Vancouver Auto Repair

Benefits of Flushing Your Coolant – Vancouver Auto Repair Do you know what keeps your engine cool when it runs? Do you know what keeps your engine warm when the temperature drops below freezing? Would you believe the answer is the same for both? Most people know that anti-freeze protects your engine when the sub-freezing weather hits. But anti-freeze is also called coolant because it protects your engine from overheating. Coolant transfers and evacuates excess heat from your engine to protect it from getting too hot. Engine coolant is pretty basic, but some vehicles use only a specific type of coolant, so it’s important to know which type your vehicle takes before replacing it or topping it off. And speaking of replacing your engine coolant, do you know the last time you had this important service done? When Should You Get a Coolant Flush? If you’re not sure, then you should probably at least get the coolant checked to be sure it ... read more

The catalytic converter makes up a large chunk of the automobile’s emissions system. It is the component in charge of transforming toxic fumes into safer gasses before emitting them into the air. Catalytic converters help make driving a vehicle safer by reducing its environmental impact.  The component has its name because it uses a chemical catalyst to change the composition of the harmful combustion byproducts. Catalytic converters have changed driving throughout the world. When this part breaks or stops working in your car, it can be detrimental to your health and others as well. What Are the Symptoms of a Failing Catalytic Converter?Rattling sounds - A catalytic converter can get pretty noisy when it breaks apart on the inside. If you hear this sound from under your car, please have your catalytic converter inspected. Rotten egg smell - This foul smell is a huge red flag that your emissions system needs repairs. It ... read more

Signs You Need to Replace Your Muffler – Vancouver Auto Repair We still have about six more weeks of winter ahead of us, but before you know it, it will be spring again. Hopefully, your travels have been safe so far this winter and will continue to be so. One thing to keep in mind when spring does come around is what things look like underneath your vehicle. With all the wet driving conditions, whether it’s rain, snow, or ice, your car has been pounded with a lot of moisture over the past several months. On top of that, your vehicle has been subject to sand, deicer, salt, and other substances on the road used to help with winter driving conditions. That means the underside of your vehicle is probably not looking too pretty. And because it’s out of sight, it often gets overlooked. That’s why it’s important to include that when you inspect your vehicle. One of the most parts of your car is the exhaust system, which includes the muffler. And your muffler ta ... read more

Top Vehicle Accessories to Carry with You This Winter The winter driving season is full of a lot of different driving conditions and hazards on the road. In fact, here in the Vancouver area, you could be hit with just about anything. Most people, driving back forth to their daily stops, don’t have to worry about getting stranded somewhere. Although, it has happened before with some of the huge winter storms we’ve had in the past. But in most cases, getting stranded is not likely. On the other hand, if you drive anywhere far from home, or perhaps in more rural areas, you have to be on your toes. Getting stranded without help is little more common it and could end up being very costly. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared. And even if you don’t have to worry about being stranded, there are several winter car accessories that are a good idea to have. Battery Jumper Cables Car batteries tend to expend more energy in ... read more

Reasons Your Check Engine Light Comes On – Vancouver Auto Repair What could be worse than when you’re driving along without a care in the world, but suddenly without warning the check engine light comes on? It’s never a good feeling when that light on your dashboard shows up. For some people it even causes panic or stress. After all, the last thing you want to have to worry about is something wrong with your engine. The good news is, in most cases, that little light does not indicate there is something seriously wrong. In fact, most of the time, it is something quite simple that has triggered the check engine light to appear. So, if your check engine light suddenly comes on while you’re driving, don’t panic. Just bring your vehicle into Hoesly Eco Automotive and let us check it out. And if you’re driving somewhere far from home, you can still go to just about any auto parts store to get a reading and determine what’s causing ... read more

How To Keep a High Mileage Car Running Smoothly in Vancouver Happy New Year from Hoesly Automotive! We hope you and yours had a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year’s celebration. We are excited for another new year and thankful to be in business serving the good people of Clark County. We look forward to taking care of all your auto repair needs and we promise to continue providing you honest, reliable, and expert auto care in Vancouver that you can count on. As we start another new year that means we are all getting older. It also means your car, truck, crossover, or SUV is another year older. And in most cases, that means the miles are adding up. But just because your car has a lot of miles, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get a lot more out of it. High mileage cars often need more attention than cars with fewer miles. But for the most part, if you take care of them, high mileage vehicles will run as smoothly as most other cars. R ... read more

What Should You Do if Your Vehicle Overheats – Vancouver Auto Repair Have you ever seen someone on the side of the road with their hood up and steam pouring out of the engine? Or, maybe you’re the one that was on the side of the road. That’s a terrible situation to be in. When your engine overheats, that usually indicates there is an issue with your cooling system. But there are other things that can cause an engine to overheat. Why Is Your Vehicle Overheating? When your cooling system has an issue, the engine can’t stay cool, because not enough coolant is reaching the engine block. Typically, there is a blockage or a leak somewhere in the system. It takes a trained professional with the right tools to find it. Other cooling system issues that can cause your vehicle to overheat include a broken water pump, a bad thermostat or radiator fan, or a broken or blocked coolant hose. Other than the obvious bellowing steam coming from under the hood, there are some other ... read more

Engines have low efficiency when cold and can also get easily polluted when in such a condition. But they shouldn't be too hot either because overheating may cause engine damage. Your car's cooling system performs the work of ensuring that the high amount of heat produced by your vehicle's engine is controlled. What's the purpose of your car's cooling system? Your vehicle's cooling system ensures that your car's engine stays at a constant and operable temperature without excessive overheating. The cooling system also ensures that your car's engine doesn't become hot quickly. What if your car's cooling system isn't working properly? A failing car cooling system may cause further damage to your engine and other car components. The failure often results from cooling system component damage, coolant adulteration, or leakage. If this is the case, then you should get your car a cooling system flush. What's a cooling system flush? A cooli ... read more

Is My Mass Airflow Sensor Bad – Vancouver Auto Repair Has your car been acting up lately? Maybe the check engine light has come on, or you’ve notice dark exhaust coming from your tailpipe. If your engine has been acting up at all, you might have a bad mass air flow sensor. What is that? Many drivers have never even heard of a mass air flow sensor. It’s not exactly the first thing that comes to mind if you’re having engine issues. But is actually a common cause of engine trouble.   What is a Mass Air Flow Sensor? So, what exactly does the mass air flow sensor do? The sensor is located close to the air filter and plays a key role in the fuel injection system. It measures the amount of air flowing into the intake valve and ensures that the fuel to air ratio is correct. This allows your car to run smoothly. So, what happens when the mass air flow sensor goes bad?   Signs Your Mass Air Flow Sensor is Bad ... read more

How Often Should You Inspect Tire Pressure and Fluids? How are your fluids doing? What about your tire pressure? Both elements are important for the health of your vehicle and your safety on the road. But despite that, many drivers simply overlook these two things. When it comes to air pressure, most cars these days give you a warning signal that your pressure is low. That makes it easier to stay on top of it. But if your car doesn’t have that feature, then it’s important to check your tire pressure regularly on your own. Driving with low air pressure in your tires is dangerous and it can also lead to problems with your vehicle. Your fluids are a little different. Other than your oil, cars don’t usually have lights to alert you that they need to be changed. So, it’s important to inspect these yourself, or take them to a shop to have them checked on a regular basis. Check Your Pressure It’s a good idea to check your ti ... read more