Gene's Car Tips - Page 5 of 47

Have A Smooth Ride? Thank Your Suspension System!

**By Gene Morrill**
Maintenance is easy to schedule. Breakdowns are not.

Most people don’t worry about their suspension system until it stops working properly. When this happens it is very obvious as you feel like your car has a mind of its own!

The system is a spring-like structure attached by the sides of the wheels and enables the frame to hold the weight of the body. It maximizes the friction between the tires and the road surface. This provides steering stability, good handling, and comfort. The average car is over one ton of metal driving at high speeds and even if a road surface looks smooth, without the suspension system it would be shaken to pieces.

The suspension system allows the body and frames to move undisturbed and at the same time lets the wheels follow the bumps along the roads’ surfaces. This allows the body of the vehicle to be undisturbed while traveling over rough and bumpy roads. It keeps the tires in contact with the road and due to the friction between the tires and the road allows for steering, acceleration, and braking capabilities. It also lets us corner while driving, transferring the weight of the car from the high side to the low side.

Here Is How It Works:

The frame acts as the load-bearing component that supports the car’s engine and body
The suspension system supports the weight, absorbs shock, and maintains tire contact with the road
The steering system enables the driver to guide the vehicle
The tires and wheels make a vehicle’s motion possible by enabling friction which enables the tires to grip the road
Springs compress and expand to absorb wheel motion
Dampers/shock absorbers keep your ride from being too bouncy from the springs. They adjust to road conditions and control unfavorable motions including bouncing, swaying, brake diving, and acceleration squat.
Dampers/anti-sway bars or struts are shock absorbers mounted inside a coiled spring. They provide the same function as the shock absorber, plus structural support for the vehicle suspension.

You can thank your suspension system for the smooth ride. If your ride isn’t as smooth as it should be, call your car care provider today.

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!

Warning Lights: After Repair Information

You may have recently had a warning light repaired in your car. This could be a check engine/service engine soon light (this is most common), a.b.s., s.r.s, battery or other warning light.

Our intention with this article is to try to answer any questions about your repair, give you a little insight to how the new car systems function, and avoid any misunderstanding or confusion if the light reappears in a short time.

In recent years cars have become more sophisticated, or electrically challenged as we say, and the computer monitors more systems than ever before. We’re talking about everything from knowing if the windows are rolling down to if the gas cap is tight enough, as well as all the major functions that make the car run.

A computer monitor is a complex sensor system that tests (monitors) certain components at specific times while you are driving the car and reports the findings back to the main computer. There is usually a minimum of 5 monitors on all cars, or can be as many as 20 monitors, all testing the car’s systems; it just depends on the system and type of car. Once a monitor is sensing a problem with your car, you guessed it, the warning light comes on.

Here’s where it gets a little tricky; the monitors check different systems at different times. For instance, an evaporative monitor for most cars has to have the gas tank fuel level between ¼ and ¾ then driven at a steady speed no lower than 45 m.p.h. and no more than 65 m.p.h. for one minute. The coolant temperature must be above 200 degrees and the air temperature above 75 degrees; this is a simple system. So, imagine a person who never drives on the freeway. It would be difficult for the computer to check this system.

There is a point, once a check engine light comes on, that it stops monitoring all systems until the broken one is fixed. What I’m trying to say is once a check engine light is repaired and the system starts its monitoring program again, the light may reoccur for a totally different system failure other than the one that was repaired. Depending on your driving habits, it could be a week or even a month before the computer checks all the monitoring systems. If a system fails, that’s right, another check engine light for another reason.

Certified Auto is committed to giving our customers the best service possible. If we have repaired a warning light and it comes back on, we will gladly recheck the codes at no charge to you.

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 Basics Of A Healthy Car

Cars are built better than ever these days and give us miles of service. Keeping them healthy is important and extends their life.

Oil is their lifeblood. Dirty oil makes it harder for your engine to turn over and causes premature engine wear.
Belts and hoses are made of very durable material with relatively long lives, but they do deteriorate over time. We recommend an eight to ten-year replacement cycle.
Leaks are not normal except for condensation from your air conditioner. 11 different fluids keep your car running; brake fluid, antifreeze, engine oil, power steering fluid, air conditioner refrigerant, shock absorber fluid, battery electrolyte, windshield washer solvent, rear axle or CV boot lubricant and fuel. If any of these leak, they need to be fixed right away.
Tires need to be kept properly inflated to save gas and tire wear and rotated every six months.
Coolant, when neglected can corrode and leave sediment throughout your cooling system causing clogging that results in damaging hot spots that can harm your engine. Flushing every two years is recommended.
The battery needs to have the cables securely attached and free of corrosion in order to get power to the starter and accessories so the alternator receives a charge.

Keeping your car healthy means getting it serviced regularly. Remember, we are a full-service preventive maintenance and auto repair center. We work on all makes and models, import and domestic!

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!

Using Your Senses To Detect Car Trouble

We get calls all the time from customers that tell us their car “sounds like” or “smells like” this or that. Often customers feel self-conscious about doing this but it truly is helpful to us. Our vehicles are really good communicators. I know we have dash lights that illuminate to tell us many things but our senses are great at it too.

For example, if you notice a puddle under your car that is dark brown or black and oily looking in appearance, that is most likely engine oil. This tells us you might have a bad seal or a loose oil filter. If you see a red oily spot it is probably a transmission or power steering fluid leak. A clear puddle of fluid is most likely air conditioning condensation and is the only puddle you don’t need to be concerned about.

If you notice a smell of burnt toast it could be an electrical problem. The smell of burning sulfur usually indicates a catalytic converter or emission control system problem. An acrid odor could be burning oil or oil leaking onto a hot engine part. A chemical or resin-like odor might indicate a “dragging brake” or an emergency brake that’s been left on by mistake. A sickly-sweet smell and a fogged inside windshield are strong indicators of a heater core failure.

Hearing the following sounds definitely means your vehicle wants attention! A squealing or scraping sound when you apply the brakes, knocks or pings from the engine when you accelerate or climb a hill, your muffler making a rumbling or hissing sound, the thumping of a tire due to a flaw, the clicking of a worn CV joint when you make a tight turn, an engine that keeps chugging when you’ve turned off the ignition. All these noises indicate trouble!

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!

Finding An Auto Repair Shop You Can Trust

Most People Assume Auto Shops Are Certified

AAA did a survey and found that two out of three U.S.A. drivers do not trust automotive repair shops! Why?

The top reasons that U.S. drivers do not trust repair shops are:

Recommending unnecessary services (76 percent)
Overcharging for services (73 percent)
Negative past experiences (63 percent)
Concerns that the work will not be done correctly (49 percent)

The survey also noted that older drivers trust auto repair shops’ more. Why?

Baby Boomers are twice as likely than younger generations to fully trust auto repair facilities in general, with one-in-five reporting they “totally trust” the industry.
Baby Boomers (76 percent) are also more likely to have a chosen auto repair shop that they trust compared to Millennials (55 percent) and Gen-Xers (56 percent).

What does this survey tell us?

It takes time to find a great repair shop…many times through trial and error.
Due to this, older, more established adults have found a shop they trust and they stick with them.
Driver’s happy with their repair shop aren’t “repair shop hopping” based on coupons, but stick with the shop they know will do a good job at a fair price each and every time.
The 75 million drivers who haven’t found a trusted repair facility need to ask for recommendations from those who have.

What does AAA recommend?

Find a shop you trust before you are in breakdown mode.
Start off your search by having a shop do small items first such as oil changes, tire rotations, and filter replacements.

There are a lot of great shops out there. Today it has never been easier to find one you trust! Read reviews and ask friends, family and neighbors. It pays great dividends in the long run.

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!

Teen Safety

African Woman Buckling Up Seatbelt To Drive Car Safely

Keeping teens safe on the road is a subject dear to my heart. I’m often asked what parents should look for in a car for their teen driver. Of course, a lot of teens dream of a fancy sports car but that certainly isn’t the safe choice for young, inexperienced drivers. Teen drivers, between the ages of 16 to 19 are far more likely to have a crash than any other group. They tend to underestimate dangerous situations and they don’t always react to them appropriately. It is hard for a mature, experienced driver to always make the right snap judgment when behind the wheel to avoid an accident. Everything happens way too fast. When you are brand new at driving it gets worse.

I always advise that before you pick a car based on price or looks think reliable and safety first, then choose the safest car you can afford to buy. Airbags, stability control, and excellent tires are a good start. Large to mid-size cars are safer than small cars because they are heavier. 16 models with the highest crash rates included 11 small cars. I know it is natural to assume that a smaller car is easier to handle and many times the teens like them because they appear sportier, however, they are not the safest choice.

You also don’t want to buy a car that has a lot of horsepower or one that has too little. Too much speed and power are, of course, dangerous but lack of power can be equally dangerous as they are too slow during lane changes. You might also share with your teen that California traffic tickets are mighty expensive these days.

When you narrow down your choice of vehicle, check out the crash test scores on Safercar.gov. If you are buying a used car, please have it inspected carefully by us at Certified Automotive Specialists and let us know it is for a teen driver as we may be able to give you more insight into the safety of the 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!

Why Timely Service Is So Important

I’m often asked about why timely service is so important. I hope you find the answers to the questions below helpful too!

Q: I’m always being told I need my filters changed. What’s that all about?

A: Oil, fuel and air filters all work hard to improve your engine’s running condition. When they get dirty, contaminants enter the system. This causes rough idling, loss of acceleration, decreased power and lower gas mileage.

Q: I usually fill up with gasoline when my car is almost on empty. I was told that isn’t necessarily a good thing. What’s wrong with that?

A: The gasoline in the tank is the cooling agent for the pump. When the level is low, the pump is exposed and runs too hot.

Q: I have heard that “exchanging” transmission, radiator, brake and power steering systems are a good idea? Why?

A: In all cases, mileage and use means more contaminants and breakdown of important fluid additives which help prevent wear and corrosion. When the systems are exchanged and new, clean fluid is added, you now have the protection of new fluid loaded with additives and without harmful contaminants that are creating excessive wear. When you consider the cost of a transmission, radiator, an ABS brake system or power steering units, fluid exchange, next to oil changes, is the best bargain out there!

Q: If I have a concern about a noise, or notice that my car is just acting different, what should I do?

A: Call your car care provider as soon as possible. If they think it needs immediate attention they will tell you to bring it in. Safety comes first and they will never advise you to drive a vehicle that needs attention now.

Q: What can I do to lower repair costs?

A: Maintain components before they become major problems. This is the key to saving money. When you bring your car in for service, your car care provider can alert you to future repair needs or replacement parts so you can budget accordingly.

Q: I am so busy I sometimes forget to have my car serviced. What is an easy way to remember?

A: Try to preset an appointment and ask to be called a day or two in advance. If your car care provider doesn’t offer this service, think of the calendar by seasons. On the first day of spring, summer, fall, winter call and schedule an appointment.

Q: What’s the deal with diagnostic testing? Doesn’t that cost me more money?

A: No, it actually saves you money. Trying to diagnose today’s computerized vehicles without the proper training or diagnostic equipment can result in misdiagnosis costing you $100 or $1000 in unnecessary repairs (known as parts swapping).

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!

How Is Your Transmission?

There are two types of transmissions, as you all know; manual and automatic. Here are some signs that they might need a checkup by a professional:

Automatic

Thankfully today we don’t have to guess as much as we did in days gone by. We have dashboard lights that illuminate to alert of a potential problem. It could be the “check engine light” and it may pinpoint it even better as a transmission problem by showing the “reduced power” light.
If your car simply won’t move even after it starts just fine, this could be telling you a major transmission failure has occurred.
Slippage is another indication and is an odd sensation if you have never experienced it before. It may be a simple issue like a control solenoid or a serious issue such as loss of pressure.
If you notice a leak on the ground it could be transmission fluid. Look for red (fresh fluid) or shades of red/brown as the fluid ages.
Noises you may experience if your transmission is not as healthy as it should be are grinding or whining.

Manual

Just like with an automatic transmission, if your vehicle starts fine, but won’t move, it could be a transmission issue.
Shifting issues often indicate worn rings or gear teeth. These can make it difficult to shift gears, cause the gears to clash or even jump out of gear!
If you notice a brown leak on the ground, this tells you the gear oil is leaking. A professional can find the leak for you as it can come from a few locations.
If you hear a growling, grinding or whining noise, this can signal low fluid, worn bearings and/or gears.

If your car is experiencing any of these problems, please contact your automotive repair professional. They can quickly diagnose the problem and tell you the best solution for 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.