Express Car Care of Denver

You Can’t Drive Without Your Car’s Serpentine Belt

August 21, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Driving your car is something most of us take for granted. When we head out of the house in the morning, we have meetings and appointments on our minds, not car maintenance.

Your car may create alternative plans. If the heater isn’t producing hot air, or your brakes are squeaking as you apply pressure, you might be able to drive for a bit, enough to allow you to make an appointment and bring your car in. But a serpentine belt is a vital component of your vehicle. If it breaks, it can leave you stuck away from home.

What is a serpentine belt?

The serpentine belt is a rubber belt that circulates and brings power to various components of your vehicle. You might also hear it referred to as a fan belt or an accessory belt. That’s because the serpentine belt is designed to bring power to the engine accessories – the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, and in some cases, the water pump.

While using one long belt is both an efficient and reliable way of powering the various components underneath the hood, relying on your car’s serpentine belt for a variety of tasks can also put you at greater risk. If the serpentine belt breaks, everything stops working.

If your water pump no longer works, the air conditioning quits blowing, it impacts what’s happening underneath the hood. The battery eventually dies, and the engine will overheat. It can damage all of the major components controlled by the parts connected to the belt.

You Can’t Drive Without Your Car’s Serpentine Belt

If it breaks, your risk quickly grows. But if you have it checked periodically and have it replaced before it has a chance to break, you’ll thwart potential problems before they occur.

What happens when the serpentine belt breaks?

The serpentine belt doesn’t just break without warning. Instead, it slowly wears out over time. It can be contaminated or damaged through normal wear and tear. This can slow down the movement, which means the belt is no longer spinning at proper speed. That decreases power to the electrical system, which can impact a variety of accessories, from a loss in power steering, to a decrease in cooled air flowing through the system.

A broken serpentine can stop the water pump, which circulates coolant through the cooling system, which in turn keeps the engine from overheating. While this may not cause an immediate problem, the more you drive it, the more damage done internally to your engine compartment.

A broken belt also may prevent power from moving the alternator, decreasing the power to the vehicle’s eclectic system. If the battery can’t recharge, the headlights will dim, the radio won’t work, until eventually, the battery dies too.

Luckily, a serpentine belt doesn’t give out without a few warning signs. Like other parts on your vehicle, if you notice it’s not working well, bringing it in for an inspection is your best way of preventing larger problems down the road.

Watch for:

Lack of cooled air from the air conditioner – lack of cooled air can be attributed to various problems. Since the serpentine belt controls the functions of the air conditioner, a lack of cool air may be a sign it’s broken.

Squealing sounds – as the rubber belt slips and loosens from the various components, it can make a distinct squealing sound. This can also happen if it misaligns, requiring a simple adjustment to get it back on track.

Whining sounds – the serpentine belt moves and angles in many different directions as it wraps around the various components. As the belt wears, the tension can change, which changes the speed of the belt. That can cause it to rub up against components it’s not meant to connect with, creating a whining sound. If you ignore the sound, it can continue to wear down the various parts, causing you more repair bills in the long run.

No power steering – if you suddenly have trouble steering, with turns and adjustments needing considerable arm strength, it could be a sign of a bad serpentine belt. This could also be a sign of low power steering fluid, so it’s important to bring your car in quickly to ensure it’s in proper working condition.

Overheating engine – if the serpentine belt is broken, it won’t activate the water pump, which helps keep the engine cool. The longer you drive without proper cooling function, the greater damage your engine will experience.

Visible cracks in the serpentine belt – the serpentine belt is easy to see if you pop the hood and glance into the engine compartment. If you notice visible cracks anywhere on the belt, it’s time to schedule an appointment to have it replaced.

Dead battery – a dead battery can be caused by many issues, including a serpentine belt that is no longer driving power. If your battery suddenly dies, ensure the serpentine belt is still attached. Without the alternator’s charge, the battery eventually stops working, which will impact the various accessories throughout your vehicle.

How much will it cost to replace a serpentine belt?

Cost is almost always one of the first questions a car owner asks. When budgets are tight, it’s easy to push maintenance visits as far apart as possible, hoping to push repair bills to the next paycheck.

The serpentine belt is one of the less expensive replacements you can make. If it just needs readjustment, you’ll pay for labor costs. The belt itself won’t break the bank.

Compare that to allowing your car to operate with a broken serpentine belt, where damage starts occurring with various components underneath the hood. If the water pump isn’t working, and allows the engine to overheat, your repair bills will rise exponentially.

To keep your vehicle in good repair, schedule maintenance visits periodically for a mechanic to inspect underneath the hood, and make suggestions for keeping it performing well.

Is your serpentine belt working well?

What If You’re Stressed About Car Repairs

August 18, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Driving here in Colorado is something most of us take for granted. While we have a public transportation system, to rely on it for everything you do, for all the places you go, in many cases, it just doesn’t make sense.

Could you use it to take the kids to school, run to the grocery store, pick up your dry cleaning, and go to your next meeting? Of course. But most of us don’t.

Instead, we choose to own an automobile, keep it tucked away in the garage, and pull it out each day as we need it. If it’s new, there might not be much to worry about. But as it ages, you might find yourself stressed about car repairs.

Will your vehicle be there when you need it?

Will it leave you stranded by the side of the road?

If this sounds all too familiar, you might be dreading the day when you hear an unusual sound, or something doesn’t feel quite right when you turn the key and pull out of your parking spot. The anxiety kicks in, and you start to think about all the possibilities.

What if something’s wrong?

Where stress from thinking about car repairs comes from

Driving itself has turned into a very stressful experience. Traffic has increased by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Add in road construction and obstacles along the way.

Driver tension? Yep, that’s at an all-time high too. Road rage is everywhere.

No wonder you feel stressed every time you sit behind the wheel.

Now add in a little worry about how well your vehicle is functioning. Will it get you where you’re going? Will that clunking noise turn into something more? And where are you going to find the money to pay for whatever the problem is?

Stress!

You know this isn’t how to drive a car. The more stress you’re under, the more you miss. And that can leave you, your passengers, and those around you at risk.

Of course, knowing you’re stressed and pushing it aside are two different things. You can practice deep breathing whenever you feel yourself building tension. You can do a few stretches to relieve tension. And you can get to know your car a little better.

Get to know your car

How well do you know your car? Beyond sitting behind the wheel, knowing how to turn it on, and how to change radio stations, do you really know how your vehicle operates?

When was the last time you looked under the hood? Do you know how various systems work to keep you safe?

Once upon a time, kids learned a lot about how cars operate in school. You might have taken driver’s ed when you were turning sixteen, but how much did you learn about the car?

And if that was years ago, a lot has changed in recent years. Your car is no longer all about mechanics alone; there’s a lot of technology that helps your car operate.

While you don’t have to go back to school to learn how it all works, you can spend a little time getting familiar with your car. Take your owner’s manual out and flip through the pages. Pop the hood and take a look inside. Ask questions every time you bring your car in for a maintenance item. Do a little research before you schedule a repair. Even a basic understanding can help lower stress levels, and make you feel more in tune with how your car operates.

Thinking about it may prevent action

We’re busier now than ever. You have places to go, people to see, things to do. You don’t have time for a problem with your car.

When you hear a strange noise, that can start your mind whirling about how you may soon be juggling schedules to fit everything in. You just can’t handle a car repair right now. Ignoring it might solve the problem. Yet in your heart, you know it won’t.

Or maybe you’ve had a bad experience in the past. You’ve taken your car into a repair shop, and on a scale of one to ten, you’d give it a minus ten. You were taken advantage of, and even worse, it didn’t fix the problem. Who would want to experience that again? It’s better to ignore the problem.

Then there are the stories you read online. Maybe it’s an investigative piece about the auto industry. Or about unscrupulous behavior in a segment on a news show. Consumer beware!

Why should you bring your vehicle in when chances are you’ll only have problems coming out?

It’s time to focus on prevention

The problem with minor car issues is they quickly escalate to significant vehicle problems if you don’t take care of them when they’re small.

The average vehicle on the road has over 10,000 parts. They are all carefully connected and controlled to make your vehicle run efficiently. One part out of place, one small piece not doing its job will impact all other components in some way. Replace that one part, and your car will return to good working condition again.

That’s why routine maintenance is so important. Mechanics are trained to look for the little things. They can listen to the sounds a car makes, pop the hood and look underneath, or ask you a few questions to help pinpoint where the problem could be.

They can also run a complete diagnostic test to test the technology that makes your vehicle run. Today’s vehicles are complicated pieces of machinery. Today’s mechanics are trained in a variety of things to ensure they can get to the bottom of what’s wrong.

The oil change you schedule every 3,000 to 5,000 miles matters.

The tires you rotate on a regular basis.

The brake pads you replace at the first sign of wearing down.

All of that is about good maintenance on your vehicle. It’s what ensures it works well for you every time you climb behind the wheel.

There’s no reason to feel stressed about car repairs. Learn more about the process, and it can reduce your anxiety. Replace the little things frequently, and they won’t escalate to major repairs.

And more importantly, it will never leave you stranded on the side of the road.

Because your car will continue to be in its best condition for as long as you own your car.

Radiator Problems Your Car May Face

August 14, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

What does your car’s radiator do? If you’re like most drivers, you may have a vague idea, but you could never point it out if you looked underneath the hood.

A car radiator is a heat exchanger used to lower the antifreeze temperature as it circulates in your engine. A radiator contains a series of narrow tubes that are designed to disperse heat rapidly, which helps keep the operating temperature of your engine in check.

In addition to the narrow tubes that allow antifreeze to flow, it also has a cooling fan that draws in cool air at the front of the vehicle. This is what helps prevent the engine from overheating.

A radiator is considered to be one of the main pieces of equipment in your vehicle’s cooling system. It’s placed at the front of the engine, where it can take in airflow, which allows circulation for the cooling process. It received a continuous supply of antifreeze, which flows through the engine to keep all parts moving and at the right temperature.

Hot antifreeze moves in while cooled antifreeze moves out. It uses a pump to ensure the proper flow through the system, and is designed to discharge at the appropriate speed. That sums up the entire movement of coolant … as long as the radiator is doing its job.

If any piece of the coolant system isn’t working, it can cause problems.

Common car radiator problems

Just like other parts of your car, the radiator can experience problems if any one piece isn’t working at its optimal level. A regular maintenance schedule is key to keeping it performing at its best. While radiators don’t fail often, the results can be extreme. If the engine overheats, you may well be looking at an entire engine replacement.

How do you know if you have a problem? Like other systems on your car, before radiator problems escalate, it will give off warning signs.

Leaking coolant – While a radiator leak can be caused by several issues, corrosion surrounding the radiator, hoses, and other components is one of the most common. It can be caused by rust, holes or cracks in the hoses, general deterioration, excessive pressure on the system, and more. Luckily, antifreeze/coolant has a distinctive fluid that’s easy to notice if it leaks. Watch for a sticky, bright-colored liquid. Coolant is usually thought of as a green color, but in the past, manufacturers have made it yellow, pink, red, blue, and green. It depends on the brand you use. Without proper levels of coolant, your engine will run hot, until it eventually fails. Getting it checked and fixed is vital to keep your car running.

Malfunctioning thermostat and water pump – A radiator works hand in hand with the thermostat and water pump. If any one of these components stops working, your engine is at risk of running hot. When the water pump malfunctions, the coolant won’t circulate as it should. And if the thermostat goes bad, the system won’t know when to release proper flow of coolant, which can quickly cause the vehicle to overheat. It may stick closed and not release enough, or stick open and not allow your vehicle to reach proper temperature. Bot of these items can put your radiator at risk.

Rust in the radiator – In order for a radiator to operate, it sees a constant flow of liquids and electricity through the system’s metal components. This continuous flow creates the perfect environment for oxidation, rust, and other corrosion to build. When voltage clears a path through the coolant, damage can cause internal rusting, pitting, or flaking inside the cooling system. Rusting eventually leads to cracks and holes, which allow leaking to occur. While rusting in the radiator is common, rusting on the outside can also occur in colder climates where road salt and other winter agents make their way inside your engine compartment. It’s best to inspect underneath the hood regularly to ensure you don’t have a problem. If you notice your antifreeze has turned a brown or reddish color, it’s an indicator it’s been contaminated with rust.

Sludge build-up – Like other fluids inside your vehicle, as coolant ages, it can see a build-up of mineral deposits and other debris. As it accumulates and thickens, it can clog up the radiator, making it difficult to distribute coolant properly throughout the system. Sometimes you can notice this by seeing a reduction in heat into the interior cabin.

Overheating – The radiator, water pump, and thermostat all work together to keep your cooling system running. If one component fails, it can cause problems with your cooling system. You may also find yourself in a situation where you’re sitting in traffic or idling, and the temperature spikes. This could be a result of a failing radiator fan. Modern cars also have an electric fan that draws air into the radiator to ensure it stays cool while you’re idling or moving at a low speed. If this fan breaks, overheating can occur, especially if idling for a while.

Air in the cooling system – A radiator is sealed to ensure maximum flow throughout the cooling system. If air suddenly gets into the system, it can create pockets that will ultimately restrict proper flow of fluid. In most cases, air gets into the system during the radiator flushing process.

Can you repair a radiator, or do you have to replace it?

The cooling system accounts for a large amount of the breakdowns on the road, with overheating one of the most common. Luckily, many of the problems associated with the cooling system can be fixed if caught early enough. The key is in detecting the problem early before it destroys the engine.

When you notice your vehicle in the first stages of overheating, it’s important to bring it to a mechanic quickly for a thorough inspection. If they diagnose the problem early, they can tell you exactly where the problem lies. It may be something as simple as fixing a leaky hose.

Some parts of the cooling system will cost more to repair than others. But if you fix the problem component, it won’t have a chance to escalate to other areas, causing more components to break during the process. A leaky radiator hose will cost less than replacing a water pump.

By allowing a mechanic to check the system early, you’ll save more in potential repair bills, and be back on the road without worries.

Think Twice Before Changing Brake Pads At Home

August 11, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

We’re all looking for easy ways to save money these days. Everywhere you look, prices seem to be rising.

If you can take on a few DIY projects at home, why not?

But some jobs are better left to the experts. Your car’s brake pads may be one of them. If you do a quick search online, you’ll find a ton of sites telling you it’s an easy job. They even provide step by step instructions to help you along.

Before tackling this project, ask yourself a question: Is saving a few bucks worth it if it adds risk every time I drive my car?

Changing brake pads at home may be an option if you’re well equipped with the needed tools, and have the knowledge to complete the job safely and risk-free. If not, it might be better left to the experts. Here are a few things to think about before you tackle this job.

Do I have the right tools for the job?

This may seem like an obvious question. You wouldn’t take on a job if you didn’t have the right tools. But it’s easy to start a project without realizing all of the tools you’ll need. Typically, you’ll need:

Floor jack
Jack stands
Brake tools
Replacement brake pads
Replacement rotors if necessary
Brake grease
Socket wrench
Tire iron
Specific instructions for your vehicle make and model

Whew! That’s a lot of tools for this one job.

This isn’t something you want to sidestep in any way. Today’s vehicles weigh anywhere from 1 to 2 tons. One mistake can cost you everything, so it’s a good thing to put safety at the top of your list.

Think Twice Before Changing Brake Pads At Home

How complicated can changing the brake pads be?

A lot of savvy drivers have thought this project is easier than it is. But unless you have auto repair experience, it can be a lot more difficult than you think.

Today’s vehicles aren’t simple; they are sophisticated technology with every piece intricately designed to work together with the parts around them. Not only can a lot of things go wrong if you aren’t familiar with the process, but you can skip over glaring problems that are causing other issues without realizing it.

If you hear a grinding noise while pressing on the brake pedal, you might assume it’s your brake pads. Yet after analysis, it might be a problem with your rotors. Are you prepared to notice the difference as you pull the brake system apart?

Depending on the vehicle you drive, you might also have to understand two separate systems. Cars with rear drum brakes maybe a little more complicated due to the additional parts and connections.

How safe do I want my vehicle to be?

Kind of a trick question, right? Of course, we all want our vehicles to be as safe as possible. It only takes one glance at a crushed vehicle to understand how important safety features are.

You wouldn’t put your child into the car without a car seat. You wouldn’t want a loved one to ride along without being properly buckled in.

Do you really want to take the chance that you might not be able to brake properly as you head onto the highway, possibly for a road trip?

Next to seatbelts and airbags, your brakes are one of the most important mechanisms on your vehicle that help protect you in times of need. If your brake pads aren’t installed properly, they won’t be there to do the job they’re meant to do.

That means they may compromise the safety of your vehicle, putting you and those around you at greater risk.

What is my time worth?

We all lead busy lives. We all have more on our plates than we can possibly accomplish each day. That’s human nature.

So why take on jobs that aren’t your specialty?

Consider this: a highly trained auto technician can easily replace brake pads in 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the make and model. They have a trained eye to watch out for little nuances that add to the safety factor as they are working through the process. If they notice an additional problem, no matter how small it is, they can make adjustments to make your car safer.

How long would it take you to do the same job?

Would you recognize other problems?

What if you finished the job, only to realize the brakes still don’t “feel” right? Maybe the brake pedal still goes to the floor when you apply the brakes. Maybe they feel a bit squishy as you apply the brakes. Something is wrong. And now your investment went way up as a technician will have to correct the job you took on.

What a brake inspection looks like

When it’s time to replace the brake pads on your vehicle, it’s more complicated than pulling the old part off, and putting the new part on. With today’s technology, it involves ensuring the entire system is working well to keep you safe.

A trained mechanic will provide a thorough, comprehensive inspection of every vehicle that comes in for servicing. They are trained to spot a problem based on a few tell-tale signs, as well as have the know-how for what to look for as they complete the job. It’s a mechanic’s job to ensure that you’ll have total confidence in knowing it was a job well done when you drive away.

Brake inspection includes checking:

Brake pads
Calipers
Rotors
Drums
Wheel cylinders
Springs
Hoses
Parking brake cables
Fluid
Wheel bearings
Grease seals
Master cylinder fluid

Can you do all that?

Is it worth your time, knowing a trained mechanic can do the job the right way the first time?

When it comes to your safety, your car’s brake system is vitally important. Rather than changing your brake pads at home, where you might miss important factors, why not consider relying on a trained mechanic instead.

Your safety might just depend on it.

What Causes Low Oil Pressure?

August 7, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

When you own a car, regular routine maintenance is part of ownership. Most drivers understand that to keep a car running, you have to fill the tank with gas as the gauge moves towards empty, replace the tires when they wear out, and change the motor oil regularly.

The engine is one of the main components inside your car. Without it, your car wouldn’t run.

To keep the engine operating smoothly, it needs gasoline to convert to energy to put the vehicle into motion. Gas gives it the power to go.

Engines also need motor oil for lubrication. Motor oil reduces friction and wear on moving parts to help keep the engine clean from sludge as it moves through the process.

Both gas and motor oil are an integral part of keeping your car working well. But while gasoline is something we’re aware of daily, watching the gas gauge as it moves as we drive along, motor oil tends to be a little more “out of sight, out of mind.” You may have a little sticker on your windshield reminding you of when it needs to be changed. But it’s not something you think about regularly.

Yet your engine can’t survive without it. The lower the level of motor oil, the more likely it is to cause problems. Let the levels get too low, and it can do irreversible damage to your car’s engine, increasing your financial commitment too.

What causes low oil pressure? What should you do at the first indication something is wrong? With today’s technology, most cars are built with warning lights that trigger early to help avoid bigger problems. A low oil pressure warning light on your dashboard isn’t something you should see very often. When it illuminates, you should stop driving immediately. This is an indication that there isn’t enough oil left to do its job effectively.

A dashboard light is only one symptom of low oil pressure. It’s a good indicator, and one of the first you may notice. But there are other signs.

A burning smell – if it smells like burning oil, it could mean there’s an oil leak due to a failed gasket.

A clunking sound – if your engine is making a clunking sound, it may be an indicator of low oil pressure. Low oil prevents the engine from receiving the lubrication it needs.

An overheating engine – without the proper motor oil, the engine isn’t lubricated. That means it’s working harder than necessary, and has a good chance of allowing heat to build.

Notice one or more of these problems? It’s best to bring your car in right away.

When the low oil pressure light illuminates on your dashboard, it can be caused by one of several things:

Not enough oil – most manufacturers recommend that car owners change their vehicle’s motor oil between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. This keeps fresh motor oil in the system, and ensures it’s always circulating through your engine, keeping it working its best.

Wrong oil viscosity – did you change the oil yourself and use the wrong motor oil? Oil that is too thick may not flow quickly enough, and won’t transfer heat as well as thinner oils. That allows operating temperatures to increase, which can break down the chemical components of the motor oil faster, allowing sludge and other deposits to form.

Clogged or dirty oil filter – oil filters play an important role in helping maintain oil pressure. When the filter becomes dirty or clogged, it reduces flow. An oil filter is built with a pressure relief valve that prevents the pressure from getting too high. It can no longer do its job if it’s damaged.

Oil pressure gauge – your engine may have plenty of oil, but the problem lies with the oil pressure gauge. If electrical issues prevent the indicator from reflecting what’s happening, it can give a false reading. The fix may be as simple as replacing the gauge.

Engine wear – oil continually moves through the engine as it operates. If it’s not working properly, it can constantly impact other working parts. Oil moves from the engine through the crankshaft and camshaft bearings. If this area is worn and allows too much oil to flow, it can reduce oil pressure. The oil pump will work harder to move oil through bearings and other pathways. This can be a continual source of pressure until something breaks down.

Overheating engine – if the engine experiences too much heat, eventually it will stop working. Overheating causes the oil to thin, trying to prevent pressure build up.

Faulty oil pump – while this isn’t as common as other potential problems, a defective oil pump can drop the flow rate.

Worn out parts and components – with over 10,000 parts on a car, any one of them within the engine compartment can impact the combustion process in different ways, and lead to general wear and tear on the vehicle. A problem with the engine oil is often recognized by a blue smoke as it exits the tailpipe.

Many times, your oil pressure warning light will start to illuminate as it detects a problem. Instead of coming on and staying on, it might start to flicker on occasion as it notices a problem. The oil pressure warning light is designed to come on if oil pressure falls below 5-10 pounds per square inch (psi) at idle, depending on the vehicle you drive. At the very least, it should be at 5 psi when not in motion, or the oil light will flicker or stay on.

Continue to monitor this light. Check the oil level as soon as it’s safe. If you’re comfortable adding a little more oil, do so while continuing to monitor your car’s actions. This could be a sign of something larger. In that case, it’s time to bring your vehicle in for an inspection to determine where the problem lies.

The best way to prevent your oil pressure light from coming on, and avoid low oil pressure altogether is to schedule regular oil changes. This is the best way to allow a certified mechanic to evaluate your car regularly, and ensure it’s always working at its best.

How The Colorado Climate Impacts Your Car Battery

August 4, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

If you’ve ever been stranded because of a dead car battery, you know it’s not a lot of fun.

What causes it?

Age is only one factor that determines how well the battery will operate. What you might not have considered before is how the Colorado climate impacts your car battery.

Think of all Colorado weather can dish out. Just recently, Denver broke a 145-year-old record as temperatures climbed above 100 degrees for the fifth time this year. But warmth isn’t the only thing Front Range residents experience. Looking back through history, temperatures have dropped down as low as 29 degrees below zero.

Think these wild and crazy temperatures don’t impact the performance of your car battery? Think again.

Yet which is worse: heat or cold? Which climate impacts your car battery more?

What hot weather does to a car battery

While most people assume cold weather has the most impact on the performance of a car battery, summertime temperatures can wreak havoc too. That’s because high temperatures weaken the battery because of heat.

As temperatures climb, if you were to reach under the hood and record how hot it is, you would find it rises as high as 140 degrees or higher. Under that amount of extreme heat, battery fluid starts to evaporate, which can damage the internal structure of the battery.

Extreme temperature can also cause the voltage regulator and other charging components to malfunction, ultimately overcharging the battery system. This slows function and ultimately means the battery fails faster than its stated life.

Heat can also build inside and allow the lead plates inside the battery to corrode. Corrosion leads to deterioration, and ultimately failure.

What cold weather does to a car battery

How The Colorado Climate Impacts Your Car Battery

While car batteries can die at any time, with or without extreme temperatures, as winter moves in and the temperatures continue to dive, it can break down the internal components of a battery.

Car batteries aren’t something you replace like motor oil. Instead, car batteries can last three to seven years. That means a car battery will experience heat buildup during summer months, only to turn around and face freezing conditions in the winter. That cyclical beating can take its toll.

Cold weather can reduce the capacity of the battery by as much as 20 percent as temperatures drop to freezing, and as much as 50 percent when we start setting record lows. This reduction in capacity lowers battery output, which weakens the process of starting the car.

Cold temperatures also cause motor oil to thicken and solidify, making it harder for the engine to turn over. That forces the battery to work even harder, even though capacity is struggling for power.

A battery doesn’t power your vehicle. Instead, it’s used as a charge to turn the engine over, and provides power to the accessories like car windows and radio. As you drive your car, it recharges the battery, so it’s ready for your next outing. In cold weather, this recharging process slows down. That means you’ll have to drive further to accomplish the same recharge process. If you only head out on short errands, it might not be enough to keep the battery working efficiently.

The coldest days are also the shortest days. Cold brings out dreary weather, cloudy skies, and sunrise and sunset to shorten considerably. That means you’ll use things like headlights, windshield wipers, and heater functions more than ever. This increases the battery load at a time where the recharge rate is reduced too.

How to keep your car battery healthy all year long

Car batteries are not something you have to maintain; they simply need to be replaced every three to seven years. While you will find some batteries that have a water level indicator, allowing you to see the battery’s water level, most are sealed.

Still, it’s worth your time to pop the hood from time to time and check out the condition of your battery. Make sure that the battery and its posts are clean and free from dirt and engine grease. Dirt and grease act as a conductor, meaning they’ll lower battery power.

You’ll also want to ensure there isn’t corrosion anywhere on or near the battery. Battery corrosion often takes on a blueish tint. If enough corrosion builds up, it acts as an insulator, which prevents current flow in your battery.

To reduce the chances of impact from extreme temperatures, pay attention to where you park. If possible, park in a garage. Look for spots that are shaded by trees or buildings. This keeps the effect of sunlight to a minimum.

How to know if your car battery is weak

In the same way that the human body breaks down in record-setting temperatures, you’ll notice similar impact on your vehicle. High temperatures make us more susceptible to dehydration; the heat dries us out. Inside a battery, the liquid can evaporate as it experiences high heat, especially for long periods of time. This weakens the battery’s charge, and speeds up deterioration.

This isn’t an overnight process. Just like other systems on your vehicle, your car battery will give off warning signs as it starts to fail.

As you start your car, listen to the engine cranking over. Does it take longer to start?
The check engine or battery light may illuminate for short periods.
If you have a battery with a water-level indicator, this fluid level will be low.
The battery case may appear bloated or swollen.
The battery posts have corrosion.
You start to notice accessories like headlights appear dim and aren’t working at top levels.
Your battery is three years old or older.

Just because your battery stated a specific life span, doesn’t mean you’ll see it. It depends on driving conditions too. As you near the three-year mark, it often makes sense just to replace the battery if you start to notice any of the above symptoms frequently.

Wonder if Colorado’s climate is impacting the way your car battery performs? Bring it in. We can check your battery and determine if it’s still functioning correctly, making it a solid and dependable part of your vehicle. If it needs replacing, we can help there too.

Don’t get stranded – check your battery instead.

Is It Bad For My Car If I Run Out Of Gas?

July 28, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

There are two types of drivers in the world: the ones that prefer to fill up the gas tank the moment their vehicle’s gas gauge nudges towards a quarter tank, and the ones who prefer to push the limit and drive it down as close to empty as possible.

Running out of gas is never fun. Depending on your current destination, it can leave you stranded in compromising places. It can make you late, and even put you in danger.

If you have a running out of gas story, chances are you remember the details of what happened. But have you stopped to think about your car? What goes on underneath the hood when there’s no more gas to feed the system? Does it hurt the engine? How about the other mechanics?

Today’s vehicles are finely tuned pieces of equipment with specific parts that help push fuel to the engine. If fuel no longer exists within the system, these components can quickly break down.

Where the process starts

You might assume that from the moment the gas tank empties, the car screeches to a halt and no longer works. It doesn’t work that way.

Instead, traces of gasoline continue to feed the system. The car will start showing signs that gas is no longer running through the system in the expected quantities. It may have power surges, engine sputtering, or even engine backfire. And in between it all, you’ll also notice a loss of power. This is your cue to get to safety. Pull to the right and get to safety as quickly as possible.

This process may be further complicated by the fact that your hydraulic power to your brakes and steering systems start failing as well. It won’t completely take away your steering or brakes, but you’ll certainly notice a difference. It will require additional effort on your part. If you have electric power steering, it will continue to function from the car’s battery, so you’ll have more control and power over other types of vehicles.

What goes on underneath the hood

If you start to notice the difference, you can only imagine what’s going on with the mechanics of your vehicle.

Is It Bad For My Car If I Run Out Of Gas?

A car is designed for safety. It will do everything it can to keep you safe. When your car runs out of gas, the engine ceases to work. The loss of power will cause hydraulic assist to help with steering and brakes for a short time to get you to safety. It won’t cause damage to those components. But without gas flowing through the system, it can cause extensive damage quickly that surfaces as costly repairs.

Why?

Because running out of gas damages the fuel delivery system. Today’s vehicles are intricately designed to work together, fed by electronics and technology to ensure every piece is efficient as possible. Today’s modern cars are equipped with an electronic fuel pump that resides in the gas tank. That fuel pump stays in good working condition by using the gas to both keep the tank cool and provide proper lubrication. If no gas exists, there isn’t anything left to perform this function. With a minimal amount of gas in the tank, the fuel pump is very likely to overheat and fail.

That in itself can be a very costly repair. But it gets worse.

As this process occurs, the fuel pump is, in essence, self-destructing. As it’s trying to perform its function and can’t, it can shed a variety of debris that makes its way into the fuel system. That spreads the possibility of destruction.

The problems that occur when you run out of gas

Your fuel pump is only the beginning of where the damage can occur. Most car manufacturers today recommend filling up your gas tank at a quarter tank. Never let it go much lower to help keep an adequate supply of gasoline in the system to do its job. It’ll make your fuel pump last longer, and will ensure all working parts are well lubricated.

But as gas runs lower, the fuel pump starts running into problems, followed by other possible conditions.

The fuel injectors may also be impacted. Over time, debris and other impurities can create sediment that falls to the bottom of the gas tank. It’s the fuel filter’s job to filter this all out to prevent it from moving further into the engine. But when the fuel level drops too low, the impurities can make their way into the fuel lines, clogging the fuel injectors, which are tiny nozzles that spray gas into the engine.

Like the fuel pump, the fuel injectors may not display symptoms right away. If your car won’t start after running out of gas previously, it’s usually a problem with either the fuel pump or fuel injectors.

To start your car after running out of gas, don’t turn the key and crank the engine right away. After refilling the gas tank, turn the key to “on” without cranking the engine. Then turn it back off. Do this a few times to help prime the fuel pump with plenty of gasoline before you crank the engine. This helps remove any air that has entered the fuel lines as a result of being without gasoline.

If this doesn’t work, it’s time to let a mechanic check out the entire system. A qualified technician can ensure fuel injectors are properly working, and help restore power to your engine.

What to do when your car runs out of gas

Prevention is everything when it comes to keeping your car in good working condition. Pay attention to the gas gauge. As it nears a quarter tank, make plans to stop at the nearest fuel station to add gasoline back into the tank.

Yet if you do find yourself running out of gas, first and foremost is to stay calm. Find a safe place to pull over where you aren’t putting yourself or others at risk. If possible, exit the highway and find an open area or parking lot to stay free of traffic.

Turn on your hazard lights. This will help warn other drivers that your car is temporarily a hazard to driving, and will help warn them to stay clear. This is especially important if you are near traffic and you could become a problem.

Call for help. This is what roadside assistance is made for. You can rely on friends and family too if they are nearby.

Then have your car inspected to ensure there is no damage. Fixing minor problems early will ensure they don’t escalate and turn into larger problems.

Have Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems? Here’s How To Maintain Them

July 24, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Just a few years ago, the thought of having a car do the work for you was still more hopeful than reality. That didn’t stop sci-fi movies from showing us what would be possible. Flying cars. Cars that drive themselves. Cars that did everything for you.

While we might not be able to kick back in the backseat and get work done on the way to our jobs, we have come a long way with technology. Today’s car manufacturers are competing, trying to be first to market with all kinds of modern tools that make driving safer and easier.

Most new cars come equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). They add to the complexity of how your car runs, and more importantly, to the ongoing maintenance of your vehicle.

What is ADAS?

ADAS – advanced driver-assistance systems – are technological features designed to increase safety and drivability of your vehicle. When properly designed, these systems are installed to work together with the driver to improve functionality, and increase the ability to react to dangers on the road.

Safety is key. ADAS is designed to provide warnings of potential dangers, automate portions of certain aspects of driving, and give drivers ample time to react and safely gain control over the vehicle.

Some are built standard into a vehicle in production, while others are added aftermarket, allowing consumers to personalize based on their preferences and needs.

How does ADAS work?

ADAS is the result of years – decades -of safety improvements. Over time, manufacturers have created things like three-point seatbelts, shatterproof glass, airbags, and more to make the driving experience safer, minimize injury, and reduce risk for all on the road. ADAS takes it a step farther by using three advanced technologies to keep a car safe as it moves about.

Have Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems? Here’s How To Maintain Them

Ultrasound tracks the immediate space around the vehicle.
Cameras provide surround view and offer things like park assist.
Radar, sensors, lidar, and other technology, can physically respond faster than a driver, creating warning systems that potentially alert dangers.

Some of the most common ADAS applications include:

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) – allowing you to maintain your speed on long stretches of road.
Adaptive light control – adapts the exterior lights to the conditions of the road.
Automatic parking – uses sensors and cameras to avoid blind spots when parking.
Navigation system – provides on-screen instructions and prompts to help you follow directions on your route.
Night vision – helps you see things that might otherwise be difficult to see. Uses both infrared and thermal energy to help you avoid animals, cars, and other objects.
Automatic emergency braking – helps you avoid danger by breaking as necessary.
Driver drowsiness detection – uses sensors to detect driver’s attention and alerts using warning signals as necessary.

Does your car have ADAS?

ADAS is not the same as having autonomous driving. Many cars today have a variety of features, including advanced driver-assistance systems. If you’re not sure what ADAS your car comes equipped with, there are a few ways to check.

Start with your owner’s manual. It might be collecting dust in your glove compartment, yet this guide is one of the most important indicators that came with your car. It can guide you to all kinds of information, including knowing what systems you have, and how to take care of them throughout the life of the vehicle.

Walk around your vehicle. Sometimes you can tell what ADAS systems you have simply by walking around your car. Check places like the tailgate, the side mirrors, rearview mirror, and front bumper. Do you see tiny cameras? That’s a sign of an ADAS system.

Talk with your mechanic. The next time you drop off your car, talk about which systems you have in place. We can help point them out, and provide you with proper maintenance schedules for them.

Scheduling a vehicle alignment

As a driver, you’re probably familiar with alignments. A wheel alignment is a computerized process that calibrates and aligns all four wheels to ensure it drives straight. Often, these aren’t noticeable adjustments. Instead, technicians use sensitive equipment to ensure each wheel angle is adjusted to match manufacturer’s specifications. If you continue to drive with improper alignment, it can wear your tires faster, and also decrease overall safety while you drive. If you want to prolong the life of your vehicle, getting proper maintenance ensures everything is working correctly.

While wheel alignment is performed using computerized equipment, ADAS alignment moves to another level. It requires specialized equipment and a fully trained technician to ensure proper ADAS alignment. Since ADAS uses technology to control things like brakes, cruise control, and steering, it also requires a special alignment process called a Safety Systems Alignment.

A Safety Systems Alignment adjusts the angles of the tire, calibrates the ADAS cameras, sensors, and radar system that help control the technological systems and components. If they aren’t in proper alignment, they cannot function properly, putting you at risk. For example, if the rear camera system is out of sync, it can’t track your wheel angle to help you reverse.

This isn’t something just anyone can do. It requires state of the art equipment, a highly skilled technician, and additional time to ensure your vehicle is up to par with your vehicle’s manufacturer’s guidelines.

Do you need a Safety Systems Alignment?

When your wheels are out of alignment, several warning signals appear to alert you to potential problems. You might notice your car drifts to one side or the other as you drive straight. Or your steering wheel is crooked while going straight.

That’s not always possible with ADAS. Your vehicle’s wheels may be in alignment, but with one of the ADAS features not working, it can steer you into a dangerous situation.

The best way to ensure your ADAS is working correctly is with regular maintenance. Just like you get frequent oil changes, or rotate the tires every few thousand miles, a check-up to ensure your ADAS is working correctly will ensure the safety of you and your passengers.

Short Distance Driving? Here’s How It Affects Your Car

July 21, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

How much do you drive each day?

Lots of people create a lifestyle where they don’t spend a lot of time in their vehicles. They live close to work. They walk. They work from home.

Driving means taking the car to the grocery store … just a few miles away. Or maybe to pick up the kids from school … a few miles away.

According to the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the average person drives around 13,500 miles per year, which equates to just over 1,000 miles per month.

Yet you know in your heart even that’s high. You just don’t drive.

What does that do to your vehicle? Should you still follow maintenance guidelines according to mileage, even if it’ll take you many years to reach what manufacturers suggest?

Let’s start with your warranty

If you have a newer car that’s still under warranty, you’re stuck with following the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure your car maintains the suggested servicing schedule. You’ll void the warranty if you don’t. Pay attention to that as you purchase a vehicle, as some spell out maintenance schedules using different guidelines.

If you aren’t sure, now is the time to pull out your owner’s manual and read all about it.

Once your vehicle is out of warranty, then you can start to develop your own service routine depending on the type of driving you do. Keep in mind that it’s still important to bring your car in for service periodically. A vehicle left sitting unused can wear out parts in different ways. Rubber can harden. Oil can go bad. Parts can deteriorate simply by not being put into use.

Short Distance Driving? Here’s How It Affects Your Car

Instead of waiting for something to happen, it’s better to find a trusted resource who can help you monitor your vehicle and help you decide the right maintenance routine for you. Going with an independent mechanic can provide you with a trusted resource whose goal is to help you maintain your vehicle. Dealers are notorious for pushing you into service you don’t need, upgrading to new vehicles every chance they get. A reputable independent mechanic wants to increase the lifespan of your current vehicle, and to help ensure it does so without causing problems while you’re on the road.

Short distance driving damages engine oil

If you were to pop the hood on your vehicle and take a look underneath, you would find the engine is made from a variety of metal parts. Metal expands every time the temperature increases. An engine is created by piecing together a crankshaft, valves, pistons, con-rods, rings, cams – parts put together carefully to meet certain guidelines that are adhered to in a variety of conditions. They’re calibrated to ensure they work together to keep your vehicle operating smoothly, no matter what conditions it faces.

Motor oil is a thick, slow-moving flow designed for lubrication. It flows throughout the system every time your vehicle is put into operation. As the engine heats, this oil becomes less dense, which allows it to flow freely throughout and lubricate the internal components to keep them operating efficiently.

When these engine parts are cold, they don’t operate right. There isn’t enough lubrication to give each part the clearance necessary to work to the best of its ability. It takes time for the motor oil to warm, flow freely throughout the system, properly lubricate the entire system, and allow the engine to work to the best of its ability.

Additionally, motor oil also uses this generated heat to rid itself of moisture and other byproducts. If your vehicle rarely reaches the desired temperatures, these contaminants aren’t removed, meaning the motor oil increasingly has the potential to compromise the integrity of your vehicle as well as overall performance.

Short distance driving damages battery life

The biggest boost of energy comes from starting up your vehicle. When you turn the key (or press the button), it creates high demand from your battery.

As you drive, the alternator recharges the battery, so it’s ready for action the next time you start up your car. When you take short trips, the alternator doesn’t have a chance to fully recharge the battery, weakening the overall effectiveness with every trip.

Much like your engine needs time to warm up and reach its optimal operating temperature, so does the alternator. If the battery isn’t recharged properly, it pushes rapid depletion into motion, meaning your battery life decreases with every short trip.

Weak batteries can impact how well your vehicle starts up each time you turn the key. But it impacts other items on your car as well. The battery also operates your vehicle’s accessory, which means your headlamps might not be as bright, or your heated seats might be impacted.

Wear dates

Manufacturers list wear dates because many drivers use that as a gauge for maintenance and repair. And if you drive average distances or more each year, these guidelines are a good indication of things to watch for as you drive.

Yet if you’re a short distance driver, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because your car rarely leaves its parking spot. Parts wear down whether they are constantly in use or not. They just wear down differently.

No matter how much you drive each year, it’s important to create a maintenance schedule and stick with it.

Work with a trusted mechanic to ensure your vehicle is well maintained, has fresh oil on a rotating basis, and parts are well cared for no matter how much action they see during a year.

We can help you keep your car in good working condition, no matter how much you drive.

Mountain Driving – Why There’s a Burning Smell Coming From Your Brakes

July 17, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Colorado driving brings all kinds of challenges to drivers. Here in Denver, you’ll deal with ice, snow, heatwaves, flooded roads, and sudden drops in temperatures that can have you turning on your air conditioner and heater all in one day.

One of the greatest challenges comes from mountain driving. You may start out at home in a relatively flat location. Hop on the highway, and in just a couple of hours, you can be climbing thousands of feet, change from dry roads to snow-packed highways, and you’re left navigating it all.

Whether you’re new to Colorado driving, or have been here for decades, it takes some getting used to.

A big challenge comes from navigating up and down the mountain. It takes a lot of power getting up some of those hills. It also takes a lot of power to keep your car under control as you drive down. If you’re driving and you suddenly notice a burning smell from your brakes, what does it mean? You know it’s not good,

Anytime you smell a burning smell while you’re driving, it’s not good. Of course, it can mean different things. Any change in your vehicle should be brought to a mechanic’s attention as soon as possible to ensure it’s not a serious problem.

What could a burning smell from the brakes mean?

When you smell a burning smell coming from your brakes, it can mean a variety of things, depending on what you’re doing at the time you notice it.

Mountain Driving - Why There’s a Burning Smell Coming From Your Brakes

New brakes

If you’ve just picked up your car where new brakes have been installed, it can be a little disheartening when you notice a burning smell as you tap on the brakes just a few miles from the shop. In this case, the burning smell isn’t a bad thing at all. A slight burning smell coming from new brakes is harmless, meaning the resin coating built into the brake pad is coming off, and the brakes are settling into use. Consider this the break-in period to allow your brake pads to adjust to your vehicle.

Different brands and types will have a different break-in period. Some might not smell at all, while others have a noticeable odor for an extended period of time. If you’re not sure, give us a call. We can assure you everything will be alright, or if we feel there may be a problem, we’ll recommend you return so we can check everything out.

Your parking brake may be engaged

We’ve been taught that the parking brake is just for parking, but it actually has a lot more uses than that. The parking brake is part of your overall braking system. When engaged, it presses against the rear brakes with less force than the regular braking pads. It’s a secondary system that was designed as a safety feature in case the braking system failed, yet today it’s primarily used to keep a vehicle in place while parked, especially if you’re on a steep incline.

To engage a parking brake, you usually have one of four types of parking brakes.

Stick lever – this can be located on the steering column of older models
Center lever – located between the two front seats
Foot pedal – located to the left of the other pedals
Push button – located on the console on newer vehicles

Manufacturers suggest using the parking brake as a safety precaution every time you stop. If you follow these guidelines, sometimes the parking brake feature might not disengage all the way when you release it before you start driving again. If so, this brake function is pressing against the rear brakes, and can cause a slight burning smell.

Do you notice other problems? Do you hear a squealing or grinding noise? Are you having trouble accelerating? All can point to a problem with the parking brake releasing.

Brakes are overheating

When you press down on your brake pedal, it engages the brake pads against the rotors, working hard to bring your wheels to a stop. This friction can produce a lot of heat in a short period of time. Aggressive or frequent braking can continually build heat rather than giving the braking system a chance to cool and dissipate some of the heat it’s generated as you drive. Eventually, this can cause the entire system to overheat.

Now think about what happens when coming home from a day in the mountains. It’s miles of road at steep grades bringing you safely down thousands of feet at a rapid pace. Tapping the brakes to slow, over and over again, continues the process of allowing the brakes to generate heat. Especially as you’re navigating a long line of traffic heading in the same direction.

In today’s world, most of us no longer use manual transmissions to get where we’re going. We rely on automatic transmissions to do the work for us. Yet even if you drive an automatic, have you noticed a “2” and “1” on your automatic gear shift? It’s built for these conditions.

Instead of leaving your gears engaged for everyday forward driving, by shifting down to a lower gear, it will take the effort of slowing your vehicle off your braking system, and put it on the power of the engine instead.

If you’re traveling under 50 mph, you can shift into 2nd gear on the fly, meaning you don’t have to pull over. You’ll hear the engine downshift, and the vehicle will begin to safely slow on its own. You need to use the brakes should be significantly reduced.

For an exceptionally steep hill, you can further reduce your speed by moving it into 1st gear – as long as you’re traveling 30 mph or less.

Then eventually move it back into automatic when the steep incline is gone.

Do you notice a burning smell coming from your brakes? Try one of these three techniques and keep a watchful eye out to see if further problems develop. If they do, we’re only a phone call away. Schedule your appointment today, and we’ll ensure your brakes will keep you safe for as long as you own your vehicle.