Posts Tagged ‘Phoenix Car Tune Up’
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 | No Comments »
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, April 23rd, 2010
With higher octane “premium” fuels costing ten to twenty cents more per gallon, many people wonder whether they really get any value out of shelling out the extra money for gas.
The answer: it depends on your car.
First of all, higher octane simply means that there will be less pre-detonation of fuel when an engine’s pistons are firing. The higher the octane, the less pre-detonation occurs, and so the less chance there is of damage to your engine.
However, before you run off to pay the extra for premium gas, know that most cars on the road today were designed to run perfectly with just 87 octane. That means that going for the higher octane really won’t make a difference in your car’s performance.
In general, you should be able to use regular gas unless you’re driving a sports car or another premium vehicle. Most people would be better off spending that money on getting a regular Phoenix car tune up and staying consistent with getting a Phoenix oil change every 3,000 miles.
For specifics about which gas you should use, check your vehicles owner’s manual and follow its recommendation.
Tags: Phoenix Car Tune Up, Phoenix Oil Change, Premium Fuel
Posted in Automotive Maintenance | No Comments »
Monday, April 5th, 2010
When people have electrical issues with their car, their first thought is to blame the battery and rush to get a new one. This means that many times the alternator, another essential part of a vehicle’s electrical system, goes entirely overlooked. If you’re unfamiliar with what an alternator is, it’s a handy little part that recharges your battery as you drive. Without it a perfectly good battery will quickly drain and appear to stop working.
So before you rush out to buy a new battery, here is how you can find out if your alternator is the real problem without having to wait for your next Phoenix car tune up.
- To start out, you’ll need a $10 voltage meter than can be bought at any auto parts store. This handy little device will tell you exactly how much charge is running through your battery.
- Next you’ll need to turn off the engine (and anything else running in your car), pop the hood, and locate the battery. Attach the positive lead on the meter to the positive battery terminal. Do the same with the negative side. (Note: positive has a + sign and negative has a – sign)
- Now take a look at the reading on your meter. A working battery should show a charge around 12.5 volts.
- Next you need to unplug the meter, turn on your engine (but not your lights, A/C, etc.) and then plug the voltage meter back into your battery.
- Check your meter again. If the accelerator is working properly, your battery should show an increase to at least 13.6 volts.
If the meter shows that you still have the same voltage as before it’s a pretty safe bet that the accelerator, not the battery is to blame.
Note: There is a possibility that the accelerator is not working because the belt that powers it is broken. You can get this fixed with a Phoenix timing belt replacement.
Tags: Alternator Repair, Phoenix Car Tune Up, Phoenix Timing Belt Replacement
Posted in Car Repair | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
How to know when you need a new clutch for your vehicle.
If you drive a manual vehicle, every time you drive it, you put wear and tear on the clutch. You put the most wear on the clutch when you start driving from a fully stopped position. So, depending on if you do the majority of your driving on the freeway or on surface streets affects how long your clutch will last. Unlike other parts of your car, you cannot base the lifetime of the clutch on a particular number of miles or the age of the clutch. It varies with each different car and how it is driven. What is important to remember above all is all clutches eventually wear out and it is important to know when you may need a new one. Here are a few ways to tell if you need to replace your clutch.
- Next time you are shifting, pay close attention to what you feel in the gear shifter. If you do not feel a lot of resistance or it is much easier to shift than usual, this may be a bad sign. It is not conclusive though, so consider trying other tests as well or taking it in to your mechanic.
- While you are driving, pay attention to your RPMs. If you see a large jump in the RPMs but do not feel a lot of acceleration, your clutch might be going bad. You can also listen closely as you are driving, if you are having to increase your RPMs and give it much more gas to make your car go speeds it used to easily reach, this may not be a good sign.
- Go to your mechanic for a Phoenix car tune up. If your car is not driving like it used to and you are unsure if your clutch may be going bad, the only guaranteed way to check your clutch is to remove it and check it.
Remember, no matter how you drive, you will be putting wear on your clutch. Pay attention to how your car is driving and if you are at all concerned with whether or not your clutch is going bad, stop in for a Tucson car tune up at a Brake Masters location near you and we will check it out!
Tags: Clutch Problems, Gear Shifter, Manual Transmission, Phoenix Car Tune Up, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Car Repair | 4 Comments »
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Find your vehicle’s official manufacturer’s maintenance schedule online.
Properly maintaining your vehicle is absolutely key to avoiding costly repairs and to increasing your vehicle’s lifespan.
While advice from friends and family can be helpful when it comes to how best maintain your car, the best advice comes directly from the manufacturer. Your vehicle should come with an owner’s manual that includes exactly what maintenance needs to take place and exactly how often it needs to occur.
Following the information published in your owner’s manual is the best way to keep your car in top shape. However, if you’ve lost it, or simply prefer an online version, many manufacturers publish maintenance schedules online.
Here are some maintenance guides from many of the major manufacturers:
Toyota – http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/
Ford – http://www.ford.com/owner-services/maintaining-vehicle
Honda – https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/SEO/HondaMaintenance.asp
GM – http://www.goodwrench.com/Services/SimplifyMaintenance.jsp
Chrysler – http://www.chrysler.com/en/owners/
Nissan – http://www.nissanusa.com/owning/vehicle-care/maintenance.html
Volkswagen – http://www.vw.com/myvw/yourcar/maintenance/findschedules/en/us/
Find your car’s maintenance guide to see if you need a Phoenix car tune up or a Tucson brake check.
Tags: Maintenance Schedule, Manufacturer's Maintenance, Phoenix Car Tune Up, Tucson Brake Check
Posted in Car Repair | 1 Comment »
