Gene's Car Tips - Page 2 of 47

It’s Kind Of Like…

Your vehicle’s health systems are a lot like our own personal health. Really!

Clogged Filters – When your filters get full of debris, they can’t do their job. Like how a person with asthma must feel. Cabin air filters protect you and your passengers from contaminants such as pollen, mold spores, dust and other small and annoying particles. Oil filters extend the life of your engine, transmission and differential fluids.

Sludge – This is actually a gooey, tar like substance that deposits itself inside your car’s engine, similar to a clogged artery. Motor oil, in addition to lubrication, protects your engine from excessive heat. When engine oil fails, sludge deposits are the result. Some engines have more trouble than others due to poor design. Their passages are smaller and oil actually bakes inside the engine.

Smoke – We all know by now how bad smoking is for us. When your car has a smoking issue, it is actually sending you an SOS – “Help me!”

Black exhaust smoke means the engine is burning too much fuel. The first thing we check is the air-filter and other intake components like sensors, fuel injectors and the fuel-pressure regulator.

Blue smoke is a clear sign that the engine is burning oil. Likely the valve guide seals or piston rings are worn out, and oil is penetrating beyond the moving parts being lubricated, into the combustion chamber where it’s being burned up with fuel.

Gray smoke can mean that your car is burning oil or suffering from a bad turbocharger. With older cars, automatic transmission fluid can get sucked into the engine through the vacuum modular or could simply mean a stuck PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve.

Certified Automotive Specialists
“Always Glad to Help”
Vermont 626-963-0814 or Route 66 626-852-0908

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You Shock Me!

Shock absorbers and struts take one heck of a beating – so we don’t have to! Less than perfect roads, miscellaneous bumps, having to stop quickly and going around corners, we pretty much take them all for granted when our equipment is working properly.

I would like to recommend that you take some time when you are out driving around to notice a few things about your vehicle. If your car is bouncing a bit after you hit a bump in the road, is nose diving after you brake or is swaying in corners, you need to have your shocks replaced.

Owners’ manuals tell us they need to be replaced every 30,000 to 90,000 miles, depending on our driving habits. That is a wide range!

Struts basically perform the same function as shocks except they also are an integral part of your suspension system. When you are out and about in your car and notice the above symptoms as well as noise when you go over bumps or turn corners you might also have an alignment situation.

Bad shocks and struts also cause wear and tear on tires and other suspension components. Finally, shocks and struts may give you another warning when they are ready to be replaced. They leak fluid all over your new garage carpet!

Make sure your shocks and struts are ready for whatever condition the roads you drive on happen to be in and whatever else your car may need, with Certified Auto Specialists your vehicle will always be ready to go when you are!

The Importance of Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are essential components in internal combustion engines, serving the crucial function of igniting the air-fuel mixture in the engine’s cylinders. Here’s why they are necessary:

Ignition: Spark plugs produce the spark necessary to ignite the air-fuel mixture within the engine cylinder. This ignition starts the combustion process that generates the power needed to propel the vehicle.
Efficient Combustion: Properly functioning spark plugs ensure efficient combustion of the air-fuel mixture. This efficiency translates to better fuel economy, smoother engine operation, and optimal performance.
Engine Performance: Spark plugs play a significant role in maintaining engine performance. Worn or faulty spark plugs can cause misfires, rough idling, reduced power, and poor acceleration.
Emissions Control: Efficient combustion, facilitated by properly functioning spark plugs, helps minimize harmful emissions produced by the engine. This is crucial for compliance with environmental regulations and reducing the vehicle’s carbon footprint.
Engine Longevity: Regular maintenance of spark plugs contributes to the longevity of the engine. By ensuring that the combustion process is smooth and efficient, spark plugs help prevent damage to engine components caused by incomplete combustion or misfires.

In summary, spark plugs are essential for the proper functioning, performance, and longevity of internal combustion engines. Regular inspection and replacement of spark plugs as needed are vital aspects of vehicle maintenance to ensure optimal engine performance and efficiency.

Always check your owner’s manual or ask your favorite auto shop to see when they need to be replaced. Turbo charged engines might need a 30,000-mile change, while some are 60, 90 or even over 100,000 miles. At any rate, don’t forget your spark plugs.

Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Warmer Days?

Hot summer days are coming our way. Many of our customers’ thoughts are turning to…air conditioning. At Certified Automotive Specialists we get countless calls asking us how much it costs to fix. There is no one simple answer to this question but I’ll give you some industry-wide estimates so you have something to go on. Generally, if you drive an older vehicle it will cost more to fix because the parts will be harder to find.

Testing the A/C System:
A technician must test the system to determine what is wrong with it. This requires a test for leaks and an inspection of the parts such as the compressor, condenser, hoses, and valves. The most help a consumer can be is to give as much information about when the condition occurred.

Evacuating & Recharging the A/C System:
This is the most common fix of the A/C system. Refrigerant will naturally seep out over 3 to 5 years and will need attention.

Leaking Hose:
We use a leak detection unit to test for leaks.

Compressor Failure:
This is the most complex of all to fix and will be the costliest. The compressor is the pump that keeps the Freon flowing.

Replacing the Complete System:
The cost of this is determined by the make and model you drive. Usually this occurs when someone tries to save money and adds the off the shelf sealer as a quick fix, it always causes grief later.

Trust The Experts

Working on air conditioning systems is not easy. The system itself is built in and around your car’s engine making it difficult. Specialized equipment is required and a technician that is certified in this area is a must. In some countries it is illegal for a non-authorized technician to work on A/C systems. A non-experienced technician can inadvertently cause problems and contaminate the environment.

These prices are not set in stone but an industry-wide average. We will have one of our certified technician give you an estimate after they have diagnosed your vehicle.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

The Cost of Owning a New Vehicle Climbs Significantly!

AAA has released new figures that boggle the mind when it comes to owning and operating a new vehicle. Take a look!

2023: $34,876 average sticker price 2022: $33,301 average sticker price

2023: $1,015 a month own/operate 2022: $894 a month own/operate

2023: $1,253 annual finance charge 2022: 90% lower annual finance charge

It is interesting to note that new vehicles are projected to depreciate $4,538 per year over a 5-year period. This is an increase of 24% over 2022.

It is believed that the global supply chain issues and a reduced inventory of new vehicles has contributed to the cost increase. Manufacturers are also concentrating on producing larger vehicles with many extra features, and all that costs more for the consumer to purchase and to operate.

We just wanted to share these numbers with you in case you are in the market for a new vehicle. It is always good to have the latest figures so you can make an informed decision.

While it’s awesome to buy a new vehicle, we suggest evaluating your existing vehicle to see if it might be better to keep it VS buying that new one. It’s always better to keep your vehicle if you like it, it suits your needs, and the condition and mileage are within reason. We can help you to decide if it’s cheaper to keeper.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Electric Vehicle Owners – Beware!

It seems that criminals have come up with a new money maker…stealing the charging cables that power the electric vehicles. The cables themselves are very expensive and they can resell them for that alone. They are also filled with copper, which is a big money maker for thieves.

Electric vehicles that are left alone to recharge are easy targets. All a criminal has to do is unplug the cable and take off. What can you do to protect your investment? The police have recommended the following:

– If your EV is being charged outside your home, try to use a padlock on the electric wall socket that you plug the cable into.

– The best way is to always plug the cable in your locked garage, but some don’t have a garage.

We hope this article makes you more aware so you can protect your vehicle from these criminals.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Damaged Lug Nuts

Lug nuts don’t get a lot of attention from the average vehicle owner…unless you have a flat tire. If the lug nuts are clean, no problem. If they are rusty or warped, it won’t be easy to remove them. Lug nuts are made of two different metals, steel (the nut itself) and chrome (the cover). Rust can build up between the two and that causes the issue.

Many drivers find themselves stranded on the side of the road when they get a flat tire, because their lug wrench simply can’t fit on the lug nut anymore due to swelling. Lug nuts are, of course, supposed to last the life of the vehicle but if you can’t get a flat tire off, it becomes problematic.

We suggest you let your automotive technician remove the lug nuts for you as we, of course, have the proper equipment to do so. We don’t want you to damage your tire. We can also replace the damaged lug nuts, so you won’t experience the problem again.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Something To Consider

The cost of new cars is high! Here is something to keep in mind. Keeping and maintaining your existing car could be a great investment! The average cost of service for most cars is $800 to $1200.00 per year.

Consider these facts:

Just 8% of new cars on the market right now cost less than $30,000. That’s down 38% from before the COVID pandemic began in 2020.

In 2017, the average cost of a new vehicle was around $35,000. Today, it’s nearly $50,000, according to CNBC. 10% of all vehicles sold cost more than $70,000. That is an increase of 7% from five years ago.

According to an Edmunds report, the average price for used cars are 44% higher than five years ago. Thankfully, the price has dropped 6.4% in the first quarter of 2023.

Interest rates are also hammering buyers of both new and used vehicles. The average annual percentage rate (APR) on new vehicles bought in the first quarter of 2023 jumped to 7%, compared to 4.4% a year before. This is the highest level since the first quarter of 2008.

“Consumers paid an average monthly payment of $730 for new vehicles in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $656 a year ago, according to Edmunds. For used cars, consumers paid an average monthly payment of $551, a slight increase from the $542 they paid last year,” Fox reported.

Monthly payments exceeding $1,000 has hit a new record. 65% of auto buyers who have $1,000 monthly auto payments have an average loan-term range of 67 months and 84 months, with their average APR rate between 8.5% and 9.6%.

There are better ways and worse ways to spend $1,000 per month on a vehicle.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!