General

Question My friend just had a very expensive transmission repair.  How can I avoid transmission trouble? Answer Next to your engine, your transmission is the most expensive component in your vehicle – so you want to do all you can to avoid transmission repairs. You may have noticed a trend of engines becoming more and…

When we drive, it’s important for us to be able to see well. That means, of course, keeping the glass in our vehicles as crystal clear as we can. If you’ve ever driven your car directly into bright sunlight, you know dirty, scratched, or fogged windows can render you almost completely blind. Not a good…

Let’s talk about air conditioning service and repair issues for the Thornton, Colorado area. Most of us in Thornton don’t give our air conditioning a second thought as long as it’s making cold air. But it’s a complex and expensive system that we should think about before it starts blowing hot air. The refrigerant in…

Under-inflated tires waste gas.  Think how hard it is to walk in sand – you must work harder because of the resistance.  When your tires don’t have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased, and it simply takes more gas to get where you’re going. Always check your tire pressure when you…

Think of how much technology has changed vehicles in the last several years. And there’s a lot more coming. Many will remember when drivers were the ones who had complete control of several driving functions: steering, braking, and skid and accident prevention, just to name a few. Thanks to computers, high-tech systems in the vehicle…

It is pretty amazing how auto makers have been able to consistently build more powerful engines in vehicles that get better fuel economy while at the same time meeting increasing environmental standards.  One of the little miracles that helps make this happen is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve.  The EGR valve routes some exhaust…

Some new vehicle manufacturers are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. As much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles or more.  Following these recommendations is very important to avoid engine damage.  When you go too long between oil changes, oil starts to turn to sludge.  This causes small oil…

When your vehicle doesn’t start, the first thing you think of might be the battery.  That may be the culprit, but it also might be that your alternator has gone bad. An alternator sends power to your vehicle’s electrical systems and accessories like your entertainment system, charging ports, and so on.  Any extra electricity goes…

Most people don’t service their air conditioning until after it fails.  Maintaining your AC system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job.  Small leaks in the air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can’t cool the air as well. Along with the refrigerant, a special oil…

We’ve all heard a car or truck in our Thornton neighborhoods that needs a new muffler. But there’s more to the exhaust system than just the muffler. The exhaust system has three main functions: Safely get hot exhaust gas from the engine out the tailpipe Treat the exhaust to remove harmful pollutants Muffle the engine…