Your car battery is the center of your car’s electrical system. That is why when it dies, as annoying as that can be, the power to all of the accessories within this system go too. These accessories include the power windows, power locks, head lamps, radio, antenna, and much more. The system itself is made of the alternator, spark plugs, battery, headlamps, and windshield wipers. And although some components may seem more important than others, all are vital to the optimal performance of your vehicle. No one wants to make a huge investment in a vehicle, only to drive it around town with some systems working, and others not.

A dead battery or a complication in the electrical system can put a damper on anyone’s day. A cheap battery can do this more frequently. When you get battery service from a trusted repair shop, be sure they use quality batteries upon replacement. Otherwise, your dead battery will be killing your plans more often than it should be. Heat, not cold, shortens battery life, says the Car Care Council. Excessive heat and overcharging are thus the main reasons for shortened battery life. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the internal structure of the battery. This could be one reason for electrical system issues.

Other electrical system issues include loose connections, short circuits, broken connnectors, worn wiring, etc… Intermittent failures can be difficult to diagnose, but with a little persistence the problem can be detected and repaired. A car wiring system is made up of many smaller systems that can communicate with each other when needed. Automotive service can be helpful in diagnosing electrical system failures better than unfamiliar drivers.

Additionally, it is very important to note that many electrical problems can cause a fuse under the dashboard to blow which will require the fuses to be replaced in order to actually fully repair the electrical problem. Without replacing the electrical fuses, you are not going to be able to determine fully if the electrical problem is corrected. Common maintenance on your vehicle can also monitor and diagnose any problems.

Lastly, the number-one alternator killer is a battery that’s on its last legs; the alternator has to overwork to keep it charged. If your battery is 5 years old, find reliable auto repair in Mesa or Tempe to have a battery service performed today. Today’s auto electrical systems are getting more intricate and are stressing the limits of current technology but they are basically the same design as 30 years ago. After all, no one wants to find themselves stuck with a dead battery in the hot Arizona sun.

Cooling system failure is the most common mechanical failure in vehicles according to one automotive source. Fixing it can range anywhere from a miniature cost to very expensive. It is an important part of vehicle maintenance  to regularly check and replace coolant and have inspections on your cooling system. Regardless of the cost of fixing your cooling system, it can still be an avoidable inconvenience for any driver.

Before you can look for or recognize any problems with your cooling system, it is important to know its basic features which are a radiator, fan, water pump, thermostat, a sensor or two, an overflow tank, water, coolant, and a series of belts, clamps and hoses to connect it all together and make it run. The system works by directing fluid past the hottest parts of your engine (the cylinder heads and valves), then redirecting that fluid out to the radiator, where the heat collected from the cylinder heads gets dissipated into the cooler atmosphere. Then, the flow repeats itself.

What could go wrong? A number of things could potentially happen within the cooling system but preventative maintenance  and a trusted auto repair shop you could avoid major issues and expenses. For example, the system can spring a leak. If you notice that your vehicle is running warmer than usual, park it, turn off the engine, and look underneath. Do you see a greenish-looking fluid on the ground underneath your car? If so, open the hood. Any funny noises? A leaky cooling system on the boil will make a distinctive whistling sound, like a teakettle getting ready to scream. Likewise, if the fan kicks in but the temp continues to climb, you may have a bad thermostat.

Most cooling system repairs are not going to break the bank completely, but are not good for the vehicle to be left untended. Discovering and fixing a leaking radiator, a faulty hose connection, a sticking thermostat or other cooling system component that’s on “borrowed time” can save the life of one’s engine.  Additionally, overheating can damage valve guides, scuff pistons, crask cylinder heads, and crush head gaskets. Get your vehicle in for some preventative maintenance and a cooling system inspection today before your vehicle loses it’s cool.

Having the proper air pressure in your tires is a crucial part of ensuring the safety of yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. After your brakes, your tires are the next most important safety feature of your vehicle. It is important to be sure to have your tire pressure checked during all preventative maintenance services on a monthly basis. Incorrect tire pressure will compromise cornering, braking and stability. And in the worst-case scenario, improper tire pressure can lead to tire failure — and a serious accident. Incorrect tire pressure also will affect your comfort, fuel economy and tire life.

If tire pressure is too high, then less of the tire touches the ground. This means your car will bounce around on the road. And when your tires are bouncing instead of firmly planted on the road, traction suffers and so do your stopping distances. You’ll also feel a decrease in ride comfort. If tire pressure is too low, then too much of the tire’s surface area touches the ground, which increases friction between the road and the tire. As a result, not only will your tires wear prematurely, but they also could overheat. Overheating can lead to tread separation which could also lead to a serious accident. One sign of low tire pressure is if your tires squeal when cornering.

You need to check your tire pressure even if your tires aren’t leaking. Why? Because tire pressure also changes with the temperature outside. Preventative maintenance saves lives – or accidents, repairs, or excess wear at the very least. Have you ever checked your own tire pressure? Here is a mistake many people make:  don’t rely on the pressure listed on the tires themselves, that’s actually the wrong place to look. The number on the tire is the maximum allowable air pressure — not the recommended pressure for that tire when used on your particular vehicle. Go to your car’s owner’s manual.

Even if you have no known problems with your tires, check your vehicle’s tire pressure seasonally or before you head off on a road trip. When you bring your car in for service or preventative maintenance, ask your mechanic to check the tire pressure, although most auto repair shops will do this as part of their courtesy check. Your tire pressure monitoring system warning light goes off when a tire is 25 percent under inflated. If your recommended pressure is 32 psi, 25 percent below means you are at 24 psi; which is severely under inflated. At that low pressure, your safety is at risk, your fuel economy is hurt, and your tire is wearing out too fast. Get your pressure checked each month by a trusted repair shop and stay safe.

So you go out to the driveway, turn over the ignition, and your car won’t start. What could it be? The battery? The engine? The gas you bought? It could be a number of things related to your engine and knowing what your engine does and troubleshooting with your trusted repair shop could help figure it out quickly and save you money. After all, no one knows your car as well as you on a daily basis.

First, a bad fuel mix can occur for several reasons. These include being out of gas so the engine is getting air but no fuel, your air intake is clogged so there is fuel but not enough air, the fuel system might be supplying too much or too little fuel to the mix and combustion does not occur properly, or there might be an impurity in the fuel. Second, there could be lack of compression. This may occur because your pistons are worn, the intake/exhaust valves are not sealing properly and allowing a leak during compression, or there is a hole in the cylinder. Third, there is a lack of spark or a weak spark. If your spark plug or the wire leading to it is worn, the spark will be weak. If the wire is cutting or missing, or if the system that sends down the spark isn’t working, the spark could also be weak. If the spark occurs too early or too late in the ignition timing cycle, the fuel will not ignite at the right time.

Or, if the battery is dead, you cannot turn the engine over to start. If the valves do not open and close at the right time or at all, air cannot get in and exhaust cannot get out, so the engine cannot run. If you run out of oil, the piston cannot move up and down freely in the cylinder, and the engine will seize. Engine parts that are worn may have been saved with regular oil changes.

Most mechanical failures can be traced to neglected maintenance. Having your oil and oil filter changed is likely to generate the single biggest return on your routine-maintenance investment. Replacing the dirty oil and filter will help protect the internal parts of the engine from premature wear. The regular oil change also establishes a benchmark of when your car’s maintenance needs are to be met. For instance, every third oil change can be the point at which the tires need to be rotated. Also, your recognition of what fluids had to be added may serve as the first warning sign that one of the systems is leaking. The need to repeatedly add coolant may indicate a leaking water pump, for example. According to thecarconnection.com, “the oil change provides the technician a chance to easily look for undercar problems. These would include torn CV boots, broken exhaust parts, or problems with the transmission or differential. Anything that’s broken, loose or excessively worn is in clear sight.” This makes oil changes less of a hassle when you know that it is worth the time. Visit a trusted auto repair shop and focus on the health of your car engine.

With the summer driving season coming into full swing, it is painful to hear that gas prices will continue to increase without an end in sight. What is even more painful is the amount of money we dish out at the pump and could be spending on so many other things. Every driver can name something they would rather be spending their hard-earned money on than gasoline. So what if there was a service out there that could really help your fuel mileage? Not just those driving habits we always hear about, but an actual service done by a reliable auto repair shop that could help improve the performance and gas intake of your car? Would you look into it? We think everyone should!

Air induction services are aimed at getting your vehicle into optimal performance, even when it comes to fuel economy. Heat causes build up of carbon and varnish in your vehicle’s engine, and the crusted deposits act as a sponge soaking up fuel and restricting air flow. The results are poor engine efficiency, high stress on critical engine components and higher levels of toxic emissions.

A well-performing vehicle doesn’t use more gas than it needs to be because it runs smoother and easier among the many systems involved. Fuel or air induction services will eliminate deposits which accumulate on intake valves, injectors, ports, fuel injectors, and combustion chambers that cause loss of power, rough idling, misfire, pinging, knocking, hard starting, and especially poor mileage. The best solution is to clean the throttle body, clean plenum, and air intake, clean intake valves and ports, remove combustion chamber deposits, and correct the balance of fuel and air in the system.

Not every auto repair shop performs this service, but those who do can save you quite a bit of money down the road and get your vehicle to it’s peak performance. Air induction service is advised on a regular maintenance basis of about 30,000 miles, but is often especially effective with vehicles operating under severe driving conditions. Likewise, it is recommended when your vehicle is not performing properly, hesitating or exhibiting signs of emissions problems. In order to improve fuel economy, reduce environmentally damaging exhaust emissions, and restore the great fun of like-new driveability to your vehicle, consider an air induction service. Better gas mileage means more money in your pocket.

Perhaps you’ve heard about cars that are able to adjust their own speed to the car in front of them, or avoid accidents by swerving or braking to avoid collisions with other cars or objects? It’s becoming more and more common, and it sounds like FUN!  I came across an article this week that described some of the more recent advances in self-driving cars.

Of course, some question the safety of these driverless cars, but when you look around at the number of drivers around you on the East Valley freeways eating Big Macs, shaving, fiddling with their GPS, or texting their friends – wouldn’t it be good if at least the CAR was paying attention to where it was going??  Nevada has already passed laws governing driverless vehicles and Continental Automotive Group is headed there to conduct extensive testing. To convince Nevada lawmakers, Continental’s engineers racked up 10,000 miles of autonomous driving, including the trip to Las Vegas from their testing center in Michigan. Over 90% of the trip happened without a hand on the wheel or a foot on the pedal. Continental has designed the software to successfully handle two of the most stressful and least enjoyable driving conditions – stop-and-go traffic and long, boring stretches of highway.

The goal of these fancy machines? To reduce accidents, traffic congestions, and fuel consumption. Other benefits are pretty exciting too:  The age and state of the driver does not matter and parking is a non-issue when the car can drop off its passengers and drive home!

Yes, it sounds pretty sci-fi, but it’s happening, and it’s happening quickly. While the semiautonomous car is still a couple of years from production, a large portion of the safety technology is already on the market. And, it’s not just one or two mad scientists out there – Ford, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Cadillac, and GM have all joined in on the research and development.  The current test car, a Volkswagon Passat has a stereo camera in the windshield to monitor the road for speed bumps and dips, and a long-range radar in the front grille and short-range radars on the corners to capture details of the surrounding environment to command the car to steer, brake, and accelerate appropriately.

Of course, being your mechanic, we think the best part is that your car could bring itself in when it wants an oil change or its tires rotated! Wouldn’t that be something? Imagine your car dropping you off at the office and heading off by itself to take care of those preventative maintenance things that it is so hard to fit into your schedule. It will certainly be interesting to see what the future unfolds…

For years, cars and driving have been associated with air pollution, burning fuel, and destroying our environment. While there is a lot of truth to that, it doesn’t have to be all that bad. State emissions programs have a made a huge difference in getting the smoke-belching beaters off the road – and keeping the rest of us on the up-and-up too – and modern vehicles come equipped with anti-smog devices to help with everyday exhaust. That’s not all, though! There is much you can do, short of purchasing a new alternative fuel car that can make a difference. A few minor adjustments to our driving habits and vehicle maintenance can make a vast difference to the environment, and in our opinion, to your trust in and enjoyment of your car.

Here’s a few pointers to get you headed in a green direction:

1. Keep your car’s engine running at peak performance. Fuel efficiency can be cut by as much as 30% by something as small as a misfiring spark plug.
2. Keep your tires aligned and properly inflated. This will increase your fuel consumption and prevent excessive wear to your tires.
3. Find a good mechanic who is ASE certified. These professionals have passed rigorous exams in areas such as engine performance and air conditioning.
4. Allow only certified technicians to service your air conditioner. Improperly handled, or not recycled, refrigerants could result in ozone-depleting chemicals being released into the atmosphere.
5. Change your driving habits! Don’t speed. Avoid sudden accelerations. Don’t allow your car to idle for more than a few seconds. Consolidate your errands to eliminate miles.
6. Lighten up. If you don’t need everything including the kitchen sink with you, don’t take it!
7. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, be responsible when disposing of fluids and batteries.
8. Choose an auto repair shop that cares about the environment. Many are going green now too.

We live in a city, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be dirty. Let’s all do our part to keep it green and clean.

In recent years, used vehicles have become more reliable and are a better option for buyers who want a good vehicle for less money. Automakers have improved their products lately, making used vehicles good option for a longer time. This information comes from Consumer Reports from Market Watch in a new article  published in late February. With every passing year, buying a used car becomes less of a gamble according to a new analysis by Consumer Reports. “The analysis of 2011 survey data revealed an overall improvement in used-car reliability from almost all automakers with Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler showing the most notable gains (a minimum of 10 percentage points) compared to Consumer Reports’ 2002 results.” But even with these notable improvements, there is still a gamble with the possibility of buying a lemon. In this Consumer Report, they offer valuable tips for buyers to avoid buying a lemon. This is important information which could save thousands of dollars in the long run. The last tip just might be the most important for any buyer.

It is recommended that a buyer, or even better – a trusted repair shop, closely inspect the vehicle before buying it. First, choose a model or a reliable brand to reduce your chances of any major problems when you first buy the car. Check the vehicle for signs of collision and major repairs. Look for any body panels or doors which don’t match the rest of the vehicle, and check for signs of painted pieces. Flood damage is something a buyer should also look for. Scents of mold or mildew and discolored carpeting or upholstery are tell-tale signs of bad water damage. Likewise, it could mean electrical issues. Check the fluids for leaks, wet spots, texture, and color. All of these can tell a story.

But that isn’t it. The Consumer Report also recommends looking at the smoke and checking out the color. According to the article, “Blue smoke from the tailpipe indicates that the engine may be burning oil. Billowing white smoke indicates water in the combustion chamber, usually because of a blown head gasket, damaged cylinder head or even a cracked block – all expensive repairs.” Likewise, “If the engine revs excessively before the car accelerates, it may indicate a misadjusted or worn-out clutch or damaged automatic transmission.” This is a costly problem if you don’t inspect it first. Check the vehicle’s history. A vehicle history report from CarFax or Experian Automotive can alert a buyer to possible odometer fraud; reveal past fire, flood, and accident damage. Unfortunately, these services don’t catch everything, so it’s no guarantee that a car is problem-free. Finally, get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic which will check all of the things mentioned above, and give you more insight into any recalls the car may have had or anything else you should consider. While buying a used vehicle does seem to be a good option for many Americans, it is always important to look towards a trusted repair shop for some guidance. To read more from this article, click here.

What’s the one thing worse than going to the dentist? Probably anything to do with your car! Everyone knows that going to purchase a new car, you’re going to get ripped off. Likewise, every time you must take your car to a mechanic, you wait with gritted teeth for the bill. Why is it that everything to do with cars feels like such a gamble? Probably because it is to a slight degree – many folks really don’t know when it’s the exact time to trade it in for a newer model, whether you can get another 1000 miles out of those tires, or if that noise is just an annoyance or if it’s really getting ready to conk out on you. Over and over we hear stories of unscrupulous car salesmen and mechanics who tell you that your car simply won’t make it around the next corner – you have to buy a new car or replacement part TODAY. Unless you are in the know about cars, it’s enough to make anyone feel a little vulnerable. That’s why we think it’s so important to find a auto repair shop you can trust BEFORE anything goes wrong with your car.

So, where do you start? First, ask your co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations. You’ll get a varied list of business names, probably some that they like, and some that you should stay away from. Then, take that list and visit the Better Business Bureau’s website. Find the ones that are BBB Accredited and have the highest rating. Take into consideration any complaints that others have filed – could these same things happen to you? Once you’ve narrowed your search a bit, pick up the phone.

Call the mechanic you are considering using. Are they friendly and helpful? Do they offer complete explanations of their services, or are you left feeling like you needed to know the secret magic words to get the answer you were looking for? Do they work on your specific type of car? Are they ASE certified? What other affiliations to they have that lead you to believe they are knowledgeable and trustworthy?

Finally, when you select a garage, don’t be afraid to demand thorough explanations of what work they will be doing. Ask, ask, ask. The more you know about your car and your mechanic, the less likely you are to unnecessarily part with your money. When the time comes for a car repair, demand a written estimate for parts and labor. According to Arizona law, once you receive an estimate, the facility may not charge you more than 10% above the estimated costs without your prior approval.

Of course, it takes a little homework on your part, but it’s worth it knowing that when you pick up your car, it will be properly repaired and there will be no surprises. That’s why we don’t just have customers at our garage – we have friends. We like talking to you about your car. We like answering your questions. We like having you stop by just for a visit. We want to be your friend in the auto repair business!

It can happen anywhere. In the driveway, at the grocery store, at your sister’s wedding. It can happen anytime, day or night, and as close or far away as it happens. That’s right, a dead car battery. As we find ourselves getting closer to the Spring Break road trip, it is critical to have your car battery checked by a trusted repair shop to find out if the charge and condition of the battery is good enough to handle the journey. Nothing kills the excitement of a road trip as much as car problems, especially a dead battery. But the good news is that there are some tell-tale signs that your battery might be dying.

Now heat, not cold, shortens battery life, says the Car Care Council. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the internal structure of the battery. According to another website, “A battery is necessary for starting up a car. The battery is charged by the alternator while the car is running, storing up the electrical charge necessary to start up the car hours or even days after it was last used. A car battery that is dying will not hold a charge as well as it once did and there are several warning signs will appear that indicate the battery is dying.” First, starting your vehicle will be problematic if you have a dying battery, especially after the car has been resting for many hours. If the car struggles to turn over but eventually does without a problem, it is probably the battery. If the battery has an extremely low charge, there may be only a clicking noise when you try to start up the engine, but the car will not start. Also, dimming headlights can also be an indication. If the headlights fade while the car is being started or just after it has started, the battery is dying and needs to be serviced or replaced. Third, another way to tell if the battery is dying are the electrical accessories. “If the battery is very low, some or all of the electrical accessories will be sluggish. The windows will roll up and down slower than normal, the radio may not be very loud, or the dashboard lights will be dim. If the electrical accessories do not come on at all, the battery is completely dead and needs to be charged or replaced.”

Usually a trusted repair shop can bring your car back to life with battery services which may include replacement, inspection, sealing, and much more. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of you have your battery checked every two years or so, and have it checked before a long road trip. This may be the most common car problem, but doesn’t have to be the most annoying. To keep your battery life going strong, one auto website suggests that you maintain your vehicle, fix faulty car parts which demand more of the battery, do not leave the car running idly for long periods of time, sit in severe cold or sever heat for long periods of time, and do not leave the lights or the radio on unnecessarily for too long. Taking a trip is fun, but ruining a trip with a dead battery is not.