Vehicle Advice Archives - certifiedauto.com

Is It Hot Enough For You?

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

How many times do you hear that phrase in the course of the summer? We hear about the importance of taking care of ourselves during hot weather on the news and read about it in various publications. We are told to drink lots of water to keep hydrated, especially when exercising or doing physical labor.

Take a moment and think about your car…it gets hot too! We often take for granted just how hard it does work for us in all kinds of weather. When you see a car sitting on the side of the road with steam rising from the hood, that is an overheated vehicle!

Many things will cause a car to overheat… a hose, radiator, head gasket, thermostat, water pump or even the computer-controlled electric fans may not be functioning. With so many critical components that have to work together to keep the engine cool, we recommend an inspection every 3 to 4 months of these items.

I keep repeating this statement and here it is again, it is always less expensive to maintain your car versus waiting for it to break and then fixing it. Most newer cars have a warning system to alert you of a failure. Please don’t ignore these warnings. We have many customers who kept driving after a warning light came on and destroyed the engine.

If you think your car is overheating, get to the side of the road quickly and safely. Turn off your radio and air conditioner, then turn your heater on too high while keeping the engine idling. If no heat comes out, turn the car off as soon as possible, no heat means no coolant in the engine.

It is never wise to try to drive a car with a problem, unless safety is a concern. Most drivers have a roadside assistance program… if you don’t, ask us about our free assistance service with some purchases.

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!

Have A Smooth Ride? Thank Your Suspension System!

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!

How We Keep Your Ride Going Strong in Glendora’s Summer’s Heat

Vector illustration of a red car moving along the ocean mountain road.

We know we can feel our energy ooze out of us in the summer heat and your car feels it too! Just imagine sitting there day after day on the hot pavement in Glendora while the relentless summer sun shines down on you. Car’s components such as rubber are very sensitive to heat and tend to become brittle and crack. Here a just a few things we at Certified Automotive Specialists look for when we service your vehicle for summer:

Batteries take a beating. Between the car’s vibrations and heat, they usually only last five years. It is always a good idea to have them tested and the technicians at Certified Automotive Specialists can help determine how much life they have left in them.
Cooling systems are very susceptible to summer heat. You will notice more cars sitting on the side of the road with steam pouring out from under the hood during the summer months. We always check your cooling system thoroughly to make sure the coolant isn’t contaminated. We also check the rubber components for cracks and frays. If they are past their prime, we will recommend replacing them so you don’t end up on the side of the road. We have had more than a few vehicles towed in to Certified Automotive Specialists due to a faulty cooling system that could have been prevented.
Tires need the proper inflation to function well. They don’t operate well if they are over-inflated or under-inflated. They need to be just right!
Fluids and filters need to be checked and replaced if needed. They do a lot of work to protect our vehicles.
Air-conditioning systems are a must in Glendora and need to be looked at so you and your passengers stay comfortable no matter how high the outside temperatures climb. We make sure to check the refrigerant and other components.

We are here to help your car face the challenges that come with hot days. Give us a call. You and your car will be glad you did!

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!

Car Batteries and New Technology

I was talking to someone from out of state the other day, and they had just bought a new SUV. One weekend, their vehicle just would not start when they were at a store. They called their son to come and jump the battery and it started right up. The same thing happened a few days later. The son suggested they go to a parts store next door and have them check it. The parts store employee happily tested it and informed them that they had a bad battery. They said it does happen, even in a new vehicle. They also said that unfortunately, they could not put a new one in as it was hard to get to, and the vehicle would have to be reprogramed; something they could not do at this time.

What??

New technology is great, but it can have its drawbacks. Today’s electrical systems in vehicles are extraordinarily complex and trying to jump the battery can, in fact, be dangerous, depending on the car. If correct procedures and tools are not used, it can also cost a lot of money to repair.

Replacing a car battery used to be one of the least expensive repairs in all vehicles. This is not the case today as once the new battery is put in on some cars, it must then have the computer reset.

If you are in the market for a new vehicle, it is a good idea to ask about this, so you will not be surprised, as this couple was, when things go wrong.

The good news is that we, and many other repair shops, can test, replace, and recalibrate your car’s battery. You can expect a battery to last three to five years, depending on how you drive and the weather elements you drive in. There is actually a date on all battery cases as well. We suggest having it tested whenever you come in for service.

Do not be afraid of technology, just know that it does change how repairs are done. It is not just a matter of replacing parts these days, it also involves recalibrations of the complex computer in cars. We always say, we are now driving a computer on wheels!

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!

What You Need To Know About ADAS!

ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) is a sensor program available in a lot of new cars. These sensors are there to help you in many ways, such as:

Adaptive cruise control
Adaptive headlights that steer with the vehicle
Automatic emergency braking
Automatic headlight high-beam activation and dimming
Blind-spot monitoring
Forward collision warning
Lane departure warning
Lane keeping assist
Parking assist/self-parking
Rear cross-traffic alert

These sensors sure make life easier and safer…unless they get damaged. Obviously, if you are in a major accident, you might think about the sensors and their need for replacement/recalibration. If you do not think about it, hopefully, your collision repair shop will.

Something you might not be aware of is that if you have a windshield replaced or a slight fender bender, the sensors will fail to be reliable. A suspension repair or a wheel alignment can also upset the finely tuned sensors. Once a driver realizes that something “isn’t quite right” they often never trust ADAS again.

These systems can be fixed, however. It is a time-consuming process to calibrate, which significantly raises the cost of the repair, but it can be accomplished.

We just want you to know what ADAS is, how it works, and what to do if you notice a change. Being aware helps keep you, and those you share the road with, safe! At Certified Automotive Specialists, that is always our goal!

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.