales team and/or mechanics before you need repair. Start with something small to begin to build a relationship.

2.    Make sure your chosen auto tech is trained to service your vehicle. Try to choose one that is A.S.E. certified – this means that he or she is certified for Automotive Service Excellence.

3.    When you go in for service, have all of your maintenance and repair records handy. You want your new auto tech to know exactly what work has been performed on your car, as well as your maintenance history. [Read more…]

The History Of The Car Computer

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If you own a car, chances are it is run and operated by a computer.

Cars of today are not the same as cars of previous generations. Technology has come so far and it has not missed the automobile industry. Car computers make many of today’s vehicles safer, faster and easier. If you have ever wondered about the computer in your car, you might be interested in its history. Car computers have come a long way since they first came into use in the ’80s.

Auto manufacturers began to experiment with car computers during the ’70s. At this time, the government began creating mandates related to a car’s emissions. It became clear that better control over the fueling system was needed. Efficiency began to take precedence over power and “muscle”.

Gas shortages led manufacturers to dabble with circuit boards that controlled timing and spark. In the early ’80s, they began trying a computer-controlled carburetor – but success was minimal. Manufacturers determined the answer was in fuel injection and that is the area they began to focus on.

During the ’90s, car computers were delegated more responsibilities beyond timing and fuel mixtures. They started to take over most of the electrical systems of a car, such as the climate control, the brakes and the dashboard gauges.

Today, car computers handle a huge assortment of systems within your car. Car computers not only handle many of your motor’s operations, they also take care of advanced climate control (remember how your car monitors the temperature of the cabin and adjusts the air flow accordingly), entertainment and communication devices, and navigation systems.

The average car computer has more power than an ’80s desktop computer – and the future is only looking brighter for these technological wonders.

Auto Repair – Chain or Independent?

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Owning an automobile is a responsibility. You have to maintain your vehicle to keep it in the best condition. You want to ensure that each time you drive your car, it gets you from point A to point B without trouble.

Neglect the maintenance on your car and it is more likely to break down. Even with the utmost care, a vehicle is still going to run into some sort of mechanical problem at some point during ownership. When you have to seek repairs, you have an important decision to make – a chain or an independent auto repair shop.

Taking a closer look at chain repair shops reveals advantages and disadvantages. Chain repair shops often offer special deals and values, such as value-priced oil changes. While you can get a good deal on these initial repairs, others might cost you more than you planned on. They bring you in with the low price deals on basic repairs, only to raise the prices on more detailed or complicated repairs. [Read more…]

Auto Care Tips For Hot Weather Driving

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Summer is here full-force and with it are the rising temperatures. Summer brings heat waves and record-breaking temperatures. The heat can be quite hard on the human body. Of course, you take care of yourself by staying hydrated and cool. But what about your car?

The one thing you may not take such good care of is your car. Hot weather driving can have an effect on your car and on how well it operates. The following tips will help you take care of your car in the sweltering months of summer.

Pay attention to your battery. The heat of summer can cause the acid and fluid inside a car battery to expand. This expansion can lead to leakage – and that leads to a battery that no longer works. Have your battery tested to ensure that it is charging properly and if it is more than a few years old, have it replaced.

Check your tire pressure. Heat will make your tire pressure rise. If you have worn tires, this expansion can lead to a blow-out. Have the pressure inside your tires checked. If your tires are worn, consider having them replaced.

Have your cooling system inspected. The last thing you want to experience is an overheated car – this can leave you stranded on the side of the road in the heat. Have your hoses and belts inspected for wear and tear. Heat can cause them to stretch and even break. Make sure your coolant is also at an appropriate level.

Have your car’s air conditioning system inspected. Make sure it is working properly to avoid putting additional strain on your car’s cooling system. You will be using your air conditioner a lot more during the summer, so it is essential that it work right – not only for your car, but also for your physical comfort.

Replacing Your Car Battery

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Christmas in July!?  Just as most of us are not thinking about Christmas or purchasing gifts in July, many of us aren’t thinking about replacing our car battery in the middle of the summer.  Whether or not you choose to purchase Christmas gifts in July isn’t really important.  What is important is replacing your car battery before it dies on you.

Most of you are aware that the winter cold shortens the life of your car battery.  But did you know that summer heat is harder than winter cold on the life of your battery?

We’ve all seen the advertisements showing the motorists stranded in the bitter cold with a dead battery!  It is almost automatic to think of dead batteries  and cold weather at the same time.  But we usually don’t think about our car battery in the summer as we should.  Summer heat can kill a battery 33 percent faster than winter cold!  On a day where the temperature reaches 90 degrees, the temperature inside the engine compartment can soar to 140 degrees or higher and running the air conditioning works the battery even harder!  Considering the fact we have been experiencing temperatures in the 100’s this summer, our batteries are really being put to the test.  We also need to remember that our car battery also powers all of the “toys” that we have in our cars,  MP3 players, GPS receivers, and DVD players.  So what do we need to do to ensure we aren’t stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery this summer?

  1. Have the battery fluid checked.  Some batteries have removable filler caps and the heat evaporates the fluid more rapidly.  If this is the type of car battery you have , you might want to consider replacing it with a newer, flush- top battery.
  2. Have the battery case inspected.  It shouldn’t have cracks or bulges or be leaking fluid.  If any of these are present, it should be replaced immediately.
  3. If your car battery is more than three years old, get it tested by a trained technician, they should be able to give you a good idea if you should replace it or not.  The life of the average car battery is about 4 years long, so keep that in mind as you consider whether or not it should be replaced.

Don’t let a dead battery interfere with the plans you have for this summer.  Come in and see us for a battery check and save yourself the time and aggravation that a dead battery brings.

How To Make Sure Your Auto Air Conditioner Is In Great Shape

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Summer is here and the temperatures are rising! Nothing is quite as miserable as having to drive in the sweltering heat without an air conditioner. That is why it is so important for you to make sure your car’s air conditioner stays in top shape all summer long. Otherwise, you may be stuck in traffic one day with no air conditioning to keep you cool. The following tips will help you make sure your auto air conditioner is in great shape for the summer.

Check the temperature of the air coming out of the vents. If it is not cold, your air conditioner may be low on refrigerant. You can use pressure gauges to determine if your air conditioner needs a charge.

With the car running, turn on the air conditioner and listen for the clutch to engage. If it does not engage or if it engages and disengages rapidly, you could be low on refrigerant.

Make sure that all mounting bolts connected to your air conditioning system are tight. This will help eliminate any rattling or other noises. [Read more…]

What You Should Know About Auto Repair

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Owning a car is much more than buying insurance and fuel. As a car owner, you have a responsibility to your car if you want it to give you many years of service. At some point in the life of your car, you are going to have to seek repairs.

For many of us, a car is just a car. It is our means of transportation. We want it to be ready when we are, and give very little thought to how it runs or what it requires to keep running. If your car is just a car to you, you may not know the first thing about auto repair. There are several things you need to know about auto repair, including:

Prevention is a must. If you want your car to last for many years, you need to take care of it. This means arranging for maintenance, such as oil changes, tune-ups and new tires.
[Read more…]

Does Your Car Transmission Need Repair?

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Your car transmission is a pretty awesome device.  The way each part of the transmission, the bell housing, gears,  the filter and the transmission fluid, all work together to send power to the wheels and keep them rolling.  Your transmission also knows how and when to  shift the engine smoothly from one gear into the next and does it, at exactly the right time.   At least that’s what it does when the transmission is performing the way it was designed to!  But what happens when your car transmission needs repair?

There are a few things to look for such as:  leaking fluid, unusual noises,  whining or clunking, rough shifting or grinding.  For a more detailed explanation of these symptoms, read How to Determine If Your Car Transmission Needs Repair.  Give us a call at (303) 691-2760 or come in and see us.

How To Avoid Auto Repair Fraud

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Owning an automobile means being responsible for the upkeep and maintenance. If you neglect your car, your car will fail you – and most likely, it will fail at the most inopportune time.

Unless you are skilled in auto mechanics, you will need an auto repair technician to take care of maintenance and repairs. Unfortunately, auto repair strikes fear in many hearts, as there are some shady auto techs that only want to take your hard-earned money. While it may seem tough to find a fair and honest technician, we are here. The following tips will help you avoid being a victim of auto repair fraud.

If your car is still under warranty, head back to the dealer for repairs. Even a used car can come with some type of warranty – make sure you have a full understanding of the warranty and what it covers. [Read more…]

How is Your Car Cooling System Working?

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We have been having record breaking heat here in Denver and throughout our state.  There have been major wildfires and severe drought conditions and it doesn’t look like the record heat is going to be changing any time soon.  Since we usually use our air conditioning a lot more during the hot weather, it’s even more important we find out, “how is our car cooling system working?”  Is it functioning properly so it can do the job it was designed to do?

A typical car driving down the highway will produce enough heat to warm two average-sized homes! That is a lot of heat!  This is the amount of heat that needs to be diverted away from your car’s engine to keep it running the way it is suppose to run.  The job of your car cooling system is to maintain a constant engine temperature whether the  air temperature outside is 100 degrees or 5 degrees below zero.  If the temperature of the engine is too low the car’s emissions will go up and you will get lousy gas mileage.  But if the temperature of the engine gets too hot and stays that way for too long,  it will cause costly damage and great inconvenience to you.  If you would like to avoid all the inconvenience and damage that a faulty cooling system can cause or you would like to know more about how a car cooling system works, read our blog “Is It Time For a Cooling System Flush?  Then give us a call at (303) 691-2760 or come in and see us and let us know what we can do to help.

 

 

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