Vancouver Auto Repair

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

How to Prolong Your Car’s Life – Vancouver Auto Repair How do you feel about your car? Is it the love of your life? Of course, cars are just objects, but we do depend on them for so many things. And obviously, some cars are very special to their owners for a variety of reasons. But no matter how you feel about your car, in most cases, car owners want their vehicles to last. After all, most of us can’t afford to buy a new car whenever we get tired of our current ride. Additionally, no one likes to spend a lot of money on car repairs. The good news is, there are a lot of things you can do to extend the life of your vehicle so it can continue to get you wherever you need to be for as long as you need it to.   Top Ways to Extend Your Car’s Life – Vancouver Mechanic Here are some of the most important things you can do to help extend the life of your vehicle and avoid major repairs. Oil Changes &ndas ... read more

Make Sure You Have These Things in Your Vehicle for Winter The winter driving season is upon us. Although winter doesn’t officially begin for a few more weeks, here in the Pacific Northwest the winterlike driving season starts a little earlier. Traveling in the winter means wet and slick roads, dark skies, and sometimes snow and ice. Driving at this time of year can be miserable, but that’s life in the greater Vancouver area during the fall and winter. That means we need to be extra careful and cautious to avoid the many dangerous driving conditions we face. However, even the most careful drivers can get stuck in a bad situation for no fault of their own. Another driver might do something stupid, or unexpected weather conditions might catch you by surprise. Unfortunately, your car could also break down unexpectedly. The bottom line is you just never know what could happen, which is why it’s important to be prepared.   Don’t Lea ... read more

If you see a wheel or tire symbol with an exclamation mark on your vehicle, it means your TPMS light is on. The tire pressure monitoring system is a feature implemented in all vehicles today to help you stay safe on the road. When this warning is illuminated, it means that your tire pressure has dropped significantly. Tire pressure is so essential if you want your vehicle to be safe and perform as it should. When your tires are adequately filled with the correct amount of air, it ensures your car makes contact with the road properly. This ensures even tire wear, increasing the time between tire replacements. Furthermore, proper tire inflation enhances vehicle handling and boosts fuel efficiency. When this light comes on your dash, it means one or more of your tires have lost air pressure and needs to be refilled as soon as possible. If your TPMS light continues to stay illuminated, it means that you may be dealing with a bigger problem at hand. Your vehicle’s tires may lose ai ... read more

How to Take Care of Your Tires – Vancouver Auto Repair How much did you spend on your last set of tires? It was probably quite a bit and probably more than you wanted to spend. Yes, tires can be very expensive, and it seems like they just keep getting more costly all the time. However, your tires do so many things to keep you safe, so can you really place a value on having good tires? That being said, you obviously want your tires to last as long as possible, since you are making a serious investment every time you buy a new set. So, what are some things you can do to keep your tires in good shape and help make them last longer? Here are a few suggestions.   Tips to Maintaining Your Tires – Auto Repair in VancouverWatch the Tire Pressure – this is one of the most obvious and easiest things you can do to take care of your tires. Yet so many people overlook it. Driving with underinflated tires, not only wears ... read more

Vancouver Auto Service – What to Do to Help Maintain Your Vehicle’s Value How much money have you invested into your vehicle? No matter what type of vehicle you drive, you most likely spent a significant amount of money to purchase it. Cars continue to get more expensive all the time, which means most people need to do everything they can to take care of the vehicle they have. Although cars start decreasing in value as soon as you drive them off the lot, there are plenty of ways to help maintain your vehicle’s value. Here are several things you can do to keep your car, truck, crossover, or SUV at its highest value. Keep it Clean – this is so easy, yet so many car owners don’t take the time to keep their vehicles clean inside and out. By simply taking time to wash, wax, and vacuum your vehicle regularly, you can prevent it from getting old and losing some of its value. Keep the Mileage Low – not e ... read more

How to Keep Your Headlights Clean – Vancouver Auto Service Last week, we talked about foggy windows and the importance of avoiding driving in that situation. When you get in your vehicle and head out on the roads of Vancouver, or anywhere else life takes you, you want to be as safe as possible. Your safety on the road depends a great deal on your vehicle’s condition. When your car, truck, or SUV is in good working condition, you can drive with confidence. However, when something is off with your vehicle, there is always an element of added risk. That’s why driving with foggy windows is a bad idea. And just like driving with fogged up windows is dangerous, so is driving with foggy headlights. Obviously, your headlights are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. If you do any driving at night, then you need good working headlights. And in the pacific northwest, you often need your headlights even during daytime hours, thanks to t ... read more

How to Prevent Your Car from Fogging Up – Vancouver Auto Repair One of the worst things about driving in the fall and winter in the pacific northwest is having foggy windows. It can be frustrating when you are in a hurry to get somewhere, but you have to wait for the windshield to clear up so you can see. Some drivers decide to go even if their visibility isn’t great. That is a dangerous scenario. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, but also everyone else you encounter on the road. So, what do you do if you can’t get your windows to clear up with your defroster? You could always keep a towel in the car, or just use your sleeve. Those methods might work, but they aren’t that effective or convenient. If your defroster or heater isn’t working up to the level it should be, the best way to fix the problem is to get it repaired. Having your heating system serviced is a much better option than using your shirt sleeve every day.   ... read more