MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: First of all – your vehicle does have a differential. If it’s a rear wheel drive, your differential is on the back. If it’s front wheel drive, your differential is built into your transaxle (transmission). Thornton drivers with all wheel drive or four wheel drive will have differentials front and rear and…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: New tires are a big ticket item for most Thornton drivers. You’re not only concerned about the price, but you want to know that it’ll be a long time before you need to buy new tires again. And of course there’s the safety aspect as well. The tires do a lot of…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some and is totally ignored by just as many.  Just what it means is a mystery to most of us. First, if your check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: Let’s talk about cabin air filters. There seems to be some confusion about them in Thornton that we should be able to clear up. Much of the confusion starts because cabin air filters are relatively new. Not all vehicles in Thornton have them, so some people confuse their cabin air filter with…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: Signs of brake problems often fall into one of two categories for Thornton vehicles: making noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal. Let’s start with the noise. Most brake pads have an audible brake wear indicator. This is a small piece of metal that rubs on your brake rotor when the…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE One possible cause of the problem is a worn axle. Front-wheel drive vehicles have axles that transfer power from the transmission to your front wheels. There is one for each front wheel. These axles are called constant velocity axles or CV axles for short. Rear-wheel drive vehicles have axles that are in…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: When that car battery finally gives up the ghost and it’s time to replace it – you have options.  First let’s be clear that you should always get a replacement battery that meets or exceeds your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.  But you may have some special needs. When they first put the battery…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: Your alternator makes electricity to start and run your engine and all the electrical systems in your vehicle. That’s everything from the on-board computers to the turn signals. And of course, there is the entertainment system, seat heaters, power windows, and everything you plug into the power outlets. After your alternator makes…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: When Thornton drivers’ wheels are properly aligned they all point in the same direction. When they are out of alignment, most Colorado drivers notice a couple of things. First the vehicle pulls to one side when driving. It could be slight or pretty severe. If your wheels have been out of alignment…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE: As engine technology advances, recommended oil change intervals have gotten longer. High quality oil in a well-engineered engine has led to extended intervals. Here’s the problem: With longer oil change intervals, it’s for Thornton to follow them closely. Back in the day of 3 months or 3,000 miles (4,500 kilometers), if you…

Most in the Denver area may not know much about transfer cases, but if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, you’ve got one. It makes sure you have power available for both the front and rear axles when driving around Colorado. For example, if you have a rear-wheel drive SUV, power goes to the rear wheels until you need four-wheel…

Thornton drivers push a few buttons or turn some knobs, and voila! They have air blowing on their feet or cool air chilling their face. But how does all that happen? Well, it’s all thanks to the air blend box. This box lives behind your dash and helps direct the right temperature of air where…