Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Transmission Troubleshooting

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spring Cleaning – Air Conditioning Repair Before You Need It

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It’s springtime. And here in Colorado, that means you may be using your heat in the morning, and the air conditioning by early afternoon. Instead of waiting for the days to turn from warm to hot, plan now to have your auto air conditioning repaired.

With an older car, several things can impact the way your air conditioning operates.

  • Lack of airflow
  • Low Freon
  • Overheating

The air conditioning system is made up of the air conditioning compressor, and different sized metal and rubber hoses and valves that allow the Freon to move within the system. As the Freon expands and contracts within the system, it gets very cold. As it makes its way into the car’s dash area, it moves through an evaporator much like a small radiator. A small fan sits in the evaporator core, blows air across the core and out through the vents of your vehicle.

Just a simple check now can ensure you have the long hot summer in a cool comfortable car. The first place to check is the Freon levels. There are two types of Freon – the older type R12 that you’ll find in older cars, and the new environmentally friendly R134A Freon. If your Freon is low, it may be as simple as adding more to your system.

It’s also a good idea to check out the hoses and valves to make sure they are in good working condition. Even the smallest leak can turn into a big problem on a 90 degree day.

And finally, it important to check out the working condition of the compressor and the cooling fans near the condenser.

By checking in with your local repair shop now, you can save the waiting time when you need it most. And catch small problems that ultimately are lower in cost today, and won’t turn into big expensive problems tomorrow.

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How To Determine When It’s Time For Shock Replacement

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If you are a regular at any car repair shop, chances are you’ve seen the ads for shocks and struts. But without taking your car in for a check up, is there a way for you to determine when it’s time for shock replacement on your car?

Different manufacturers of shocks and struts provide different guidelines for their products. Many mechanics will tell you it’s not as cut and dry as it is with oil changes and spark plugs. Instead, it depends on the circumstances of your driving habits, and the overall characteristics of your car. Instead of relying on mileage as a test, its more important to know the habits of your car.

Start with the “bounce test”. A bounce test is easy to perform: simply apply pressure to the body or bumper of the car to bounce the car. If the car continues to move up and down more than a time or two after release, the parts are showing wear and should be replaced.

You can also notice your cars behavior. When you drive on rough roads or hit a bump, does it bounce excessively? Does the nose dip down when breaking? Is it easy to bottom out the suspension when backing out of the driveway or hauling extra passengers or cargo?

Any of these could be a sign your car is in need of a shock replacement.

And driving on worn out shocks can be a hazard over time. Worn out shocks and struts may cause your stopping distance to increase, especially on rough surfaces. It can have an impact on your driving capabilities, especially in adverse conditions. And they can cause damage to your tires prematurely, meaning you’ll have more expense than is truly necessary.

[Express Care is a family owned auto repair shop in the Denver Colorado area that offers a variety of services, including shock replacement. Conveniently located at Evans and I-25, we look forward to doing business with you.]

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