CAR CARE TIPS BLOG

These days with the rising cost of new vehicles, many drivers are wanting to keep their current vehicle for as long as possible while also avoiding expensive repairs. Do you know how often car maintenance is needed? The service manual that came with your vehicle (you may find it at the back of the glovebox) has a complete list of the manufacturer’s guidelines for vehicle maintenance. This list will include such things as the interval for oil changes, brake repair, transmission flush, and replacing belts, plus more that you should be aware of!

But in addition to the typical vehicle maintenance items listed in the manual, your vehicle can always use a little extra attention. Take a look at the list of easy maintenance items below. If you follow these tips, you not only ensure that you are driving as safely as possible, but you will know if something doesn’t look or sound right. You will then know it is time to get your car into your auto shop for a thorough inspection.

You’ve almost made it through the hot days of summer with your diesel vehicle. But all of a sudden, it is getting harder and harder to start your diesel engine, but yet you dread having to face a diesel repair. Did you know that hot temperatures can present a different set of problems than cold temperatures when it comes to diesel engines. For example, cold weather requires a different grade of fuel, the glow plugs could accumulate a lot of carbon and go bad, and the oil can become cold and thick.

So why can a diesel engine be hard to start in hot temperatures? The following may be some issues that are causing starting problems:

Your car’s air conditioner has been working hard through these hot summer days! Because there is still a lot of warm days ahead, it is smart to have your car’s AC inspected to make sure it will survive until cooler weather arrives! Because the compressor also runs together with your car’s heating system don’t wait until the cold days of winter are here before you think about getting the AC system checked out.

You may be wondering what causes the car AC to stop blowing cold air? There are several reasons that could lead to costly auto AC repair. First of all, the air conditioning is subjected to the extreme heat of the engine. If it isn’t working properly or has enough coolant in the radiator, you’re the compressor and the engine can quickly overheat. Add to that exposure to road debris and dirt, constant vibrating, hard stops, and possibly even hitting a curb. All of this stress can add up, causing small cracks to form in the compressor, or the connections to work loose, leaving tiny spaces for the refrigerant to leak out.