Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Car Maintenance Tips For Your Older Car

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I have an older car. What type of car maintenance tips can you offer to make sure my vehicle stays in top shape? I’m not ready to jump into a new car, so I want to keep my older car in the best shape possible.

We’re hearing a lot of this these days. Instead of replacing a car on schedule every three to four years, people are pushing the window of ownership, and are choosing to keep their older cars an extra year or two. Not only will it save you money on monthly payments, but it also can save you on insurance rates as well.

Keep a car maintenance log
Keep a small spiral notebook and pen in your glove compartment, and keep track of all of your car related maintenance. You may also want to record your gas fill-ups and mileage – a reduction of mileage can be an early warning sign of a future problem. Also use the same service location for all your car maintenance items – they will track your maintenance and be able to monitor potential problems along the way.

Take the time to clean your car thoroughly
Clean your car inside and out. While everyone likes a clean car on the outside, the inside is just as important. Clean off the magnesium chloride from your wheel wells and undercarriage, which Colorado uses to keep the streets ice free in the snowy months.

Fix and fill your washer fluid tank
With Colorado’s variable weather patterns, you may notice a cracked washer fluid tank on an older car. Fix immediately, and keep it filled with plenty of window washer fluid, especially on those cold, slushy days.

Check your tires regularly
Ever find one of your tires missing the tire valve cap? It may cause your tire to leak. Tire valve caps keep out dirt and moisture that can cause leaks over time. Also make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires create excessive heat and stress, and lead to failure in a much shorter period of time that the manufactures expected life. Check your tires periodically for uneven wear and proper tread, and make sure you rotate your tires on a regular schedule.

Car Maintenance Checklist

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As we move from spring to summer, now is a great time to perform regular maintenance to the things you use the most. Because we rely on our vehicles every day, rain or shine, it’s a good idea to put it at the top of your list.

Here is a car maintenance checklist that will keep you car running smoothly and efficiently, no matter what the time of year.

Once per month

  • Check your car’s oil level. Add oil if running low.
  • Check your tire pressure. Add air as appropriate.
  • Inspect your tires as you check the pressure. Make sure they aren’t leaking, wearing in an uneven pattern, or damaged.
  • Check your coolant or antifreeze. Add if running low.
  • Check your windshield washer fluid, and add more as needed, especially during high use months.

Once per quarter

  • Change your car’s oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Check your air filter and replace as needed.
  • Check battery, brake, transmission and power steering fluids. Add fluid if its running low. Also watch for patterns of low fluids, as it could be a sign of something wrong with your system.
  • Check hoses, belts and cables. Clean if corroded, and replace when you notice worn, frayed or brittleness.

Once per year

  • Replace the wiper blades to avoid brittleness and smears.
  • Check headlights, brake lights and turn signals. Replace bulbs as appropriate.
  • Check the spare tire to make sure it’s fully inflated.
  • Inspect the brakes for signs of wear or damage.
  • Inspect shock absorbers for wear or oil seepage.

While this checklist should be followed routinely, add in extra checks if you are planning long road trips to ensure your family is safe along the journey. Checks and maintenance before you leave can prevent costly mishaps along the way, saving you time and money.

Oil Change Specials

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Regular maintenance is a part of the life of your car. If you do just a few things on a regular schedule, you can avoid larger problems down the road.

And at the top of the list of the regular maintenance schedule is the oil change.

Changing your oil regularly prevents the formation of sludge. Fresh oil is used within the engine to clean away dirt particles, keeping them from settling onto the engine. With regular changes, the particles are removed before they begin to cause a problem.

In the same manner you visit your doctor for a routine checkup once per year, the auto industry has established the once every 3,000 miles oil change guidelines. This provides you with a regular interval, and helps extend the life of your engine.

Different dealers and auto repair shops offer different services when you purchase an oil change. Here at Express Care, we offer our Express Care Full Service oil change, and include:

  • Drain and refill with Conventional oil, High Mileage oil, or Synthetic oil.
  • Install a new oil filter

Plus we check and fill the following:

  • Lubricate your vehicle
  • Transmission fluid
  • Power steering fluid
  • Battery water
  • Windshield washer fluid
  • Antifreeze/coolant
  • Differential fluid
  • Transfer case fluid
  • Tire pressure

Right now we’re offering oil change specials – to help you save even more.

Transmission Troubleshooting

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Your transmission is the one piece of equipment that is multi faceted.  It controls everything from shifting your car from gear to gear, to controlling how fast you are going. While you may never change out a transmission or spend time learning how it works, there are some tips to help you with transmission troubleshooting, and knowing when its time to call in a mechanic.

While there are many pieces that make up a standard automatic transmission system, all transmissions have a few basic parts.

  • The bell housing, or metal case that sits underneath your car
  • The gears
  • The transmission fluid
  • A filter to keep the transmission operating properly

You’ll usually notice a problem with your transmission in one of two ways. Either your car will simply stop, or it starts running roughly. These two problems are generally caused by:

  • Low fluid level, which causes your car to shift poorly, and can eventually lead to transmission damage.
  • A leak within the system. This is usually easy to spot as transmission fluid has a red tint.
  • A clogged filter, limiting the cars performance.

Because of the many parts associated with a transmission, and the specialized tools you’ll need for troubleshooting and fixing, it’s usually left up to a professional. A professional understands what can be causing the problem, and can usually spot the problem quickly. They will test a variety of things before moving on to a rebuild or replacement.

Spring Cleaning – Air Conditioning Repair Before You Need It

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It’s springtime. And here in Colorado, that means you may be using your heat in the morning, and the air conditioning by early afternoon. Instead of waiting for the days to turn from warm to hot, plan now to have your auto air conditioning repaired.

With an older car, several things can impact the way your air conditioning operates.

  • Lack of airflow
  • Low Freon
  • Overheating

The air conditioning system is made up of the air conditioning compressor, and different sized metal and rubber hoses and valves that allow the Freon to move within the system. As the Freon expands and contracts within the system, it gets very cold. As it makes its way into the car’s dash area, it moves through an evaporator much like a small radiator. A small fan sits in the evaporator core, blows air across the core and out through the vents of your vehicle.

Just a simple check now can ensure you have the long hot summer in a cool comfortable car. The first place to check is the Freon levels. There are two types of Freon – the older type R12 that you’ll find in older cars, and the new environmentally friendly R134A Freon. If your Freon is low, it may be as simple as adding more to your system.

It’s also a good idea to check out the hoses and valves to make sure they are in good working condition. Even the smallest leak can turn into a big problem on a 90 degree day.

And finally, it important to check out the working condition of the compressor and the cooling fans near the condenser.

By checking in with your local repair shop now, you can save the waiting time when you need it most. And catch small problems that ultimately are lower in cost today, and won’t turn into big expensive problems tomorrow.

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How To Determine When It’s Time For Shock Replacement

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If you are a regular at any car repair shop, chances are you’ve seen the ads for shocks and struts. But without taking your car in for a check up, is there a way for you to determine when it’s time for shock replacement on your car?

Different manufacturers of shocks and struts provide different guidelines for their products. Many mechanics will tell you it’s not as cut and dry as it is with oil changes and spark plugs. Instead, it depends on the circumstances of your driving habits, and the overall characteristics of your car. Instead of relying on mileage as a test, its more important to know the habits of your car.

Start with the “bounce test”. A bounce test is easy to perform: simply apply pressure to the body or bumper of the car to bounce the car. If the car continues to move up and down more than a time or two after release, the parts are showing wear and should be replaced.

You can also notice your cars behavior. When you drive on rough roads or hit a bump, does it bounce excessively? Does the nose dip down when breaking? Is it easy to bottom out the suspension when backing out of the driveway or hauling extra passengers or cargo?

Any of these could be a sign your car is in need of a shock replacement.

And driving on worn out shocks can be a hazard over time. Worn out shocks and struts may cause your stopping distance to increase, especially on rough surfaces. It can have an impact on your driving capabilities, especially in adverse conditions. And they can cause damage to your tires prematurely, meaning you’ll have more expense than is truly necessary.

[Express Care is a family owned auto repair shop in the Denver Colorado area that offers a variety of services, including shock replacement. Conveniently located at Evans and I-25, we look forward to doing business with you.]

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

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