Posts Tagged auto mechaninc

Road Trip Ready Vehicle

Driving across the country can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience, but are you sure that your car or truck can take the punishment? To be sure, you should contact your local auto mechanic and ask him or her to give your vehicle a nice once-over. Of course, if you want to save money, you can do the checkup yourself. The following six items should be checked before you take your car out on the open road. If you don’t, you may find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with no ride and no luck.

Flush The Radiator

You should replace your coolant at least once per year. Over time, the radiator coolant can break down and it can begin to corrode your radiator. This can lead to very expensive problems later on. It’s best to just flush it and fill it when it comes to preparing for a long road trip.

Check Your Tires

If you’re going to be traveling in the summer, that likely means rain. Make sure the tread on your tires will accommodate wet or otherwise hazardous roads. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in a ditch or worse. And while you’re down there, make sure you also check your tire’s pressure. Look in the vehicle’s instruction manual for the proper psi.

Replace Windshield Wipers

During the winter months, your windshield wipers can become warped and useless. It’s best to replace them so that you never have to worry about not being able to see in torrential downpours.

Replace Your Air Filter

This should be done at least twice per year. It takes five minutes and it will save you loads of headaches in the future.

How Are Your Brakes?

You shouldn’t attempt a brake job unless you’re specifically trained to do so. That being said, your brakes should be inspected twice per year to make sure that everything is up to par. You never want to take chances with your vehicle’s brakes, especially when you’re traveling a long way on unfamiliar roads.

Check Your Battery

If your battery is corroded or the connections appear loose, try cleaning it and tightening the wires and cords that connect to the positive and negative ports. Use a voltmeter to test the connections. If you’re getting adequate power and you’ve managed to clear the corrosion, you should be good to go. But if your battery isn’t working adequately, it’s better to change it now rather than later. You never know when it’ll die, and it’ll probably happen at the least opportune moment.

If you are heading out on a road trip, contact Auto Air & Electric where we will make sure you get to and from your destination safely with expert auto air conditioner repair and general automotive services.

Auto Air & Electricl

2240 W. Bell Rd
Phoenix,
AZ
85023

(602) 548-0901

Emissions Test

What To Do When Your Vehicle Fails an Emissions Test?

You took your car to get inspected and it didn’t pass muster. What do you do now? What if you have to pay thousands to repair your vehicle? What if you can’t come up with the money? Will you get a ticket for driving it? Will you go to jail? When your car fails, hundreds of questions start swirling around in your head. To help ease your mind, here are four tips that can help you get your car back to being ‘street legal’ by passing the emissions test without the need for expensive repairs.

Don’t Throw Money At Your Car

Many drivers panic when they find out that their vehicle didn’t pass the emissions test. So, they take it to the nearest mechanic only to throw money at the problem. This would be fine if it always worked. However, even expensive repairs might not be enough for your vehicle to pass. Before you take your car to a mechanic, review your options. One option is to qualify for a ‘Waiver’.

Waivers

A ‘waiver’ is a loophole that allows some vehicles to pass an emissions test even when they can’t meet the applicable requirements. If you cannot afford to make the necessary repairs to your vehicle in order to pass an emissions test, you may qualify for one of these waivers. You will be given credit towards repairs that will fix your vehicle ‘just enough’ so that you can get back on the road. The waiver program varies from state to state, so contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state you reside in and ask plenty of questions.

Get Several Estimates

If you don’t qualify for a waiver and you still think you may be facing serious repairs, take your vehicle to as many auto mechanics as you’re able to. While this seems incredibly time-consuming, the effort will be well worth it when you manage to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the least expensive automotive repairs.

Maintain Your Vehicle

The best way to prevent your vehicle from failing an emissions test is to maintain it properly. And that’s why you should always have a great auto mechanic’s phone number on speed dial. For help finding the perfect auto mechanic, visit Auto Air & Electric, where you’ll find more of this and much more, including air conditioner repair in Phoenix.

Auto Air & Electricl

2240 W. Bell Rd
Phoenix,
AZ
85023

(602) 548-0901

Six Vehicle Problems You Can’t Afford to Ignore

You like your vehicle and you rely on it to take you wherever you need to go. However, when your car starts to develop a problem, it can be a very stressful time. Most people have no idea how to diagnose problems with their automobiles and that means they risk being taken advantage of by unscrupulous auto mechanics looking to make a quick buck. But the following list may help you pinpoint any problems without needing to pay for expensive diagnostics work.
1. Your car isn’t stopping as it should: This can be caused by brake fading. If stopping distance seems to increase, which causes longer braking distances, you may need to have your brakes looked at or replaced.
2. Car moves right or left when brakes are applied: In this instance, your brakes may be grabbing. This is when the brakes engage suddenly whenever you apply steady pressure to your brake pedal. This can cause serious problems when driving and should never be left to get any worse.
3. Engine cuts out: This is caused by a temporary complete loss of power. If your engine quits at regular intervals under heavy acceleration, you may want to take it in right away as this could indicate a serious problem, but it can also be minor. A professional will determine the best course of action.
4. You hear a popcorn sound under the hood: This is caused by mild to severe pings during detonation. If the problem gets worse while accelerating, don’t drive the car until you can bring it in for a checkup.
5. Puddles under your vehicle: Dark puddles can either mean oil, axle grease, power steering fluid or transmission oil. If the puddles are yellow, green, pink or orange, you may be leaking coolant. And if the puddle is clear, this could just be normal condensation from your vehicle’s A/C system. If you’re unsure what that substance is under your car, don’t just let it go. It’s better to get it checked out than be sorry later.
6. Odd smells coming from your car: If you smell a thick, heavy odor accompanied by smoke, you may be burning oil. And if the odor is more like burnt toast, you may have an electrical short. And if the odor is hot and metallic, you may have an antifreeze or coolant disorder. And if the smell is more akin to rotten eggs than anything, that could indicate a problem with your emissions. Any foul odor coming from your car is a bad thing and should be checked out as soon as possible.

To help you find an auto mechanic that can help you diagnose these problems and many others, visit Auto Air & Electric, where you’ll find this and much more, including complete auto service and maintenance in North Phoenix .

Call Auto Air & Electric at 602-548-0901 for more information.

Email: Mike@autoairandelectric.com

Auto Air & Electricl

2240 W. Bell Rd
Phoenix,
AZ
85023

(602) 548-0901

Posts Tagged auto mechaninc

Road Trip Ready Vehicle

Road Trip Ready Vehicle

Emissions Test

Six Vehicle Problems You Can’t Afford to Ignore

Six Vehicle Problems You Can’t Afford to Ignore

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