Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Signs Your Car Needs a New Battery

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Have you ever thought about how much you rely on your car? You expect it to work when you leave your home each morning. You expect it to keep running as you move throughout your busy day. You expect it to start and run no matter what the temperature is like outside, whether it’s the hottest day of the summer, or the coldest day of the winter.

Here in Colorado, the variances can be stark. One minute warm and sunny, followed by a whirlwind storm that brings in rain, or even snow. Is your car up for the challenge?Signs Your Car Needs a New Battery

If you’ve ever turned the key and nothing’s happened, you know how annoying that can be. Yes, it can cause you to be late to work. But what if you’re in the middle of unfamiliar territory, and it’s late at night with no one around? It can be downright dangerous.

Do you know the signs your car needs a new battery? If so, this whole scenario could have been avoided. Because batteries rarely fail without a little warning. They have their own unique ways of saying: something is wrong. And if you watch for it, notice it, prepare for it, you can avoid being stuck without a plan.

Slow Engine Crank

When your battery was new, one quick turn of the key had your engine popping into life. The older your battery gets, the longer this process seems to take. When you attempt to start your vehicle, the engine cranks to life with sluggish movements. If you notice this happening on a regular basis, don’t ignore this warning sign.

Clicking Sound When You Turn The Key

Every time you turn the key, your car battery sends power throughout the electrical system. This is designed to get everything going, ready to keep your car functional while you drive. It’s like a burst to the system to power everything up, before turning to a stable current to keeping everything functional. A failing battery will have trouble with this task. The electrical current will send a weaker signal, causing a clicking sound because of insufficient power.

Dim Headlights

In addition to turning your engine over, the battery also powers the electronic features of your car. If you’re traveling down a familiar lane at night and start to think your headlights aren’t doing the job they once did, it could be your battery. If the battery isn’t producing a full charge, all components of your vehicle will weaken over time.

Check Engine Light

Sometimes the check engine light will fire up and stay lit as you drive away. Without full power running through the system, this is your car’s way of saying something is wrong.

Swelling Battery Case

Open up the hood from time to time and take a look inside. Find the batter case; how does it look? Heat build up can cause the case to swell and bloat. Car batteries also have a translucent section so you can peer inside and see the battery fluid level. Does it appear to be in good condition?  Does the fluid seem to be low? Is fluid leaking? If it doesn’t look right, your next stop should be to have it looked at.

Backfiring

When a battery is failing, it can sometimes cause intermittent sparks. These sporadic sparks can lead to a buildup of fuel in the cylinders, and when this fuel ignites, the increased force causes your car to backfire. Backfiring can be caused by several things, not just a failing battery, so it’s important for a service technician to fully evaluate your vehicle to determine the root cause.

Age

How old is your car’s battery? In most cases, a car battery will last anywhere from two to five years. The older your battery is, the more you should consider purchasing a new one, especially if you’ve had other problems described above.

Still have questions about your car battery? Here are a few we answer quite frequently.

Why does the battery drain overnight?

Your car’s battery works fine – until you start the car up again the next morning. What can cause the battery to drain in just a few short hours? In most cases, it’s the car light being left on overnight, or a power adapter plugged in and working throughout the night. Of course, your battery can also drain if there’s a problem with the electrical wiring. If that’s the case, your car needs servicing sooner rather than later.

What shortens the life of a battery?

In a perfect world, your battery will last according to manufacturer’s guidelines. Of course, rarely does your battery lead a perfect life. Several things can shorten a battery’s life, including:

Short trips – those start/stop trips to the grocery store, drop the kids at school, or pick up the dry cleaning, hurt your battery. It doesn’t have proper time to fully charge.

Extreme temperature – Colorado is known for 30, 40, 50 degree drops or more in just a few hours. When temperatures move towards the 100s, or fall well below freezing, something into the negatives, it’s a drain on your battery.

Can a battery put off a pungent smell?

Yes. If you notice a stinky, rotten egg smell, especially when you open up the hood and get closer to your battery, it could be failing. This is caused when the battery leaks. If your battery is leaking, you’ll also notice corrosion around the two posts – where the + and – cable connections are located. This needs to be cleaned away for your battery to continue operating. It’s also a sign that something is wrong with the connections. Your best course of action is to have a service technician check it out.

Can a jump solve the problem?

It’s always a good idea to carry jumper cables with you at all times. If your car dies, a jump may give you the energy you need to make it safely into our shop. However, a dead battery is a sign of a weakening battery. A jump isn’t meant to put life back into your battery and have you ignore the situation. It gives you a chance to service your vehicle before other situations arise.

If you have questions about your battery, your engine, your starting system, or anything else with your vehicle, the best step to take is to make an appointment today.

It’s better to drive in under your terms, rather than having to tow your vehicle in for emergency repair.

How To Maintain Car Brakes

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When you jumped into your car this morning, you probably didn’t think much about the brakes.

You thought about dropping the kids off at school. Or maybe contemplating if you had enough time to get coffee before you head into work. Or the meeting you have later in the day.

Your car probably didn’t enter your mind. It’s a useful tool that gets you where you’re going. And outside of thinking about stopping to get gas, or scheduling an oil change here and there, your car is reliable. Why worry about something when there’s so much else going on in your life?How To Maintain Car Brakes

But if you’ve ever had a child or a dog jump out in front of you, you appreciate your brakes a little bit more. When traffic on the way home comes to a screeching halt, you thank your fully operational brakes one more time.

Brakes aren’t magic, they’re science-based. A car in motion produces energy. To stop, you have to release that energy, and you do so using friction to convert that energy to heat.

Pressing down on the brake pedal pushes a piston into the master cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid. This spreads hydraulic fluid into wider cylinders connected to the brakes on each wheel. This hydraulic process increases force enough to move the brakes into action, stopping your car.

Today’s modern vehicles have disc brakes. Disc brakes are made up of a disc, caliper, and a brake pad. When you apply pressure to the brake pedal, the hydraulic fluid causes the caliper to push into the brake pad, applying pressure directly to the brake disc. This rubbing action creates friction, which converts the energy into heat within the brake pad.

This process creates a lot of heat. That’s why brake pads are created out of high-quality material that withstands the pressure. If it melted under intense heat, they wouldn’t do you a lot of good. So they’re created from ceramics, alloys, composites, and more.

How to maintain car brakes

There are many parts on your car that add luxury to your vehicle, but aren’t a threat. If the air conditioning system goes out, it might get a little warm on a hot summer day. But you can still put down the windows and enjoy the breeze as you buzz down the road.

You can be inconvenienced by not having a radio. Or even adjusting to not having a side mirror if you bump it on the way out of the garage.

But you can’t live without brakes. If your brakes aren’t in great condition, they put you and your vehicle’s occupants at risk. If your brakes don’t work at all, your car is no longer operational.

That’s why it’s a good idea to maintain car brakes as a part of your regular routine.

  • Have your brakes checked by a reputable service dealer every year. This will keep you better informed as to how many miles you can travel on your current brake system, what to watch for, and establish a replacement schedule as your brakes begin to wear down. Our staff is happy to work with you and keep you informed of how much useful life you have left. Be sure to check our shop specials to ensure you get the best deal when scheduling your appointment.
  • Check your brake fluid. Just like you fill your car with gas as it moves towards empty, or change the oil based on mileage, your brake fluid should also be changed on a regular basis. Brake fluid is essential for the heat transfer process, and to help absorb condensation and water. Check the color of your brake fluid; a darker color means it’s time to have it replaced.
  • Listen and be aware of any changes in the way your car stops. If you tap on the brake pedal and you hear a squealing, that’s a sign of worn down brake pads. If you have to push down harder on the brake pedal to make your car stop, that’s a sign you need to schedule an appointment. If you’re at all concerned with something you hear or see, don’t wait.
  • Avoid unnecessary braking. By changing your driving patterns, you can put less wear and tear on your brakes. Leave more room between you and the car in front of you so you can coast while slowing down. Avoid being in situations where you have to ride the brakes, or pounce on them as traffic conditions bounce around.
  • Do business with reputable mechanics. Safety isn’t something you should play around with. You might get a great deal from a fly-by-night operation, but will your car be safe to drive? When you select a reputable mechanic, you’ll be comfortable you’re getting the best deal possible, and you’ll drive away in a car you can trust.

Is it bad if your brake pedal goes to the floor?

In a word, yes.

While there can be several reasons why this is happening, one of the most common is lack of brake fluid. If your car is out of brake fluid, your brakes won’t work. That means as you press the brake pedal to the floor, nothing will happen. There’s possibly a leak within the system. If this happens, you can’t drive your car for safety reasons.

Another possible reason is a bad master cylinder. The master cylinder is where the brake fluid compresses. This is where pressure builds to apply friction between the brake pads and the wheels. If it starts to fail, you’re going to lose braking power. The more it builds, the harder it will be to stop.

It could also be you, the driver, that is causing a problem. If you can’t find a mechanical reason for failure, and yet you have to push harder on the pedal to apply the brakes, it could be the way you drive. The more brakes are used, the hotter the brake fluid becomes. As it heats, it thins. Thinner liquid needs more force to make the brakes work. Stop riding the brakes, and give yourself plenty of room to avoid pouncing on the brakes as traffic grinds to a halt.

Have more questions on how to maintain car brakes? Need to check out your brake’s current condition? Give us a call today.

Signs Your Car Needs A New Transmission

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Every day as you drive, dozens of parts come together to ensure your car gets you where you’re going. When everything is working, it’s a smooth ride, one you can depend on.

But over time, things change. You notice bumps in the road. You hear squeaks and squeals. You may even see things slowly starting to fail.

Your car doesn’t fall apart overnight. It never fails without warning signs. If you watch and listen carefully, you’ll notice when things start to break.Signs Your Car Needs A New Transmission

Are there signs your car needs a new transmission? Can you tell before your car fails?

In most cases, the answer is yes. Your car gives off warning signs, and the sooner you bring it into a qualified transmission specialist, the higher your chance of catching it early and lowering the overall costs of the repair.

The key is in not ignoring the warning signs. They are there for a reason. Catch it early, and you might only have a small repair. Wait, and the costs can build as time goes by.

Warning signs your car needs a new transmission include:

Problems shifting gears

It doesn’t matter if your car is manual or automatic, it still shifts into several gears as it takes you from resting up to speed, and back down again. Every time it shifts, it should be a smooth transition. When you start noticing changes, a roughness in the process, that’s a sign your transmission might be in need of repair.

Pay attention to the process. Do you notice:

  • Hesitation as you try and put the car into gear
  • Jerking action as the car shifts between gears
  • A sudden shift in gears for no reason
  • Trouble with reverse
  • Falling out of gear while you’re driving

All of these can be signs your car needs a new transmission. It’s time to bring your vehicle in for servicing right away.

Grinding between gears

With a manual transmission, you can feel when there’s a problem with the gears. As you press down on the clutch, and try to shift from one gear to the next, you hear a grinding sound. The process is anything but smooth. It’s difficult to move from gear to gear.

But it’s not just manual transmissions that have problems. Instead of a grinding noise, automatic transmissions may start to shake or shimmy between shifts as it starts to fail.

It may be the clutch failing. It might be a simple repair. But the longer you ignore it, the more it persists, the more problems you’ll face when you do bring it in for repair.

Whining noises

Have you ever stood next to a vehicle that has a whining, buzzing, or clicking sound while standing in neutral? That can be a sign of transmission failure.

As parts fail, they impact the transmission in different ways. Transmissions are made up of lots of parts: pumps, clutches, bands, sensors, valves, even transmission fluid to keep everything running smoothly. Every part has a purpose. And if one part starts to fail, it can cause a host of other problems.

That’s when noises start to occur. Let’s say your transmission fluid is low. That can cause a ripple effect throughout the vehicle, making bands weaken, clutches tighten up, gears not able to work properly. If you correct the problem quickly, you stop the action from deteriorating the parts any further. The longer you wait, the more damage occurs. When you hear a new noise and it persists, it’s time to quickly find out the root cause.

Cloudy transmission fluid

When transmission fluid is brand new, it has a bright red color and a distinctive sweet smell. If you’ve never seen it before, ask your mechanic about it the next time you visit. Over time, transmission fluid goes through a lot as it keeps the action in your transmission operating as it should.

When you start to see changes in looks, it could be the transmission fluid. If you look at it and it appears dark, or has a milky, cloudy look, it’s a sign the transmission fluid can no longer do what it’s supposed to do.

Burning odor

Not only does transmission fluid change color over time, but it also creates a distinctive smell. When the gears overheat because of excessive friction, it starts to produce a burning smell. You’ll notice it when you turn your car off and open the door. If the transmission has reached this point, it’s time to bring it in for repair, and it’s probably time for a new transmission.

Leaking transmission fluid

As your transmission continues to fail, it starts to develop leaks. Whether you park it regularly in a garage, your driveway, or in a parking spot at work, pay attention to what’s left behind when you drive away. Do you see the red fluid leaving spots? It doesn’t matter if it looks red and clean, or has already taken on a cloudy appearance, a leak isn’t something you should tolerate. Instead, a leak is a sign of a very big problem.

It doesn’t mean your transmission is going bad, but there is a problem with the flow of transmission fluid. The quicker you get it in, the faster you repair the problem, the greater chance you have of saving your transmission.

That can mean the difference between a small repair and adding new transmission fluid, or a costly investment in a new transmission.

Have questions about your transmission? Is your car showing warning signs it might be in need of repair? Schedule an appointment today, and we’ll get to the root cause, and get you on your way.

Fuel System Cleaning

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Fuel, whether gasoline or diesel, is delivered to your engine to be burned in order to generate the power needed to keep you moving.  This fuel leaves a residue as it moves through your fuel system.  This may not seem like much, but it can cause big problems.  Gum and varnish build up inside fuel lines, the throttle body and injectors.  It’s like plaque build-up in your arteries – it restricts the free flow of fuel and can even clog your fuel injectors.

In addition, carbon from combustion starts to accumulate on the valves, inside the combustion chamber and on your pistons.  This interferes with proper mixing of fuel and air and can prevent your valves from sealing properly.  This means you will have less power, a rough running engine and wasted fuel – and could even lead to expensive damage over time.

A fuel system cleaning clears out the gum and varnish from your fuel system and gets your injectors working properly, restoring power and fuel efficiency.  Carbon deposits are dissolved, and your engine starts running like new again.

If your engine seems sluggish and less responsive than it used to be, it might mean that you are in need of a fuel system cleaning.  Ask your service adviser if a fuel system cleaning is the right thing for you.

Give us a call or come in and see us, we’re here to help.

What If I Drive With A Broken Suspension?

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For many people, a car is simply a tool that helps them go from point A to point B. They get in, drive it, and expect it to be ready when they want to hop in once again.

But a car is actually an intricate set of systems all working together to keep you safe and secure while you move throughout your busy day. You rarely think about what could go wrong until it actually does.What If I Drive With A Broken Suspension?

Often, people don’t ask questions like “what if I drive with a broken suspension” until they encounter a problem with their cars. At that point, it’s a little too late to be able to do anything more than call a tow truck and pay the costs.

Every automobile on the road today is designed with a suspension system. The suspension system is a collection of parts designed to keep your car off the ground and in motion as it moves from here to there. It keeps you comfortable as you hit bumps. It keeps you secure as you move through turns and corners.

Every piece of your suspension system plays a part in the process. If one part goes out, it impacts the entire process.

Your suspension system consists of:

  • Wheels
  • Tires
  • Springs
  • Shocks
  • Steering system
  • All the parts that connect the system together

Like all parts, each is designed to last for only so long. From the moment you drive off the showroom floor, wear and tear occurs to each part a little differently. It depends on driving conditions. It also depends on your driving habits.

Over time, it starts to falter. It doesn’t perform the way it once did. You start noticing problems. The squeaks. The clicks. Or maybe it feels like you traded your luxury car in for a truck. You feel every bump in the road.

Parts wear down over time. But in some cases, it goes a step further. You face a broken suspension system instead of one that’s just in need of repair. What then? Is it safe to drive? Do you need to call a tow truck?

In most cases, a broken suspension means immediate replacement. It needs repair before you can drive. But it also depends on what part brakes.

Wheels

Wheel system failures are almost always caused by the improper installation of the wheel itself. During installation, as the wheel is being mounted, lug nuts or other intricate parts to the wheel aren’t tightened the way they should. As they loosen, the wheel studs break and the wheel separates from the car. This can also occur with improper maintenance, or manufacturer’s defects.

Tires

Your tire is one of the most common reasons for broken suspension failures. If your tire is flat, you can’t drive on it for even short distances. If you put too much pressure on the wheel without the protection of the tire, you’ll destroy the wheel. And without properly inflated tires, you won’t be able to stop or handle the car around curves and turns the way you can under normal conditions. It becomes difficult to steer, slowing down is problematic, and you’re at greater risk for getting into an accident. Change the tire as soon as you discover it’s flat.

Springs

Every car has a coil spring within the suspension system. The coil springs allow the wheels to carry the car vertically, while also holding the rest of the car together. The size of the spring determines the height of the ride. If the coil spring breaks, your car will appear to sit lower than normal. You’ll often find the coil springs start to rust over time where they connect to the suspension system. A broken spring will also affect wheel alignment and cause a distinct rattling noise. If you keep driving on it, it can become dislodged if you hit a bump or pothole, and possibly damage other parts of your suspension system.

Shocks and Struts

If a shock absorber no longer works, you’ll notice your car starts to bounce quite a bit. It may also squat or dive excessively as you apply the brakes. All of these can make the car uncomfortable to ride in, but more importantly, it can also make it difficult to control. Especially as you pick up speed. If you discover you have a broken shock absorber, never increase to highway speeds. Avoid tailgating, taking corners too fast, or braking or stopping quickly.

The struts are part of the suspension system that hold the body of the car off the ground. Struts connect many different parts of the suspension system, including the coil spring and shock absorber. They impact both your car’s steering and alignment. If your car’s struts break, it’s similar to having both your shocks and coil springs break. That means your ride will both be uncomfortable to drive, have the possibility of damaging other parts on your car, and unsafe.

Steering system

Have you started to notice your steering is acting funny? It might be your steering rack or something like tie rod ends. With the rack and pinion steering system, it connects the movement of the left-right steering wheel to the left-right tires to make the wheels turn. The steering column itself sits on a pinion gear that turns, connects the gears in the rack, and gives it the left-right control. The “power” in power steering comes from pressurized fluid flowing through the passages that give you the power to turn the wheels. This fluid also keeps everything cool and prevents damage as metal hits metal. It’s important to change this fluid on a regular basis, according to your car manufacturer’s guidance.

Other

Your car’s suspension system has too many parts to discuss them all here. But every one of them is necessary to keep your car working properly and to keep you safe as you drive. If any part fails, it can make your driving experience unsafe at best.

If you think you have a problem, don’t put it off. Schedule a maintenance appointment today, and we’ll ensure your car is in the best working condition possible. It’ll give you confidence to know your car is as safe as it can be.

 

Signs Your Car Needs A Tune Up

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Has your vehicle been acting up lately? Are there signs your car needs a tune up?

In a way, cars and people are a lot alike. We both operate well when we take in the right “fuel.” We both have early warning signs when something isn’t right. And problems can easily grow if we continue to ignore those warning signs.

Check ups and tune ups are very similar; both are designed to test from every angle, and make suggestions as to how to proceed. Once you discover there’s a problem, no matter how small, you can use that data to make minor repairs. And hopefully, that can help prevent bigger problems down the road.Signs Your Car Needs A Tune Up

You know when it’s time for a tune up in one of two ways.

1. Your car starts giving hints it’s time for a tune up. It vibrates, squeals, shakes, hesitates, misfires, stalls, fails an emissions test, or has trouble starting.

2. Your car hits a mileage marker. While older makes and models would require tune ups every 10,000 miles or so, today’s technology allows vehicles to travel much further before a tune up is needed. Check with your manufacturer’s guidelines to determine what’s best for your vehicle.

When you bring your vehicle in, the mechanic on duty should talk with you about your car’s condition. Just like a doctor should never start testing without a few questions first, a mechanic shouldn’t start with routine maintenance without talking to you about performance.

You can help even more by noting your car’s behavior a few days before your appointment. In some cases, you may have overlooked a warning sign, simply because you’ve grown accustomed to the noise. Use your phone’s note feature to keep track of any issues, or keep a pen and paper handy and write down any concerns. This will give you critical information that can help your mechanic get to the root of the problem.

What should you watch for?

Warning lights

Yes, those pesky little lights that crowd your dashboard are there for a reason. When they light up, they are signaling something is wrong (if nothing more than a tripwire gone bad.) In modern cars, you’ll have warning lights for small things, such as a tail light burning out, to more complex problems, such as transmission failure. Every warning light is designed to light up and give you plenty of time to get the problem fixed. Pay attention to these warning lights, and get your car analyzed as quickly as you can. It can be the difference between paying a small amount for a small problem, and a costly problem from an emergency situation.

Poor gas mileage

Do you track your gas mileage each time you fill-up? It can be a great indicator when something starts to go wrong. When your car starts losing efficiency, it can be from a variety of causes. Maybe your tire pressure is waning. Maybe it’s an air filter that’s clogged. Or something more. When you track your mileage, you can use it as a baseline, so you have advanced warning of when something goes wrong.

Starting problems

People have all kinds of reasons for slowing down and taking more time to get out the door in the morning. Your car doesn’t. When running correctly, it should always start without hesitation. If it doesn’t, it’s a warning signal that something isn’t right. If you have to turn the key more than once for it to fire up, or it won’t stay running, you have a problem. It could be a sign of a weakening battery, or a sign of something more.

Stalling

Have you ever sat at a stoplight and had your car stop working? Or maybe you try to accelerate, and your engine sputters out? This can be a sign of bigger problems with your engine, which could be dangerous as you’re out on the road. If your engine can’t provide reliable performance, it can leave you in precarious situations. You never want to be sitting by the side of a busy road, wondering what’s wrong with your car.

Regular maintenance

There are certain car maintenance items you do continuously just by owning a car. You fill it with fuel when it runs empty. You replace the motor oil on a regular basis. You add in a new air filter when you’re changing the oil. These simple tasks can sometimes reveal other problems. Is your air filter clogging more between changes? A clogged air filter can impact both fuel economy and acceleration.

Rough shifting

Even if your car is an automatic, it still shifts into gear as you accelerate and slow down. There’s a smoothness to it; if you hear it and it clunks, it’s not as efficient as it should be. Pay attention to the noises as you speed up and slow down. Do you have trouble when you try and put it into reverse? All of this is a sign your transmission needs a little attention. The gears in your car rely on transmission fluid, filters, and screens to operate properly. If these aren’t properly maintained, they can impact the way your car drives.

Noises

Those squeaks, bangs, squeals, and pings are trying to tell you something. It’s your job to listen to where they are coming from. Your brakes should be quiet, for example, without making noise as you press down on the pedal and come to a stop. When they start to squeal, they are telling you something is wrong. Brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid all wear and eventually need replacing.

Of course, that isn’t the only part that will start to make noise. It may be a worn belt, low fluid, or a noise from a failing part. Turn down the radio and listen; what do you hear? How would you describe it? Where do you think it’s coming from? When does it occur? The more information you can provide, the faster it will be to diagnose the problem, and get to the root cause.

Start with your owners manual

Do you know the signs your car needs a tune up? Do you pay attention to what your vehicle is trying to tell you? The best place to start is by reading your owner’s manual. How often should you get a tune up? What are the manufacturer’s guidelines? If you don’t have it handy, you can always Google it and find it.

Then pay attention to your car’s warning signs. And bring your car in today for a tune up; we’ll help you keep it in top shape for years to come.

How Can I Make My Brakes Last Longer?

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The brakes on your car are one of the most important mechanisms for safety. If you’re driving on the road, entrusting your family’s safety as you drive around the city, dependable brakes are a mandatory part of car safety.

Yet nobody likes to make frequent trips to a mechanic. If you can stretch out the time in between visits, all the better. How do you know if your brakes are working correctly? Is there a way you can make brakes last longer?

The more aware you are of how brakes work and the potential problems, the more you can ensure they are working at their optimal level, and possibly gain more wear from your brake system.How Can I Make My Brakes Last Longer?

Brakes, and how they work

You don’t have to be a mechanic to understand how your brake system works. Without getting into the intricate details, it’s important as a car owner to know your car has two parts to concern yourself with: the brake pads, and the rotors.

Your brake pads are exactly as the name implies; they are made of a hard material that uses friction to stop the car.

Brake rotors are the round plates that the pads clamp down onto, slowing it, and eventually stopping the car.

With most cars on the road today, they use disk brakes where the brake pads are contained within calipers. Every time you push the brake pedal, pressure is applied to the rotor, and the car slows down. You use this process over and over again, every time you drive. So it’s not surprising that replacement of both brake pads and rotors will occur at some point in the future, depending on how much you use your car.

What causes brakes to wear?

Brakes wear out from day to day use. The more mileage you put on a car, the faster your brakes will wear out. Of course, it depends on personal use too. Someone who drives more highway mileage will get more wear than a person that does a lot of city driving. If you “ride the brakes” and always have your foot on the brake pedal, you’ll see more wear on your brake pads than someone who isn’t as aggressive with their driving habits. If you want to make your brakes last longer, become a less aggressive driver.

Speed also plays a factor in brake longevity. Applying the brakes when you’re at lower speeds requires less momentum than applying brakes at higher speeds. This is one of the reasons you’ll find your brake pads wear quicker if your daily commute involves highway driving. At rush hour, you’ll have a lot of speeding up and slowing down, sometimes with very quick action.

You may also notice that your front brakes wear faster than the rear pads. That’s because the front of your vehicle has a lot more action in the braking process than the rear, causing them to wear faster. Over time, heat and friction wear until there is little left to do the job effectively.

It’s also important to know that brake wear isn’t an exact science. Manufacturers can’t list it in their guidelines to have brake replacement based on mileage. Some brakes will last up to 75,000 miles, while others may need replacing at 25,000 miles. It depends on the make and model of your car, your driving habits, and many other factors.

How to make brakes last longer

What can you do to make your brakes last longer? The answer is surprisingly simple.

One of the easiest ways to increase the wear on your brake pads is to change the way you drive. Even a few simple changes can increase brake life, and make you a safer driver too. Change your driving by doing the following things:

  • Start by following the flow of traffic instead of fighting it. If you find yourself continuously creeping up on the car in front of you, slow down. If you stay with traffic, it will require less heavy braking.
  • Lighten your vehicle if at all possible. Clean out your trunk or backend space instead of leaving heavy objects in place.
  • Keep your speeds low in heavier traffic. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your final destination, so you aren’t pushing the limits of what traffic will allow you to do.

You can also spend an extra couple of minutes giving your brake rotors a cleaning every time you wash your car. As you drive, brake dust settles in on the pads and rotors. This increases the amount of friction whenever they brake, which shortens their life. By keeping the brake dust to a minimum, you’ll give your brakes the longest life possible.

Brake inspection and servicing

There are several simple steps you can take to ensure your brakes are properly maintained.

Check your brake fluid regularly. You need to make sure it’s in good condition, and is at the appropriate level. If brake fluid has a milky color, it means condensation has accumulated in the fluid, and it’s time to change out the brake fluid.

Pay attention to any noises you hear while you’re driving. That squeaking, squealing, or grinding noise is trying to tell you something. And while noises may start for various reasons, it is a good indicator that you have a problem.

Of course, you can also rely on the brake light coming on. Depending on the age of your car, today’s modern vehicles have sensitive electronics that are very accurate when a problem arises. When the pads get below 25 percent of their total thickness, you’ll be alerted, and you can have them replaced before they become a big concern.

Schedule your service with Express Car Care today

At Express Car Care, we offer you full service on everything your car needs, from brake pads, rotors, drums, brake shoes, calipers, hoses, and more. If you suspect your brakes aren’t working the way they once did, don’t delay. Stop by today and keep your car in top working condition, safe for you and your family.

Maintenance Mindset

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Maintenance MindsetWe know we need to take care of our cars, but it just seems too hard to remember to do it.  We generally accept that there are many things in life that require regular maintenance, but we just may not have applied it to our vehicles yet.

For example, we water and mow the lawn regularly.  Most of us weed the flower beds and rake leaves in the yard.  We go to the dentist twice a year and some of us even go to the gym regularly in an effort to maintain our health.  Flu shots and doctors check-ups for the kids before they start school.  We all have a maintenance mindset when it comes to life, we just have to learn to apply that mindset to our vehicles.  If you never brush your teeth or go to the dentist, you’ll become painfully aware of your neglect when you get cavities.  And if you never maintain your vehicle with regular oil changes and inspections, your vehicle isn’t going to run.  Too many people have had to learn the hard automotive lesson when they have to bring their vehicle to the auto center on the back of a tow truck.  So many times, a little routine maintenance would have prevented a breakdown.

A maintenance mindset will help:  The key to good vehicle maintenance starts with the oil change.  Think about it – when you go in for a full-service oil change, your tech will check all your fluids.  If one of them is low, he can look for the reason why.  If your serpentine belt is worn, he’ll see it and let you know.  Corroded battery cable- they’ve got you covered.  All of this takes a trained and experienced eye – more than you find at a quick lube center.  And they’ll check to see if your manufacturer has recommended any services at your current mileage.

To get started on your maintenance mindset, come in for an oil change, and you’ll get a visual inspection and a reminder for recommended services so you can avoid total failure.  And remember your service adviser can help you work out a maintenance and repair plan, prioritizing and scheduling the work to make sure you and your family are safe and help you avoid expensive breakdowns.

6 Signs My Car Needs Suspension Repair

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When someone talks about car performance, what do you think? For most people, they think horsepower. How fast it takes for a car to move from zero to sixty. How quickly a car moves off the line.

That’s all a part of performance. And the engine is a big part of how well a car performs.

But without the suspension system, there wouldn’t be a way to control a car. The car quite literally would be out of control.6 Signs My Car Needs Suspension Repair

The job of a suspension system is stability. It’s designed to maximize friction between the tires and the road. The steering should be stable and easy to control. All of it is to ensure the passengers are comfortable and safe throughout the ride.

If all roads were perfectly flat, the suspension system wouldn’t be necessary. But even a short drive around the Front Range shows you are roads are rarely straight. Instead, they curve and wind. And from years of wear and tear, you’ll find bumps, potholes, and other irregularities that can make each venture away from home more challenging than the last.

Whenever you hit these irregularities with your car, the wheels take the brunt of the impact.  They move up and down, readjusting based on road conditions. If they didn’t adjust and move, the force would have a direct impact on the frame of your car. If you’ve ever been in an auto accident, you know that’s not a good thing.

The suspension system is designed to take this energy and absorb it before it impacts the rest of your car. It leaves the frame, the body, even the passengers safe and secure … if the suspension system is doing its job.

When cars are built, they are designed with two dynamics in mind:

Ride – how well the car handles on a bumpy road

Handling – how well a car accelerates, corners, and brakes

Of course, safety is always the number one factor. If a car is built that won’t keep passengers safe, what’s the point?

Which means occasionally, you might notice your ride and handling failing. They aren’t performing as they did when your car was younger. Here are six signs to watch for; experience any of these, and you know it’s time for suspension repair.

1. When a car ride’s roughly

In most cases, when you ride in your car, you enjoy the ride. When the suspension system starts failing, you start to notice every bump and curve. As you move over a bump, or slow for a dip in the road, your car “bumps” right along with it. You notice a “bouncing” action as the car continues through the bump in the road.

This is a sign your suspension system is failing. A rough ride is a sign your car is in need of suspension repair.

2. When a car drifts or pulls

When a suspension system is failing, it often develops a drift or a pull. As you’re driving down the road, do you feel like you need a tighter grip on the steering wheel because your car always drifts either right or left? That’s a sign the suspension is failing.

The suspension system is designed to keep the car stable at all times; that includes moving forward and staying in your lane. As you maneuver around corners and curves, it’s the suspension system that keeps your car grounded, and prevents it from rolling over.

When you start to notice your car pulling or drifting as you drive, it’s time to schedule an appointment for suspension repair.

3. When a car nose-dives when stopping

As your suspension system continues to wear, you’ll notice it as you are stopping. When you come to a stop, does the front of your car dive down as you apply pressure to the brakes? That’s your suspension system failing.

As the suspension system wears out, it decreases the ability to stop. By some estimates, you’ll need several seconds more for your car to stop. That impacts the safety of everyone in your car.

4. When a car’s tires are impacted

Next time you’re about to head out, spend a few minutes walking around your car, and look at the tires. If your car is operating the way it should, you’ll see even wear on the tread. If you notice unevenness, or bald spots in some areas while it looks less worn in others, it’s a sign your suspension system isn’t working the way it should.

It’s important to ensure your tires are always filled at proper levels. If your suspension system is operating correctly, it will put even amounts of pressure on all four tires as it moves you from point A to point B. Unevenness is a sign that your suspension system isn’t working the way it should.

5. When a car has oily shocks

If you know what you are looking for, you can look under your car and inspect the shocks or struts. If they are working properly, they won’t have an oily glean to them. If they are damaged in any way, you’ll see the appearance of fluid leaking from within. This is a sign of failure, and a notice to you that it’s time for suspension repair.

6. When you fail the bounce test

There’s an easy test to determine if your car suspension is failing. With your car in park, press down on the hood of your car and release. Does the vehicle bounce more than once or twice? Do the same in the back. Do you get the same results?

A worn out suspension system will have a lot of give. You’ll have a car that isn’t safe for you or your passengers. You’ll know it’s time to bring your car in.

The actual repair job depends on your car’s make and model. Different cars need different parts and service.

Yet it’s important to remember that it’s not just the parts that need replacing; a reputable mechanic will look at the overall condition of the vehicle too. If your suspension system has been failing for a number of weeks or months, more damage could have occurred, increasing the costs of making the repairs. That’s why it’s a good idea to get in quickly, the minute you suspect you have a problem. It can be the difference between a simple or a costly repair.

Think you have a suspension problem? Looking for a reputable mechanic to get your questions answered? Give us a call today. We can help you with your suspension repair and get you back on the road today.

What Happens If Your Brakes Overheat?

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Our modern society can’t survive without driving a car. Eighty-three percent of all Americans drive on a frequent basis. 

Here in Colorado, it’s more than a choice; it’s a necessity. If you want to get to work, school, and enjoy your free time a little bit more, owning a car can get you where you’re going in a fraction of the time. 

Of course, owning a car means certain responsibilities. If you own a car, you have to maintain it, so it becomes reliable whenever you need it. What Happens If Your Brakes Overheat?

Have you noticed the brakes squealing? Or maybe you notice a new smell as your brakes heat up. All of these and more may be a sign that you have a problem with your brakes. 

What happens when you brake?

Most people assume it’s the brakes that stop your car. That isn’t the case. Instead, the brakes are designed to stop the wheels from moving. It’s your wheels slowing down that stops the car. 

Modern disc brakes are a large plate-sized disc attached to each wheel. The clamping of the discs causes friction. This is what slows you down. But this friction also generates heat, and that heat has to go somewhere. Disc brakes are designed to dissipate the heat in different ways. Heat will transfer to the brake pads and the brake fluid. It may have a ventilated core with air ducts that help keep them cool.

The system is designed to work flawlessly … for a while. But like everything, sometimes things don’t happen the way they are intended. 

What happens if brakes overheat?

When you push down on the brake pedal inside your car, your vehicle’s brake pads generate friction. This friction is what slows the car down or brings it to a stop, depending on the level of force. 

This action occurs over and over again as you move through the city. But sometimes as heat builds, there’s too much of it. How do you know if your brakes are overheating?

Your brake pedal feels soft

This is where it helps to pay attention to how your car handles. When you press down on the brake pedal, does it have a “spongy” feel? Over time, water can start accumulating in your car’s brake fluid reservoir. As that heats up from use, it starts to reduce the effectiveness of your brakes. This isn’t always a sign of brakes overheating; it could be several other things. Like damage to the brake line. Or low brake fluid. No matter what the problem, if you notice this “soft” feeling when you tap the brake pedal, it’s best to come in for inspection quickly to avoid the consequences of brake failure. 

Your brake pads smoke and smell

Instead of feeling a problem, you may see or smell it instead. Do you notice smoke coming from the wheels? Or maybe you notice a smell every time you brake? This is your brake system telling you something is wrong. 

When brake pads overheat, they put off a similar scent to burning carpet. Once you smell it, you’ll recognize it every time. This is a sure sign that it’s time for a checkup. 

Your brakes are squealing

You can also hear when brakes are failing. They often make a lot of noise. When the friction from the brake action generates enough heat, the pads start to wear and smooth. As they wear down, the glaze on the pad has more difficulty creating the friction. If you’ve ever thought it sounds like metal on metal, that’s literally the case. Press down on the brake pedal, and you’ll hear it squeak and squeal. That’s a sign it’s time to head in for an inspection. 

What to do when brakes overheat

Because there are many signs of brake failure, think of it as your car’s early warning signs. It’s telling you there’s a big problem; you need to slow down and find a safe place to pull over. Only when you’re in a safe place should you let your brakes cool down and determine if they are safe to drive or you should call for a tow. 

Are there ways to avoid overheating?

While overheating often comes with age, there are other factors that can make it more of a possibility. 

The way you drive

Are you the type who pounds on the brake pedal? Do you roar up to the car in front of you and constantly ride the brakes? You’re more likely to experience overheating. By making your ride smooth and steady, you’ll use your brake pads in a more appropriate manner. You’ll give your brake pads a chance to cool in between your stops and starts. 

The way you use your car

Here in Denver, we have a relatively flat city driving experience. But that changes the moment you head up into the hills. As you drive back down from a weekend of playing, try engine braking instead of riding your brakes. Engine braking means downshifting to let the engine take over the slowing process. This means you won’t have to leave your foot on the brake pedal as you spend minutes – hours – coming down out of the mountains. 

The way you maintain your car

There are two ways to approach vehicle maintenance: routine or emergency. Either way, we’re here for you. Routine maintenance allows you to take charge of how well your car operates. We’ll check everything out on a routine basis to ensure it’s working in its best condition. Emergency maintenance means we’ll replace the brake system after you experience some type of failure. Of course, this isn’t the most desired way, as you never know when that will occur. But in the event something happens, we’re here. 

What happens if your brakes overheat? Your first course of action is to stop and get to safety. But how you proceed depends on your situation. 

We suggest bringing your car in and having a full inspection. Your braking system is one of the most important systems on your vehicle; let’s ensure it’s working safely. 

Have additional questions about your brake system, brake repair, or how well your car is operating? We’re here for you anytime; give us a call and ask. 

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