We Answer Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Repairs and Maintenance

Your tires are your car’s only connection to the road. Taking care of your tires will save you money on gas and a smoother, safer ride for you and your family. Your vehicle’s tires affect how your vehicle steers, how it brakes, and how it hugs the road. To be safe and cost-effective, your tires must have the correct air pressure, tread depth, balance, and wheel alignment. If your car is left unused for an extended period, know that your tires and other components will still require maintenance and upkeep. tire-maintenance

Leaving a car unused for an extended period could leave it vulnerable to problems with your battery, brakes, and tires. Tires will be prone to deteriorate, lose air pressure, and develop flat spots. When you decide to start driving your vehicle again, instead of the smooth ride you expected, it will be all bumps, thumps, and vibration due to ineffective tires. 

Here Is What Happens to Tires When a Vehicle Is Left Unused

Tire Deterioration

Although you will always have to replace your tires at some point, premature tire deterioration can be avoided so your tires can last longer. Your wheels carry the car’s full weight, so when your vehicle is left in one stationary position, your tires can soon become deflated, flat, rotten, or warped. While inflating the tires can help, driving on tires that sit in the garage for too long is not always safe. 

Tire Bubbles

When your vehicle isn’t in use, your tires may develop bubbles that may not always be visible. Tire bubbles can also form where the rubber has worn very thin. Driving on a tire with a bubble is very dangerous, and there is a high possibility that it will blow out on you. Damage from tire bubbles cannot be repaired because a tire bubble means the tire’s structural integrity has been compromised.

Flat Spotting

The most common cause of flat spots on tires is when your car is left in the same place for too long. When your vehicle is parked and unused, the area of the tire touching the ground can become rigid. You will feel a ride disturbance or shimmy during the first few miles of driving after your vehicle has been parked for a few days, weeks, or months. Flat spots damage the tires’ functionality and can be dangerous because one or more flat-spotted tires can cause a shimmy or harmonic vibration, which makes it difficult to steer your car. 

Tires in poor condition can be potentially dangerous and even lead to serious vehicle accidents and injuries. Always check the inflation pressure before you drive around. Cars should not sit still; they are meant for driving. When you let a car sit for several weeks or longer, many problems can pop up; not all are repairable or preventable. Start your vehicle and move it around periodically to keep fluids circulating and ensure all the moving parts, such as the transmission and brakes, are well lubricated. Moving your vehicle can help avoid tire deterioration, bubbles, and flat spots. Visit our auto repair service center to have your tire replaced as soon as you notice any issues. 

Impacts on the road generally cause bubbles in your tires. Hitting the edges of potholes, minor collisions, hitting a curb, and speed bumps can all cause the sidewall to bulge in your tires. Your tires should always be smooth and round, so if you notice a bubble on the sidewall or see a section of tread bulging, it’s a sign that something is wrong, and you should stop driving immediately. Tires that have a bubble are not safe to drive. When your tire has a bubble, the fabric of the inner tire can no longer protect your tire from bursting when pressure develops from contact with the road. 

The sidewall is the most common place where a bubble in the tire is seen. Tire bubbles can also form where the rubber has worn very thin. Driving on a tire with a bubble is very dangerous, and there is a high possibility that it will blow out on you. Your top priority should be replacing the tire as soon as possible because the bubbles will get larger as more moisture and air seep in.

How to Prevent Tire Bubbles

There are some ways to prevent tire bubbles from occurring. It may be difficult to avoid coming in contact with potholes and speed bumps, but there are some precautions we can take to prevent bubbles from forming. Prevention is always better than cure, so to ensure your tires have a long lifespan and keep you safe, follow these steps for preventing tire bubbles. 

• Avoid potholes: Potholes are the biggest culprit behind tire bubbles. Always try to steer safely away from hitting potholes. 
• Drive carefully. Avoid rushing over speedbumps. Be cautious when parking and driving around curbs and sidewalks. 
• Maintenance: Inspect your tires often and look for changes in structure and pressure. Use a tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressure regularly. 

Damage caused by tire bubbles cannot be repaired because a tire bubble means the tire’s structural integrity has been compromised. It’s no longer safe to drive on because the tire’s internal structure has failed. The tire will have to be replaced, and driving should be suspended. As a precautionary measure, regularly inspect your tires and make sure they have enough pressure. Visit our auto repair service center and have your tire replaced as soon as you notice a tire bubble.

Getting regular tire rotations is a crucial factor in your vehicle’s health, efficiency, and performance. A tire rotation is when your vehicle’s tires are moved from one position on the car to another. The front tires will move to the rear, and the rear tires will move to the front, typically in a cross-diagonal direction, meaning they will also change sides. Your vehicle carries more weight at the front, so front tires will normally wear out faster. Tire rotation is done to prevent uneven wear, which can cause and prolong the life of your tires. 

Your tires should be rotated when you get an oil change. The guidelines in your vehicle’s owner manual offer timing and the best rotation pattern for your vehicle and type of tires. The tires are the only part of the car that makes direct contact with the road and influences your vehicle handling, ride, braking, and safety. For optimum performance, tires must have the correct air pressure, tread depth, balance, proper alignment, and regular rotation.

Why Are Regular Tire Rotations Important?

• Extend tire tread: When tires are not rotated regularly, they wear unevenly and cause many problems. Uneven tire wear affects tire performance and vehicle handling. Worn tires become unstable and make driving dangerous. Uneven tire wear is the most common sign that your tires need to be rotated. Regular tire rotation will prolong tire life.
• Maximize performance: Your tires contribute to your vehicle’s effectiveness. Getting your tires rotated will help your car be more efficient, provide a smoother, more comfortable ride, and extend the life of your tires. 
• Increased gas mileage: Worn tires strain your engine and increase your fuel consumption. Rotating tires regularly decreases the amount of work it takes for the vehicle to drive and helps the engine run more smoothly and efficiently, which decreases the amount of gas it takes to move the vehicle. 
• Savings: Proper tire rotation can save you a lot of money. You will also save on fuel costs, the need to buy new tires, and the expensive repairs caused by worn or uneven tread. 

Proper tire care and rotation will ensure safe driving on your travels, better fuel economy, and extended tire life. When was the last time you had your tires rotated? If you need a tire rotation, don’t delay; visit our auto repair shop or schedule an appointment today!

Your vehicle’s tires should always be inflated to their proper PSI (pound per square inch), the standard rating for air pressure within a tire. The PSI for your vehicle’s tires is generally found on the driver’s door jamb, inside your owner’s manual, or on the tire itself. Proper tire inflation will give you the best possible control of your vehicle and a more comfortable ride.

For Proper Tire Pressure and Inflation:

• The pressure of your tires must be by the PSI recommended by the tire manufacturer.
• Tire pressure should be checked in the morning before driving your car to get an accurate reading.
• Temperature affects tire pressure; when it is cold, pressure drops and rises when the temperature is warm. 
• Use a dependable, good-quality tire gauge to monitor your tire pressure regularly.

In addition to your brakes, your tires are your vehicle’s most important safety feature. If they are properly inflated with the proper tire pressure, they will perform as they should: proper steering, traction, and shock absorption. Tire pressure should not be disregarded. It is a decisive part of your car’s safety, comfort, tire lifespan, and fuel efficiency. 

• Safety: Low tire pressure causes friction between the tire and the road. This may cause loss of control or a blowout, which can lead to a serious accident.
• Comfort: High tire pressure will make the ride feel harder and bouncier because less of the tire touches the road. This will affect traction and stopping distance. 
• Longevity: Tires will experience uneven wear, and your tires must be replaced sooner.
• Fuel efficiency: Gas mileage will decrease when tire pressure is not inflated to the correct pressure.

Tires should be inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI. Overinflation will reduce the tire contact with the road, resulting in a rough ride and uneven tire wear. Underinflation of tires will make tires flatter and cause more contact with the road, which will cause premature tire wear and high fuel usage. Keep a handheld tire pressure gauge in your vehicle and check your tire pressure when filling your tank or at least once a month. If your tire pressure seems low, visit a gas station to use their pressure pump or visit your local auto shop for a check and air fill-up. 

You’ve probably been told at some point in your driving career not to drive your car while the gas tank is empty, but do you know why that is? This recommendation is more than just an old wives’ tale—you can damage your car by ignoring that gas light for too long.

First, you should understand what your fuel light indicator means. When you hear the familiar “ding” accompanying your fuel light, your fuel tank has reached “reserve” levels, or around 10-15% capacity. Calculating how long that will last using your car’s average range is possible, but we would advise against it just to be safe. Avoid doing the math if you know you are the type of person to risk it and drive on empty anyway.

One reason it’s not advisable to drive on an empty tank is the potential damage to your fuel pump. The fuel pump is responsible for transporting gasoline from the tank to the engine, and it depends on that same gasoline to stay lubricated and avoid overheating. Overheating any part of your vehicle is never good—the fuel pump included. Running on a low gas tank can cause the fuel pump to overheat and prematurely fail. Replacing your fuel pump is a costly and preventable repair.

Another part you risk damaging is your fuel filter, which keeps harmful sediments and dirt from getting into your engine. Naturally, sediments sink to the bottom of your fuel tank, so running empty means your filter could be clogged with dirty fuel. In some cases, your fuel filter may even become completely blocked.

Of course, the most obvious risk when ignoring your fuel light is running out of fuel. Not only is getting stranded embarrassing, but it can also be dangerous in severe weather and costly when you need a tow to the nearest gas station.

So, while it may be tempting to wait until your fuel light comes on at a more convenient time, you should do your car a favor and fill up as soon as possible.

Finding that fluid that is leaking from your car can be alarming. Fluid leaking from your vehicle could be expected, but at other times, leaking fluids are a symptom of a bigger problem with your car. Before you panic, there are two questions you need to ask: 1) “Where is the fluid coming from?” and 2) “What does the fluid look like?”

When determining where the fluid is coming from, first find out whether the fluid is even coming from your vehicle and not the car parked in the space before you. If you are unsure, get down and take a good look under the car with a flashlight or your cell phone. 

Once you have determined that the leak is coming from your vehicle, stick a piece of white paper or cardboard under it to catch some of the fluid and determine its color. Depending on the color, the fluid could be several different things:

• Red or pink: Red or pink fluid is usually transmission or power steering fluid. You do not want these to leak, and you must take your car to the shop to seal a hole.
• Orange: Orange fluid can either mean that rust in your radiator makes your antifreeze or condensation appear orange, or your car leaks old transmission fluid. Neither is a great sign, and you shouldn’t ignore orange fluid.
• Yellow: Yellow fluid is usually coolant. Using the incorrect type of coolant for your radiator can increase the likelihood of leaks.
• Brown: Dark brown fluid can come from several areas in your vehicle. Brake fluid is usually dark brown, and so is aging motor oil. Light brown fluid is usually motor oil. In either case, you should see a mechanic.
• Clear: This is the only one that is usually nothing to worry about—clear fluid is usually just condensation from your air conditioning system, and it is completely normal!

This list covers most colors you will see leaking from your vehicle, but here is a big idea: If the fluid isn’t clear, you aren’t in the clear. Head to the shop right away!

These days, cars are getting better gas mileage than ever before. You no longer have to buy a hybrid to own a vehicle averaging 30 or 40 MPG. Many car owners notice that their MPG starts to wane after a while. It’s easy to brush this off if you are still getting decent mileage, but this decrease in performance is often a symptom of more significant issues with your vehicle.

These Are the Most Common Reasons for a Decrease in Gas Mileage:

• Bad fuel injectors: Fuel injectors put fuel into your engine. If your fuel injectors are leaking or dirty, less fuel makes it to the engine, leading to decreased performance and gas mileage.
• Using the A/C too often: If you live in a milder climate, consider turning off the A/C and rolling down your windows instead. Having your A/C on wastes a lot of fuel when powering the system. However, roll up your windows at higher speeds, as leaving them down creates drag.
• Your driving habits: If you are an aggressive driver, you may be wasting gas, accelerating quickly, and revving your engine, which wastes fuel. Idling is also wasteful. Most engines only require 30 seconds or so to warm up, so there is no need to idle your car for several minutes on a brisk morning.
• The type of oil you use: The type of oil you choose for your engine can significantly impact your fuel economy. If you are using traditional oil, consider swapping it out for a synthetic or synthetic blend to reduce friction and increase performance.
• Bad spark plugs: If your spark plugs are misfiring or otherwise not functioning properly, they can negatively affect your MPG. Have your spark plugs checked by your mechanic if you have noticed decreased mileage.
• Bad oxygen sensors or air filters: A bad air filter or oxygen sensor can decrease your MPG by up to 20%! Your oxygen sensors help the engine maintain a proper balance of air and fuel, which maintains efficiency. If your air filters are dirty, your engine can’t perform its best. In a way, a dirty air filter prevents your engine from “breathing.”
• Tires: Underinflated tires will greatly reduce your MPG. We recommend keeping an inexpensive tire pressure gauge in your vehicle to periodically check your pressure.

It used to be as common as falling leaves in autumn for people to work on their own cars.  While this red-blooded American pastime has not completely disappeared from our world, the expense and complexity of newer cars make some repairs best left to the professionals.

Here is a Quick List of “Don’t Try This at Home”’ Auto Repairs:

1. Check engine diagnostics: With everyone from big box parts stores to smartphone app developers making it possible to talk to the computer in your car, many drivers think they can handle a check engine light themselves. Here’s the problem: many check engine codes are vague and require more sophisticated equipment to get to the bottom of the story.  And please don’t just turn the light off thinking you will fix the problem. This is like trying to cure a heart attack by unplugging the EKG. Let the pros read the codes, apply their educated ability to decipher them, and get the root cause of the problem cured.
2. Tire rotation: You can quickly jack up your car and swap the wheels around. However, a tire rotation service also includes re-balancing the tires, checking for uneven wear, and looking for sidewall and tread damage.  All of these things require a trained eye and expensive equipment. Rotate your own tires, and you take a chance to continue to drive on unsafe, unbalanced tires. This is an inexpensive maintenance item; leave it to the pros.
3. Air conditioning fill-up: So, you think getting a can of Freon from your local parts place and pumping it into the AC system is a cure for your problematic climate control system? Think again. Your air conditioning system is sealed, so if you need Freon, something is leaking. Filling the system without fixing the problem is a band-aid. And if you don’t have the right amount of compressor lube in the system, adding Freon can restart your compressor and burn it up. If you need to control your cool, leave the job to the professionals.
4. Internal engine repair: You may understand the internal combustion engine in all its glory, but newer engines have incredibly tight tolerances requiring specific fastener torque on many nuts and bolts. Add electronics, fuel injection, multiple cams, and the stack of another new tech, and even if you have experience building that Chevy 350 with your dad when you were a kid, when it comes to modern cars, leave the engine repairs to the professionals. 
5. Suspension repairs: Your suspension keeps your car between the lines and is a big part of what makes your car safe. When you install new components, you invariably mess up the alignment specs, making your vehicle a safety hazard and eating up your tires. Trust a professional to upgrade or repair your suspension for your safety and the tires’ longevity.

These days, car owners have access to almost any automotive part with a click and a credit card. But while wiper blades, headlight bulbs, and other minor maintenance and repair items are still great for the do-it-yourself crowd, the complexity of newer vehicles nearly always requires the careful hands of a seasoned professional. Take care of the light work yourself if you’re game, but leave the heavy lifting to the folks who make a living keeping cars, trucks, and SUVs in ship-shaped condition.

In the old days, a tune-up was necessary about every 35,000 miles. It usually consists of setting the ignition timing, replacing the mechanical breaker points in the ignition, cleaning and adjusting the carburetor, and replacing the plug wires and spark plugs. Today, of course, the carburetor’s job is done by fuel injection, and the engine computer controls the ignition timing and spark. Few vehicles have plug wires anymore either, as the computer replaced the distributor, and a coil-on-plug design delivers a spark at each spark plug.

But what about the spark plugs themselves? How often do they need to be replaced now?

Manufacturers tout an 80k-100k mile service interval on spark plugs now, thanks in part to plug design and materials improvements. That might be stretching it, however. Remember that if you have a 100,000-mile spark plug, its electrode is worn down 4/5 of the way at 80,000 miles. A worn electrode means a wider spark plug gap, which can mean a loss of power and fuel economy.

Worse, though, spark plugs that have been in the engine’s cylinder head for years and tens of thousands of miles tend for their threads to seize. A seized spark plug can be difficult to extract from the head and mean a hefty repair bill before it’s all said and done.

If your vehicle was initially equipped with a specific type of spark plug, it’s wise to keep that plug design when you replace it. It’s also a good idea to check a few other things under the hood when it’s time to replace the plugs, including:

• Air filter
• Cabin air filter
• Belts and hoses
• Charging system
• Starter
• O2 sensor
• All vacuum lines and junctions

Today’s cars may be much less maintenance-intensive, but that doesn’t mean they are “maintenance-free.” Remember that a well-maintained car is a reliable and strong-running car…and don’t put off maintenance like spark plugs just because it doesn’t need to be done very often!

Even a pound or two of underinflation in your tires can be a problem. Why, though? There are several reasons. 

• Fuel economy: If you’ve ever ridden a bicycle with a low tire, you know it feels like you’re riding through wet cement due to the added rolling resistance. The same thing is happening with your car, compromising your fuel economy. Over the course of 10,000 miles per year, that can add up to 150 gallons of gas or $500 out of your pocket!
• Handling: Low tire pressure means poorer control and longer stopping distances. At high speeds, in particular, this can be downright hazardous.
• Premature tire wear: Underinflated tires are under a lot of stress, especially their steel belts. Take a paper clip and work it back and forth until it snaps. Feel how hot it gets when the metal is stressed? The same thing happens with the steel belts in your tires, which are already heating up anyway due to normal wear. This heat and stress will cause uneven tread wear and even cause tires to fail.

Proper tire inflation can give you as much as a 3.3 percent increase in fuel economy or even more. Remember that you can’t detect low air pressure from looking at a tire until it gets really low (under 20 psi or so). Remember also that air will migrate out of a tire through the valve stem and the tire sidewalls just through normal wear; you should get a quality tire gauge (not the ones built into the hose at the gas station) and check the tire inflation at least once a month. Air expands when hot, so remember to check tire pressure when the tires are still cold.

Tire pressure isn’t at the forefront of most drivers’ minds, but it’s still important. Having to replace a prematurely worn-out set of tires or dump more gas into your fuel tank seems like a pretty dumb way to spend money, doesn’t it? Do yourself a favor and be mindful of your tire inflation levels!