We thought it would be interesting to list some of the sources of the most common auto maintenance problems that you’ll encounter during the life of your car or truck. Many of these problems are addressed in detail in posts on the Brake Masters Blog.

Here’s an overview of the seven most common problems.

#1 Engine Problems: The engine of course is one of the most common areas where you’ll encounter an auto maintenance problem. Common engine problems will include starting, emissions and exhaust problems as well as overheating. To help keep your car in top condition, get a Phoenix car tune up from time to time.

#2 Battery Problems: Your car or truck’s battery can be the source for a lot of problems. An old battery can be the source for starting issues, electrical issues and lighting issues. It is important to get your battery tested, especially if you live in an area with hot summers.

#3 Transmission Problems: As you put miles on your car, you may need to have the transmission fixed. If your car or truck has a manual transmission, you may need to replace the clutch. If you have an automatic transmission, it’s important to get a transmission flush every so often.

#4 Brake Problems: The brakes are another common source for auto maintenance problems. It’s also a problem you should have fixed quickly because it’s a safety issue. If your brakes are noisy or pulsating and vibrating, you should take it in for a Tucson brake check.

#5 HVAC Problems: Your car or truck’s heating and cooling system is another area that will need maintenance from time to time. Coolant will need to be refilled. Compressors and hoses also will need to be replaced as your car or truck ages. Albuquerque auto air conditioning repair can help keep you car cool during the summer months.

#6 Steering Problems: You may encounter steering problems with your car or truck. Either steering will feel stiff or it will feel very loose when turning. Fixing the wheel alignment and servicing the power steering helps resolve these problems.

#7 Suspension And Tire Problems: You will definitely have to replace your car or trucks tires several times during its life. Also if you’re driving and the ride feels more bumpy than usual it may be time for new shock absorbers.

You see stars and your ears are still ringing. What just happened?

This is something that no one wants to go through but should be prepared for in case it ever happens.  A car accident.

Many people panic when a situation like this occurs but here are a few tips to help you be able to deal with it in the best manner.

Always keep your auto-insurance in your car in case of an accident.  The best place to keep it is in your glove compartment because it can not get lost and you know exactly where it is at all times.  Another good thing to keep in your glove compartment with your auto insurance is a disposable camera in case you need to take any pictures of the incident for your records. You cell phone camera also is a good tool.

Stay at the scene of the accident! Make sure to wait until the police get there so you can tell them your side of the accident.  Don’t think that a police report will suddenly get you off the hook or even that they will create a police report of the incident.

Exchange information with the other driver immediately! Names, address, driver’s license number, and insurance information! Always remember this!

Review your current policy! Make sure you know what is covered and what is not and come up with a list of questions to ask your insurance company.

Call up your insurance company! Even if it was a minor accident, your insurer should know! They will come knocking at your door if they find out you were at fault looking for their repayment so be upfront with what happened.

GO OVER YOUR POLICY AGAIN! This is where many people get messed up because they have no idea what their policy says. If you don’t understand your policy, call up your insurance agent and have them go over it with you until you are clear with what you get and don’t get out if it.

No one wants to get a Santa Fe brake repair or a Phoenix car tune up because of an accident they were in, but with these easy pointers,  you can be better prepared to handle a car accident if it does happen.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.