Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Suspension Integrity

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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

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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.

Brake Service At Express Car Care

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Brake Service At Express Car CareMost drivers know that braking means slowing or stopping a vehicle.  The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue.  There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid.  And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back.  A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor at a local dealer.  It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads.  The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside.  And the vehicle has brand new tires with full tread.  Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance.

But as you drive, the miles start to add up on your car and it no longer operates at peak performance.  Most car owners tend to focus on the brake pads.  In the automotive service community, the pads and shoes on drum brakes are called the friction material.  That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the vehicle.  The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life…it’s not until they are worn so thin that they lose stopping effectiveness.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while stopping the vehicle.  Over many miles, these wear and get gummed up.  They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail.  That’s why a regular brake inspection is important.  At Express Car Care, we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or in need of brake repair.

That leads us to brake fluid service at Express Car Care.  Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the vehicle fluid system are depleted over time.  That and moisture building up in the system deteriorate the performance of the brake fluid.  Brake fluid replacement at Express Car Care includes flushing the brake system to clean out deposits, water and dirt.  Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the vehicle to the road.  The stopping force is ultimately dependent on the traction provided by the tires.  The better they grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop as you drive.

For questions about brakes, brake pads or tires, talk to an Express Car Care service adviser.

Clean Air For Your Engine: Air Filters

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Clean Air For Your Engine: Air FiltersEvery Denver car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told at one time or another, that their engine air filter is dirty.  Here is what goes into the determination of when the air filter needs to be changed.  First, your vehicles owner’s manual will have a recommendation of when to change the filter.  Second, a visual inspection by your service technician may determine that your filter is visibly dirty and needs to be changed.

So between your vehicle owner’s manual and your technician’s inspection there’s really no guesswork involved.

Now, most air filters purchased in Denver don’t cost a lot to replace.  It’s just that car owners hate getting caught with an unexpected expense.  On the plus side though, changing a dirty air filter at Express Car Care can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change.

Think about a dirty furnace filter in your home.  When it’s all clogged up, enough clean air can’t get through.  In your vehicle, that means that your engine can’t get as much air as it needs to burn the fuel efficiently.  So it makes do with less air and has to use more gas to move your vehicle around on the roads.

Your vehicle actually needs about 12,000 gallons of air for every gallon of gas it burns.  Engine air filters don’t cost much and provide clean air for your engine.  When it’s time to change yours, just get it done.  You’ll save money, protect your engine and get better performance.

Getting Fresh Air Inside Your Car

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Getting Fresh Air Inside Your CarAir quality affects us wherever we are.  Decades ago, residents began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects our health.  But what about the air inside your car?

Cabin air filters are now being put inside most new vehicles since the 2000 model year.  These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment.  They can filter particles down to three microns, so that’s good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants.  If you suffer from allergies, this is very good news.

You can look in your vehicle owner’s manual to see if you have a cabin air filter in your car.  If you do, there will be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty.  If you live where there’s a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often.  You can also ask your helpful and knowledgeable service adviser at Express Car Care.

How hard it is to change a cabin air filter depends on your vehicle.  Some are quite accessible; while others take some doing to get to them.  They’re usually in the vehicle engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are fairly new on the scene, some motorists haven’t hear of them – even those that have them in their cars.  Express Car Care service advisers report customers complaining of an unpleasant odor in the car and it turned out to be a dirty cabin air filter.

An important note for hybrid car owners:  there is a special air filter that cleans the air that cools the hybrid battery pack.  This filter should be inspected every time the cabin air filter is inspected and replaced if it is dirty so that the battery pack doesn’t overheat.

The next time you’re in for an oil change make sure you’re getting fresh air inside your car by having the cabin air filter inspected or replaced.

 

Simple Answers About High Mileage Vehicles

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Simple Answers About High Mileage VehiclesQuestion:  What do I need to do for my high mileage vehicle?

Simple Answer:  Denver motorists ask this question at Express Car Care a lot more these days.  The median age for vehicles on Colorado expressways is now over 11 years.  Regardless of your reason for keeping your vehicle around, the good news for Denver auto owners is that it’s capable of going 150,000 to 200,000 miles or more with the proper care and professional automotive service at Express Car Care.

Here are some tips from Express Car Care on how to make your high mileage vehicle last:

  • First, Denver drivers should follow all of their regularly scheduled maintenance routines.  Things like oil changes, transmission and cooling systems service are critical for avoiding expensive damage.  This reduces your overall cost for keeping your vehicle for a long time.
  • Next, regular inspections are critical for Denver motorists.  Those parts are starting to get old and will become worn out over time.  Thorough inspections of various systems will uncover things that are nearing the end of their service life, like suspension, brake and steering components.  Replacing worn parts early not only prevents expensive breakdowns, but relieves stress on related costly components so they will last longer as well.
  • Another thing for Denver motorists to consider is the use of special high mileage fluid formulations.  For example, high mileage engine oil has special additives that condition those old seals and gaskets.  It also has extra detergents to help keep that older truck engine clean inside.  High mileage oil, transmission fluid, etc., costs a little more but can really head off some of the problems that are typical of older vehicles around Colorado.
  • One last thing for Denver drivers would be to consult with your Express Car Care service specialist about the overall condition of your vehicle and your driving routines.  It may be advisable to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s “severe service schedule”.

Even with the occasional unexpected repair associated with a high mileage  vehicle, you can still enjoy good, reliable transportation if you take good care of your ride.  Give us a call and let us know how we can help.

Customer Detective Work

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One might say the most challenging part of being an automotive service technician in Denver is diagnosing a problem before it can be fixed.

All cars today are made up of many complex systems.  There usually could be a number of reasons for any given symptom.  So it’s challenging to track down and actually diagnose the car’s problem.  And it can be frustrating for the vehicle owner because it can take time and money to get to the bottom of the problem. If it’s not something obvious, it’s easy for the customer to focus on the fixing and not the diagnosing.

Let us at Express Car Care introduce you to something we’ll call ” Customer Detective Work”, that is helping the technician find clues to what is wrong.

We’ll start with the detective basics:  What, Where and When.  Play along with me; You come in to Express Car Care and your car is making a funny sound…

  • Where’s the sound? – “Around the right front wheel”.
  • What kind of sound? – “Kind of a clunk, clunk, sound”.
  • When do you hear the sound? – “When I turn and accelerate”.
  • Right and left? Forwards and back?

You see where we’re going?  You’re gathering additional information to help your technician know where to start.  Based on your customer detective work, your car and the tech’s experience, we’ll know where to look on your vehicle and can start with the obvious suspects.

You can see how that would be more helpful than dropping the car off with a note that says “making a funny noise”.

When you think you need to bring your vehicle in, make some notes about the problem it’s having.  Rather than just saying “it’s leaking”, tell the tech the color of the fluid, and approximately where under the car you see the puddle.

Things like “the car is stalling or sputtering” are often very hard to diagnose because they’re intermittent.  They may not happen every time you drive and may not be happening when you actually bring the car in for service.  So it’s a big help for you to describe what’s happening in as much detail as possible.

Your technician at Express Car Care will need to be able to duplicate the problem if possible, so he needs to know details, for example,” it stalls after it’s been driven for about 20 minutes and when I go over 50 miles an hour.”

If a customer does their detective work than the technician is  better able to make a diagnosis and repair.  And then test to see if the repair has solved the problem.

Express Car Care Automotive Tips: Serpentine Belt

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Express Car Care Automotive Tips: Serpentine BeltQuestion:

My Express Car Care service adviser said I need a new serpentine belt but I don’t see any cracks in it.  Does it really need to be replaced?

Express Car Care Answer:

I appreciate your concern.  Old style neoprene belts would crack with age, making it pretty obvious to Denver motorists when they needed to be replaced.  Nowadays, serpentine belts are made from a different material that doesn’t crack or glaze the way neoprene did.

Stepping back, the serpentine belt transfers power from the engine to various critical accessories like the alternator, power steering pump and air conditioning compressor, even the power brakes and water pump on some vehicles.  Modern serpentine belts have several grooves running their length.  These grooves mate with the pulleys on the accessories.  When the belt is within its useful life, it spins the accessories at the designed speed.

Over time, belt material is worn away.  When as little as 5% of the material is lost, the belt can slip and not properly spin the accessories leading to dangerous stress and expensive damage.

Using a special tool, your Express Car Care tech can measure the material lost in your serpentine belt.  He will know if it needs to be replaced.

It’s critical for Denver drivers to understand that the serpentine belt is part of the accessory belt drive system which also includes the serpentine belt tensioner and any idler pulleys.  The belt tensioner has the same service life as the belt itself, so if it is time to replace the belt, you should also replace the tensioner and idler pulleys as well.

A worn belt can cause belt slip and enough belt-slap to really hammer the accessory upstream from the tensioner.  Running too long with a worn belt, tensioner, or idler pulleys usually causes excessive heat at the accessory pulleys, resulting in inefficiency, expensive damage and premature replacement.

Express Car Care in Denver can perform a diagnostic examination to see if your belt or tensioner is worn and should be replaced.  Ask your service specialist if it’s time for a serpentine belt system replacement.

 

Smart Car Care for Denver Drivers: Anti-lock Brakes

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Smart Car Care for Denver Drivers: Antilock BrakesDenver drivers count on their brakes to safely slow down and stop their vehicles.  You’ve probably had the experience where you’ve slammed on your brakes and started to skid.  When your wheels are locked up, you are just sliding all over the road.  And if the road is wet, slick or covered with gravel–you can really get out of control.  Steering is next to impossible.  That is why anti-lock brake systems (ABS) were invented: to help you maintain important control in extreme stopping conditions on Colorado roads.

As mentioned, when wheels lock up, this diminishes your control.  Anti-lock brake systems keep your brakes from locking – helping you stop while still maintaining your ability to steer.  Each wheel equipped with ABS, have sensors on them that monitor wheel spin and compare it with vehicle speed sensors.  When Denver drivers are pressing on the brakes, still traveling forward, but the wheels are not turning….the anti-lock brake system quickly steps in and modulates the brakes.

The ABS quickly “pumps” the brakes, not allowing the wheels to lock-up while still applying braking pressure.  This is all done automatically without any intervention on your part.  You will feel a pulsation through the brake pedal and will hear a clunking as the brakes are rapidly being applied and let off over and over again.  The first time this happens to you, you may be surprised and think something is wrong.  There isn’t, so just keep your foot on the brake and allow the ABS to do its thing.  In fact, remember the essential three S’s of anti-lock brakes:  Stomp, Stay and Steer.  Stomp on the brakes, keep the pedal down, and steer as required.

When you first start your vehicle, the ABS does a quick self-check to make sure everything is OK.  The ABS warning light will briefly illuminate with all of the other warning lights on your dashboard and then go out.  If the system detects a fault, the ABS light will come on and stay on.  Denver auto owners should definitely take their vehicle in to Express Care Care for a check if the critical ABS warning light is on.

Proper brake system service is the best way to protect your anti-lock brake system.  Replacing brake fluid that is depleted and/or contaminated will help preserve proper ABS operation and protect it against detrimental corrosion.  Denver motorists can communicate with their helpful Express Car Care service specialist to see if it’s time for an automotive analysis of their essential braking system.

Give us a call of come in and see us.

The Express Car Care Guide to Buying a Used Vehicle

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The Express Car Care Guide to Buying a Used VehicleUsed vehicles are certainly an economical choice for budget-conscious Denver car owners.  But how can we know we’re getting a good used vehicle and not just inheriting another person’s problems?

Cars are sold when families grow and need a larger car or when they downsize and want a smaller one, or even when someone just wants a new car.  So the used vehicle may be just fine.  But some used car owners sell vehicles because they don’t want to deal with developing or existing problems.

When you’re considering buying a used vehicle in Denver, or anywhere else, ask for service records.  Check to see if the recommended schedules for critical preventative maintenance have been followed.  If so, you probably have a great used vehicle on your hands.  If there aren’t any service records, then assume the worst.

Check the vehicle for obvious signs of problems.  Kick the tires if you want, but make sure you check them for uneven tread wear.  This can indicate alignment problems, worn shocks or suspension issues.  Listen to the engine for unusual sounds and pay attention to unexpected odors.  Take the vehicle for a test drive and make a list of any concerns you might have.

If the used vehicle you’re looking at is a late model vehicle with under 35,000 miles on it, take it to Express Car Care for a full-service oil change.  This vital inspection will reveal many basic or developing problems.  Talk to your helpful Express Car Care technician about the concerns brought to light by your test drive, so you can get ahead of needed repairs or important maintenance.

Previously leased vehicles are often tempting to used vehicle buyers because they are generally newer models with low mileage and have been factory cleaned.  Be cautious, however, many residents that lease vehicles don’t bother with preventive maintenance because they know they’ll be turning the vehicle back in.   Again, ask for vital maintenance records, take the vehicle in for a full-service oil change and consult with your service specialist about any possible problems.

Older used vehicles are even more problematic for used car buyers.  Older vehicles simply come with more maintenance and repair issues than newer ones.  Take these vehicles in for a used vehicle inspection at Express Car Care.  Usually a seller will let you do this before you purchase the vehicle.  These inspections are very thorough and will help you know what you’re getting into  and  enable you to make an informed decision about your purchase.  That peace of mind will make the cost of the inspection more than worth your while.  It’s always good advise for car owners to purchase a Carfax report on any used vehicle.  This report will let you know if the vehicle has been in a major accident and will give you a title history.  You’d be surprised what has been learned from those reports.

Once you purchase a used vehicle, keep regular preventative maintenance schedules, because a little TLC can help your used vehicle last a long time.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks