Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Serpentine Belt

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Question:  My car repair shop said I need a new serpentine belt, but I don’t see any cracks in it.  Does it really need to be replaced?

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

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

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

Using a special tool, your knowledgeable service adviser can measure the material lost in your serpentine belt.  He will indicate if it needs to be replaced.

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

A worn belt tensioner can cause the belt to slip and not do the job it’s suppose to do.  Running too long with a worn belt, tensioner or idler pulleys causes excessive heat at the accessory pulleys, resulting in inefficiency, damage and premature replacement.

Express Car Care can perform tests to see if your serpentine belt is worn and should be replaced.  Ask your service adviser if it’s time for a serpentine belt system replacement

Car Vent Cleaning

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Do you ever get musky odors coming from your car’s air vents?  It’s a fairly common experience for Denver drivers.  Moisture can accumulate in the air conditioning/heating ventilation system allowing mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria to grow.

Disinfecting and deodorizing is a process.  Depending on how serious the problem, there are a couple of approaches Express Car Care may take to get rid of the unwanted smells.  For mild situations (especially on newer vehicles)  a special deodorizing disinfectant is introduced into the ventilation system.  This may be an aerosol or a mist application.

The treatment kills the offending organisms and deodorizes the system.  Sometimes in older vehicles, a good deal of mildew or other microorganisms can grow on the air conditioning evaporator, which is housed in the heating/air conditioning air blend box behind the dashboard.  In this situation, the blend box is filled with disinfecting foam that can eliminate stubborn organisms and return a fresh, clean scent.  In all of this, don’t forget your cabin air filter.  This is the filter that cleans the air coming into the passenger compartment of your vehicle.

Denver residents can have the cabin air filter replaced to eliminate unpleasant odors.   This is the first line of defense.  Changing the cabin air filter as needed can actually prevent further contamination problems down the road.  If you are experiencing any unusual odors, sounds, or vibrations, talk to your knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser.  He can recommend the needed steps to discover the problem and what it will take to set it right.

Air Conditioning

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Let’s talk about air conditioning service and repair issues today.  Most of us in Denver don’t give our air conditioning a second thought – just as long as it’s making cold air.  But it’s a complex and expensive system that we should think more about before it starts blowing out hot air.

The refrigerant in the air conditioner contains a special oil that lubricates and cools the A/C parts.  When enough refrigerant leaks out, your air conditioner still makes cold air, but the parts don’t have enough oil to protect them and they wear out faster than they should.  That’s why it’s so important to service the air conditioner as recommended by your service center.

Replacing old refrigerant has another benefit:  refrigerant tends to gather moisture and become corrosive.  That causes leaks in the system which can be expensive to repair.  Fresh refrigerant protects the air conditioning components and keeps the system operating at peak efficiency so it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you cool.

Even with regular service, A/C parts can just wear out.  Normal wear and tear eventually affects all moving parts.

Addressing early problems can save on more extensive repairs down the road.  For instance, a common failure is the clutch that turns the compressor on and off.  If you can take care of a bad A/C clutch when it first starts having problems, you may be able to save the compressor.  But if you wait too long you’ll have to replace them both.

Check your owner’s manual or ask your service adviser for service recommendations.  And if you are hearing strange sounds when your air conditioning turns on, or if it just isn’t as cold as it used to be, have us give it the once over and see what it will take to keep you cool.

Question on Your Cooling System

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Express Car Care Question:  I was driving down the freeway in Denver and smoke started coming out of my car.  I pulled over and called my husband.  I had to be towed to my mechanic.  He said my car had overheated.  What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future?

Express Car Care Answer:  It sounds like you had a rough experience.  Unfortunately, overheating is the most common engine problem in Denver.  It’s also one of the simplest to prevent.

The basic idea is this:  you need to keep enough coolant/antifreeze flowing through your vehicle’s engine to keep it cool.  Problems come up for drivers when they develop leaks in their cooling systems – like in the radiator or a hose – and the coolant leaks out.  Sometimes the coolant gets so contaminated that it blocks up the radiator so the coolant can’t get through.  Too much of that and you can’t help but end up broken down on the side of the road.

Your owner’s manual recommends a schedule for coolant replacement.  That’s because your coolant actually becomes corrosive over time and starts to eat away at the cooling system, causing leaks or blockages.  Fluid that was once beneficial to your engine becomes damaging.  New coolant puts an end to that process.

Ask your knowledgeable service techs at Express Car Care about inspecting your vehicle cooling system for leaks, spongy hoses and other damage.  If it’s time to replace your coolant, hoses or other cooling system parts, have it done right away.  Prevention is the key to your cooling system question.

Simple Answers: Windshield Wipers

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Question:  When should I replace my windshield wipers?

Express Car Care Answer:  Well, most Denver drivers wait until they fail.  The problem with that is that you find out they have failed when you actually need them the most – than it’s a little too late.

Wiper blades are really a safety system for Denver drivers.  As you can imagine, 90% of our driving decisions are based on what we see.  If you can’t see well because your wipers can’t clear your windshield, your ability to make good decisions and drive safely is significantly impaired.

So the simple answer – Denver drivers should change their windshield wipers if they don’t work well, but replace them before they go bad so they are always ready when that unexpected storm hits.  For some drivers, once a year may be enough.  For others, those who drive a lot, or their wipers are exposed to a lot of sun or they use them more often, replacing the blades a couple of times a year might be a better plan.

There are several types of wiper blades.  The conventional blade is the base model.  On the other end of the spectrum are beam blades.  These have a solid beam that provides uniform pressure over the entire wiper surface for better contact with the windshield.  There are also hybrid blades that are a combination of the conventional and beam blades.

Upgraded wiper blades last longer and provide a cleaner wipe.  Drivers can always upgrade but should never go with a lower grade blade than what was installed on your vehicle from the factory.

Finally, there are special winter blades.  The special design of winter wiper blades resists snow and ice build-up in the blade.

Remember, using your windshield wipers on an icy windshield will tear them up.  Scrape your windshield before running your wipers.

Your knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser can give you wiper blade options and help you select what’s best for you and your vehicle.

Express Car Care Takes Care of Your Car’s Suspension

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As you all can imagine, if most of your driving is done on smooth highways and roads, your car’s suspension will last a lot longer.  But I’m sure you know that most roads and highways are anything but smooth, they’re usually extremely rough, especially with all the road construction that is taking place.  As drivers, we are always trying to avoid potholes and other hazards in the road.  These conditions can wreak havoc on your car’s suspension.

After so many years and miles of hazardous driving your vehicle’s suspension system components will wear out, but how long that takes depends on how well you take care of your car’s suspension.  In addition to wearing out, a car’s suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock on a bumpy road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends periodic inspections.  During an inspection, your knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs for drivers that shocks or struts are wearing out:  the vehicle’s tires may have a cupped wear pattern.  This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly.  Drivers may notice a floating or drifting sensation when cornering.  If the front of your car dives excessively when stopping or rocks back and forth after you stop, your shocks may be worn out.  And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come see us at Express Car Care in Denver for a suspension inspection, also if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your vehicle’s wheels.  Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well.  If your car’s suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let Express Car Care take care of your car’s suspension.

When drivers replace their vehicle shocks, it’s usually best to replace all four at the same time.  That provides more even handling.  Be sure to consult with your service adviser because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all of them may be the safest bet.

Water Pump

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Let’s talk water pumps for vehicles here in Denver.  The engine in your vehicle is cooled by coolant/antifreeze mixed with water.  This mixture circulates around the engine, absorbing some of the heat.  The coolant then flows through the radiator where air cools it down for the return trip back through the engine.  Your vehicle’s water pump is what drives this process.

Cooling system problems are the number one mechanical failure in Denver.  So the water pump plays a pretty important role.  You can’t get very far without a water pump.

After all the distance and years of pumping coolant, water pumps just wear out.  You might notice a whining or grinding sound coming from the water pump, or you might see coolant leaking from the pump itself.

The precise location of the water pump varies depending on the vehicle.  Some vehicles have the water pump attached to the outside of the engine where you can see it.  With these, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt.

Some vehicles have the water pump that is driven by the timing belt.  The timing belt cover often hides the water pump when it’s set up this way, so you can’t see the pump without removing the cover.

When you have Express Car Care replace the water pump on one of these, you really should replace the timing belt at the same time.  We’ve already gotten things taken apart and it’s very likely the belt has been contaminated by coolant.  Timing belts usually need to be replaced at similar intervals anyway, so it makes a lot of sense to do both jobs at once.

The opposite is true too; when you change the timing belt on this type of engine, replace the water pump while you’re at it.  The water pump will eventually fail and getting to it is an expensive project.  For not that much more you can take care of both the timing belt and the water pump at the same time.

Come in and see us if you think you can use our services for your water pump.

Wheel Alignment

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Denver drivers ought to be concerned about wheel alignments for two primary reasons:  safety and money.  When your wheels are out of alignment, they can pull to one side, sometimes severely.  One moment of inattention could put you into on-coming traffic, a curb, or off the road.  And an improper alignment will chew up your tires very quickly when you’re driving on freeways and surface streets.

One of our customers said the wheels on his vehicle were a little out of alignment before a family vacation, but he didn’t think it was that bad, so he didn’t take care of it before he left on his trip.  A couple of days and a lot of highway driving later and his front tires were worn down to the cords.  He had to take a half day out of his mountain vacation to find a town large enough to have a tire center so he could get replacements.

All four wheels are supposed to be lined up and pointed in the same direction.  Sometimes one or more goes out of alignment and is pulling against the rest of the team.  In addition to excessive tire wear, this also hurts fuel economy.

Part of the alignment service is an inspection of the steering and suspension components.  Whatever caused the wheels to be knocked out of alignment in the first place may have also damaged important parts.  So we want to be sure to replace broken or bent parts as needed.  The process corrects alignment of each wheel along three axes:  toe, camber and caster, as well as front to rear alignment.

Your vehicle owner’s manual may have a recommendation for how often alignment should be checked.  If not, ask your helpful service adviser.  Here are some things to look for that should be a warning that you need to get in for an alignment check right away:  Your vehicle is pulling to one side, your steering wheel isn’t centered, you feel a vibration at higher speed or you see unusual tire wear.

Better Service, Better Fuel Economy

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Many of our customers would like to know how they can improve their fuel economy.  At Express Car Care, we help drivers keep their vehicles running in prime condition which makes them more efficient fuel-wise.  When your car works the way it was designed to work, it will use less fuel and you save money.

To help organize our discussion, we’ll mention the things that rob us of fuel economy in two ways:  increased friction and inefficient fuel combustion.

Friction:  Anything that increases friction increases drag or load on the engine.  The engine has to work harder to overcome the drag – and that eats up more fuel.  The first thing that can cause drag on the engine is low oil. Low oil means there isn’t enough to fully lubricate the engine and that increases the friction.

Using the wrong viscosity and grade of oil can also adversely affect fuel economy.  Talk to your helpful and knowledgeable service adviser about the right kind of oil for your vehicle.  Dirty oil won’t lubricate as well as clean oil.  The same principles apply to transmission fluid as well.  Getting your oil changed and transmission serviced on a routine schedule will reduce friction and save you money on fuel.

You might want to consider upgrading to synthetic oils in your differentials, engine and transmission to reduce friction.  Another friction related factor is under-inflated tires.  When tires are low on air, it’s like driving through sand – the engine has to work harder to move every mile.  Drivers should check or have their tire pressure checked at least once a month.

Sticking or binding brakes can also put a drag on your vehicle and can hurt fuel economy.  A simple brake inspection at Express Car Care can uncover potential problems.

Let’s move on to Fuel.  A dirty fuel system has varnish and gum interfering, and the fuel injectors may be unable to deliver the correct amount of fuel at the right pressure and in the spray pattern that the engineers intended when they designed it.  A fuel system cleaning will get all of that working correctly and will improve your fuel economy.

Your spark plugs also have to be functioning properly, so replacing worn spark plugs will help your vehicle burn its fuel efficiently and will save you money at the pump.

 

Heater Core

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You may have wondered where the warm air in your passenger compartment comes from.  Well, as your engine starts to warm up, it also warms the coolant/antifreeze that circulates around the engine and through the radiator.  There is also a hose that carries coolant/antifreeze from the engine to the heater core and another one that takes it back into the engine.  The heater core looks like a little radiator and lives in the air blend box behind the dashboard.

When you turn on the heat, air blows over the heater core which warms it and then blows it into the cabin.  Some vehicles have a heater valve that directs coolant through the heater core when the heat is on and bypasses the heater core when the heat is off.  In other vehicles, the temperature of the air is controlled within the air blend box by how much air is directed over the heater core.

The engine cooling system also encompasses the heater core.  Things that adversely affect your radiator will also harm your heater core.  The coolant/antifreeze contains corrosion inhibitors that coat the surfaces inside the cooling system, including the heater core.  When the corrosion inhibitors are depleted, the cooling system can become corroded, filled with contaminants and may even start to leak.

There are several signs of a leaky heater core:

  • First you may notice a sweet smell from your vents.  This is coolant leaking out and getting into the air.  You may even see vapor coming out of the vents and notice a film building up inside the windows.  Of course, breathing coolant vapors isn’t good for you.
  • You may also see coolant on the driveway.  Depending on the design of your vehicle, you may even get coolant leaking out into the foot wells of the cabin.

Coolant/antifreeze leaking out through the heater core means that the overall coolant level in the system will be low and the engine is in danger of overheating – which is the most common cause of mechanical breakdown.

The good news is that the things you do to protect your cooling system also protect your heater core.  Changing your coolant/antifreeze as directed by your vehicle manufacturer or on the advice of your service technician will help ensure your coolant has enough corrosion inhibitors working to protect the system.  Also, quickly repairing any leaks and inspecting hoses for signs of internal breakdown will help keep things from becoming an emergency.

Talk with your service adviser at Express Car Care about when a cooling system service should be performed.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks