Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Busted in Denver: The Maintenance Free Myth

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Busted in Denver: The Maintenance Free MythQuality surveys report fewer problems with new Denver cars than ever before.  So does that mean that modern vehicles have become maintenance free?  Not really.  Back when cars spent more time in Denver repair shops, drivers were more mindful of routine service.  Now, it is much easier to put it off.

Take tune-ups for example.  In the days of mechanical ignition system, an engine needed to be tuned-up every couple of years.  If your engine was out of tune, you knew it.  It ran poorly and got bad gas mileage driving on Colorado streets and highways.  Now, the ignition system is electronic and controlled by the engine management computer.  Spark plugs rarely get extremely dirty and will last for as much as a 100,000 miles.  So car tune-ups used to force you in for service and while you were there you just took care of whatever else was on the list.

So what is the benefit to keeping up with factory scheduled maintenance at Express Car Care?  Well, your vehicle will perform better and return better fuel economy.  Those benefits pay for the service as you go along.  the big plus is that major repairs – and the associated breakdowns – are prevented.  And these aren’t just repairs that are a long way off.  Modern engines are far more sophisticated and have many parts that are in critical need of lubrication.  Missing just one oil change at Express Car Care can allow oil sludge to start forming.  Sludge clogs small engine passages, robbing car parts of the lubrication they need.  An expensive failure could easily occur with two or three years.

Taking care of the little things at Express Car Care prevents big problems with your vehicle later.  No Denver motorist wants to be stranded by a breakdown.  Your car still needs to be taken care of – it’s just that some of those points of care have changed with automotive advancements.  The need for proper maintenance at Express Car Care in Denver did not go away.

Give us a call @ 303-691-2760

What Customers Like About Us at Express Car Care in Denver

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What Customers Like About Us at Express Car CareAt Express Car Care in Denver, a big part of the service we provide for our customers is education.  We want you to feel confident with your service decisions and we’re always open to questions.  Even though we try to be proactive in our education, we sometimes get busy fixing cars and need a reminder.  Please, just ask.

We’ve  found our Denver customers like the service reminders.  This is especially true of our returning customers.  They’ve grown to trust that our recommendations are based on the vehicle manufacturer’s published maintenance schedules and that we’re not just pulling them out of the air.

We know that you live a busy life in Denver with a lot more to think about than wondering if it’s time to replace your PCV valve.  Part of our process when you come in to Express Car Care is checking the manufacturer’s schedule to make sure we don’t overlook an important service for your car or truck.

We hope you appreciate your courtesy inspection when you come into Express Car Care for service.  If we find something unexpected, it’s good for you to know and if we don’t find anything wrong,  than you still get a little peace of mind.

You know, customer satisfaction is very important to us at Express Car Care.  We want to run a friendly and professional Denver automotive service operation.  When we do, then you’ll keep coming back, as well as recommend us to your friends and family.

At Express Car Care in Denver, we install quality NAPA replacement parts.  Give us a call at 303-691-2760 and let us know how we can help you.  If you’d like to learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com

Used Car Inspections at Express Car Care

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Used Car Inspections at Express Car Care

It’s natural to be a little anxious when you buy a used car in Denver:  you worry that it has something wrong with it or that it hasn’t been well maintained.  If it’s possible, bring the car or truck into Express Car Care for a used car inspection.  We can tell you if there are current or emerging problems.  Your peace of mind is well worth the price of the inspection service.

It’s also a good idea to get on track with a maintenance schedule at Express Car Care and stay on track.  If you don’t have maintenance records for the vehicle, assume the worst and start out with an oil change.  Then the inspection by a qualified Denver service technician that comes with a full service oil change, will reveal any basic problems.  Be sure to bring up any specific concerns you might have with your Express Car Care service consultant.

A more intense inspection at Express Car Care can find hidden problems such as body damage and sealer in A/C units which can be a major expense down the road.  Purchasing a Carfax report may let you know if the Denver vehicle has been in a major accident and give you a little history.  You can find out if that “71 Barracuda really was owned by a little old lady who only drove it to church in Denver on Sundays.  If you’ve bought well, there’s no reason to believe that with proper maintenance your “new” used vehicle won’t last a long time.

At Express Car Care, we’ve been providing professional quality automotive services(including used car inspections ) for 12 years.  Give us a call.

At Express Car Care in Denver, CO,  80222 we install quality NAPA replacement parts.  Give us a call at 303-691-2760.  To learn more about NAPA Autocare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com

On-Board Diagnostics in Denver

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On-Board Diagnostics in DenverSome people in Denver are confused by charges for diagnostic services for a vehicle repair, even though many other services in life include diagnostic fees- things like computer service and appliance repair in Denver.  Even when we go into the doctor for a medical problem, we’re paying them to diagnose our ailment and of course for the tests that go along with it.  So receiving a diagnostic charge for a tricky automotive problem shouldn’t be a surprise.

Automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range.  If you hear a noise in your brakes, a quick visual check is usually enough to know what needs to be done.  If you’re having an intermittent problem with your engine, diagnosis may be much more involved.

Some think that when the check engine light comes on, the engine computer tells the technician exactly what the problem is.  The reality is much different.  The trouble code just tells your Denver technician what engine parameter is out of range, not what’s causing it.  Your Denver technician at Express Car Care needs to determine the underlying problem that’s causing the symptom.

As you can imagine, some automotive diagnoses are quick and easy.  Other are more involved and difficult.  Of course, we at Express Car Care want to figure out what’s wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

At Express Car Care in Denver we install quality NAPA replacement parts.  Give use a call at 303-691-2760.  To learn more about NAPA parts, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com

Keeping Your Car Safe With Routine Auto Maintenance

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Are you the type that spends every weekend washing, waxing, and working on your car?  If you are reading this article, you probably aren’t.  If you’re anything like me, your car is simply a means to an end; a way to get quickly from point A to point B.

Keeping Your Car Safe With Routine Auto MaintenanceHowever, I am coming to discover that this tool for transportation has needs too.  So, if I want my car to continue shuttling me safely from one place to another, I need to show it a little love back.

Regularly scheduled maintenance – If the car is running smoothly, this may seem like a waste of time and money.  But, there is actually a good purpose for the regular maintenance they recommend for your car.  At these little checkups, the mechanic can see how well the parts are working and what needs to be attended to.  Replacing parts before they break down tends to be much cheaper than fixing the mess they make when they go.

Tune-Ups – Consider these brief check-ups between your regularly scheduled maintenance.  The mechanic wants to make sure the little pieces are working well together to keep your engine (and your car) working at peak efficiency.

Oil Changes – Without oil, your engine will burn up.  Oil provides the lubrication that keeps your car from overheating as a result of natural friction.  In order for your car to continue running well, this oil needs to be changed periodically.  Clean oil keeps gunk from building up in the working mechanisms of your engine.

Fluid Flushes – If you look under the hood of your car, you will notice several different reservoirs.  These containers hold the different fluids needed to keep your car running.  Every now and then, your car would appreciate a top off or a fresh supply on each of these.

If you give your car a little love along the way, it will serve you much better.  A little TLC will keep you safe and moving in the foreseeable future.

Avoid These Used Cars – They Signal Endless Car Repair Problems

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Wouldn’t it be great to drive away in a brand new car?

Avoid These Used Cars - They Signal Endless Car Repair ProblemsUnfortunately, for many of us, a new car isn’t in our immediate future.

But that doesn’t mean we still don’t need a quality vehicle we can rely on for our day to day needs.

This need leads you to the used car market. While there are millions of used cars available, they are not all created equal. Just because a used car seems like a great deal does not make it the right choice.

When shopping used cars, it is essential that you take your time and use caution to ensure that you buy a quality vehicle that still has plenty of life left in it. Here are some used cars that you should avoid.

  • Cars with salvage titles – these cars were considered a total loss by insurance companies. Just because someone managed to make them look pretty again does not mean they are sound investments.
  • Cars that lack service records – you need to know that the used car you buy was taken care of by the previous owner. This reassurance comes from physical records of oil changes and other maintenance tasks, not from the mere word of the previous owner.
  • Cars with funky paint jobs and mismatched tires – if you can see brushstrokes in the paint, there is a good chance that someone tried to fix the paint themselves. If the tires do not match, this is an indicator that the tires may be wearing out at different rates, which could be a sign of a larger problem.
  • Cars with visible oil stains on the pavement – when you take a used car for a spin, if you notice oil stains underneath as you pull out, pull right back in. The last thing you need are engine problems, such as leaking oil.
  • Cars that were previously rented – no, not all rentals are bad cars, but there is always a chance that various drivers were harder on the car than necessary. After all, it wasn’t their car in the first place, so they didn’t have anything invested in it.

Auto Maintenance – Safety, Reliability and Longevity

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For the average person, an automobile represents a large investment. Next to your house, it’s the one thing that you put out a lot of money for each month, and you rely on every single day of your life. It’s important to have safe, reliable transportation available to you when you need it most, whether its on a hot summer day, or the coldest winter morning on record.

Auto Maintenance - Safety, Reliability and Longevity

Regular maintenance ensures three things:

  • It ensures you have safe transportation for your family – and for your family friends when the are along for the ride.
  • In ensures you have reliable transportation that is there when you need it and doesn’t leave you stranded at the most inopportune times.
  • In ensures the longevity of your car, to make sure you get a superior product for as long as you choose to own your car.

Maintenance schedules can vary depending on the make and age of your car. Older cars will need more extensive maintenance to avoid problems; newer cars need the basics to maintain their efficiency. But in all cases, there are basics that can be handled on a routine basis.

Start at the bottom – your tires are the most important item to help your car run efficiently. Tires should be checked regularly to ensure they are properly filled. Too much or too little air can cause patterns in the tires, making them wear out quicker and potentially putting your safety at risk. Also rotate tires on a regular basis – manufacturers recommend around 5,000 miles – and maintain a pattern in the process. Typically the two front tires will be switched to the back, switching the tires that go to the back from left to right. Maintain this pattern throughout the life of your tires.

Oil changes should occur at the same frequency of tire rotation, or around every 5,000 miles or so. Constant improvements are being made to engine oil technology, making some engines to farther before maintenance is needed. Make sure you check with your vehicle guidelines to determine the best schedule for your car.

Do you have windshield wipers in both the front and back of your vehicle? Sitting out in all kinds of weather – heat and cold – can wear out your windshield wipers quickly. Likewise in our ever-changing road conditions, you may use windshield washer fluid at higher levels as we change from season to season. Keep an extra gallon at hand either in your garage, or in your car itself.

The older your car gets, the more “problems” may show up unexpectedly. Never assume your vehicle is in top shape if you don’t have a reliable mechanic working with you on a regular basis. If you’ll be traveling longer distances than normal – a road trip to see family in another state, or a ski weekend with the girls – bring it in for a checkup first. It can help you avoid unexpected and more costly problems at the least opportune times.

Summer Heat Can Take Its Toll On Your Car Battery

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Summer Heat Can Take Its Toll On Your Car Battery

The 90 degree days are back once again. When your car sits outside all day in the baking sun, if the battery was weak to begin with, you may find yourself stranded with a car that simply won’t start.

One of the most basic parts to your car is your battery. Yet its also one of the easiest things to assume “out of sight, out of mind”. If it works, why worry about it?

Excessive heat shortens the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then will damage the internal structure of the battery. And when the components of the charging system start to malfunction, it could allow an excessive charge rate, which eventually destroys the battery all together.

To get the most out of a battery:

  • Be sure your electrical system is charging at the correct rate. Overcharging your battery can damage the internal components, weaken the system, and damage the battery until the point of non-function.
  • Always replace a battery with the same or higher quality than the one you are currently operating with. Look for one that has a CCA (cold cranking amps) rating at least as high as your current battery.
  • Always keep the top of the battery and the battery terminals clean. Dirt and corrosion can accumulate, which will inhibit current flow.
  • Check your car’s battery and belts on a regular basis, and replace when they show wear or are cracked.

Don’t put off your car’s maintenance schedule. If you keep up with regular maintenance on a regular basis, you’ll have a car you can depend on at any time of the year.

Safe Roads

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Spring has arrived here in Denver and as all of us who live here know, spring weather always brings along with it more annoying road construction!  It seems that the process of building and rebuilding safe roads also includes having to endure an undetermined length of time driving through and around construction zones.  According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and AAA Colorado, there are more than 150 projects on state and interstate highways in Colorado this year.  Since work-zone crashes kill an average of 11 people per week, nationwide, it is so important that we do everything we can to keep our roads safe.

In a recently published article by AAA, they share these tips that they would like drivers to keep in mind when driving through “cone zones”.

  • Slow down and move over when road workers and emergency responders are present.  It’s a Colorado law and it can save lives.
  • Expect the unexpected.  The work zone you’ve driven through before may have changed since the last time you visited.  Out-of-state drivers won’t be familiar with lane changes, uneven surfaces and lower speeds and may take sudden evasive actions.
  • Obey road crew flaggers.  Ignoring them, racing past them or expressing anger towards them only endangers them and aggravates other drivers.
  • Don’t tailgate even when other motorists cut into the safe space you’ve created behind the car in front.  This requires patience on your part.
  • Minimize distractions.  Focus, focus, focus!  Store your phone, make your call later and don’t reach for food or drinks.  To put it simply, drop anything and everything that would prevent you from seeing and obeying road signs, steering clear of roadside workers or hearing emergency vehicle sirens.
  • Be patient and stay calm.  This is by far the most difficult step of all, because who doesn’t want to reach their destination sooner rather than later?

We can all contribute to having safe roads in Denver and Colorado and also have a positive impact on roadside workers and other drivers by simply following a few friendly guidelines.  So I guess the question is, ” How will you respond?”

Auto Repair Estimate

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There are a number of different ways that you might end up taking your car to the mechanic.  It might be that subtle clanking noise suddenly turns into an aggressive roar.  Or perhaps that dripping you always thought was just condensation from the air conditioner has now taken on a distinctive rainbow glow.  Whatever the reason might be, heading to an unfamiliar mechanic can be a stressful experience, especially for you wallet.

The purpose of an auto repair estimate is to inform both the mechanic and the owner of the car about the kind of work needed to repair it,  either repairs after an accident or just repairs that come with everyday wear and tear.  There are several kinds of auto repair estimates available.  Some websites offer repair estimates online.  The sites take into account the year, make and model of the car as well as the extent of the damage.

An online estimate, however, should not be used as a replacement for an auto repair estimate from a qualified mechanic.  When you bring your car to a repair shop, you should expect that a reputable mechanic will provide you with a detailed estimate that includes the cost of parts, the cost of labor and a time-line for the job.  Some mechanics may try to convince you that they cannot provide an estimate until they are part way through the job and can examine the full extent of the damage, but a reputable mechanic will be able to provide you with an outline of the expected repairs before extensive work is done on the vehicle.

A written repair 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 performs the repairs included in the estimate and charges you around the same amount as the estimate, you cannot insist that you didn’t know how much the repairs would cost as a means of avoiding payment.

Likewise, mechanics are held to the amounts listed in their estimate.  States issue their own guidelines for adhering to estimates, but a standard rule is that a mechanic cannot perform repairs that would result in more than a twenty percent increase in cost without your consent.  That means that if a mechanic quotes you $400 for a repair, he cannot perform any work that would end up costing you more than $500 unless they specifically get your consent to do so.

If you are looking for a mechanic and they avoid offering you a written estimate for repairs, you need to move on.  Reputable mechanics understand the value of a written estimate and should incorporate them into their regular business practices.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care.  Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

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