Car Maintenance

Short Distance Driving? Here’s How It Affects Your Car

July 21, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

How much do you drive each day?

Lots of people create a lifestyle where they don’t spend a lot of time in their vehicles. They live close to work. They walk. They work from home.

Driving means taking the car to the grocery store … just a few miles away. Or maybe to pick up the kids from school … a few miles away.

According to the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the average person drives around 13,500 miles per year, which equates to just over 1,000 miles per month.

Yet you know in your heart even that’s high. You just don’t drive.

What does that do to your vehicle? Should you still follow maintenance guidelines according to mileage, even if it’ll take you many years to reach what manufacturers suggest?

Let’s start with your warranty

If you have a newer car that’s still under warranty, you’re stuck with following the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure your car maintains the suggested servicing schedule. You’ll void the warranty if you don’t. Pay attention to that as you purchase a vehicle, as some spell out maintenance schedules using different guidelines.

If you aren’t sure, now is the time to pull out your owner’s manual and read all about it.

Once your vehicle is out of warranty, then you can start to develop your own service routine depending on the type of driving you do. Keep in mind that it’s still important to bring your car in for service periodically. A vehicle left sitting unused can wear out parts in different ways. Rubber can harden. Oil can go bad. Parts can deteriorate simply by not being put into use.

Short Distance Driving? Here’s How It Affects Your Car

Instead of waiting for something to happen, it’s better to find a trusted resource who can help you monitor your vehicle and help you decide the right maintenance routine for you. Going with an independent mechanic can provide you with a trusted resource whose goal is to help you maintain your vehicle. Dealers are notorious for pushing you into service you don’t need, upgrading to new vehicles every chance they get. A reputable independent mechanic wants to increase the lifespan of your current vehicle, and to help ensure it does so without causing problems while you’re on the road.

Short distance driving damages engine oil

If you were to pop the hood on your vehicle and take a look underneath, you would find the engine is made from a variety of metal parts. Metal expands every time the temperature increases. An engine is created by piecing together a crankshaft, valves, pistons, con-rods, rings, cams – parts put together carefully to meet certain guidelines that are adhered to in a variety of conditions. They’re calibrated to ensure they work together to keep your vehicle operating smoothly, no matter what conditions it faces.

Motor oil is a thick, slow-moving flow designed for lubrication. It flows throughout the system every time your vehicle is put into operation. As the engine heats, this oil becomes less dense, which allows it to flow freely throughout and lubricate the internal components to keep them operating efficiently.

When these engine parts are cold, they don’t operate right. There isn’t enough lubrication to give each part the clearance necessary to work to the best of its ability. It takes time for the motor oil to warm, flow freely throughout the system, properly lubricate the entire system, and allow the engine to work to the best of its ability.

Additionally, motor oil also uses this generated heat to rid itself of moisture and other byproducts. If your vehicle rarely reaches the desired temperatures, these contaminants aren’t removed, meaning the motor oil increasingly has the potential to compromise the integrity of your vehicle as well as overall performance.

Short distance driving damages battery life

The biggest boost of energy comes from starting up your vehicle. When you turn the key (or press the button), it creates high demand from your battery.

As you drive, the alternator recharges the battery, so it’s ready for action the next time you start up your car. When you take short trips, the alternator doesn’t have a chance to fully recharge the battery, weakening the overall effectiveness with every trip.

Much like your engine needs time to warm up and reach its optimal operating temperature, so does the alternator. If the battery isn’t recharged properly, it pushes rapid depletion into motion, meaning your battery life decreases with every short trip.

Weak batteries can impact how well your vehicle starts up each time you turn the key. But it impacts other items on your car as well. The battery also operates your vehicle’s accessory, which means your headlamps might not be as bright, or your heated seats might be impacted.

Wear dates

Manufacturers list wear dates because many drivers use that as a gauge for maintenance and repair. And if you drive average distances or more each year, these guidelines are a good indication of things to watch for as you drive.

Yet if you’re a short distance driver, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because your car rarely leaves its parking spot. Parts wear down whether they are constantly in use or not. They just wear down differently.

No matter how much you drive each year, it’s important to create a maintenance schedule and stick with it.

Work with a trusted mechanic to ensure your vehicle is well maintained, has fresh oil on a rotating basis, and parts are well cared for no matter how much action they see during a year.

We can help you keep your car in good working condition, no matter how much you drive.

What a Shaking Steering Wheel Means

July 14, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Shake, rattle, and roll. Throw in a catchy beat, and you have the makings of a great song.

But if you start feeling your steering wheel shaking while you drive, that can be the start of something you won’t be singing about for very long.

A shaking steering wheel is a symptom of a bigger problem. From bad tires to worn out brakes, there are a variety of issues that could be causing your steering wheel to shake. If you feel shaking, start noticing when it occurs. That can help lead to where the problem lies.

Tires out of balance

One of the most common reasons that might start your steering wheel shaking starts with your tires. They may be out of alignment or out of balance, which sends shaking through your vehicle and into your steering wheel.

If your tires are out of balance, you won’t notice this as you’re pulling out of the driveway, or moving at low speeds due to traffic. But as you pick up speed, the shaking will increase. That’s because tires out of balance start becoming a bigger problem the faster you drive. Slow down, and it goes away.

The first thing to check is a visual inspection of all four tires. Are they properly inflated? Is one of them flat? Your car is designed to operate with all four tires evenly connected to the road as you drive. If one of them has lower air pressure than the others, it can throw the balance of your car off.

If all tires are inflated correctly, the next thing to check is the tread on the tires. In order to keep the tread even on all four tires, it’s important to get them rotated periodically throughout the year. You can have this done at the same time as an oil change. This will ensure even wear for the life of your tires. It also keeps your car evenly connected to the road, meaning a smoother, safer drive for you.

If the problem persists, it’s time to look at other potential problems.

Worn brake pads

Have you noticed that your steering wheel shakes only after you press down on the brake pedal? It might be a sign of worn brake pads.

As you apply the brake pedal, a caliper applies pressure to the brake pad, which in turn connects with the rotor to slow you down. This slows you down until ultimately, you come to a stop. If anything happens during this process, you might feel a shake coming through the steering wheel.

If it’s your brake pads, it’s usually because they are old, work, or dirty and can no longer grip the rotor effectively to bring your vehicle to a stop. The brake pad connects unevenly, which causes the skipping movement which vibrates up into your steering wheel.

Calipers are designed to last. The problem usually stems from the brake pads, which have to be replaced on average about every 10,000 to 20,000 miles. It can also be from the brake rotors, which may need replacing every 70,000 or so miles. This depends on your driving conditions, how you drive, the weight of your vehicle, among other things.

Suspension

The suspension can also be a common occurrence for a shaking steering wheel. This is especially true with vehicles that aren’t properly maintained, and haven’t been closely evaluated by a mechanic over time. That’s because suspension problems rarely surface overnight. Instead, they develop slowly over time.

What can cause it? It might be a loose tie rod, or a ball joint that wiggles out of position. It might start with an odd, subtle noise, one you put off because you don’t notice changes right away in the way your car operates. This is also why it’s important to pay attention to any changes in the way your vehicle operates, and provide any noticeable differences to the mechanic in charge of working on your car. It can lead to pinpointing a problem that might not have surfaced without it.

Dry guide pins

Guide pins are part of the brake calipers. Over time, they can slow down from dirt and lack of lubrication. To keep them performing well, they need to be periodically cleaned and lubricated or they become dry and corroded. This means they don’t apply the correct pressure as you press down on the brake pedal, which can cause the brake pad to connect with the rotor at the wrong angle. And when that happens, it produces a vibrating steering wheel.

This is detailed work. A trusted mechanic will inspect the entire brake system, including the caliper housing to ensure it’s handling the lubricant correctly throughout the process. If a problem exists, correcting it early will ensure parts don’t wear down before their time.

Do you have a shaking steering wheel?

Once you notice even a slight shake, it’s hard to ignore it. Don’t. Even a slight shake from time to time is a warning sign of future problems.

Do a search online and you’ll find all kinds of horror stories about faulty equipment. In almost every case, horror stories are caused by people who ignored the warning signals.

Even a tiny shake is trying to alert you to a problem. Take note of the details and bring it in. We can properly diagnose it, find the origination point of the problem, and fix it before it has a chance to grow.

The best course of action will depend on the specific problem. But if you catch it early, you’ll reduce the chances of having an expensive problem that moves to different locations throughout your vehicle.

While every part of your vehicle is important in helping to keep you safe and secure, any indication of a problem with your braking system should be checked immediately. If a problem threatens the longevity or safety of your car, fix it early to ensure you’re back on the road safely again.

Just in time to turn up the radio and start singing your favorite tunes once again.

When It’s Time To Schedule a Diagnostic Test For Your Car

July 7, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

The human body is a complex machine. It has an array of parts and systems that work together to keep you healthy and strong.

In many ways, today’s automobiles closely resemble the human body. It’s a complicated network of more than 30,000 parts, all creating systems that allow you to travel safely wherever you need to go throughout your day.

While cars used to operate with fairly simple systems, now it’s a complex network that relies on modern technology. It’s no longer possible to pop the hood, take a glance underneath, and know what’s wrong.

In modern medicine, a diagnostic test is a procedure that is used to identify specific areas of weakness in order to determine a condition or disease. Diagnostic tests for vehicles are used in a similar manner.

A diagnostic test used on a car, truck, SUV, or CUV can help an auto mechanic determine what’s wrong with the vehicle. It can also give them a snapshot of the vehicle’s overall health. If you’re buying a used car, for example, this snapshot can be a valuable piece of information in helping you determine whether to sign on the dotted line.

By utilizing specialized diagnostic equipment, it allows a technician to pinpoint problem areas within the various systems quickly, and get to the root of the problem better, faster.

Sounds like a good idea to run a diagnostic test, right?

According to Kelly Blue Book, the average price of a new vehicle in the US here in 2021 is $40,472. The average vehicle produced today is expected to last 11.4 years, while the average length of time drivers keep a new vehicle is at 71.4 months.

Doesn’t it make sense to keep your car in as good working condition as possible?

It’s time for an annual checkup

When It’s Time To Schedule a Diagnostic Test For Your Car

When you go in for your annual checkup, it gives your doctor a chance to assess your vitals. They can check your blood pressure, assess your weight, perform blood tests to determine how healthy you are from the inside out.

A diagnostic test for your vehicle works in much the same manner. If you bring your vehicle in annually, a diagnostic test can pinpoint weaknesses in the system, and give you a chance to fix it before the problem escalates. The sooner you make a repair, the less chance it has of breaking other parts around it, potentially stranding you by the side of the road.

If you partner with an auto mechanic right here in Denver, you can be sure to build a relationship with someone who understands your vehicle, can help you make the best decisions for you and your wallet, as well as ensure your car remains in the best condition possible for as long as you own it.

Pay attention to the check engine light

The average vehicle produced today comes with more than two dozen computer modules working together in the form of a network, linking all the components together to make your car run. In order to keep you apprised of potential problems, each of these computer modules is linked to a dashboard light, signaling to you there is a problem you shouldn’t ignore.

While you should take all of them seriously, one of the most crucial is the check engine light. It’s one of the most common to illuminate on the dashboard. It’s also one of the least specific. That’s because the check engine light is connected to so many different parts, and can be warning you of many different potential problems. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap, or be more urgent in telling you there’s a loss of compression, which could quickly lead to engine failure.

When this little light comes on, don’t ignore it. Schedule a diagnostic test and bring it in for inspection. This one simple test can use technology to get to the root of the problem, make the necessary changes, and get you back on the road in as little time as possible.

Listen for changes in noises

Cars are built with a network of parts placed together to keep you safe as you drive each day. The first time you started up your car, you paid attention to the different sounds it made. You could feel the engine turn over. You could hear the gears as they clicked into place. All of these sounds became ingrained in your mind. It became your normal.

Over time, as a vehicle begins to wear down, it can start creating sounds out of the ordinary. This isn’t something that happens quickly; in most cases, it’s a slow process that happens over time.

It’s easy to ignore these noises. With so many other things going on in your daily life, why pay attention to small changes that are hard to hear? Yet these little noises are your warning sign of bigger problems.

Do you hear a squeak, grinding sounds, a rattle, or a hum? Has it been intensifying over time?

It’s time to schedule a diagnostic test.

Before you buy a used car

Given how well cars are put together today, it sometimes makes sense to buy a used car instead of new. New cars are expensive; used cars can save you money. A new car built today can operate well for more than a decade, and provide several hundred thousand miles of driving.

But how do you know if you’re sitting in a quality car or a lemon? While the condition of the car is a good representation of how well it was maintained, it isn’t everything. A diagnostic test can alert you to minor problems and help you choose wisely before putting money down on a used car. It’s an easy way to get third-party approval before you complete the transaction.

Have you made diagnostic testing a part of your regular routine?

Think of it as a checkup for your vehicle. It can help you understand how well your car is operating, allow you to make smaller repairs before they escalate in damage and price.

Schedule your diagnostic test today.

What Exhaust Problems Are Telling You About Your Car

July 3, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Sitting in traffic gives you a chance to notice potential problems with the cars around you.

The car in front of you might have smoke pouring out of the tailpipe, with an odor that has you reaching to control the inside cabin’s airflow.

Another car might have water leaking from the tailpipe, a trail forming as it drives along.

A car drives by with sounds louder than usual. Maybe you hear a loud roaring sound when someone starts up a car nearby.

Still another seems to operate perfectly. It quietly buzzes along the road, appearing to operate efficiently.

Exhaust issues can quickly turn into problems. Priority in fixing them means you’ll stop potentially costly repair bills before they escalate, as well as reduce the risk of health problems if the gas enters your cabin.

Before we talk about ways of fixing car exhaust problems, let’s learn a little more about the basics.

How the exhaust system works

The purpose of a car’s exhaust system is to limit emissions, noise, and vibrations, and be a release system for combustion gases. It also improves performance of the engine, and fuel consumption. It’s made up of a series of components that stretch the length of your car, starting with the engine and running to the rear exhaust pipe.

Combustion fumes of car exhaust pipe, The engine is not working properly.

Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, the design of the exhaust system may vary. However, they all work in a similar manner, to pull the harmful exhaust gases from the engine, which are produced as the engine operates. The gases produced include three toxic gases: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen monoxide.

The system starts with the manifold, which has the job of collecting exhaust fumes from the engine. It acts as a funnel to divert gases from cylinders in the engine through a single opening referred to as the front pipe.

The gases then travel through a catalytic converter which removes the harmful elements and converts them to inert gases. They pass through a silencer or muffler, which reduces the sound waves and produces a quieter car. This is one of the biggest warning signs – if you hear a loud car, there’s a chance it has a problem with the exhaust system.

The tailpipe is the exit point for exhaust fumes. This is what takes toxic fumes away from the vehicle, and keeps the passengers inside safe from harm.

Common problems with an exhaust system

One of the most common problems within the exhaust system is corrosion of various components, including the front pipe. The silencer is also prone to corrosion damage, which is one of the biggest reasons you might experience more engine noise.

Because the exhaust system stretches the length of the vehicle on the undercarriage, it can also be impacted if you hit something because of low clearance. There are many joints that can loosen, break, or cause vibrations over time, and can affect performance. If you hear a hissing noise, it might be a leak.

Signs you have problems with the exhaust system

Like other parts of your vehicle, when something goes wrong in the exhaust system, it creates specific problems to alert you early, to give you time to fix the problem before it escalates.

Decreased power and acceleration – one of the first issues you’ll notice with a compromised exhaust system is a decrease in performance of your engine. You won’t be able to accelerate well, and you won’t get the same power you’ve grown accustomed to while owning your car.

Decreased fuel efficiency – when your vehicle isn’t performing well, you’ll also start to notice a decrease in fuel efficiency. Your car will have to work harder to achieve the same functions, which will take more fuel to accomplish the same goals. Watch your mileage numbers every time you fill up. Significant decreases in efficiency are your car’s way of telling you there’s a problem.

A noisy engine – if any part of the exhaust system breaks down, it will impact the noise level of the engine. A faulty manifold gasket, for example, will cause an exhaust leak that sounds like a hissing or tapping sound. It will increase in decibel levels from a cold start, or as you accelerate.

A burning smell – if the manifold gasket fails and begins to leak, the heat produced could impact the wiring or any of the many plastic pieces located underneath the hood. As the heat takes hold, they start to burn and it releases a distinct burning smell.

A gas smell – if one of the exhaust pipes or tubes is damaged and starts to leak, it can allow a gas smell to circulate inside your vehicle while you drive.

A loose or dragging exhaust pipe – if one or more of the brackets holding up the tailpipe are damaged or loosened, it can allow the exhaust pipe to hang or drag on the ground. When this happens, it’s important to fix it immediately, as it can quickly damage other parts of your vehicle through vibrations. If it falls off completely, it’s a danger to you and the other drivers around you.

Keep your vehicle in good working condition through regular inspections

Although the exhaust system is vulnerable to both damage and corrosion, a well cared for vehicle will rarely have problems with the exhaust system with regular driving alone. Modern vehicles are designed for an exhaust system to last for 100,000 miles or longer with regular maintenance. Unless your car is damaged or you take your vehicle four-wheel driving, it should stay trouble-free for years.

When you bring your car in for regular maintenance, we can use diagnostic tests to determine where minor problems exist. If we find a problem with the exhaust system, we can complete the required maintenance to bring the system back to good working condition, and get you on the road again in no time.

Tire Rotation – Should You Rotate Regularly, or Not?

June 24, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

With every part of your vehicle, there’s a set of guidelines to ensure they remain in top condition. As they wear, there are also suggested plans of action for repair and replacement, to ensure you’re never stranded by the side of the road.

One of the most common reasons you’ll find people pulled over along the highway is for a flat or blown tire. It’s one of the most common repairs, because your tires are constantly under pressure.

When you purchase new tires, they promise you they’ll last 40,000, 50,000, even 60,000 miles or longer. The reality of that depends on how well you care for the tires during that time frame.

No, you can’t put new tires on and forget about them. Tire rotation is a crucial part of giving tires their longest lifespan.

What is tire rotation?

Tire rotation means periodically moving the tires to a different position on your vehicle. You should rotate them as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer, or about every 5,000 miles. To make the process easy, you might consider bringing your vehicle in for an oil change, and have the tires rotated at the same time.

When a mechanic rotates your tires, it also gives them a chance to inspect them for other potential problems. They can check air pressure, look for visible signs of damage, and check their tread depth. If you’ve noticed anything unusual with the way your car drives, let your mechanic know. It’s a perfect time for them to inspect the tires in more detail to ensure a safe drive for you in the coming months.

Why should tire rotation be a part of your regular routine?

Tire rotation is important for several reasons.

Banner For Car Wheel Business. 3d render and illustration. Wheel black background.

Potentially the biggest reason is to ensure you get the full mileage from your tires. By rotating them and putting tires in new positions every few thousand miles, it ensures the tread life is maximized. Tires on the front of a front wheel drive vehicle take a larger portion of the friction as you move down the road. Each wheel could have its own little quirks about pressure and the way it handles on the road. Rotating them changes the way each tire connects, and gives them the best chance at an extended life.

Also, even pressure on a tire ensures even tread wear throughout the life of a tire. Tread depth helps with traction on the road. Because we have a variety of weather conditions here in Colorado, connection is everything. With proper tread depth, you’ll ensure the safest levels of cornering and braking performance your vehicle can offer. That means a safer drive for you, your passengers, and the people around you.

If you have an all-wheel drive car, keeping your tires in balance means less stress on the drivetrain. And that can amount to less maintenance over time.

Is 5,000 miles suggested or mandatory?

We see all kinds of advice online that suggests mileage markers as a guideline instead of a rule. Ultimately, it’s about two things.

First, you should always consult your owner’s manual for maintenance requirements. The people who built your vehicle have the best understanding of how to maintain it. When in doubt, heed their guidance and follow their advice.

Second, Nothing is ever cast in stone. However, if you wish to keep your car in the best condition possible, and avoid potential problems that could impact your drive, erring on the side of being consistent with checkups will never hurt.

Allowing a mechanic to inspect your vehicle regularly gives them a chance to find potential problems before they escalate. With tire rotation, they can determine any potential problem with your tire before it gives you trouble on the road.

It reduces the cost of an expensive repair, giving you a chance to fix it before more goes wrong with your vehicle.

Other reasons to rotate your tires regularly

While your tires are an expensive part of your vehicle, parts you’ll be replacing regularly as you drive, there are other reasons to inspect them regularly.

While regular tire rotation can ensure your tires the longest life, it also ensures your safety. If tires don’t wear evenly, it can increase your risk of a blowout. At a minimum, it will impact the performance of how you drive, and can lower your gas mileage, making you spend more at the pump each time.

Your tires are also largely responsible for braking. Think of your tires as a protection system for the wheels. If tires are overly worn, they can jar the wheels, impact the brakes, which can cause you problems in emergencies. Ever had to stop quickly and your brakes not perform the way you’re used to? It could be a problem with your tires.

Especially on a front-wheel drive car, it uses gripping for traction. If the tires on the front are compromised, it can affect your car’s performance overall.

What happens during tire rotation?

Above all, tire rotation gives the mechanic a chance to inspect the tires and determine if there is a potential problem. This stops issues in their tracks. It also allows them to look at a variety of conditions, from proper inflation to how they are impacting the drivetrain. They also check tire safety, looking for things like overinflation, blistering, or cupping on your tires.

In most cases, tire rotation involves moving the front tires to the rear, and the rear tires to the front. There are other possible patterns depending on what the professional finds, and according to your manufacturer’s guidelines.

What’s your next step?

When was the last time you had your tires rotated?

When was the last time you scheduled a maintenance visit with your local mechanic?

Regular inspections are the easiest way to keep your vehicle in good condition, create peak performance, and reduce the cost you’ll spend on repair bills when things go wrong.

It’s your early warning protection system.

Schedule your maintenance visit today.

Daily Driving Habits That Are Destroying Your Suspension

June 18, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Habits and resolutions are something we all work on from time to time. Studies consistently show that while we’re good at setting habit intentions, we’re not as good at making them stick. Up to 80 percent of people give up or fail within the first 30 days of implementing a new habit.

Driving habits are difficult to break. While the basic skills we learned from our parents or a driving instructor, most habits we pick up as we age. If cell phones weren’t a thing when you were learning, you picked up the habit as new technology was introduced. If you text and drive, for example, you’re increasing your risk of an accident.

But some habits go deeper and impact the way your car operates. Your driving habits can cause uneven wear on your tires, wear your breaks long before their stated lifespan, or even affect your fuel efficiency. Damage may start out small, but if you’re consistent with your driving habits, it may be destroying your suspension system.

You don’t have to drive slow, take the back roads, or avoid driving altogether to keep your vehicle in good working condition. By being conscious of hazards and practicing good driving, your car will remain in good condition for the life of your car.

Do you find any of these daily driving habits in your normal routine?

Driving too fast

The faster you drive, the more risk you take while on the road. You become a defensive driver, always responding quickly to what’s happening around you.

If you tailgate and drive too close to the car in front of you, for example, you’ll be in reactionary mode. If they tap their brakes, you’ll slam down on your brake pedal to adjust your driving to match the road conditions. This wears down many parts within the suspension system, including the brake pads, rotors, shocks and struts. It can wear out all parts within the braking system prematurely, put you more at risk while you drive, and cost you more money as you’ll have more repair bills over time.

Daily Driving Habits That Are Destroying Your Suspension

You’ll also risk overheating the brakes. Here in Colorado, that can be a real risk, especially if you drive in the mountains frequently. Keeping your foot on the brakes is never a good idea while descending from higher altitudes. It’s tough on the suspension system if you slam on the brakes.

Hitting speed bumps without slowing down

The dreaded speed bump. They may have been designed to slow you down, but instead, you look at them as an inconvenience in how you drive. Ignore them and hit them at your regular speed and they can do extensive damage to your suspension.

While they may be annoying, they are placed on the road for a purpose. They are designed to slow you down; in this case, it’s a good idea to follow the rules.

While it may seem to do little to your car the first time you hit one, or the tenth, the damage is cumulative. You can hit it multiple times without visible consequences, but one day, you’ll face a multitude of problems. Like a blown tire, a broken shock or strut, or even break an axle if it’s old and in bad shape. The suspension system is designed for smooth driving conditions. The harder you take the largest bumps and dips in the road, the more impact it will have on all 30,000 parts.

Slamming into parking space dividers

How fast do you drive as you park your car? Are you always in a hurry to get where you’re going? Do you use the parking space dividers as a checkpoint to bring you to a halt rather than as a guide to keep your car safe?

Those parking space dividers may be there as a guide to keep you within the lines of the parking space, but they are big enough to do severe damage to your suspension system.

As you move your car forward into the parking space, your tires, wheels, and entire suspension system are in forward rotation. If they bump into the parking space divider, it brings your entire vehicle to a sudden stop. That jolts the wheels, and forces the whole system into a direction it’s not prepared to go. Damage may be unnoticeable the first time. Over multiple times you will start to hear and feel the results.

Hitting curbs

Now that you’re aware of what hitting a parking space divider can do, let’s talk about curbs. Curbs are built as dividers to keep the road separate from walkways and private property. They are built at about the same height as parking space dividers, and can create extensive damage to your vehicle.

Instead of creating a sudden forward/stop motion, hitting a curb can bounce your car around like a bumper car. It may be going forward one moment, but in an instant it’s moving sideways and in all directions in a matter of seconds.

Or maybe you’re in an area where parallel parking is a mandatory part of living. You used the curbs as a telltale sign you’re close enough to the curb. Every time you hit it, it forces your suspension to adjust to a new direction instantly. It can knock your wheels out of alignment, damage your tires and wheels, and create havoc on the suspension system.

Avoid road debris

The more aware you are of driving conditions, the better your car will handle over time.

Colorado seems to be a constant landmine filled with potholes, rocks, miscellaneous debris that drops off cars and trucks, tire rubber, and more. If you’re not aware of what’s in the road in front of you, if you drive too closely to watch for things in the road, your chances of hitting it increase.

Spotting hazards gives you a chance to avoid the issues before you hit them. It also allows you to have more control, adjust slowly to issues rather than jerking the wheel, and preventing damage to your car over time.

Be aware. It’s one of the best ways to keep your car safe from anything standing in your way.

How are your driving habits?

If you choose to change and adjust the way you drive, remember, it’s not a race but a journey. Be aware of how you drive. Make conscious changes.

Your car will thank you.

What Happens If Your Car Experiences a Vacuum Leak

June 10, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

One of the most frustrating things about owning a car is experiencing a problem and not knowing the cause. That’s when the questions begin.

Is it important?

Should you bring it into the shop immediately? Or can you push it, waiting for a better time?

Car repairs can be expensive. If you wait, it can cause the cost of the repair to escalate rapidly. Instead of replacing a hose, for example, you might end up replacing an entire system. And that can be a heavy hit to the pocketbook.

It can also be difficult to know exactly what’s going on inside your vehicle. The average car has over 30,000 parts. If one piece has a problem, how will you ever find it? It may be easy to see if a headlamp is burned out, but it can be a lot more difficult to determine if there’s a problem inside the engine.

Understanding a car vacuum leak

To better understand how a vacuum leak forms, it’s essential to know how a car engine works.

An engine is a large, powerful vacuum that draws air in to be able to produce the amount of energy needed to move your vehicle. It uses pistons moving up and down to create the vacuum, which draws air into the engine and creates combustion.

This air is carefully metered through computerized sensors that analyze how much fuel to take in for maximum efficiency and power. Thanks to modern technology, it’s a process that can be tweaked and controlled to ensure your car continues to operate smoothly as you drive.

Through wear and tear, problems can arise. Each make and model can be set up slightly differently, but a vacuum leak occurs anywhere between the engine and the airflow sensor. Unmetered airflow enters the system and causes actual airflow to be higher than what the sensor can measure. That allows the system to miscalculate the amount of fuel injected into the system, which means your engine will run lean. Too much air causes too little fuel. And you’ll notice the impact of this vacuum leak in the way your engine idles.

How do you know if your car has a vacuum leak?

The 30,000 parts that make your car operate are all interwoven together in a complex way. When something goes wrong, it’s designed to make you aware of a potentially escalating problem by giving off warning signs. A vacuum leak is often diagnosed in one of several ways:

A rough idle

This is perhaps one of the most common ways to diagnose a vacuum leak. Because the leak allows too much air into the system and not enough fuel, it immediately shows up in the way the engine operates. You’ll feel it in the way the engine runs, and hear it as it attempts to stay operational.

Engine hesitation

In addition to the rough idle, you’ll also have trouble with the way your vehicle operates as you drive it down the road. With too much air and not enough fuel in the system, as you press the accelerator, the vacuum pressure will be more noticeable. You’ll have an engine that hesitates or stumbles as it attempts to pick up speed and move forward.

Fuel economy and emissions problems

When there is a change in the air-fuel ratio, the engine will burn hotter than normal. This increases the generation of oxide emissions, such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide. Even if it isn’t strong enough to trip the check engine light, it will still be detected if you run your vehicle through an emissions test. You’ll also notice a reduction in fuel economy as the overall system tries to compensate by adding more fuel to the process. The EVAP – evaporative emissions control system – also depends on the vacuum to work. When it doesn’t, it can throw off the system functionality, sending an emissions trouble code back into the system.

Check engine light

Depending on your vehicle, the vacuum leak will eventually be detected by the monitoring system and react by turning on the check engine light. The check engine light can mean a variety of things, which is why it’s imperative to bring your car in as quickly as possible to avoid damage to any part of the engine system.

Engine damage

If you catch a vacuum leak early, you can minimize damage and fix the problem easily. The more the vacuum leak is allowed to continue, the more extensive the potential damage. Driving with a vacuum leak elevates temperatures within the engine compartment by running on a lean air-fuel ratio. This mixture over time can damage pistons and bearings, and can move to other parts within the engine, such as the catalytic converter.

Over time, damage can move more extensively underneath the hood. If you leave a vacuum leak unchecked, the situation will worsen over time. Depending on where the vacuum leak is and what type of car you drive, you can experience many other problems. With some vehicles, it may impact the engine and stall it as you park. For others, it can reduce braking power, meaning your car will be harder to stop.

The faster you solve the problem, the less likely it will affect other parts, putting you further at risk.

Identifying a vacuum leak

If you do a quick search online, you’ll discover several ways you can test the system to see if your car is experiencing a vacuum leak. Some take more working knowledge than others. If you aren’t familiar with how a car operates, your best course of action is to bring it in and let one of our skilled mechanics take a look. We can find the root of the problem, fix it, and have you back on the road in no time.

A visual check can alert you to potential problems with hoses and tubes. If they become stiff and brittle, they can easily crack or break under pressure.

A water check is a simple way to detect where the vacuum leak is. Spray a bottle of water where the vacuum leak is thought to be. A vacuum leak will suck in moisture and temporarily seal the leak.

Once you find the leak, fix it at the source. Keep in mind that the fix isn’t always straightforward. Hoses and sensors can be easy to find and change out. But if the problem goes deeper, such as a faulty intake manifold, it can be more time-consuming and costly, especially if you don’t fix it right the first time.

Think you have a problem under the hood? Is a vacuum leak impacting your drive? Bring your car in today. We’ll have you back on the road in no time.

Radiator Fans

June 9, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Some of you are maybe old enough to have heard the term “fan belt”. Back in the day, the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt that was driven by the engine. There are still belt driven fans, although most radiator fans are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most of the new vehicles now also have electric fans that draw fresh air across the radiator to cool it.

As coolant/antifreeze circulates in the cooling system, it captures heat from the engine and flows into the radiator. Air cools the radiator and the coolant in it before it sends it back into the engine to pick up some more heat. Now your engine has an ideal temperature range in which it is most efficient: it shouldn’t be too hot or too cool. The electric radiator fans help maintain the ideal temperature.

A switch mounted in a cooling system passage checks the temperature of the coolant. If the coolant is at the low end of the range, the switch turns off the fan motor. When the coolant rises to certain temperature, the switch turns on the fan. When you are running the air conditioning, the radiator fan will likely be turned on as well to help reduce the extra engine heat created by the load placed on it by the air conditioner.

A lot of Denver residents vehicles will actually have two radiator fans. One, both, or neither may be running at any given time depending on the conditions. When you are cruising at highways speeds, the air rushing over the radiator and around the engine will help control the heat. By contrast, stop and go driving around Denver doesn’t generate much natural air flow so the radiator fans will be working harder.

Some drivers may hear the sound of the radiator fan running after turning the vehicle off. This keeps the engine from heating excessively after it has been run and shut off.

Now the radiator fan motors and the switch are wear items that will eventually fail. If your temperature light comes on while driving, you have a cooling system problem. Your friendly and knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser can test your entire cooling system, including the radiator fans, to determine what is causing the indicator light. Of course, serving the cooling system as recommended will help extend the life of all the components. Ask your Express Car Care service adviser if you are due for a cooling system service.

Avoiding The Top 5 Car Repairs

June 3, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Your vehicle is one of the most expensive items you own. It’s a complex system with over 30,000 parts that, when operating correctly, gives you the ability to move around freely.

With that many parts, however, if one thing goes wrong, it can quickly escalate, causing problems with the way you drive. It might start as a noise or a funny smell, but if left unchecked, can turn into a major car repair.

Luckily, you can avoid costly car repairs by adhering to a regular car maintenance schedule. Regularly scheduled maintenance keeps parts well lubricated, the system running smoothly, and your vehicle on the road.

Let’s start by looking at five of the most common and most expensive car repairs we see coming into our shop.

Brake pad and rotor replacement

A car’s brake system is one of the most important systems on your vehicle. Imagine flying down the mountain after a day of skiing, and you discover your brakes don’t work. Even in town, as you move closer to a red light, without brakes, it can be a harrowing experience.

Over the life of your vehicle, you will have to replace your brake pads about every 40,000 to 50,000 miles. Of course, that changes based on the make and model of your car, as well as your driving experience. Someone with all city driving will replace brakes more often than someone with all highway driving.

Brake pads are the least expensive part of this process. Brake pads are designed to provide you with warning signs as they start to wear down. They are built with a metal bar just shy of the recommended thickness level. When this is reached, it will produce a metal on metal grinding sound that warns you it’s time to replace the brake pads. This gives you plenty of warning to schedule a visit with one of our mechanics, and replace the brake pads before they impact performance or safety.

Ignore this sound, and the brake pads can start wreaking havoc on other parts of the braking system. Poor quality brake pads can impact rotors. If they are damaged or warped past the point of repair, these will also have to be replaced. And that can escalate your repair bill exponentially.

Tire replacement

A good set of tires can last you anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 miles or more. But you can’t replace a set of tires, have them installed, and leave them unchecked for all those miles. Because they are your one connection to the road as you drive, more can go wrong with a set of tires than most drivers realize.

How often do you test the air pressure in your tires? If you say every fill-up, you’re on the right track. Tire pressure can change rapidly depending on driving conditions. Both cold and heat change the way they perform, as well as how and where you drive your vehicle each day.

Pay attention to the tread as well. Do you see uneven wear marks? That’s a sign of a deeper problem in the performance of your vehicle. Rotate your tires regularly. You might consider having it done each time you change the oil. This ensures your tires wear evenly, and will prevent damage based on the way you drive. This can also alert you to bigger problems you can fix before they escalate.

Fuel injector cleaning

Think about all your vehicle goes through as you drive the Colorado roads. Ice and snow build up in the winter, with chemicals, rocks, and sand impacting many parts underneath the hood. Freezing temperatures can also impact the functionality of individual parts. Then in the summer months, heat can impact the way your car moves.

Fuel injectors spray gas into the combustion chamber to allow the correct amount of gasoline to enter into the engine. Each cylinder has a corresponding fuel injector – a four cylinder engine will have four fuel injectors.

Fuel injectors do wear out over time. But with the proper cleaning and service schedule, you can extend their life. Most manufacturers state fuel injectors will last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on care, gasoline used within the system, and how often fuel filters are changed.

Timing belt

The timing belt connects the engine with the vehicle’s crankshaft to ensure the valves open and close properly. The timing belt synchronizes the rotation of the camshaft and crankshaft to ensure the valves open and close, allowing the pistons to move up and down. Without a timing belt, your car’s engine wouldn’t operate.

A timing belt goes through a lot of wear and tear. The timing belt breaking is a big problem, and can lead to extensive damage to the engine. Check with your vehicle’s manufacturer to determine how often it should be replaced; it’s typically around 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

Warning signs can include missing teeth from the belt itself, a ticking noise from the engine compartment, or visible signs of cracking or damage. Simple maintenance checks periodically can warn you of potential problems, giving you the chance to replace it before it can break and cause extensive damage.

Transmission

It’s a problem with the transmission. Those are words no vehicle owner wants to hear because it’s one of the most expensive car repairs you’ll make.

Without a transmission, your car won’t move. It helps the engine run smoothly, and moves power from the engine through the wheels.

A transmission isn’t just one simple block. Instead, it’s made up of over 800 parts that are unique to each make and model on the road today. When they all work together, your car will operate seamlessly. To ensure that happens, it’s important to keep transmission fluid fresh and operational. Ensure it’s at the right level, and avoid aggressive driving or riding the brakes.

How a mechanic can keep your car running

These are just a few of the major car repairs that can impact your vehicle and your wallet. Owning a car doesn’t mean expensive repair bills. If you schedule your maintenance visits with a mechanic you can trust, you’ll ensure your car stays healthy and operating well for as long as you own it.

Scheduled checkups will always ensure your car stays operating and in peak performance. Don’t ignore mileage or date reminders; they are there for a reason. If you work together with a reputable mechanic, you can drive with peace of mind.

Should High Altitude Change Your Car Maintenance Routine?

May 28, 2021 by Denver Express Car Care

Living here in Colorado, you’re probably aware of altitude sickness, or what is sometimes referred to as mountain sickness.

Many people come into our state from sea level, grab a car, and start climbing deep into the hills. They settle into a resort, and start playing. Shortly after, they experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and more.

High altitude sickness is real, and it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. But that’s with people. Can the same thing happen with a car? Can high altitude impact your car maintenance routine? Do cars driven here in the Rocky Mountains need more TLC than cars at sea level?

How high altitude impacts your car

Cars are manufactured in different parts of the world, and are brought into different regions based on needs and desires. The car you recently purchased here in Denver may have spent all of its life at sea level before being brought here. It may have been calibrated differently to accept conditions for where it was created.

For used cars, the vehicle adjusted to the conditions where it operated. At sea level, that means plenty of oxygen, possibly greater humidity levels, maybe even salty sea air speeding up the rusting process. Its condition is determined by the conditions in which it operates each day.

Then the car migrated here, to Colorado. The most noticeable condition is less air density. Every time your car is turned on, lower air density means less compression, which in turn impacts the way fuel components are triggered and used in the combustion process. Less density means the engine pulls less oxygen, nitrogen and argon as it moves through the process, which equates to less power used in operating your car.

In the industry, guidelines state that for every thousand feet of altitude gained, you’ll lose 3 percent power. That means here in Denver, you might feel your engine performance is a bit sluggish, especially if you’re used to driving your car at lower altitudes. Now bring it up into the mountains. You will notice the difference.

Reduced oxygen intake means the engine struggles to bring in enough air to feed into the system. This can lead to poor performance as well as inefficiencies. It can impact everything from acceleration to towing capabilities.

It’s not just the engine. You may also notice a change in the fuel system. Cars driven here require lower fuel octane than in other areas to start and keep the engine running. However, as you drive down to lower elevations, that can quickly change. If your check engine light comes on, this could be the cause.

It can also impact tire pressure. If you’ve ever driven from the hot plains to a cold mountain top, you know what that temperature difference can do to your body. Now think about your tires. It can rapidly change the performance of your tires, and decrease tire pressure. If you don’t check it, it can impact your steering precision, allowing for uneven tire wear, and impacting the fuel economy as you drive. If you drive into the mountains regularly, checking your tire pressure should be a normal part of your routine.

Car maintenance requirements for high altitude cars

If you’ve never considered what high altitude is doing to your vehicle before, it’s time to consider the changes your car goes through as you drive from location to location. If you’re planning a trip, it’s wise to have a tune-up before you leave to ensure your safety, and when you return to get your vehicle back in good working condition for the Colorado roads.

Things that should be checked include:

Air filters – your vehicle takes in less oxygen here in a high altitude environment. That means it pulls air harder to make the system work correctly. Maximizing airflow means keeping the system clean and working at its best. It can’t do that if the air filter is dirty or clogged.

Tire pressure – newer cars may have a sensor that tells you tire pressure. If not, it’s important to check it regularly, especially as you move in and out of the mountains. Get into the habit of checking tire pressure as you fill up with gas, or on a regular basis – monthly, perhaps. It takes a few seconds of your time, and could create a safer environment for your drive.

Brake pads – driving up and down steep mountain roads require more brake action. This can put more wear and tear on your braking systems over time. Pay attention to dashboard lights, opting to check out potential problems before they escalate.

Power steering – have you ever felt the wind on an open road push against your car, moving it slightly if you weren’t aware of the power? You’ll find that happens with more intensity here along the Front Range. You’ll also have the ability to move from the open plains to mountainous roads, all within a few hours of time. High winds can sneak up at any time, and it can impact your ability to keep your car under control, especially if your power steering system isn’t fully operational.

Fuel injectors – because your vehicle will be operating at a reduced pressure level, it’s important to keep fuel injectors clean and able to deliver fuel into the system without blockage. Depending on where you’re operating your vehicle, it may be operating at 20 percent or more reduced performance. Corroded or dirty fuel injectors will reduce that performance even more.

Do you have car maintenance in your schedule?

Regular car maintenance is always an important part of owning a car. When you live in the Mile High city, it’s even more essential.

With just a few simple checks each month, and by bringing your vehicle in for tune-ups regularly, you can ensure your car is operating at peak performance, and that your car is in the best condition possible.

Isn’t it nice to have peace of mind when you sit behind the wheel?