Vancouver Auto Repair

Top Coolant System Issues – Vancouver Auto Repair How important is your cooling system to your vehicle? Like any other part or system, it’s vital. Your cooling system prevents your engine from overheating and breaking down. Essentially, it keeps you from breaking down on the side of the road every time you drive. But like any other car component, your cooling system does wear down over time. Cooling systems can get leaks. They can also get clogged. The coolant you use can get old and dirty, or thicken, and any of the parts that make up your cooling system can wear out and stop functioning properly. The bottom line is, you have to take care of your cooling system if you want it to keep taking care of you. So how do you do that? Common Cooling System Issues First let’s take a closer look at what can go wrong with your cooling system and then we’ll talk about taking care of it so you can avoid those problems. Leaks ... read more

The Right Fluids and Filters Keep Your Car Running – Vancouver Auto Repair Quick quiz: do you know how many different fluids your car needs to run properly? There are a lot. Every car is a little different, but all gas-powered vehicles need the standard fluids to function correctly. That includes gas, oil, brake fluid, coolant, wiper fluid, and power steering fluid to name just a few. The fact is your car is full of different fluids and each one of them plays a key role in the effectiveness and safe operation of your vehicle. It’s also important to keep an eye on these fluids to make sure they are changed at regular intervals. How often you change each fluid depends on the fluid and what it does. Your owner’s manual will have instructions for fluids, including what type to use and how often to change it. Common Fluids Here are some of the most common fluids to pay attention to. But there are others, so don’t ignore any of th ... read more

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

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

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

Buying a car is an exciting experience for most people. Sure, you have to go through the search process, and maybe some haggling to get the deal you want. But when it’s all said and done and you get behind the wheel of your “new” vehicle, it’s an exciting time. Whether you buy a brand-new car or a used vehicle that’s “new” to you, you always want to be sure you are getting a good, reliable car. Of course, when you purchase a new vehicle, it’s a pretty safe bet to say it’s in good shape. Even if it’s not the highest quality manufacturer, it’s still brand new, so you can expect it to be reliable at least for a few years. When you buy a used vehicle, on the other hand, in many cases, there are no guarantees. That’s why an affordable pre-purchase vehicle inspection is such a smart idea. Quality Vehicle Inspection Vancouver, WA So h ... read more