The PCV valve is a little, inexpensive part that does a big job for Thornton and our environment here in Colorado. PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from…

Many people hear the term “oxygen sensor” and figure it must have something to do with sensing oxygen. But they don’t really know much beyond that. Let’s break it down; your vehicle has an oxygen sensor in the exhaust manifold that measures how much un-burned oxygen there is in the exhaust. The sensor reports its…

The cooling system in an engine has five components: the radiator, the radiator cap, the hoses, the thermostat, and the water pump. The water pump is literally the heart of the system. Just as your own heart keeps your blood circulating through your body, the water pump keeps coolant circulating through your engine. The water pump…

Question What can I do to improve my fuel economy? Answer There are many things you can do – some of them are easy.  One of the first things you should do is make sure your tires are properly inflated.  A plate that says the correct tire pressure is on the inside of the driver’s…

As you know, your vehicle has factory-scheduled maintenance items. These range from oil changes to timing belt replacement to brake inspection. These recommendations are usually made for certain mileage or time intervals. For some vehicles, certain recommendations are clustered around major intervals like 30,000/60,000/90,000 miles (50,000/100,000/150,000 kilometers). Following factory-recommended service goes a long way towards…

Suspension systems should continue to operate effectively for many years and tens of thousands of miles/kilometers, holding your tires’ footprint on the road. Eventually, components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth Colorado highways, your…

A driver recently noticed that her garage had begun to smell like gasoline after she parked her vehicle inside. Her Check Engine light had also just come on. This was something she’d never experienced before. So, she called up her NAPA Service Advisor and asked what was causing it. The answer, of course, is that…

Question: My headlight lenses are all cloudy. I checked with my Thornton vehicle dealership about replacing them and it is very expensive. What else can I do? MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE Answer: You are right – replacing a headlight assembly can cost hundreds of dollars. Luckily there is something Thornton citizens can do about cloudy headlamps. First, let’s…

When the weather gets hot, some of the components of your vehicle are pushed to the limit.  Here are a few things to watch out for as the mercury climbs higher: Your vehicle’s air conditioning (A/C) system.  You might notice it’s blowing only hot air, even though when you last had it on in the…

We rely on our brakes to safely slow and stop our vehicles. You’ve probably had the experience where you’ve slammed on your brakes and started to skid. When your wheels are locked up, you are just sliding over the road. And if the road is wet or slick or covered with gravel – you really…

Distracted driving causes a lot of motor vehicle accidents.  Well, according to one study, twice as many are caused by people not using their turn signals. Drivers have a lot of excuses for not signaling.  About a quarter of drivers in one survey said they were just too lazy to do it.  Others think they…

You’ve just taken your vehicle in to figure out why the air conditioning isn’t working.  Do you remember a friend of yours just had to get a new evaporator, and your service advisor has told you it’s the same part that needs to be replaced in your vehicle?  But when you hear the estimated price…