Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

What About Airbags?

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What About Airbags?After they’ve had an accident, some people wonder why their airbags didn’t go off.  Movies and television lead us to believe that airbags go off with the slightest bump.  The reality is much more complicated.  First, airbags come out with great force and speed.  Although getting hit in the face with an airbag is much better than getting hit in the face with the windshield, if the impact of the accident isn’t hard enough that you might be severely injured, the airbags may not be triggered at all….but that’s a good thing because they could do more harm than good.

So what about airbags?   How does your vehicle know when an accident is likely to result in life threatening injuries that would merit deploying the airbags?  Well, there are sensors all around your vehicle that send information to the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) computer that decides when and which airbags should be deployed.  There are impact sensors that measure the direction and intensity of an impact in the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle.  There are seat sensors that determine if someone is sitting there…as well as how much they weigh.  This way an airbag doesn’t go off when no one is in a particular seat and it can deploy with less force for a smaller person.

The SRS computer takes into account vehicle speed and if there is a rollover.  Built into the computer program are the design specifications of your vehicle as they relate to “crumple” zones in a crash.  As you can imagine, the computer program is pretty sophisticated.

When an airbag actually does go off, there are some things you should know…when the driver side airbag deploys, the steering wheel clock spring is usually damaged and should be replaced.  Also, an “airbag worthy” event triggers all the sensors we’ve talked about…so something as slight as hitting a pothole could cause airbags to deploy.  So after an airbag has actually been deployed, all the SRS sensors should be replaced.

Finally, when you start your engine, you will briefly see the SRS dash light come on and then turn off.  This is a system self-test.  If the SRS light remains illuminated, that means the system has detected a problem that could affect the proper deployment of your airbags.  Although we don’t provide all these services at our shop, we thought these were important tips that can help if you’ve had your airbags deploy in a minor incident.

 

Avoiding Brake Failure

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Avoiding Brake FailureNo matter what our plans might be on any given day, no one wants to have them spoiled because our brakes failed and we ended up spending our day in the repair shop, or even worse than that, we end up having an accident because our brakes didn’t work.

If this hasn’t happened to you yet, be thankful, and keep these things in mind so you can keep avoiding brake failure.  The best way to avoid brake failure is by listening to your vehicle and practicing preventative maintenance.  Brakes will squeak, grind and click at different times, listen for when the noise changes so you can have them checked out.  A squeaking noise can indicate thin or worn brake pads.  Replacing brake pads early can prevent future problems.  If pads wear down to the rotors, it can cause further damage and cost more to repair.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that brakes are only one part of their vehicle, but they’re actually a complex system of parts and components that spread throughout the vehicle.  The brake pedal is connected to the pistons, and the pistons are connected to the brakes.  Each vehicle has two sets of brakes, front and rear, and both sets depend on friction to control and stop the vehicle.  There are a few things that can interfere with the friction needed and then your vehicle will have trouble avoiding brake failure.

Oil leaks can remove the friction inside the braking system.  Oil is needed throughout the vehicle to keep it running smoothly.

Also if the brakes routinely overheat, they can create hot spots in the brake rotors or drums.  These hot spots resist friction and reduce the grabbing mechanism in the brake system. The way we drive can cause these hot spots.   Avoid “riding” your brakes.  Apply moderate pressure and then release the brake which allows them to cool.  Riding the brakes causes them to overheat and create the hot spots.

Pay attention to your vehicle’s messages.  You may start hearing squeaking or grinding noises when you apply the brakes, or feel a pulse in your brake pedal.  It may pull to one side or the other during the braking process.  If you want to continue avoiding brake failure, don’t wait or ignore the problem, get it into your auto repair shop today.

 

Fall Checklist

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks