Posts Tagged ‘El Paso timing belt replacement’

The Top 3 Accessories That Will Protect Your Truck

Friday, March 25th, 2011

Protect Your TruckPickup trucks are typically more prone to dents and scratches than cars.

That’s because pickup trucks are used for construction and other hard-hat jobs.  Not to mention that many people drive their pickup trucks off roads and use them for other recreational purposes.

To help protect your truck, we’ve come up with a list of the top three accessories. These accessories will protect against dirt, scratches and more.  Here’s our list.

Truck Bed Liner: Having a good truck bed liner will protect your truck bed not matter what you’re hauling.  Truck bed covers protect against dents and scratches.  There are several options with it comes to truck bed liners, these include:

  • Polypropylene:  This plastic material protects your truck bed when hauling rocks and other heavy-duty materials.
  • Mats:  Mats are usually made of thick rubber materials.  They are easy to remove and provide a medium amount of protection.
  • Spray On: This is a coating that is applied that protects against minor scratches.  You should use this type of liner for trucks that aren’t used for construction. This provides a minor amount of protection.

Floor Mats: Heavy-duty floor mats provide maximum protection inside your pickup truck.  Heavy-duty floor mats are usually made of thick rubbers and plastics that protect against heavy spills, mud and dirt.  Husky Liners and WeatherTech are two popular brands of heavy-duty floor mats.

Grille Guards: A grille guard will protect your truck from dents.  Grille guards are especially handy if you take your truck off-roading.  Some grille guards also extend over the headlights to protect against flying rocks and other debris.

Summary: For more ideas on accessories for your pickup truck, talk with a mechanic during your next Las Cruces brake repair or your next El Paso timing belt replacement.

What type of truck accessories do you own?  Leave your comments below.

Tips To Keep Your Car’s Interior Looking Like New

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

During the colder weather months, you probably don’t clean your car as often as you do during the warmer months.

However if you want to keep your car or truck looking great, you’ll want to take the time to make sure its interior is spotless. While a clean interior may not be as important as an oil change or a tune up, a clean interior does improve the resale value of your vehicle.

Below are some tips to help you keep your car or truck clean whether it’s summer or winter. We’ve organized them by the type of cleaning problem.

Removing Stains

Stains are a common problem in the interiors of cars and trucks. The best thing you can do is to treat the stain as soon as you can. Use a portable wet vacuum to help wash the stain out of the interior. There are a lot of great carpet-cleaning products to help remove stains. Be sure to follow directions when using any cleaning products. Also be sure not use bleach or any harsh cleaning supplies as they may damage your vehicle’s interior.

Removing Smells

It’s sometimes difficult to get a smell out of your vehicle, especially if it’s been there for a while.  To help remove smells, sprinkle baking soda on the seats and floorboards of your vehicle. Baking soda helps to neutralize acidic smells. Allow the baking soda to sit for at least an hour. Then vacuum up the baking soda.

If the smell persists, try leaving a small bowl of cider vinegar in your car over night. The vinegar works great to eliminate smoke odors.

Removing Dust

It’s important to remove the dust that collects in your car or truck from time to time. Dust buildup can sometimes make its way into electrical components inside your vehicle and cause problems. Use a damp rag to wipe away dust that has accumulated on your car or truck’s dashboard and center console. Treat the dashboard and console with a conditioner to help protect against sun damage.

These are just a few tips to keep your car or truck looking great. Always remember to have a Tucson transmission flush or an El Paso timing belt replacement to make sure your vehicle is in top shape.

Is It Time for a Timing Belt Replacement?

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

If you’ve owned a car for awhile, you’ve probably heard the mechanic say your car needs a new timing belt. If you’ve ever wondered what it does or how to replace it, here’s what you need to know.

Your car’s timing belt is an important part. The timing belt opens and closes the engine’s valves so the car can run properly. Timing belts come in two shapes, depending on the camshaft style of your engine. The shapes are oval and triangle.

Changing your car’s timing belt can be a difficult process. We recommend a Las Cruces timing belt replacement or an El Paso timing belt replacement. If you decide to take on the difficult task, here’s what you need to do.

Check the Condition of the Timing Belt

  • Read your owners manual to check to see when you should replace your timing belt. Most timing belts start needing to be replaced after 60,000 miles.
  • Locate your timing belt and check to see if it’s worn. Look for cracks and damaged teeth.

Once you have done this, you are ready to replace the timing belt.

Replacing the Timing Belt

  1. Disconnect the battery.
  2. Remove parts that are in the way of getting to the timing belt.
  3. Detach the timing belt cover.
  4. Examine the timing belt tensioner bearings. Replace them if they are loose.
  5. Be sure to check the seals on the camshaft and the crankshaft. If there is a leak, they should be replaced.
  6. Loosen the timing belt tensioner and remove the timing belt.
  7. Put on new timing belt.
  8. Install a new gasket on the timing belt cover.
  9. Make sure all timing marks are aligned.
  10. Install all parts removed earlier in Step 2.
  11. Connect the battery.

Once you have done this, you should be good to drive your car. This posting is meant to be a general overview on how to change your timing belt. We recommend talking with an experienced mechanic before you choose to replace your timing belt on your own.

Going On A Road Trip? Inspect Your Car First

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Check out these common vehicle issues before any road trip.

Nothing puts the breaks on a road trip quicker than having your vehicle break down in the middle of nowhere. Even if you’ve always maintained your car perfectly, there are certain things you should check prior to every road trip.

By following the below list, you can be comfortable knowing that your car can handle the many miles of road ahead and won’t break down unexpectedly.

Things to check:

Oil – Remove the dipstick and check the oil for any sign of problems. When is the last time that the oil has been changed? If you’re going on a long road trip it may be a good idea to change the oil immediately before you leave and then once again when you get back.

Tire Pressure – Examine each of your tires to make sure that they are filled to the correct tire pressure.

Fluids – Check and top off your transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid and engine coolant.

Belts and Hoses – Do a visual inspection of your belts and hoses to look for any breaks or cracks. Have any issues you discover fixed before you leave on your trip. Getting your El Paso timing belt replacement early can save you from thousands in engine damage later on.

Many people prefer to have an Albuquerque car tune up done before they leave on their trip. This allows them to feel comfortable knowing that their vehicle has been thoroughly tested and is ready to go. It also allows them to not have to worry about checking their vehicle themselves.

Also, don’t forget the tunes! A long road trip is always better with the right music playing from your car’s speakers.

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Brake Buddy's Auto Repair Blog is your resource center for the straight scoop about car repairs. We cover tips and best practices for auto repair do-it-yourselfers and those interested in getting the most out of their vehicles. Brake Buddy's Auto Repair Blog is owned and operated by Brake Masters, an auto repair center with 55 locations in Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico. Interested parties are invited to contribute to this blog. Send your contributions to BuddyBlog at BrakeMasters dot com.

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