Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Fall Checklist

by

Fall ChecklistWe all have a Fall checklist of things we need to accomplish, whether it’s in our head, our phone or on paper.  But let’s make sure we don’t forget to put our car maintenance on that checklist.  Because without a proper running vehicle, it will be more difficult to accomplish the other things on our list.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had the oil in your car changed, Fall is a perfect time to do it.  Regular oil changes are a very important service to have on our Fall checklist.  Having clean oil in the engine helps keep your car running smoothly.

Our radiators should also be checked, they won’t last forever. Over time, they can break down and start corroding, which leads to cooling problems and a radiator repair.  Fall is a great time for a radiator flush, which is a quick and easy fix to avoid bigger problems later.  All it takes is about 30 minutes for us to drain and flush the entire cooling system, refill it with fresh anti-freeze/coolant, and check for leaks in the hoses, clamps and the radiator cap.

Check to see if your headlights and wiper blades are working.  Every day brings darkness to us a little bit earlier and good working headlights will light your path and keep you safe.  Replacing worn wiper blades and refilling the washer fluid will prepare you for those unexpected storms that can come in the Fall.  You might want to use snow blades now, since they are designed for better snow removal.

Last, but certainly not least, our Fall checklist needs to include a brake check.  No one wants to go through the terror of trying to stop suddenly and realizing the brakes aren’t working.  If you haven’t had your brakes checked in the last six months, now is the time to have it done.

Fall is a beautiful time in Colorado, but before you know it the leaves will be off the trees, and the snow will start falling.  So don’t be caught off-guard, get your vehicle ready now.

 

Estimates: How They Work

by

Estimates: How They WorkThe purpose behind an estimate is to inform the vehicle owner as well as the mechanic, the kind of work needed to repair the vehicle and provide an idea of how much it will cost.  In order to find out what is wrong, there needs to be an inspection and testing of the vehicle to isolate and identify the problem and then determine what it will cost to perform the repair.

Auto repair technicians can’t estimate a job, and tell you how much it will cost to fix a problem without actually looking at the vehicle.  Without the technician actually inspecting and possibly testing the vehicle all you would be getting is a guess…not an estimate.  Just as we give our doctors an opportunity to examine and test us before they give us a diagnosis, we have to give our auto repair technicians the same opportunity.

An estimate for repair is only one of the factors in the repair process and it actually occurs in the middle of the process and has at least six prior steps that must be taken in order to reach a successful outcome.

First, we must gather data about the vehicle and the problem.  We generally have to drive the vehicle to verify the symptom and to get a physical sense of what’s really going on.  We have to inspect the vehicle and perform whatever tests might be necessary to provide the information we need.  Information that allows us to compare actual performance with desired performance.  Then, we need to analyze that data and evaluate it, which we hope will lead us to an accurate diagnosis.  It is on this diagnosis that the estimate is built.

A written estimate protects both the mechanic and the customer from potential problems.  When you sign off on an estimate, you are agreeing to pay reasonably within the figure you’ve been quoted.  If a mechanic perform the repairs included in the estimate and charges you around the same amount as the estimate, you can’t insist that you didn’t know how much the repairs would cost.  Likewise, mechanics are held to the amounts listed in the estimate.  This is how estimates work.

A Clean Fuel System

by

FuelTank_1Hello drivers, today we’re going to talk about your fuel system.  The fuel system on your vehicle encompasses everything that it takes to get the fuel from your tank to your engine.  It starts with your fuel pump, which is located in the tank, then there are fuel lines, a fuel filter, a throttle assembly and fuel injectors.  When all of these parts in the fuel system are clean, fuel flows as it should and gives you a good and strong engine performance.  But when your fuel injectors, valves and fuel intake are clogged or gummed up, your engine doesn’t run as efficiently and its performance will suffer.

The fuel in our vehicles just naturally gums things up over time.  The government requires all fuel to have detergent in it to help clean the fuel system, but not all fuel is created equal.  Bargain fuel may just have the minimal amount of detergent to meet the government standards, so using a good quality fuel that may have several times the minimum amount of detergent will help you have a clean fuel system in your vehicle.

Sometimes, even if you’re using a quality fuel, your fuel system can still get too dirty and you’ll need a professional fuel system cleaning.  If your vehicle has lost some of its zip, or is sputtering a bit, it could be because of a dirty fuel system.  Your helpful and knowledgeable Express Car Care adviser can check it out and tell you if it’s time for a fuel system cleaning.

Give us a call if you have any questions.

Transmission Service

by

Transmission ServiceAutomatic Transmissions have gotten more sophisticated in recent years for car owners.  Take the number of gears for starters:  The base is four speeds, five is very common.  Many manufacturers are using six speeds and several have seven or even eight speeds.  As you can imagine, this means more parts in your vehicle’s transmission.

Today’s transmissions are computer controlled.  Some high end transmissions have two or three computers.  Car owners are trusting that transmissions are engineered to last, but motorists need to understand that they are also engineered to tighter tolerances.  If a portion of the transmission is starved for lubrication, it can lead to failure.

This can happen if there isn’t enough fluid and also if the transmission fluid gets dirty or sludgy.  Small passages in the transmission can get clogged, then the lubricant is blocked and can’t get to all the parts to protect them, so they wear out prematurely.

Most newer vehicles require special transmission fluids and at Express Car Care we can make sure you get the type of fluid your manufacturer recommends.

As you can imagine, repairing one of these new transmissions can be quite costly at most auto repair shops.  That’s why manufacturers have a transmission service schedule for how often drivers should change the fluid and what type of fluid to use.  Come in and see us and let us help you with this or any other of your car’s service needs.

Power Steering Service

by

Power Steering ServiceIt’s easy for us to take power steering for granted – you spin the steering wheel and your car turns.  But behind the scenes your power steering is making it easy.

The vast majority of vehicles today have hydraulic power steering systems, which means that pressurized fluid is used to help you do the work of steering.  A pump pressurizes the power steering fluid to provide the boost that you need.  In some vehicles the pump is driven by the serpentine belt and in others there is an electric pump.

The problem is that over time the fluid becomes contaminated and can actually cause leaks in the hoses and connections.  It gets harder to steer and could even cause total failure of the power steering system.

Periodically, your friendly and knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser may recommend that you have your transmission fluid changed, which involves removing the old, dirty fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid.  This helps the power steering components last longer and maintains your vehicle’s power steering performance and keeps you safely on the road.  Your technician will also have your system checked for leaks and the belt inspected for other pending needs.  Ask your service technician if it’s time to perform a power steering service on your vehicle today.

Tire Tread Depth

by

Tire Tread DepthToday’s Express Car Care article discusses the effect of tire tread depth on braking.  When we talk about stopping power, drivers tend to focus on brakes.  But our tires are where the rubber meets the road.  So having good brakes isn’t always enough.  Every motorist has to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet weather conditions.  In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way.  If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of the thin film of water.  This is called hydroplaning.  We want our customers to know that if you hydroplane you won’t be able to stop as fast and if it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control.

So how does a tire move water?  It has channels for water to flow through.  Look at a tire and you’ll see channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire.  They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.  These channels are called treads and the deeper the tread, the more water it can move.  A brand new tire has very deep channels or tread and can easily move a lot of water.  As the tire wears down, the tread becomes shallower and can move less water.  When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet roads.

That is why it’s so important for drivers to replace the tires on their vehicles when they get worn.  Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and have studies to prove it.

You might have seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires.  When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible.  So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire.  This little bit of added tread makes a big difference in your stopping power.

If you’re curious about your tire tread depth, just insert a quarter into the tread.  Put it in upside down.  If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires.  We’ve recommended this before only using a penny, but the times have changed and a penny shows only half of the suggested amount for tire tread depth.

Give us a call of come in and see us if you have any more questions.

 

 

 

Prevent Cooling System Problems

by

Prevent Cooling System ProblemsCooling system problems are the most common reason for mechanical failure in a vehicle and they are largely avoidable.  Here’s what you need to know to prevent cooling system problems.  First, the terms coolant and antifreeze are often used interchangeably.  The fluid cools your engine while it’s running and it keeps it from freezing when it’s cold.

Your cooling system is filled with a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze/coolant.  So if you’re topping off antifreeze/coolant it is important to add the proper amount of each.  Distilled water is much better than tap water.  Now you can buy premixed coolant so you can be sure you know the mixture going in your vehicle is correct.

Two important precautions:  First, never add coolant when the engine is hot.  This can lead to serious burns.  Second, there are many antifreeze formulas out there.  Your manufacturer recommends a specific type that won’t harm your cooling system components.  Use the wrong fluid and you could en up voiding your cooling system warranty.  Your knowledgeable Express Car Care adviser can help you with all  of this.

Each manufacturer has a schedule for when you should change the coolant in your vehicle.  It’s important to follow this schedule because neglecting your cooling system allows the fluid to become corrosive.  Corrosion leads to leaks which can lead to greater damage.  Check with your service adviser at Express Car Care to see if it’s time for a cooling system inspection and service.  Give us a call and let us help.

Power Brakes

by

Power BrakesDriving around in traffic can really let you know if your power brakes are doing their job. Basically, the power brake system helps you provide braking power so that you don’t have to do all the work with your brake pedal.

The brakes themselves are applied at the wheel using hydraulic pressure.  When we step on the brake pedal, we create pressure in the power booster that’s multiplied by vacuum from the engine.  The resulting pressure pushes brake fluid through the master cylinder into tubes and hoses that run to the brake at each wheel.

When there’s a problem, it’s usually a fluid leak somewhere along the line.  It could be at a fitting or a hose, or even an internal leak in the master cylinder.  A leak gives the pressurized fluid somewhere to go other than to the power brakes, so stopping power is damaged.  Lose enough fluid and you can’t stop at all, and we all know that’s extremely dangerous.

If you notice any decrease in stopping power or if your pedal seems mushy, you could have a problem.  There are some preventative maintenance items for the power brake system that will help them last longer.  Obviously, you’d want to make sure your brake fluid is filled to the recommended level.  Low fluid in the master cylinder could indicate a leak or worn brake material.  Master cylinder leaks are usually caused by wear, but leaks in the brake lines and connectors can be minimized by replacing the brake fluid from time to time.  Brake fluid has additives that protect against corrosion that can damage brake components.

Brake fluid also attracts moisture which can lead to rust – not a good thing for expensive anti-lock brake components.  Also, significant amounts of water in the brake fluid can affect stopping power because the water has a much lower boiling point than brake fluid.  In the high temperature environment of the brake system, the water can vaporize – and steam doesn’t do a very good job of providing hydraulic pressure.

A final word – make sure you use the recommended type of brake fluid.  There are several kinds and using the wrong one can lead to total brake failure.  Your service adviser at Express Car Care can help, just call or come in and see us.

Suspension Integrity

by

Suspension IntegrityHello – today we’re talking about suspension integrity.  Your skeleton provides the structure to hold up your weight.  Your joints cushion you as you walk and allow you to change direction.  Your vehicle’s suspension system is similar:  it bears the weight of your vehicle, absorbs bumps in the road and controls the body as you steer.

Like the bones in your body, vehicle suspension parts are connected by joints that allow all the components to move as they should.  Over time and miles, the joints start to wear and your suspension gets loose and doesn’t operate as precisely as before, reducing proper tire contact with the road.  An accident, pothole or hitting a curb or rock can also damage or break vehicle suspension components.

If you’ve ever hurt your foot, you know you’ve had to walk differently to keep it from hurting.  Do that long enough and your ankle, knee, hip and even your back will start to hurt from the strain of not moving normally.  The same thing happens in your vehicle when one joint or part is worn or damaged:  it stresses everything else and causes premature wear to the whole system.

Signs of suspension problems include uneven tire wear, vibration, rattles or clunks when you hit a bump or turn on a windy road, or the vehicle pulls to one side.

If you suspect a suspension problem, ask your helpful Express Car Care service adviser about your suspension system.  They can also check your alignment while they’re at it.  Taking care of a worn or damaged suspension component early, will head off future damage and repairs down the road.

Give us a call.

Tire Rotation & Balancing

by

Tire Rotation & BalancingYou can make your tires last longer with regular tire rotation and wheel balancing.

Let’s start with tire rotation.  In normal driving around, your front tires wear more on the shoulders because they handle much of the cornering forces in turns.  Front-wheel drive vehicles have even more force on the front tires.

We rotate the tires so that all of the tires do some duty on the front end as well as getting a little break on the back end.  That way, all four tires wear more evenly over their life and last longer.

For most vehicles, tires are rotated front to back.  Some manufacturers recommend a cross rotational pattern that includes the spare tire, and some high-performance vehicles have different size tires on the front and rear and may even have uni-directional tires that can only be on the left or the right side of the vehicle.  Your service adviser at Express Car Care can help you sort that out and will perform the right tire rotation for your vehicle.

Your tire manufacturer will have a recommendation for how often you should rotate your tires.  It’s usually somewhere around 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Let’s move on to wheel balancing.  That’s when there are heavy spots on the tire and wheel that cause it to wobble.

Balancing adds weights to the wheel to balance it out.  We are talking about very small weight differences.  Variations in the tire and wheel manufacturing can cause a slight imbalance.  the valve stem, and now the tire pressure monitoring sensors in the tire, also play into the equation.

Even small differences can cause annoying vibrations at speed:  the wheel is essentially bouncing a bit as it goes down the road.  For example, at freeway speeds, an out of balance wheel can be slamming into the road 14 times a second.  That’s annoying and can cause your tires to wear out more quickly.

If a front wheel is out of balance you’ll feel the vibration through the steering wheel.  When it’s a rear tire, you’ll feel the vibration through your seat.  If you’re getting bad vibrations from your vehicle, bring it in to see if it’s a balance issue or something else.  You should balance your wheels whenever you get a new tire or remount a tire, as when it’s been removed for a flat tire repair.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks