Vancouver Auto Repair

A healthy, running car engine should not billow any smoke. If you start seeing exhaust smoke coming from your vehicle, it can cause concern. Thankfully, you can usually identify the problem by analyzing its colors. Blue, black/grey, and white exhaust smoke typically indicate a leak, causing fluid to burn with your fuel and air mixture. Below are what the colors mean: Blue Exhaust Smoke If you see blue exhaust smoke from the tailpipe, it is most likely a consequence of the engine burning motor oil. Blue exhaust smoke typically occurs due to one of the following problems: Motor oil leaking in the combustion chamber Deteriorated piston rings Old valves and cylinders Black or Gray Exhaust Smoke If your exhaust smoke is black or dark gray, it means that the air and fuel mixture that is being burned is too rich. In some cases, it may also mean that the engine is burning oil as well. Here are some common explanations for black/grey exhaust smoke: Leaking oil Faulty fuel injectors or o ... read more

When it comes to safe driving, it all starts with your tires. Without good tires you can’t safely get wherever you need to be. That’s especially true in the northwest where you never know what you’re going to get from Mother Nature. At this time of year, our roads are often wet, slick, or both from rain, snow, or ice. Your tires make all the difference in whether you have control of your vehicle. Obviously, like any other car part, your tires wear out over time. The tread begins to wear down and your traction declines. At some point, if you keep your car for an extended period, you’re going to have to replace your tires. Signs It’s Time for New Tires in Vancouver So, what are the signs you should be looking for when your tires need to be replaced? Here are some of the most common issues you will likely notice if it’s time for some new rubber. When you inspect your tire tread there are different things to be looking for. For start ... read more

Shopping for a used car can be a nightmare. You can drive all over town checking out used car lots but then you have to deal with used car salesmen. That takes a lot of time and energy that you might not have at your disposal. You could also shop online. There are dozens of websites that advertise cars for sale. In fact, these days, you can actually complete the entire process all online, without every seeing the vehicle in person or speaking with someone face to face. The problem with that is, you never quite know what the vehicle looks like because you can’t see it in-person with your own eyes. The risk is that you end up buying a lemon. And that’s the last thing you want to do with your money. So here are some tips to avoid getting stuck with a lemon. See it for yourself – you should always look at the car before you buy it. This allows you to inspect it yourself and determine what condition the car is in. there may be things you see in-person t ... read more

What’s the worst thing about needing auto repairs? It’s no fun to go without your vehicle for any period of time when you need it. If you don’t have another vehicle to use it can be very inconvenient. However, for most people, the biggest pain is having to pay for auto repairs. It’s one thing to have enough money, even though you don’t want to spend it on car repairs. But it’s a whole different story when you don’t have any money to pay for it. If you can’t fix your car then you could really be in a tough situation. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your vehicle and to budget for unexpected auto repairs. Tips for Car Care Budgeting For starters, it’s a good idea to have a general household budget. This helps with all kinds of expenses. However, even if you don’t have a household budget, you can still plan for auto repairs. Here’s some good tips to keep in mind. The best thing t ... read more

Have you ever wondered why your car makes strange noises? Cars make a lot of different sounds, and many of them are completely normal. But what about when your car makes a weird noise that you’ve never heard before? Why is your car making “that” noise? And more importantly, what should you do about it? The good news is some sounds are okay, while many other sounds are actually warning signs that something could be wrong or about to go wrong. The reality is you should pay close attention to these sounds because they might help you correct a problem before it gets a lot bigger. Common Auto Noises and What They Mean There are too many noises to list them all here, but these are some of the most common “weird” or “annoying” noises you might here from your car. Engine Noises – engines make noise, but when they make the wrong kinds of noises that’s when you need to pay attention. No matter what the no ... read more