Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Minimizing Blind Spots

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Whenever we are out driving around in our cars, each of us must deal with blind spots.  We can greatly minimize blind spots by properly adjusting our vehicle mirrors to give us the widest coverage possible.  We should make the adjustments before we pull out of our driveway or parking spot.

First, adjust your rear view mirror to give the best possible view directly to the rear of your vehicle.  You don’t need to get a better view of either side of the car, the kids in the back seat or your dazzling smile.  The rear view mirror should look to the rear.  Next, lean your head until it almost touches the driver’s side window.  Adjust your side mirror so that you can just barely see the side of your car.  Now, lean your head to the middle of the car and adjust the outside mirror so that you can barely see the right side of the vehicle.

Drivers who adjust their mirrors this way will minimize blind spots and maximize their views.  Of course driving in and through any area is a dynamic process – things change every second.  So it’s wise to take a quick look to the side when passing to make sure that another vehicle hasn’t moved into an area you couldn’t see in your mirrors.

Also be sure your outside mirrors are cleaned off, especially if your car has been sitting out in the snow.  It won’t do you any good to minimize your blind spots if you can’t see out of your mirrors.

As you drive on busy city streets, avoid staying in other driver’s blind spots.  You can’t count on them to be watching their mirrors and looking out for you.  Pass large trucks and buses on the left whenever possible.  Semi-trucks have much larger blind spots on their right.  Lastly, be attentive and wear your seat belts.

For more information about auto safety and automotive services, check out the other posts on the Express Car Care auto care blog.

4 Signs You Might Need New Brakes

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Driving here in the Denver metro area isn’t an option; it’s a necessity. While mass transit is increasing, most of us only use it on a part-time basis. It might work if you work downtown, or if you want to head to a ballgame, but eventually, you’ll have to climb behind the wheel and drive to where you need to go.

It’s easy to forget how much power you have when you put your car into motion. Thousands of pounds of steel can fly down the highway at fifty, sixty, seventy miles per hour or more.

We rely on everything to work the way it should. And if you maintain your vehicle properly, everything will work correctly.

But imagine if you push down on the brake pedal and nothing happens. That can be a scary feeling as you’re slowing for a stop sign in the middle of Denver. Now imagine that same thing happening on your way home from a ski weekend, flying down I-70.

How important are your brakes? At that moment, you’re likely to think they’re the most essential things in the world.4 Signs You Might Need New Brakes

Eventually, every car will need new brakes. Every part on a vehicle will wear out over time.

The critical part of the process is recognizing the signs and replacing your brakes long before they become a problem. The last thing you want is to put your family, or the lives of others out on the road in jeopardy. Luckily, your vehicle does give you warning signs that your brakes have a problem.

This can help you determine when to replace old brakes with new brakes, and ensure your car keeps working the way it should.

How brakes work

Before you can understand the signs of brake failure, it’s important to know how brakes work.

Most cars on the road today use disc brakes. These function in much the same way as your multi-speed bicycle. Have you ever gripped the brake handle on a bike and noticed two pads clamping down on the tire to stop it?

With a vehicle, a hydraulic system is filled with brake fluid that triggers a set of brake pads to clamp down on the wheel whenever the brake pedal is pushed to start the stopping process. These padded clamps are known as calipers, and the squeeze together onto a disc down as the rotor. As the brake pads connect with the disc, friction occurs until eventually, the car stops.

Think, for a moment, about how much heat this friction generates. While new pads may be strong and powerful, eventually, this material wears down. The thinner it gets, the more chance your brake system has of failing. That means a slowing effect at stopping your car.

This leads to your first sign of brake failure.

Worn Brake Pads

Brake pads are crafted from a variety of different materials.

Most cars use semi-metallic brake pads. These pads are made of metal shavings of copper, steel, graphite, and brass, all bonded together with resin to create a high-quality product that works well for everyday driving.

Some vehicles look for better performance and choose organic brake pads. These are comprised of non-metallic components like glass, rubber, and Kevlar, bonded in resin.

Still others choose ceramic brake pads comprised mostly of ceramic fibers and bonded together using resin. They often have copper fibers woven within. These are designed for performance vehicles, including racing cars that generate higher levels of heat when applying the brakes.

Checking to determine if your brake pads are worn is a fairly straightforward process. All you need to do is look through the spokes of your wheel and find the disc or rotor inside. You’ll notice the caliper sits on the outer edge. Between the caliper and the rotor is the brake pad. Brake pads should be at least one-quarter inch thick to work properly. If the brake pad appears to be thinner than this, it’s time to add new brake pads.

If your car is designed in such a way that you can’t see through it, you’ll need to remove your tire to see the rotor and pads. If you don’t have experience in doing this yourself, we can do it for you and let you know how much life your brake pads have.

Strange Sounds

If you’ve had your vehicle for a while, chances are you know all the sounds your car makes. When a squeal occurs, it’ll come to your immediate attention.

Brake pads are designed to produce this sound to let you know it’s time for replacement. A small indicator is built into the braking system to give you a warning sign that servicing is necessary. This sound is designed to be loud, so you’ll hear it over the radio or other things going on in your car.

In addition to squealing, you might also hear grinding. This means your brake pads are completely worn through, and the calipers are now grinding against the metal of your rotors. If this continues to occur, you’ll damage the rotor, and it will no longer be as simple or as inexpensive as merely replacing the brake pads.

Pulling Sensation

Have you ever felt as if your car is driving on its own? That it’s pulling you to the right or left while you’re driving or braking?

This is a sign of a potential problem with your brake system. It might be a sign of a stuck caliper. If it’s stuck, it will cause friction to one wheel and not the others. This would create a pull to one side of the vehicle as your driving and stopping.

A broken brake hose could also cause your calipers to move unevenly, making it feel like your car is pulling to one side or the other. It would apply different levels of pressure when you press the brake pedal, causing more friction to one side or the other.

Vibrations

Have you ever pushed down on the brake pedal, and a quick pulsating feeling comes through as the car slows? This goes beyond the feeling of anti-lock brakes. If you notice this happening through your brake pedal, and it gets worse the farther you press down, you could have a problem.

A vibrating brake pedal often indicates you have warped rotors. When the surface area becomes uneven, the brake pads won’t connect smoothly. You’ll feel this as the wheel goes around and continues to slow.

In addition to this thrumming feeling, you might also notice your brake pedal becomes mushy, and pushes all the way down before engaging the brakes. This might be a problem with the brake pads, or a fluid leak in the hydraulic system. If you’ve noticed a leak underneath your car, brake fluid has a clear consistency similar to cooking oil.

The opposite can also occur, where the brakes grab at the slightest touch. This might be a worn rotor or dirty brake fluid. Your mechanic can help you define the problem and solve it as quickly as possible.

Few can deny that a brake system is one of the most critical systems in a car. If you think you need new brakes, or aren’t sure where the problem lies, stop by today. We’ll help you get back on the road again safely in no time.

How Often Should Brake Fluid Be Serviced?

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To keep your car running, it’s necessary to pull into the gas station every few hundred miles for a fill-up. You don’t think about it. You just do it.

Unfortunately, other car maintenance routines aren’t as automatic. You may fill up your windshield washer fluid when it’s empty because your vision becomes impaired through the dirt on the windshield. You may pull in for an oil change because the sticker on your window gives you a date and mileage number to shoot for.

But what about brake fluid?

What does brake fluid does for your car?

Brake fluid is also known as hydraulic fluid. Brake fluid allows the various components of your car’s brake system to move and operate efficiently. Without brake fluid, your vehicle wouldn’t come to a stop when you pushed down on the brake pedal.How Often Should Brake Fluid Be Serviced?

Brake fluid is designed to operate under high temperature and high pressure. It’s a non-compressible fluid that is housed within the brake lines, and is delivered to the various braking components when you press down on the pedals. It’s brake fluid that helps apply pressure to all four wheels, bringing your car to a stop. It works like this:

  • When you want to stop or slow down, you press down on the brake pedal.
  • The pedal starts the braking process by compressing a piston that resides in each brake caliper.
  • This process increases the pressure within the brake line, sending brake fluid where it needs to go throughout the brake system.
  • Brake fluid causes the rotors to connect with the brake pads, which in turn makes contact with the wheels. This friction slows the rotation of the wheel, eventually bringing it to a stop.

Without brake fluid, your brake system wouldn’t work. If brake fluid runs low, is contaminated with dirt or grime, or doesn’t flow properly in any way, your braking system is compromised.

That would make your brake fluid pretty important, right? Yet it’s one of the most forgotten fluids in your vehicle.

What happens to brake fluid as it ages?

Brake fluid doesn’t exist in a perfectly sterile world. Over time, it absorbs moisture, which has the potential to lower the boiling point and raise the freezing point. Dirt infiltrates the fluid, increasing the possibility of corrosion throughout the braking system components.

This is a slower process than the motor oil you change out of your vehicle several times per year. But like any car fluid, your brake fluid has to be at optimal performance level for it to do its job correctly. Because brake fluid is an integral part of your car’s safety, check your owner’s manual to determine the recommended brake fluid changing schedule. If you think you might have a problem with your brake fluid, have one of our mechanics check it out to ensure your safety.

How do you check brake fluid?

When you open up the hood on your car, you’ll find brake fluid is usually stored in a translucent plastic container. You should be able to see the levels of brake fluid without removing the cap. This is different than other fluids where you can remove the cap and check levels with a dipstick, like your motor oil, or remove the cap for easy fill like with your windshield washer fluid.

With your brake fluid, you don’t want to open up the cap unless you plan on replacing the fluid. Opening it up invites moisture to settle inside, and as we already discussed, moisture isn’t something you want in the hydraulic system.

New brake fluid will be clear to a slightly-amber color when you first put it in. If you find your brake fluid has signs of rust or is a darker, dirtier color, it’s time for it to be serviced.

Are there different types of brake fluid?

Because brake function is so important, it stands to reason that there are different types of brake fluid for different levels of performance. Yet you don’t head down to your local auto parts store and find brake fluid brands and types on the shelf in the same manner as motor oil.

The two main types of brake fluid are either a glycol-based or silicon-based.

Glycol-based brake fluids are normally used in vehicles that use anti-lock brakes (ABS). Silicon-based brake fluids work only in cars that don’t have ABS braking system. The two are not interchangeable. You can’t add in silicon-based brake fluid after glycol-based brake fluid has been in the system. Small amounts will always remain, no matter how much you flush the system.

The Department of Transportation has labeled brake fluids as DOT3, DOT4, and DOT5. DOT3 and DOT4 are glycol-based, while DOT5 is silicon-based. DOT3 and DOT4 absorb water. DOT5 doesn’t.

The number indicates the boiling point of the fluid. The higher the number, the better quality and higher chance of withstanding higher temperatures. But that doesn’t mean every vehicle operates better with a higher brake fluid. Check your owner’s manual for details on which brake fluid is best for your car.

It’s also important to note that glycol-based brake fluids eat paint, so it’s important to let a trained mechanic handle brake fluid.

Can I change my car’s brake fluid myself?

By reading this article, you’ve probably determined that brake fluid is more difficult to work with compared to other fluids in your vehicle. It’s not a typical do-it-yourself project. Brake fluid should only be handled by someone with professional training.

Brake fluid is both more complicated and more dangerous to work with than other parts of your car. It’s not as simple as picking up a gallon at your favorite big box store and adding it to the reservoir.

There are two types of brake fluid, and they don’t mix. If you do, you risk damaging your vehicle. That can be an expensive endeavor. It’s important to choose the right fluid based on manufacturers’ guidelines, and placing it into your vehicle in a proper manner.

You’ll also find brake fluid hard to dispose of. It’s both toxic and combustible, so you don’t want to leave it sitting around in your garage. It has specific guidelines for disposal, one that your mechanic has access to and uses every day.

A well-trained mechanic knows the ins and outs of how to handle every aspect of your braking system, including brake fluid maintenance and removal.

To ensure the reliability of your car, and the safety of you and your family, let one of our trained mechanics help you with all of your vehicle’s needs.

Is It Cheaper To Rebuild or Replace a Transmission?

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You don’t have to be a mechanic to know that rebuilding or replacing a transmission sounds expensive. Any time someone weighs the difference between installing something new or fixing something already in place, you have an inkling the cost is quickly going to move upward.

And we aren’t going to lie – it is expensive. That’s because your transmission is a major part of your car.

A car’s transmission ensures the proper amount of power is spread to each wheel at whatever speed you decide to go. It converts force from your engine into a controlled power source.

Engines operate at a high speed, while your wheels rotate at a slower rate. It’s the transmission’s job to meet in the middle, marry the two together so that your car operates correctly. It does this all through gear ratios, using toothed gears to interact and control the power between the two mechanics.

Automatic or manual – what’s the difference?

In most cases, we tend to think a car has either a manual or automatic transmission. There are varying levels of automatic transmission, but for this article, we’ll assume only the two.

Manual transmissions use a stick shift to change gear ratios manually. If you’ve ever driven a manual, you know how to “feel” the process. As the engine revs, you push the clutch in to separate the gears. You use the shift to move between several different positions, then engage by pulling back on the clutch. You can hear the engine power reach capacity before engaging the process all over again.

Automatic transmissions do the same thing through the use of fluid pressure. An automatic transmission uses transmission fluid to provide the necessary pressure to activate the clutch and determine which gear the car should be in. It finds the right gear ratio and places the gear in motion.

Transmission fluid

Every vehicle uses transmission fluid to keep the transmission in good operating condition. And like other fluids your car uses for operation, you should ensure your car has the proper amount at all times.

Before you check your transmission fluid levels, read your car’s operating manual. Some cars test transmission fluid levels while the vehicle is running, while others state it should be turned off. This varies by make and model, so ensure you’re checking your levels in the right manner.

Open your hood and find the dipstick for the transmission fluid – don’t confuse it with the oil dipstick. When you find the right location, you test it in much the same way as your oil. Remove it and verify what level the fluid is at. Wipe it off with a rag, re-engage it, and perform the test again. If everything is okay, you can replace the dipstick and continue driving as usual.

Keep in mind that transmission fluid doesn’t run out the same way as motor oil does. While every manufacturer makes different recommendations based on make and model, you can go thousands of miles before transmission fluid needs to be changed.

This isn’t something you should do “just because.” You can null and void your warranty if you change it out at the wrong time. If your transmission fluid isn’t in good condition, topping it off can be just as bad as being low. Sometimes the right thing to do is flush and refill. But again, it depends on your make and model. Every car is different, so it’s important to understand what’s best for your vehicle.

Transmission fluid can be differentiated from motor oil by its distinct color. Transmission fluid is dyed pink or red, so it’s easily recognized. It should be translucent and see-through if it’s still in good quality. Never rely solely on color as it will darken over time. Yet that does make it easy to determine if you have a problem if you find a puddle underneath your car. The distinctive color can be the first clue you have a leak.

This isn’t something you should run down to your auto parts store and buy a can for refilling. If you need more transmission fluid, there’s a good chance there’s a bigger problem. We can carefully diagnose the problem and make sure your vehicle is in great shape before you return to the open road.

Rebuild or replace a transmission

At what point should you consider rebuilding or replacing your transmission? There comes a point when the problems add up and become too great to fix without sinking a lot of money into it. At that point, it’s better to replace.

Have you ever had a water heater or furnace go out? Your mechanic will make recommendations to repair or replace based on a variety of factors – age, cost of new parts, and how many problems there are, to name just a few.

Your transmission works in similar fashion. It’s an expensive replacement – why replace if you can repair?

But you know it’s time when:

Your transmission has lots of problems – if it seems you’re in the shop every few weeks installing a new “band-aid” to keep the transmission operating, it’s indicative of things to come. Several hundred here and there often become better spent on replacement to give yourself a longer lifespan.

Your transmission is difficult to diagnose – sometimes the problems run so deep, they are hard to diagnose. If it takes a mechanic hours to find, it’s often better to replace rather than spending hundreds on labor, knowing you’ll still add hundreds more for the repair.

Your transmission needs a high cost repair – weigh out the option of repair vs replacement costs. Minor repairs are worth the cost to give your vehicle more life. But when the repair moves from minor to major, it’s almost always better to think twice about repairing. Your mechanic can give you a better idea of how long a repair will last, and determining the right path for your vehicle.

Your transmission is failing – your mechanic can determine how much life is left in your current transmission, and tell you if replacement is a better idea. If your transmission wasn’t well cared for, it can have far less than the manufacturer’s guideline mileage. It may be difficult to budget in the expense of a new transmission, but far worse is having to replace shortly after a major repair.

What’s better for your car: rebuild or replace the transmission? We’d be happy to help you make the proper diagnosis.

How Can You Tell When You Need New Brake Pads?

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When you purchased your car, a lot of expectations were attached to it. Manufacturers suggest city and highway mileage, but that depends on how and where you drive. They also give you an estimate of when to replace your brake pads. How long they will last depends on a variety of factors too.

Here in Colorado, most car owners face a variety of situations throughout the year. A lot of mileage is put onto a vehicle driving to and from work. That means a lot of stop and go, waiting for stoplights and sitting in traffic jams.

On the weekends, you might head to your favorite spot in the mountains, using your brakes repeatedly as you wind through the hills.

Some people feel like they drive for a living; they may put 20,000 miles or more onto their vehicle every year. Others barely put 10,000; everything is close to home.

All of this determines how often you’ll need to put new brake pads onto your car. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear-cut schedule that tells you when it’s time to replace your brake pads. You can’t say “every three months” like you would an oil change.

But it is essential to have them checked regularly as they are one of the most important parts of your car. Can you imagine coming back into Denver from a weekend up in Vail without brakes?

It’s a good idea to have your tires rotated every six months. At this time, a mechanic can also check the thickness of the brake pads and the condition of the calipers to ensure they are in good working order.

Of course, watching your brake pads is difficult at best. That’s why car manufacturers have installed other indicators to help you know when it’s time to replace your brake pads.

A squealing noise coming from your brakes

It’s hard to ignore this sound. Every time you tap on the brake pedal, a high pitched squeal comes from your brakes. Your brake pads will produce some noise without it being a problem. If they get wet after a rainstorm, they may squeal when you first start out. Where you should pay attention to the noise is when it happens all the time. If you notice a consistent sound every time you press the pedal to the floor, and it gets louder over time, it’s time to see a professional.

A deep grinding sound

Have you ever heard the grinding noise two pieces of metal make? If you hear it when you press down on the brake pedal, that’s an indication that your brake pads are worn. Some brake pads have small metal ridges built into the bottom of the pad. This is a safety factor, and ensures a loud noise will begin to alert the driver of potential failure. The first time you hear it, it’s a warning signal. You have time to get safely into your local repair shop and have new brake pads installed. But don’t ignore this. If you let the metal ridges wear, they could grind into other areas of your tire. When this happens, it’s not just your brake pads that will need replacing. Your costs will go up dramatically, and you’ll have more extensive repairs.

A vibrating brake pedal

Have you ever felt your brake pedal vibrate as you push it down? It can give you an unsteady feeling, like you’re losing control over your car. A vibrating brake pedal occurs when the brake rotor unevenly wears down. When you push on the brake pedal, it pushes the calipers against the wheel to slow. The unevenness has the same impact as warping, causing the rotor to shake or vibrate. That sensation is transferred to the brake pedal; you’ll feel it more when stopping from higher speeds. The longer you leave this problem without correction, the more damage it will cause to your entire braking system. To avoid further damage, get your brakes checked as soon as you can.

An indicator light

Depending on your make and model, you might also have an indicator light show up on your driving panel. With some cars, there is a sensor on the brake pad, and it will trigger a sensor when it reaches a certain level. When an indicator light turns on, you’ll need to have a mechanic check out the system and make a recommendation for how soon you’ll have to replace them.

A brake pad less than ¼ inch thick

Depending on the wheels you have in place on your car, you might be able to look between the spokes to see the brake pad attached to the rotor of the tire. If the brake pad appears to be less than ¼ inch thick, it’s time to have new brake pads installed.

We know that it’s never fun bringing your car into the shop, the sooner you replace your brake pads, the sooner you’ll be on your way. The more wear and tear with the brake system, the more damage will be done. And that means greater cost for you, as well as more time in the shop.

Luckily, we also have a few tips for you to prolong your brake pad life. If you’re an aggressive driver, you’re going to pay the price in repair bills.

Giving your brakes extended life requires just a few things:

Slow down

Brake pads work by turning energy into heat. The more energy they have to dissipate, the more wear they endure. If you find yourself consistently speeding up and slamming on the brakes, back off. Slow down so you’ll have a greater reaction time, and won’t need to apply the brakes as much.

One foot only 

If you two-foot your pedals, stop. Leaving your foot on the brake pedal means the brake pad pushes up against the rotor every mile you drive. This is a bad habit, one that will wear your brake pad out in record speed.

Lighten the load

How much stuff do you carry around? Is your vehicle loaded with sports equipment, school and work supplies, and other things for the “just in case?” That weight can add up. The more weight inside your vehicle, the more energy it takes to bring your vehicle to a stop. If you don’t need it regularly, leave your stuff at home.

Coast

Become a more aware driver and leave space between you and the other drivers. If you anticipate traffic flow, you can coast more than stopping quickly. You should also learn to use your gears for traveling downhill. That way, you can rely on gears for downshifting rather than applying the brakes.

Keep those brake pads in great shape, and you’ll ensure they have a long life.

But eventually, you’ll need to replace them to keep your vehicle safe. And when you do it in a timely manner, your new brake pads can be installed quickly and at the lowest cost. This will have you on the road in no time.

Have a question about brake pad replacement? We’re here to help.

Guide to Battery Replacement

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Most folks know that car batteries wear out just like any other battery and need to be replaced.  There are a couple things drivers should know and keep in mind as a guide to battery replacement.  One is cold cranking amps and the other is reserve capacity.

We’ll start with cold cranking amps.  Think of this as the power output used to start a cold engine.  The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live, or specifically, how cold it is where you live.  Two factors to consider are that the colder an engine is, the more power it takes to turn the engine over to get it started.  It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend against.  The second factor is the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient in the cold.

So the colder the weather gets, the more power is needed, but is unavailable.  So if you live where it’s cold, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you would where it’s moderate or hot.  You should always get at least as many cold cranking amps as are recommended but you may want to upgrade if you live where it gets really cold.

An important guide:  Batteries may also list the Cranking Amps-CA-number.  It is the Cold Cranking Amps – or CCA – that is the number you’re interested in here.  CCA is the number to use in your comparisons when you’re shopping for a battery replacement.

With all this talk of cold temperatures, it’s also important for drivers to note that heat is the real enemy of long battery life.  In other words, the damage that’s done over the summer months shows up with the increased demands on the battery when the weather turns cold.

Now let’s talk about reserve capacity:  It’s the measurement of the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has at a given load.  The number is more important these days because of parasitic drain.  Parasitic drain is the battery energy that’s used when the key is off.  This is the power drawn by the security system, the remote start system, and even the power the computers require to maintain their memory.

Reserves are also needed when you make very short trips, you’re not driving long enough for the vehicle battery to recover the energy it used just to start the engine.

A basic guide to battery replacement is to go with the recommended minimum unless you believe you need more and want to upgrade.  Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable pros about your options.

What To Do When Your Power Steering Goes Out

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Power steering on today’s automobiles is something most of us take for granted. But if you’ve ever had it disappear, you’ll appreciate it a little bit more.

It can be kind of scary, especially here along the Front Range. You’re driving. Heading to the office, or maybe off for a weekend in the mountains. You’re singing along with the radio, talking with the family, and suddenly it’s very difficult to turn the steering wheel in your car. What do you do when your power steering goes out?

Depending on what’s wrong determines the right course of action. Not all power steering problems require extensive repair work. But like other car repair issues, quick action can often save you time and money down the road.
What To Do When Your Power Steering Goes Out
Understanding Power Steering Technology

Power steering isn’t new technology. In fact, it was put in place as the first automobiles started flowing off the production line.

Hydraulic steering uses a pump to supply pressure. Driver control is authorized by use of rack and pinion. Fluid pressure is created within the pump, and pushed against a piston. As the wheel turns, pressure builds and flows, causing the piston to move. This piston is also attached to the steering mechanism, and with the air of hydraulic pressure, the steering wheel is moved and controlled by whoever is driving.

It all comes down to a highly sensitive valve system. When the steering wheel is straight, the steering valve is at rest. But as you turn it, fluid begins to flow around the valves, through the reservoir, and into the cylinder. The fluid moves and flows to different pressure chambers, depending on the direction you turn the wheel to control the gears. When the steering wheel is released, it returns to its neutral position.

When The Power Steering Goes Out

If there is a problem with any part of this hydraulic system, you’ll know it. Even a slight turn of the steering wheel will exert pressure, be more stubborn and stiff, and require more power to create the action of turning. If you drive for any distance, it can actually leave you a little sore. It also begs the question: what’s wrong?

One of the simplest solutions is power steering fluid is low. This could be caused by a leak somewhere in the system. It could be caused by a lack of maintenance over the years, and your fluid has simply run out over time.

It might be due to contamination within the power steering fluid. As you drive your car, parts wear down and start breaking off. These tiny pieces can end up in the power steering fluid and corrode the functionality of the power steering fluid.

A more serious problem could be that the pump itself is failing. While this isn’t a common problem, it does happen from time to time. The best way to prevent any of this and stay on top of a potential problem is to be proactive from the start. If you take care of your system, provide regular servicing, this shouldn’t be an issue.

You can also watch for a potential leak by paying attention to what’s underneath your car. If you leave it set for any length of time, check for fluid. If you see a pink or amber puddle, it might be steering fluid. You can add power steering fluid yourself, or get it into our shop quickly so we can evaluate your entire system and ensure everything is working up to par.

Can It Be Something More?

Keep in mind that your car is put together with thousands of pieces all interlocked together, relying on each other to make sure everything works as it should. When one thing goes wrong, it can create a snowball effect, causing more pieces to go bad.

Every movement your car makes has enough force to impact different pieces. A shimmy or a shake is absorbed by the steering gear. If tires are low or out of balance, it can increase the likelihood of a recurring shimmy every time you drive. If the force is strong enough, it will damage bearings and impact the gears. This gives the drive system free play, meaning it starts the process of making steering difficult to control. It’s not an all-or-nothing problem. It occurs gradually over time.

Many drivers are misled to thinking you can control this shimmy by adjusting the nuts on the top of the steering gear. You can’t. Turning this will not eliminate shimmy, and may actually do more damage to the gears then leaving it alone. This can bind the gears together, essentially making the problem even worse.

It may also be from worn out steering valves. If power steering seems fine when you first turn your car on, and becomes increasingly more difficult as you drive, it may be the steering valves. A reputable repair shop can help make the diagnosis and fix the problem.

What If Your Power Steering Goes Out While You’re Driving?

What if you miss all the warning signs and the power steering goes out while you’re driving?

Don’t panic. The important thing is to slow the car down and remove yourself from traffic. Turn on your blinkers to signal moving over to the side of the road. You can turn on your hazards as well, further indicating to those around you that you have a problem.

Don’t stomp on the brakes. Depending on how fast the car is going, this could send you into a tailspin. And without the ability to steer, this could put you in a hazardous situation. Brake slowly and move over to the side.

Once you get the car stopped, turn the car off and on again. Test the wheel, can you move it easier? Sometimes the act of turning the car off can reset your system. This may give you the chance to move your car from traffic and get it in to our shop as quickly as you can. If you still notice problems, your best bet is to call for a tow truck.

Keep Your Power Steering In Good Health

Like all systems, your best bet is to keep your power steering system in the best shape possible to avoid potential problems when you least expect it. If you can’t remember the last time your power steering fluid was changed, maybe now is the time.

Use our coupon for a power steering flush. We’ll ensure everything is working the way it should, to keep you and your family safe every time you get into your car and head out into traffic.

Change Your Oil, Drivers!

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As engine technology advances, recommended oil change intervals have gotten longer.  High quality oil in a well-engineered engine has led to extended intervals.

Here’s the problem:  With longer oil change intervals, it’s extremely important to follow them closely.  Back in the day of 3 months or 3,000 miles, if you went an extra month or an extra thousand miles, your oil was still fresh enough that it didn’t have time to build up much sludge.

But if your recommended interval is 6,500 miles and you go over another thousand, you’re getting into heavy sludge territory.  This can cause big problems.

You absolutely need to follow mileage intervals on changing your oil very closely.  And don’t forget your severe service schedule.  If you do a lot of stop and go driving, short trips, drive in dusty or polluted conditions, hot or cold weather, or haul heavy loads, you’re driving in severe service conditions.  Is your driving closer to the regular schedule or the severe service schedule?  It’s your call as the driver to decide when to change your oil to protect your engine.

If your car came from the factory with synthetic oil, the recommended oil change interval is for synthetic oil.  If you use conventional oil, you shouldn’t be using the synthetic oil interval – you need to shorten it.

Service advisers often report that when they talk to a driver with 200,000 miles or more on their vehicle, the vehicle owner will say their secret is changing the oil on time.  Please don’t skip an oil change.  Once sludge has started to build up, it’s tough to get it out.  So don’t let that happen to you!  Change your oil, drivers!

Car Doesn’t Start? Is It The Battery or the Alternator?

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Nothing is worse than going out to your car, turning the key, and nothing happens. You hear a slight click-click noise, but nothing happens. And if you try it again and again, even that stops.

You had plans! Now what?

If your car doesn’t start, it’s a sign that something is wrong with your starting system. It could be caused by several things, including:

  • A dying or dead battery
  • A bad alternator
  • Loose or corroded connection cables

But first, before we determine where your problem lies, it’s important to understand the differences between the alternator and the battery, and what they each do.Car Doesn’t Start? Is It The Battery or the Alternator?

The Alternator

Think of your car’s alternator as the power generator that supplies energy throughout the vehicle’s charging system. All vehicles using an internal combustion engine use an alternator.

When the engine is running, the alternator kicks into gear, charging the battery and supplying energy throughout the electrical system.

It’s bolted to the engine and is driven by a serpentine belt.

The Battery

Your car’s battery is what keeps it running. It stores energy and transforms it into power as needed.

Yet a car battery is different than other batteries you use around your home, such as in a watch or your television remote. With a car battery, the greatest thrust of power is at the time you turn the key. It needs maximum current for a short period of time to jolt the vehicle into action.

That’s known as an SLI battery. SLI stands for starting, lighting, and ignition. It sends short bursts of energy to power your lights and other accessories. But one the engine comes to life, the power to keep the car running is supplied by the alternator.

If your car is still relatively new, most vehicles are equipped with a generic SLI battery. They aren’t designed for optimum use, or for long life.

My Car Doesn’t Start – Why?

When the alternator starts to fail, the battery jumps into action and starts picking up the slack. No matter how good your car’s battery is, it isn’t designed for this level of use. It will eventually wear down, and leave you stranded somewhere along your journey.

Car batteries are not intended for long term power supply. When your car doesn’t start, it’s easy to assume it’s the battery’s fault. But there’s an easy way to determine where the problem really lies.

Jumpstart your car with a set of jumper cables. Remove them as quickly as possible once your car comes to life. Then wait.

If the car continues to run, it was likely a problem with the battery.

If the car soon dies, you’ve pinpointed it’s a problem with your alternator.

Even if you get the battery running again, keep in mind that this might be a temporary thing. Something caused the car to stop working in the first place. Even a jump start might not keep it running for very long.

You can test the battery with a voltmeter to determine its life.

What Else Should You Watch For?

Because the alternator is critical to keeping your car’s electrical system working the way it should, any mechanical problem can be a sign that something is going on with the alternator.

In newer cars, everything is computerized. You’ll have warning lights for just about anything mechanical in the system. If a problem exists with your alternator, you’ll most likely see a warning light shaped like a battery flip on. Some may also blink “ALT” or “GEN” instead. This light is telling you the car has a voltage problem. It’s in the early stages of failure.

Most alternators require 13 to 14 volts to operate your vehicle effectively. Too little, and your car will have problems working. Too much, and it will corrode the system.

You might notice other things not working as well as they once did. Since the alternator supplies electrical current, you might notice your headlights dimming, not as bright as they once were. You might notice your dash lights begin to fade. Maybe your tachometer stops working. Or the heated seats turn off before its time.

This is your car’s way of compensating for a problem. It’s putting energy to the one place that matters most – keeping your car running while warning you to pull over and stop the car.

It might also be broken or loose connections.

Electricity from your alternator runs through a series of cables and wires. If there are any problems with these cables, wires, or connections, it can stop the energy from moving from one point to another. This symptom is often accompanied by a burning smell as well. If too much power is generated to one spot, it will produce higher voltage, in effect “cooking” one area of the system. It gives off a distinct smell that warns you of potential problems.

We’ve also had cars come in with starting problems, only to discover it’s a problem under the hood. If a belt brakes, it can hang off the engine block, flapping around as you operate your vehicle. It may be missing altogether. Broken or loose belts are pretty easy to spot; open up the hood and take a peek. Even if you aren’t skilled in auto mechanics, you can usually spot a potential problem.

Because every car is different, it’s best to get in tune with your car. Watch – listen – smell – those should be things you do every time you’re in your car.

Watch for signs that something is wrong. Do you see lights on the dashboard? Do you see things that aren’t working the way they once did? Is something harder to turn? Or do certain functions disappear?

Listen for any new noise that wasn’t there before. Pay attention to clinks, buzzes, hisses, and bangs. If there isn’t a logical explanation for it, it might be your car’s way of telling you something is wrong.

Likewise, a new smell is telling you something isn’t working the way it should. You have something spilling, overflowing, leaking, or disappearing. And when each piece of your car doesn’t have the proper tools to do its job, it’s going to find a way to do it anyway it can.

Have you noticed something new with your car? Don’t let it go. At the first sign of trouble, bring your car in and let’s diagnose the problem. If could be the difference between a minor repair and a major overhaul.

How Does A Car’s Brakes Work?

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When most people purchase a car, they don’t think a lot about the individual pieces used to create the final vehicle.

You might look at make and model. You might look online for reviews. You might consider safety and select one that will provide you and your family miles of safe driving.

While it’s easy to take the time to select your preferred color, ensure it has the features you’ll enjoy, or even select one for a comfortable ride, rarely do you consider what makes it all work.

Did you stop to consider how your car’s brakes work, for example? Or did you just assume they work because of advancements in technology?How Does A Car’s Brakes Work?

Buying a new car usually means the brakes will work for years without trouble. It can be a bit more difficult if you purchase a used car. It depends on who you buy from and how well the vehicle was maintained.

But in either case, you’ll start driving your car as you move throughout your busy days, relying on the safety of your car.

How does a car’s brakes work?

How do you know you’re safe every time you step on the brake pedal?

There’s a lot riding on it.

Imagine sailing down the mountain after a day of skiing, only to discover nothing happens when you press the brake pedal down. That’s a pretty scary thought, isn’t it? Especially if you have your family inside the vehicle?

The braking system is a fantastic invention that helps you get from point A to point B safely and secure. So how does it work?

Motion

Let’s start at the beginning. The concept of braking is simple. Any time you’re in motion, it takes friction to slow down. A vehicle’s braking system takes kinetic energy and turns it into heat energy through the use of friction as it is applied to your wheels. Your wheels turn. Using friction, brakes convert this to heat energy, which slows and stops your car.

Pretty simple. But of course, there are many ways to approach it. You can even see this at work in the Flintstones cartoons where foot-power is used to slow and stop the vehicle.

Today’s cars are a lot more complicated, and we use this process in different ways to achieve the same results.

Brake System Parts

A car’s braking system is made up of a number of parts.

Brake pedal – this is the lever you press down on with your foot. The more pressure you apply, the more your car slows down until it eventually stops.

Brake booster – most vehicles today have power brakes. The brake booster is what increases the force of the stopping mechanism without having to increase the force of pressing down. There are two separate kinds of brake boosters – vacuum-assisted and hydraulic-assisted. Vacuum-assisted boosters create a vacuum using air coming in from the engine. Hydraulic-assisted uses hydraulic pressure from the vehicle’s power steering. As you step on the pedal, force created by this action kicks in and makes stopping easier.

Master cylinder – this holds the brake fluid. Brake fluid runs through the brake lines and into each wheel of your car. The master cylinder ensures power is sent to all four brakes at an even rate. Most master cylinders have two reservoirs, each filled with brake fluid. This is a fail-safe mechanism to give more assurance that if there’s a leak or a blockage, all four wheels won’t be impacted at the same time. On a rear-wheel drive car, one reservoir feeds to the front while the other supplies the rear. On a front-wheel drive car, it uses a diagonally split system because the front brakes do most of the braking. That ensures there is one line to each of the front brakes, to lessen the likelihood of complete failure.

Brake lines – these are steel tubes that connect the master cylinder to each of the four brakes on your car’s wheels. This is how brake fluid moves from the reservoirs in the master cylinder to each of the brakes.

Brakes – there are two different kinds of braking systems: drum brakes and disc brakes.

Drum brakes have been on cars for over one hundred years. Drums are attached to each wheel, with two heat-resistant pads inside. As you press down on the brake pedal, brake fluid moves into the drum. It activates two small pistons that control the brake pads and pressing out against the brake drum. This process slows the car down. Drum brakes are inexpensive and can last a long time. You’ll likely find them on the rear wheels of the vehicle.

Disc brakes were developed to combat the biggest problem with drum brakes: heat. Drum brakes are self contained. As heat builds, it has nowhere else to go. If they get too hot, they can no longer create the friction necessary to slow and stop. Disc brakes work in the opposite direction, squeezing the brake pads in towards a metal disc attached to the wheel. This creates more pressure, thus creating friction. And because the brakes don’t reside in a drum, they don’t get as hot as drum brakes do.

Of course, there are other tiny parts that make a big impact too. This is an intricate system designed to keep you safe as you slow and stop.

Brakes can become compromised in all kinds of conditions. Brake damage or failure can result from things such as improper maintenance, ignoring maintenance altogether, low levels of brake fluid, worn out brake pads, or even undetected damage from an unknown source. Colorado driving conditions often exacerbate the situation, especially if you travel mountain roads regularly, drive in extreme weather conditions, or often pull trailers and other sports or camping equipment  that can take its toll on brake systems.

Watch for these signs

To avoid potential brake problems that can leave your passengers at a safety risk, watch for:

Strange noises – if you tap on the brake and hear a high pitched squeal, a scraping noise, or a grinding noise, it might be your brake pads coming in contact with the disc.

Pulling feeling – if you notice your vehicle pulling to one side or the other when you tap on the brake pedal, it can be one of your brakes isn’t working the same as the other. If your brake pedal sinks to the floor, or pulsates before braking begins, it’s a sign your brakes need maintenance and attention.

Slowing takes more time – if it takes longer to slow and stop, it indicates a problem with your brakes.

Warning lights – don’t ignore those tiny lights that appear on the dashboard from time to time. They’re there for a reason.

Do you have a problem with your brakes? Stay safe and schedule an appointment today.

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