Car Maintenance

How To Keep Your Truck In Good Repair To Increase Performance

May 26, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

What’s the difference between a car and a truck? With so many vehicles on the road today, it can sometimes be difficult to classify each into a separate category. And once you do, why does it matter?

To start, the main difference between a car and a truck is the intention of the vehicle. Cars are designed to carry people. Trucks are designed for hauling. That’s why the truck bed is a prominent feature. They may look different, but are the rules the same for keeping your truck in good repair?

Mid-size vs full-size pickup trucks – what’s the difference?

In general, there are two separate classes of trucks: mid-size pickup trucks, and full-size pickup trucks. As the name implies, full-size pickups will be larger than their mid-size counterparts, and in general, will have a more powerful engine. But the force of the engine doesn’t equate to performance; both mid-size and full-size can perform equally well.

Where the two separate is with towing and payload capacity. Full-size pickups are larger, have a bigger engine, and a much larger payload than a mid-size. Numbers vary depending on make and model, but most mid-size pickups are designed to haul less than 7,000 pounds, while full-size pickups will carry over 10,000 pounds. Payload capacity is generally around 1,500 pounds of cargo for mid-size, while a full-size is over 2,000 pounds.

With a larger body, full-size pickups will physically have more room inside and offer more luxury than a mid-size. If things like legroom and headroom matter, look to the bigger pickup truck. Bed size is also significantly larger with a full-size pickup. If you regularly carry large items like construction materials, the full-size pickup is often the better choice.

The two are also separated by fuel economy and price. Size matters when it comes to fuel efficiency. Mid-size pickups will always get better fuel economy. And because of their capacity, full-size pickups will always top out higher on the pricing range.

What matters most to keep your truck in good repair

If you rely on your truck to get you from point A to point B, from your home to work, to run general errands, and back home, maintenance is important. If you rely on your truck for heavy hauling, it’s even more important to handle maintenance correctly.

Just like your car, a truck will run only as well as it can, based on the care you give it. What are the most important things you can do to keep your truck in good repair?

Read

Not what you expected for a first care item, right? Yet it’s one of the most important things you can do.

Today’s vehicles are more sophisticated than ever. From oil checks to how often you should replace components of each major system, it’s all located in your owner’s manual.

We get it; that large book they gave you when you purchased your vehicle might be a little daunting. Who knew your vehicle could need a book with so much to say? You just get in and turn the key, right? Chances are you’ve found out very quickly there are certain things you don’t know. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep your owner’s manual in the glove compartment, or in a prominent place on your bookshelf. Refer to it often to stay on top of what needs to be done, and when.

Assess your driving conditions

Do you live in the heart of Denver, rarely driving out of the city limits? Do you live at the end of a dirt road, always bouncing along on your way home? Do you frequently pull toys behind you on your way to camp out for the weekend? Do you head up and down the hill, driving to work and running errands each day?

Depending on the different tasks you perform each day will determine the frequency of your maintenance schedule. Remember, maintenance isn’t based solely on how much you drive. Even leaving your truck sit for weeks – months – can still damage certain parts of your truck. The oil still needs to be changed. Belts and hoses can still wear out. This is where your owner’s manual can come in handy to alert you to when you should schedule your maintenance visits with one of our mechanics.

Oil changes are the first step in preventative maintenance

Think of your oil change as a checkup for your truck. This is one of the easiest things you can do. It’s also one of the most important.

Don’t just drive it into a shop you find along your route for the day. Find a repair shop you can trust, and take it there on a regular basis. When you go in for doctor visits, you find someone you can trust, someone you build a rapport with. It’s the same for your vehicle. If you continuously bring your truck into the same location, you can work together to ensure your vehicle is always in its best condition.

Tend to the tires

Right after oil changes, paying attention to your tires should be next on your list of to-do’s.

Check your tire pressure on a regular basis. Consider rotating your tires regularly as well too, so the tires can wear evenly while you drive. The front tires are typically the ones that will see the most wear. Rotating them not only will give you more life out of the tires, but it can also give you a smoother ride.

While the tires are being rotated, a mechanic can also check for alignment issues. When you have them balanced, you ensure the weight of the tire is equally distributed around the axle. Every bump you hit in the road can lead to unbalanced tires. This reduces the smoothness of the ride, and also puts undue wear on your tires.

If you notice your truck pulling in either direction as you drive, it’s a signal it needs a wheel alignment. Trucks are more likely than cars to need frequent alignments, especially if you do a lot of driving over rough roads, off-roading, or driving on construction sites. Scheduling regular alignments can extend the life of your tires, increase the gas mileage you receive, and reduce poor handling on the road.

How do you keep your truck in good repair?

When was your last maintenance visit?

The more you use your truck for pulling and hauling, or simply riding over rough roads on your way to work, it’s important to keep it working at its best. When you have a concern, stop by. We’ll evaluate the condition of your vehicle, and help you get it back on the road in no time.

Should You Stick With The Car Maintenance Schedule Your Vehicle’s Manufacturer Suggests?

May 10, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

There’s something about driving your car for the very first time.

When you drive it off the lot, everything feels fresh and new. The smell. The touch. Even the way it drives, responding instantly to whatever move you make.

Then you fall into patterns. You drive. And slowly, your vehicle wears down.

Are you paying attention?

That’s why manufacturers have established a car maintenance schedule for every vehicle on the road. If you follow their guidance, you can protect the systems needed for a smooth ride. You prevent damage to the engine, which causes premature damage and wear.

Why a car maintenance schedule is important

Human nature has the belief: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We don’t look for problems, we wait until they surface.

For some things, that works. For your vehicle, it doesn’t.

Do you really want to ignore your brakes until they “break?” Imagine the problems that would create if you’re on your way home from a day of skiing in the Rocky Mountains.

Or what about engine failure? What if that happens late at night as you’re coming home from a road trip, out in the middle of nowhere?

According to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry:

The average age of a vehicle in the US has increased by 17 percent in the past ten years
People are holding on to their vehicles, both new and used, 60 percent longer over the past ten years

The longer you own a vehicle, the more maintenance it’s going to need.

The same report shows older car owners are twice as likely to expect to spend more than $1,000 on a repair, and they are more aware of the work that needs to be performed on a regular basis.

Do you fall into that category?

The people that manufacture your car know everything about your car. Why not trust them to guide you towards the best car maintenance schedule you can follow? It will help you:

Save time by being stranded without a vehicle
Save money by addressing concerns before they blow up to bigger problems
Improve safety by assessing vehicle conditions before they cause you harm
Maintain the resale value of your car by keeping it in top condition
Create a record of work performed, something that can be invaluable when you decide to sell

What a typical car maintenance schedule looks like

The best place to find out more about your vehicle is by checking your owner’s manual. If you don’t have access to that, let Google be your guide. Simply type in your make and model into Google, and you’ll find a wealth of information pertaining to your car.

Of course, that’s just a starting point. The timing of maintenance intervals depends on a variety of things, such as make and model, how many miles you put on each year, road conditions, driving skills, and more.

What you’ll find are general guidelines. But if you talk with one of our mechanics about your own unique driving patterns, we can help you adjust them to fit better with your lifestyle.

Someone driving down the hill to work each day will have a different maintenance schedule than someone who works from home, logging just a few thousand miles each year running errands around town.

Typically, you can plan on servicing your vehicle about every 30,000 miles. This is a great time to schedule a service appointment to allow a mechanic to evaluate the different systems in your car. They will handle:

Replacing the engine air filter
Rotating the tires
Changing engine oil and replacing the filter
Inspecting the coolant system, adding coolant and replacing hoses as necessary
Inspecting the braking system, replacing pads and rotors as well as brake line and hoses
Inspecting the exhaust system to ensure it’s working correctly
Inspecting the transmission system for proper gear placement

Of course, that’s in addition to other routine maintenance visits you should plan out over time.

Every 3,000 to 7,000 miles – every manufacturer will recommend you get an oil change on a regular basis. This flushes new oil throughout the system, and replaces dirty oil filters. Furthermore, it allows a mechanic to take a look for other potential problems as well. Be aware that other fluids such as windshield washer fluid, new wipers, tire checks, and things like coolant and transmission fluid should be checked periodically as well.

Every 15,000 to 30,000 miles – be sure to check your battery during this time. Especially new batteries that come with a new car, they aren’t expected to hold their charge beyond the first couple of years, or 15,000 to 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. You should also chick coolant, hoses, filters, the heating and cooling system, brake pads, and all suspension parts.

Every 35,000 to 50,000 miles – start paying attention to the individual parts throughout your vehicle. Continue to check the battery regularly. Replace spark plugs and wires. Inspect the ignition system. Verify the suspension system is working well.

Every 60,000 miles – it’s time for a full-blown inspection. The older your vehicle gets, the more important it is to bring it in for regular maintenance visits. This gives one of our mechanics the chance to learn your car, and to work with you on creating a schedule for maintenance and repair.

What really impacts car maintenance schedule requirements

It’s worth mentioning again that it isn’t just the mileage you put on your vehicle that determines how frequently it should go in for inspections and repairs. Sitting and not operating are equally tough on your vehicle, just in different ways.

Factors that impact what type of maintenance should be performed include:

How you drive – are you aggressive? Do you push the limits? Do you rarely drive? Your driving behavior will impact which systems wear out quickly, and how your vehicle responds to different maintenance items.

Where you drive – Colorado can be hard on cars. They are exposed to extreme heat and cold, sometimes within days of each other. They face snowy roads, mag-chloride spraying up from the roads, rocks chipping away at the undercarriage. The harsh sun beats down on it almost every day. And then there’s mountain driving. How frequently do you head up into the hills? That can take its toll on how well systems like your brakes fare over time.

Your vehicle – parts matter. Of course, you can find cheap parts online. You can do things yourself, opting for the lowest priced components you can buy. But it will matter in the end.

Your vehicle is something you use every day. It’s a matter of safety for you, your family, and others out on the road.

Are you following your car’s maintenance schedule?

Or are you leaving it to chance?

Is Your Car’s Air Conditioner Not Working?

May 5, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

There’s one thing Colorado isn’t short of – sunny days. Colorado advertises 300 days of annual sunshine, mild temperatures, and record snowfalls – all of that makes it the perfect place to live, no matter how you like your weather.

Of course, once you live here, you have to drive in said weather. Those record snowfalls can be troublesome if you’re trying to get somewhere on time. And when the temperatures creep higher – 80s, 90s, 100s – you’ll be sweating it out as you make a break from your home to the car, and everywhere you choose to go.

But what if your car air conditioner doesn’t work when you need it most? You open up the windows, drive for a bit, and wait for the system to cool down. Only it never does, and you’re stuck roasting in a hot car, stuck to your leather seats.

Why won’t your car air conditioner work?

What is black death?

Imagine a sludgy, sticky, dark goo slowly flowing inside your car’s internal workings. As the refrigerant in your car’s air conditioning system breaks down, it slowly moves inside the compressor.

Refrigerant is a fluid that helps your car operate at its best. Think of it as the motor oil for your air conditioning system. But as this fluid breaks down, it thickens. And as it moves into the compressor, it gums up everywhere, including the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and all the moving parts.

And that sticky, grimy substance won’t just disappear. You have to replace the major pieces, and flush the lines clean. Yep, you guessed it, this isn’t an easy (or budget-friendly) process.

Of course, this is the worst case scenario. There are warning signs your car’s air conditioning system is having trouble long before it completely shuts down. Catch it early, and it’s a much easier (and less expensive) repair.

It starts with knowing your car’s air conditioner

From the moment you drive your car home, it’s important to take note of how it runs. Pay attention to the noises it makes, the feel of the drive, the smell as you turn different systems on. This is your base.

Two things make all the difference in keeping your car operating as it should.

1. Paying attention to changes – if you notice any change, don’t ignore it. The sooner you get it checked by one of our mechanics, the easier it will be to fix. And in most cases, a lot less expensive too.

2. Performing regular maintenance – along with oil changes and tune ups, if a mechanic completes a diagnostic test regularly, it can alert you to potential problems long before they create lasting damage to your vehicle.

These are the things you should watch for with your air conditioning system.

An air conditioner with weak airflow

Remember when your car was new, and you could barely handle the cold blast when you turned your air conditioner on high? Slowly, that blast has disappeared. The main causes of weak airflow include:

A hose has come loose. Through all of its use, the blower hose that connects to the blower unit has wiggled free.
The ventilation fan no longer works. If the fan is broken, it can’t push air through the system.
Seals have been compromised. Think of all the rattling, clanking, and banging going on underneath the hood as you drive each day. Bumps, potholes, and even speed on the highway can slowly rattle connections apart. There are a variety of seals within the air conditioning system that can eventually wear down, such as the core case seal or the blower hose seal.
Contaminants such as mold and mildew can build up over time. Water flows in the air conditioning system. That residue moisture from the cooling process sometimes accumulates. When this happens, mold and mildew can start to build. Not only will it impact the air flow, but it can also impact your health as it blows this contaminated air supply into your vehicle.

An air conditioner that isn’t as cold as it once was

Your air conditioner is still working … sort of. There is cold air, but it’s not as cold as it once was. That lack of cold air can be caused by a number of things.

A failed blower motor
A vacuum leak
A failed switch or fuse
A damaged condenser or evaporator
A failed compressor
A clogged refrigerant hose
A refrigerant leak

When one part of the air conditioning system no longer works, it throws the entire system off. If you’re experiencing an air supply that isn’t as cold as it once was, chances are there’s a problem somewhere in the system. Even the smallest leak can quickly escalate into a major repair.

An air conditioner that smells bad when you turn it on

This goes beyond the smell you first get when you turn it on for the first time. If you continually notice an odorous smell that resembles an old gym locker, it could be:

A dirty air cabin filter
A moldy evaporator case

Because the system has been compromised, you’ll continue to get that smell until you fix the system.

Is there a way to test for an air conditioner leak?

Since one of the biggest reasons for an air conditioner problem is a leak somewhere in the system, there are a few ways you can test to find out where it’s starting from.

The first way is by using a fluorescent dye. This is the least expensive and does a good job at detecting a leak. However, if the leak is tucked away from your line of vision, it can be difficult to detect.

The second way is with a sniffer. This is a tool that is placed near a suspected problem area to find the leak. When it finds a refrigerant leak, it emits a warning signal to the user. A faster beep means the leak is larger in size.

Both of these are dependent on knowing your vehicle and how it operates. You can trust one of our mechanics to find the root of the problem, and offer you the best solution to fix your car’s air conditioning problem.

Why fix your air conditioning problem right away?

Because the longer it goes unfixed, the bigger the potential problem can grow. If left unchecked, it can further damage your air flow system, and spread into other systems throughout your car. If a leak or crack turns worse, corrosion can occur on other parts, belts and lines can snap, doing further damage to parts nearby.

Are you set for the summer season with your air conditioner? How can we help you stay cool no matter how high the temperatures climb?

Air Blend Box

April 27, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

You push a few buttons or turn some knobs, and voila, you have warm air blowing on your feet or cool air chilling your face. How does it all happen? Well, it’s all thanks to the air blend box. This box lives behind your dash and serves up just the right air temperature right where you want it.

Here’s how we break it down. First there is the blower fan that circulates the air through the heating/air conditioning system. The fan can blow at different speeds, depending on how much hot or cold air you need to be comfortable. The air blend box can either draw in fresh air from outside or recirculate air from inside the cabin. People often choose to recirculate air when first starting the vehicle until it starts to either cool down or warm up.

The next thing the blend box does is direct airflow over the heater core to warm the air, or over the air conditioner evaporator core to chill it – or a blend of hot and cold to get it just right. From there the blend box can direct the air out into the passenger compartment through the floor vents, the panel vents, the defroster, or a combination of them. All of this allows you to customized the climate just the way you like it.

Some vehicles have different climate control zones, like one for the driver and one for the passenger – or even more zones for the back seat. Additional air blend boxes are used for this. Climate controls could be manually adjusted, or computer controlled depending on your vehicle.

The blower motor and all the little actuator motors that open and close the various blend doors can fail and need to be replaced. Most new vehicles come with a cabin air filter. This filter cleans the air before it gets into the blend box. If you neglect changing the cabin air filter, it can get clogged, smelly and even allow mildew and other microorganisms to build up in the blend box. Your service center can perform a heating/air conditioning system cleaning service that will clean and disinfect the system, restoring a fresh clean scent. If you are not getting enough hot or cold air, your service center can inspect your system, diagnose the cause and set things right. And don’t forget to replace your cabin air filter on schedule. If you live and drive in dusty conditions or where there is a lot of pollen or other pollutants, you may need to replace your cabin air filter more frequently.

Simple Answers: Check Engine Light

April 13, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

Question: My check engine light is on and my boyfriend thinks he can get the code read and know what part to replace to fix my car. I say it’s not that simple. Who’s right?

Answer: The simple answer is you are! But let’s look at it logically and break it down. There are hundreds of things that can go wrong with your vehicle. Some are simple but some are actually quite complicated.

In today’s vehicles over 80% of engine functions are computer controlled. The computer receives information from dozens of sensors. When a sensor reading is out of range, a trouble code is automatically entered in the computer and the check engine light is illuminated.

Unfortunately it’s a common misconception that the trouble code will tell you exactly what is wrong. Because the truth is, that for any given trouble code, there are any number of faults that would trigger that code. For example, a code indicating a misfire on cylinder three could be due to a bad spark plug, a failed coil, ignition problems, compression issues, etc. Each of those possibilities requires additional diagnosis to confirm or rule out a cause. Once a trained technician with state-of the art diagnostic tools and access to extensive research databases, can then nail down the problem, and set about getting it fixed.

A complicated diagnosis may take some time. Your boyfriend might be tempted to bypass a diagnosis charge by taking a trouble code reading with an inexpensive scan tool and start replacing parts. He might get lucky, but chances are he’ll end up like a recent customer who ended up spending hundreds of dollars on parts that weren’t needed and didn’t fix his problem because he tried reading the code himself. So save yourself time and money and have a professional with the right equipment check your vehicle.

Just one more thing… a flashing Check Engine Light indicates that a condition exists that could lead to serious damage. You should get to your service center right away. A steadily illuminated Check Engine Light is less urgent but still needs to be checked out. Keep in mind that a minor issue today can become more serious if left unresolved.

Why Your Car Tires Keep Going Flat

April 10, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

Staying in place has brought a lot of “newness” to your life. Maybe you’ve joined the craze of making your own bread. Perhaps you’re finally up to speed with navigating Zoom and attending virtual meetings.

Yet every time you head outside to drive to the grocery store, you notice a flat tire. Why? It’s been sitting in a garage. You haven’t driven anywhere! Why do your car tires keep going flat?

Like every component on your car, there are a variety of reasons your tires could be flattening between uses.

Puncture

Have you inspected your tire to ensure nothing is in it? Often, a sharp object embeds itself into the tire and punctures it, leaving a slow leak in its place. Nails, shards of glass, bits of metal, and more can sometimes hit the rubber just right as you drive over it, and leaves a tiny hole. This can be a slow leak, or cause your tire to go flat in a matter of hours.

While a lot of this debris is difficult to avoid as you’re driving down the road, do you best to avoid situations where you know your risk is higher. Head around construction sites. Leave enough space between you and the person in front of you so that you can make split decisions. It can save you from having to buy new tires before their time.

Age

Like every part on your vehicle, your tire is only designed to last for so long. Rubber degrades over time, even if you don’t use your car as frequently as you used to. (That’s also why you should inspect your spare tire regularly too.)

Of course, not every tire is created equal. Because different manufacturers use different materials in their final product, the life of your tires depends on the type of tire you select.

Even if a tire is never used, it still succumbs to the effects of age. As rubber ages, it stiffens and cracks. They can be difficult to see, even close up, which is why it can develop a slow leak without you knowing where it’s coming from.

As a tire ages, it weakens and develops slow leaks. It will appear flat even if it’s sat for an extended period of time. If a tire gets too weak, it runs the risk of a blowout as you drive. A low tire, no matter how flat it appears, is worth investigating further to ensure your safety.

Valve stem

The valve stem is the tiny tube that sticks up from your tire. You unscrew the cap when you need to add air. Even though this valve stem is set back in the middle of your wheel, it’s still at risk of being damaged as you drive. If you knick it while turning a corner, for example, it can puncture it and allow a slow leak to develop.

Like your tire, the valve stem can only last for so long. It can corrode from use. It can wear down with age. It can clog from dirt and debris. And as this occurs, it can develop a crack and allow your tires to lose air.

Dry Rot

The older a tire is, the more susceptible it is to deterioration. A lot of that is from wear and tear. Dry rot can also occur, which is the natural deterioration of rubber.

You may be used to dry rot in an old tree stump in your backyard. It’s similar in rubber too. As rubber is exposed to different elements in day to day life, it slowly starts to wear. Cracks and flaking can be caused by things like:

The extreme temperature variations we frequently face here in Colorado
The mag-chloride we use on the roads in wintertime
UV damage from our intense sunshine
Long periods of sitting without use

Inspect your tires regularly to catch potential problems that might impact your driving.

Tire bead

Sometimes your tire won’t hug the rim of the wheel the way it should. This connection is known as the tire bead, and can cause slow leaks if not properly connected.

The tire bead is the rubber edge that attaches to the rim of the wheel. It’s made of a metal-reinforced rubber compound that is specifically designed to help hug the two pieces together. It seals it into place to prevent problems as you drive.

If your tires aren’t installed properly, it can cause a slow leak. This is almost always the case if you’ve recently purchased new tires. Bring your car in and have it inspected to get to the root of the problem.

Vandalism

Depending on where you leave your car throughout the day, vandalism can occur. One of the most common acts is simply letting the air out of the tire. After accessing the tire for damage, the situation is easily remedied by inflating it once again. The best way to avoid vandalism is to be aware of where you park your car.

Monitoring system

In a lot of cases, drivers are alerted to a flat tire through their monitoring system. On the dashboard, the tire pressure alert icon turns on, alerting you to a potential problem. If you’ve checked all four tires and they appear to be inflated correctly, it might be a problem with your monitoring system.

The tire pressure monitoring system is designed to warn you when tire pressure is low. A malfunction with the sensors is possible due to a variety of factors, including faulty wiring, weak batteries, or improper sensor programming. One of our mechanics can ensure your tire pressure meets your vehicle’s standards, and if the dashboard light is still on, we’ll run it through diagnostics to determine where the real problem lies.

Road hazards

Even if you are a careful driver, always aware of your surroundings, road hazards can pop up that are out of your control. When you hit a pothole, swerve to miss unexpected debris, or bump a curb as you’re turning, it can cause damage to your tire, and result in a flat tire.

Not all tire problems can be fixed. Sometimes your best solution is to purchase a new set of tires.

We’re here to help you navigate it all. Whatever questions you have about your vehicle – from a flat tire to your transmission system and more – we’re here to help you and keep you on the road, safely, no matter what the road conditions entail.

Keeping Your Car Battery Charged When You Don’t Drive a Lot

April 7, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

As a society, we’re busy, busy. It’s hard to imagine surviving in Denver without the use of a car. We start it, stop it, and start it up again as we drop the kids off at school, drive to work, head out to a meeting, stop by the store, and run to a friend’s for dinner plans.

They might only be short trips of twenty miles or less, but we rely on our cars to go at our beck and call.

Yet times are changing.

Maybe you’re like one of many who has decided to move in from the suburbs. Urban living is your thing. You’ve invested in a condo right in the heart of the city to make your life easier. You walk to shops and restaurants. You work from home – who needs a car during the week? So your vehicle sits there in its space, only ready and waiting for when you decide to roadtrip it for a little time away.

2020 has also taught us that the world can stop on a dime. Suddenly, we can go from our normal routines to staying in place overnight. Your car can sit there week after week, never starting up.

Which brings up the question: What does it take keeping your car battery charged if you don’t drive very much?

If you search online, you’ll find a host of answers.

One site will tell you to start it up every few days and let it idle in the driveway or parking space for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. Another tells you you’ll have to drive it to get the full benefits of keeping your battery healthy and charged. Still another says today’s technology has improved enough, you really don’t have to worry about your battery much – just start it up once a month.

What do you believe?

How a car battery works

Even if you don’t know much about cars, you probably realize that a car battery is different from the battery you pop into your television remote, or into your smartphone.

The purpose of a battery is to translate chemical energy into electricity. A battery is made up of cells that hold chemical energy. When a connection is made, it moves stored chemical energy into electricity. That’s what powers up your devices.

Car batteries are a bit different as they rely on a lead-acid chemical reaction. Most vehicles come standard with an SLI battery, which stands for starting, lighting, and ignition. Instead of a steady stream of electricity, it provides short bursts of energy to power up your engine and jolt it into life.

If you were to look under the hood of your car and find your battery, you’d notice that it’s made up of six cells. Each cell has two plates attached, one of lead, the other lead dioxide. Each cell produces about 2 volts of energy. Six cells – two volts – that makes it a 12 volt battery.

These plates are submerged in sulphuric acid, providing a catalyst between the two to trigger a chemical reaction. Electrons race around each plate and generate electricity. It flows out of the battery terminals and into various parts of your car. Like the starter to kick your engine into gear. Or your headlights or radio.

Why car batteries die

Your car battery dies for one of three general reasons:

Problems with your car battery
Electrical system problems
User error

If you run your vehicle properly and on a regular basis, keeping your car battery charged isn’t something you have to think much about. But over time, that changes. And that’s where problems begin.

Leaving the lights on – if any interior lights or your headlights stay on for an extended period of time, they drain the battery down.

A weak battery – batteries only last three to five years. The older it is, the weaker it is, the easier it can stop working.

Extreme temperatures – too hot or too cold conditions further weaken a battery, especially if it is already weak from age.

Corroded or loose connections – if the battery isn’t connected properly, or there is corrosion on the connections, it can weaken the battery.

Keeping a car battery charged

All of these lead us back to understanding why your vehicle may have trouble keeping a car battery charged.

Your car is designed to run. It’s designed to have the engine started, taking it out on the road, and having each system operate to its fullest capacity while you make your way from place to place.

Your vehicle has thousands of parts that all work together to keep your car running well. When a piece isn’t working at its optimal level, it compromises the system. And that’s when your problems begin.

The battery is the key to making sure everything works. When you turn the key or press the start button, it kicks all of the systems into gear. But it isn’t everything. It may start the engine, it may start gas flowing, but it doesn’t allow each part to perform its job.

That only comes when your car moves.

And that’s the reason it’s important to operate your vehicle once in a while.

Idling your car in the driveway is bad for two reasons. First, you’re not really using the battery as it’s designed. It doesn’t recharge it, so it actually weakens the battery overall.

Second, as the engine runs, gas combines with air through combustion and creates water vapor. If you don’t move your car and allow it to heat up through movement, that water vapor sits there and can start to damage many other parts.

What you should do to keep your car battery properly charged

Starting your car battery regularly doesn’t have to be a long process. Schedule it like you do other home maintenance projects, every few weeks is sufficient. Once you start it, operate it as intended. Drive ten to twenty miles to really give it a chance to work.

This charges the battery and removes water vapor. It also moves every part, keeping potential problems at bay.

Keeping your car battery charged when you don’t drive very much isn’t difficult. Just make plans every few weeks to save yourself the headache of having your car not operate when you need it most.

Car Maintenance When You Aren’t Driving Your Car

April 3, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

How many miles have you put on your car during the month of March?

The current headlines say it all. One recent article in the LA Times stated “Eerily empty freeways: A symbol of how coronavirus has hurt Los Angeles.”

Of course, it’s not just in LA. Satellite images show airports, ports, and highways deserted as lockdowns soar.

New problems are popping up daily. Like having to control street racing.

And we’re experiencing things most of us have never experienced before. Hello, #StayHomeSounds.

Unless you are an essential employee, chances are you’re currently working at home. And staying at home. Day after day.

That means your car is staying at home too.

Before the coronavirus, a low mileage driver was someone who put less than 600 miles on their car each month. They might do so for a variety of reasons, including:

They are retired and don’t leave home often
They work from home
They use public transportation regularly, reserving their cars for weekend use
They are part of a carpool
They have more than one car, and limit driving one for special occasions – think a convertible for summertime weekend use

For the past month, even that 600 miles may seem high. Your car sits there in the garage or out on the street. And it doesn’t move.

Is that okay?

What happens when you don’t start your car

A vehicle is designed for operation. It’s made up of a variety of systems that are designed to move. Fluids are designed to move through the parts. Gears are designed to turn. Parts are designed to warm up.

And when that doesn’t happen, a whole host of other problems begin.

Keep in mind, it’s more than just starting your car. Batteries slowly lose their charge when they sit. If you start it for a minute and turn it right back off, it drains the battery further. You have to drive it for several miles after starting it to ensure the battery has a chance to recharge. This gives all the systems a chance to kick into gear and engage, including the transmission system, the brakes, the suspension, the climate control system, the power steering, and all the intricate hoses, seals, and joints to have proper flowthrough to ensure they are working well.

With your digital devices, you’re advised to let the battery drain fully before recharging it and topping it off. But a car battery doesn’t work that way. They are all about short bursts of energy. Their goal is to burst the car into life, then recharge and wait for the next time it’s needed. When you turn the key or push the ON button, a car battery converts chemical energy into electric energy. It delivers enough power to start the engine, and enough power to turn on many of a vehicle’s accessories, like the lights.

What else can happen if you don’t drive your car?

The tires can start to lose pressure, especially during cold weather. It slowly drains and begins to flatten. And as the weight of the car continues to press down on the tires, it can cause flat spots to develop with the rubber touching the ground. When you finally take your car out once again, these flat spots will be noticeable as you drive.

Moisture can start to form in the gas tank, especially if it hasn’t been filled up. It can also build in the oil and cause corrosion.

And then there are those pesky rodents that are looking for a new place to nest. They can easily find their way up underneath the hood, or even in exhaust outlets. And when rodents make a nest nearby, they chew. They can disconnect wires and chew through hoses and other parts made from organic materials.

What should you do to keep your car operating well while you aren’t driving?

Let’s start with the most basic of care – bring your car in so one of our mechanics can give it a thorough inspection once every six months. Surprised? That’s just one of the reasons we’ve been deemed an essential business during the coronavirus lockdown. It’s more important than ever for you to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive in case of an emergency. And a simple inspection will help ensure that.

Change your oil regularly. While most oil service stations tell you to replace the oil based on mileage, it should also be changed based on age. Pull up the dipstick at least once per month and check the condition of the oil. If you notice it changing from its original golden color into something darker, it’s time to change the oil.

Walk around your car and inspect it regularly. Look for signs of furry friends making a home somewhere on your vehicle. Now is the perfect time for them to be building nests. Don’t think your car is safe because it sits in a garage. Rodents can easily slip in through cracks, or scurry in when you have the door open.

Drive your car at least ten miles once per month. Don’t just ride to the grocery store, pop onto the highway and get it up to speed for at least ten minutes or so. Plan out a circle, drive there and back. This will keep all the fluids flowing properly and your car running smoothly.

Schedule a car maintenance appointment today

Depending on the age of your car, you might know something needs to be replaced. Have you been nursing your brakes along? Or know you need work performed on your climate control system before the heat of the summer kicks in?

Why wait? You don’t need your car right now. It’s the perfect time to get those car maintenance items done and off your plate.

We’re open for business. We’re here to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly no matter how much you’ll be driving it in the days and weeks to come.

What other car maintenance questions can we answer for you?

Suspension Failure

March 30, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of driving down the road and suddenly, the back end of your vehicle collapses. A possible cause is that something in your suspension failed. Suspension components gradually wear out – you may not even notice the ride and handling slowly getting worse. But a sudden suspension failure is unnerving and will often leave you unable to drive your vehicle.

A broken spring can cause your suspension to drop suddenly. There are different types of springs, including coil springs, leaf springs, and air springs. Most vehicles these days use coil springs, and they look just like you think they’d look: a coiled-up metal spring like what you’d find if you took apart a ball point pen. Coil springs fail from rust (thanks to brine and road salt), trauma (think potholes, speed bumps, curbs) and just plain metal fatigue.

Leaf springs are often used in larger vehicles such as trucks and large SUVs. The design has been around since the early days of carriages, and they are designed to handle heavier loads. Since leaf springs are made up of metal plates stacked together, rust and fatigue are common causes of failure.

Another type of spring that can suddenly fail is an air spring. Air springs are rubber bags that hold pressurized air. They have an air compressor, and air reservoir, and height sensors. The advantage of an air suspension is that you can adjust the ride height, level loads, adjust handling characteristics, and lower the vehicle to make it easier to get in and out.

Eventually, the rubber in an air spring can rot out, or the airbag can be punctured causing the air to leak out all at once. Not only can the corner of the vehicle with the failed air spring drop suddenly, but it’s also possible for the entire air system to lose air, allowing the vehicle to drop. Plus, compressors, solenoids, air lines, and sensors can also fail.

Your Express Car Care technician can check your suspension components for rust, metal fatigue, cracks, or other worn or failing components. If you notice that your ride quality and handling is deteriorating, have us check your suspension.

What If Your Car Isn’t Shifting Right?

March 22, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

There are a few problematic issues with your car that are easy to diagnose. If you forget to put gas in the tank, you’ll recognize the familiar sputter as your car chugs to a stop on the last fumes. You’ll also see the warning sign blinking at you on your dashboard.

Other systems can be more difficult to diagnose. When your car isn’t shifting right, for example, it could be a number of problems. Most likely it’s a sign of a problem with your transmission system.

What happens when your transmission starts to fail

Wouldn’t it be nice if your car sent out warning signs as each piece began to fail? It does.

Let’s say you take your car out for a drive on the weekend. Maybe you head into the hills for a day of skiing, or just a short drive to the park to play a game of softball with a few friends.

Halfway there, your car starts making a whining noise, so you slow down. Or maybe you pick up speed to head up a hill and your car suddenly revs up and bucks.

Then you notice your car doesn’t shift quite right. Maybe it’s more difficult for you to put it into gear. Or maybe you hear a clunk or even a whir as the gears attempt to move as you drive.

What could it be?

If you’re like most drivers today, you head online and do a little research. That’s probably how you got here.

Very quickly, you start to build a picture of what could be wrong. Gears. Transmission. Very expensive … And your mind shifts to a variety of different questions.

Could it be that my car has a blown transmission?
How did it happen?
Was there a way I could have prevented it?
How much will it cost to repair my transmission?
Is it worth it? Or is it time to look for another car?
What are my options?

We’re here to point you in the right direction.

When an automatic transmission is working correctly

Before we get into the warning signs of why your car isn’t shifting right, let’s talk about how the transmission is designed for your vehicle.

Like other systems in your car, the automatic transmission uses a combination of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulics to make the system work.

The mechanical system is designed for functionality. It helps the high engine speed and the slower gear speed synchronize to give you a smooth drive. The electrical system provides sensors to ensure proper gear selection and position. The hydraulic system uses fluid to ensure proper gear positioning. They work together to ensure the automatic transmission flows efficiency every time you get behind the wheel.

What are the signs of transmission failure?

At the first sign of failure, you’ll find your car tries to warn you something is wrong. If you ignore it and the situation worsens, your repair bills rise, until finally, you might have to replace the transmission altogether. You should watch for:

The transmission warning light – luckily, today’s cars have dashboard lights for everything. Don’t ignore them when the little lights pop on. They give you ample time to make your way to a service station.

The car isn’t shifting right – when an automatic transmission transitions smoothly, you don’t pay any attention to how it operates as you speed up and slow down. That changes when it starts to have problems. You’ll notice the movement. You’ll hear it, feel it, sense it.

The gears change position for no reason – when you’re driving at a stable speed, you’ll notice the gear moves for no reason, causing a jolt in your driving patterns. It may slip from a gear to neutral, creating an unusual sound from your engine.

A fluid leak – the hydraulics in your transmission system need hydraulic fluid to operate correctly. This shouldn’t leak. If you notice a puddle of fluid underneath your vehicle, it can be a sign something is wrong with the transmission system. To distinguish it from other fluids your car uses, the transmission fluid is a clear red, sweet smelling liquid, though it may darken if it’s bad.

Delayed gear engagement – you press down on the accelerator and expect to go. Only it doesn’t, not right away. There’s a delay as the gears take extra time to move and connect. There’s a pause, your car lurches forward, bucks as it tries to respond.

What is the cost of fixing a transmission problem?

To fix your transmission, it boils down to parts and labor. That’s difficult to estimate without bringing your car in and having it evaluated.

Yet it’s important to note that for every day you continue to drive your car, ignoring the problem, the damage continues to worsen. What once was a simple fix may now be difficult – and expensive.

It may be as simple as replacing the fluid. Of course, if you wait until eventually, you’re stuck with a blown transmission, the repair bill can quickly add up.

Any indication that your vehicle isn’t shifting correctly should be dealt with quickly to avoid bigger problems.

While simple repairs like changing out the transmission fluid may only need a day in the shop, the act of replacing a transmission will take longer, allowing two full days or more.

Of course, the easiest way to budget your time and your costs for the project is to bring it in for an estimate. Only then can we provide you with all of your options.

Do you think your vehicle might have a problem with its transmission? Have you noticed your car doesn’t shift right, yet you aren’t quite sure what’s wrong?

Trust us to help diagnose the problem, and provide you with the best way to move forward with your car. We look forward to serving you with all of your car needs.