Archive for May, 2010
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
There have been many improvements in the automobile since Henry Ford first introduced the world to mass produced automobiles on August 12, 1908. In terms of safety and reliability in vehicle performance, one of the most important would have to be the anti-lock brake system, or ABS. This technology has branched off into several specific enhancements like, electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), traction control systems, emergency brake assist technology, or electronic stability control, but each of these is simply a finer control of the base anti-lock braking system.
When you are having your next Albuquerque brake check you might be able to find out what kind of system your own vehicle uses and if it requires any regular maintenance to ensure it stays working properly. The actual physical components of the anti-lock braking system are pretty simple; they boil down to just pads, rotors, and calipers. However, the electronics behind and supporting these parts can be extensive.
Anti-lock braking systems work by ensuring that when you stop your vehicle in a panic situation, your wheels do not lock up. If your wheels continue to spin to some degree, it allows you more control of the vehicle. Before the advent of ABS, if you slammed on your brakes, the car would most likely skid out of control when on wet or loose surfaces. The anti-lock brake systems have not removed the possibility of brake damage, requiring Las Cruces brake repair, through improper maintenance. In the end, with or without technology, the care of your vehicle is still mostly in your hands.
Tags: Albuquerque Brake Check, Las Cruces Brake Repair
Posted in Brake Repair Tips | Comments Off
Monday, May 24th, 2010
The big thing on the market right now is Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV’s). There is so much information and advertising out there in regards to what is best for the environment, what is best for mileage, and what is best for your pocketbook, that it is easy to get lost in all of the data. You can always improve your fuel efficiency through proper tire inflation, a Las Cruces car tune up, or accelerating at a slower rate. With these new technologies though, you improve gas mileage through generating some of the power for the car from electricity stored in batteries instead of relying on internal combustion power alone.
While there are certain vehicles, like a converted Saturn Vue SUV that reportedly gets 150 miles per gallon, the majority of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV’s) out there get far less. The Toyota Prius gets around 51 miles per gallon, for instance, and the Ford Fusion gets 41 miles per gallon. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid that comes in at a rather disappointing 19 miles per gallon. Some of these vehicles are even implementing an electric motor driving a wheel directly, eliminating the need for an El Paso transmission flush, as there is no conventional transmission.
It is an exciting field in the automotive industry as developments and progress is made every day toward more fuel efficient vehicles. While there may not be a fleet of 100+ mile per gallon cars on the road right now, it is looking more and more likely in the near future.
Tags: El Paso transmission flush, Las Cruces car tune up
Posted in Gas Mileage | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
There’s nothing quite like the roar of a finely tuned engine as your foot presses down onto the accelerator. The deep resonating sound can be very impressive. Did you know that the roar of an engine, though, could also be hiding some serious problems for your vehicle? This is especially true when the roaring gets louder as you actually accelerate while driving down the road. A Phoenix oil change may not be the first thing that enters your mind when you think of a loud engine during acceleration, but it should be. Low or old oil can lead to a louder engine. When the oil is this low or old, it is a good idea to have it changed before it leads to further engine damage.
Another route to take when considering the cause of the louder engine sounds during acceleration is your exhaust system. A routine Phoenix car tune up can ensure that your exhaust system is in working order and that no pinholes are developing in the exhaust pipe or separating in the exhaust manifold. This is a good time to spot any other developing problems as well. After all, a nicely tuned engine, roaring with power, may be cool, but leaking exhaust and burning oil just aren’t.
Tags: Phoenix Car Tune Up, Phoenix Oil Change
Posted in Car Repair | Comments Off
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Everyone has heard the saying, “If you can’t find ‘em, grind ‘em!” at some point in their lives. This, of course, refers to shifting a manual transmission. If you can’t find the gears, just grind them until the transmission goes into the proper gear. Automatic transmissions have alleviated much of this wear and tear on your car’s gears, though. To ensure your transmission stays in proper working order, a Tucson transmission flush may be in order.
A transmission flush can be done in one of two main ways. Your mechanic can recycle fluids through the cooling line without removing the transmission pan. This procedure is faster and less expensive, but could miss problems, especially on older model vehicles. The second procedure involves your mechanic dropping the transmission pan. This process takes slightly longer and may have a larger investment, but is helpful in finding things like metal shavings in the transmission fluid or discolored or burnt transmission fluid. These may be signs of a more serious concern that can be corrected with a Tucson car tune up before you’re left stranded.
Either way, your mechanic can tell you, based on your vehicle’s make, model, and age, which procedure is best for you.
Tags: Tucson Car Tune Up, Tucson Transmission Flush
Posted in Car Fluids Info | Comments Off
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Hiss! Tap! Clunk – Clunk! There are a variety of sounds your car or truck makes as it travels down the road. Some of these are normal. The hum of the highway under your tires, for instance, or the sound of a seatbelt in the wind, slapping the door frame when the window is down, are both perfectly normal sounds. Other sounds, especially when they happen again and again under the same circumstances, may be a sign of developing troubles. When you press on the brake pedal to stop and you hear a grinding or scraping sound you probably need to schedule an Albuquerque brake check right away!
After a long day of commuting in rush hour traffic, you finally pull into your driveway and shut off the car. You may take a moment to stop and have a deep breath or two in order to relax. As you sit there, you may have noticed your vehicle begins making clinking or popping noises. Most of these are normal cooling of metal as the engine parts try to get back to a normal temperature. However, if you hear a hissing sound every time you stop for the day and turn off your engine, especially if it is followed by an odd odor, you may have a leak in a hose. This is a good time to have an Albuquerque auto air conditioning repair done to check for cracks or holes in hoses. Listening to the little sounds now may save you big bucks later.
Tags: Albuquerque Auto Air Conditioning Repair, Albuquerque Brake Check
Posted in Car Repair | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
When planning your next Phoenix car tune up, don’t forget the timing belt. Your timing belt will vary from vehicle to vehicle in length, composition, and how it interacts with your car’s engine. Though a chain model is more durable, it is also more costly to produce and much louder while operation compared with the standard rubber composite belts used in most cars. Timing belts exist to transfer rotational power from the crankshaft to the camshaft with specific timing. There are two types of engines that use timing belts: Interference and Non-interference engines.
Interference Engine:
- Operates with piston and valve sharing the same space
- Piston and valve do not normally touch
- Timing belt failure can result in considerable damage
- Damage can occur simply from slippage of the timing belt
Non-interference Engine:
- Piston and valve do not share the same space
- Piston and valve do not normally touch
- Timing belt failure can results in less damage
- Slippage of the timing belt is not likely to cause damage
However, no matter what type of engine you have, if your timing belt goes, you won’t be going anywhere. For this reason, Phoenix timing belt replacement is a very important part of your normal vehicle maintenance. Most manufacturers advise having your timing belt changed at specific intervals. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will have the specific mileage for your vehicle, but it normally ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Timing belts can fail without warning.
Tags: Phoenix Car Tune Up, Phoenix Timing Belt Replacement
Posted in Car Repair | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 7th, 2010
Brake Masters is giving you an opportunity to win tickets to one of two Diamondbacks games! Stop in to any Phoenix or Tucson Brake Masters today, tomorrow, or Monday and get a FREE brake or A/C inspection.
When you do, you’ll be eligible to win two tickets to either Monday’s Diamondbacks vs. LA Dodgers game or Tuesday’s Diamondbacks vs. LA Dodgers game.
We’ll see you at Brake Masters and GOOD LUCK!
Tags: Diamondbacks Tickets, Phoenix Air Conditioner Check, Phoenix Brake Check, Tucson Air Conditioner Check, Tucson Brake Check
Posted in Arizona Store Info, Auto Air Conditioning, Brake Masters News | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 7th, 2010
There are a lot of conflicting ideas out there about how to get the best gas mileage for your vehicle. With summer getting closer, people tend to focus more on air conditioning as a factor than a simple Las Cruces car tune up or proper tire inflation. Is there any merit to the idea that using the air conditioner in your car hurts your gas mileage?
It turns out, Consumer Reports did a study that revealed you are going to be more fuel efficient if you roll up the windows and use your air conditioning when driving above 40mph, than if you simply roll down the windows. When driving below 30mph, though, you are better off rolling the windows down.
When you are sitting at a stop light, or idling in traffic on your way to work, there is very little air-flow passing over your engine. If you have your air conditioning on at this point, the compressor has to work harder than normal to cool the air. When you are moving along the freeway, though, much of the heat under your car’s hood is carried away and the compressor doesn’t have to work as hard.
So, if you really want to get the best gas mileage this summer, your best bet is to schedule a Las Cruces oil change, ensure proper tire inflation, and keep your speed down. Air conditioning isn’t going to be as much of a factor as some of these other, more common, ailments.
Tags: Auto Air Conditioner, Las Cruces car tune up, Las Cruces oil change
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
It’s getting warmer outside and that means it is time to start thinking about your next Santa Fe auto air conditioning repair. As the temperatures rise, more and more people will begin running the air conditioning in the car during their daily commute. The air conditioning in your car operates a lot like the air conditioner in your home.
- Freon is moved through a compressor where the gas is compressed and cools.
- After the Freon is cooled, it moves through a series of hoses to an expansion valve where it can be made to expand or contract.
- This process further cools the Freon until it is pushed through an evaporator core. This core is what the air blows across to provide the cool air inside of the vehicle.
The air conditioner also removes the warm air from the car by passing warm air from inside the vehicle across the evaporator where it heats the Freon. The warmer Freon is pushed through fins and slits where moving air carries the heat from the Freon so that the process can start over again.
When your next Santa Fe car tune up comes due, ask your mechanic to check that your Freon pressure is good, and that the level is not low. Low Freon pressure or levels can lead to poor performance from your air conditioner this summer. Other things to look out for include inoperable cooling fans and excessive engine heat. Either of these issues can limit the ability of your car’s air conditioner to keep you cool this summer.
Tags: Santa Fe Auto Air Conditioning Repair, Santa Fe Car Tune Up
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning | Comments Off
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Brake Masters is giving you a chance to save on your May oil change. Stop by or call your nearest Brake Masters’ location to get $5 off of a conventional oil change or $10 off of a synthetic or high mileage oil change. This oil change special is only available for the month of May so hurry in to take advantage of this great offer!
Don’t forget to “like” the Brake Masters’ Facebook page for even more special offers that are only available to our Facebook followers. Be sure to stop back often to make sure you’re getting the best deals on your car care services.
Tags: oil change special, oil changes
Posted in Brake Masters News, Car Fluids Info, Oil Change Tips | Comments Off
