Lewisville Auto Repair

Most people know of the 3,000 mile rule—when you’ve driven about 3,000 miles or for about six months (whichever comes first), it’s time for a tune up.  This includes having an oil change, having the filters replaced, and more.  However, some people ignore this tune up rule, and others have started to question it.  It doesn’t help that manufacturers have introduced the myth that new cars can go 100,000 miles without a tune up. The Spark Plugs Aren’t Everything During Tune Ups What these manufacturers are really talking about is the spark plugs.  New spark plugs made out of more durable materials such as platinum may not need to be replaced during a tune up for 100,000 miles.  However, this is only true for spark plugs.  Things like having your hoses inspected and your filters changed need to be done much more often.  Tune ups still need to occur every 3,000 miles or so. Longer Lasting, but not Invincibl ... read more

Getting your vehicle a tune up on a regular basis is a necessity if you want to avoid costly problems later.  But while tune ups have always been a part of the automotive industry, they’ve changed a lot over the years.  Today, some of the common parts that are replaced during a tune up didn’t exist when cars were invented.  Here are some of these common items and why they need to be replaced regularly during a tune up. Preventative Maintenance In many cases, a tune up is done more for preventative maintenance rather than to fix an issue.  Without this regular checkup, something that is a fairly easy fix could turn into a major disaster later.  Sometimes, a tune up will reveal a problem, but often, they don’t.  However, even if your vehicle seems to be running perfectly, there are a few things the mechanic should replace anyway. Spark Plugs The spark plugs are the key component in starting ... read more

It used to be that tune ups were required for every vehicle on the road in order to keep the vehicle operating properly. However, as cars have advanced in terms of technology, so has their needs. Tune ups are now different than they used to be, and involve checking different things. Instead of having to manually adjust settings, most cars have computers for that purpose, changing the purpose behind the tune up. Here are a few things that are important to keep an eye on, next time you’re under the hood of your vehicle. Parts of Modern Tune Ups There are some specific parts of your vehicle that need to consistently be checked during tune ups. The first thing you need to do is check the battery in your vehicle. You need to make sure that it is holding the proper voltage, and make sure that it is charging properly. The voltage is incredibly important when keeping a vehicle maintained due to the internal computer in most modern cars. ... read more

Air conditioning in a car is no longer considered a luxury, it is considered a necessity. It is common for cars to have air conditioning included as part of the basic package. It is also common for the air conditioner to cause problems at one time or another. Repairing an air conditioner can be expensive. It is often best to catch a problem earlier rather than later when it comes to the air conditioner in a car. The key is knowing what to look for and what to do. Signs of a Problem with the car Air Conditioner The first sign that the air conditioner is not working is the most obvious. When you turn it on, it blows out hot air. If the air does not get cold, you have some type of problem. There are times when the air will get somewhat cooler, but it will not get as cold as you think it should. The problem with this is that it based on the individual’s judgment of what is hot and what is cold. That can vary depending on the temperature outside or if the perso ... read more

It is important to know how to care for your drum brakes before you start hearing that relentless grating, screeching sound every time you slow down or stop. When you first hear it, you notice it’s coming from behind, so you think it’s the vehicle behind you, but after a while, you notice the sound still follows you even when there is no car or truck back there. Finally, you realize it’s your brakes making all the noise. As you take a look back there, you see the drum brakes and you know what that means, the unending noise you’ve been listening to is the brakes shoes scraping the metal drums interior. Your linings on your rear brake shoes are worn completely out. Caring for Your Drum Brakes the Right Way In order to properly care for your drum brakes, you need to know a few things about them. Though disc brakes are superior, manufactures still use drum brakes on front wheel drive vehicles and light trucks for a couple of reasons. Drum brak ... read more

If you knew that the alternator in your car was about to give out on you, you would probably get it to the mechanic and have it fixed. The alternator is responsible for recharging the battery while the engine is running. Without the alternator, the battery in the engine would eventually become drained and the car would not run. The sound of a clicking engine when you try to start the car as you head off to work is something that many people are familiar with. The good news is that it does not take a crystal ball to tell if an alternator is going bad. There are a few simple tests and signs that give car owners the warning they need. How to Test the Alternator If you notice the gauges in your car start to fluctuate wildly, it is a sign that there is a problem with your electrical system and that could be caused by the alternator going bad. The warning lights going on and off are also a sign. When you see something like this happening, consid ... read more

It is easy for a mechanic to tell you that your alternator is bad and that it will cost several hundred dollars to repair it. Before you turn over the money and tell the mechanic to do the job, you may want to find out if the mechanic is telling the truth or if your alternator is actually working the way that it is supposed to. It does not take a degree in auto mechanics to learn how to tell if an alternator is bad, and you do not have to know how to actually replace it yourself. You just have to know what to look for. Signs of a Bad Alternator The first sign that the alternator may be bad is the easiest to tell. The car won’t start. The alternator is responsible for recharging the battery in the car while the engine is running. If it is not working, the battery will be drained and that means the car will not start. If you try to start your car and all you hear is a clicking sound, the alternator is one of the possible culprits. The only ... read more

When a person takes their car in to a mechanic for something that they think is simple, they may soon find out that they have a myriad of things that the mechanic wants to fix like changing a strut or the shocks. Most people rely on their mechanic to give them information that is accurate and correct. They hope that if their mechanic is telling them that something needs to be fixed, that they are being told the truth. That is the hope of people, but it is also the reason that many people spend their life trying to find a mechanic they can trust. The opinion of the mechanic that it is time to replace the struts could be based more on their hope of making money than in providing good service to their customer. How to Check Your Struts and Shocks The solution to this problem is to know how to check the struts and the shocks on your own. Most cars do not need to replace their struts or shocks unless there is a problem. The problem can of ... read more

Many car owners probably have no idea what a strut is. The struts and the shocks combine to support the suspension of the car and provide the riders in the car with a smooth and balanced ride. Without these in place, the people in the car could feel every bump, crack, and pothole that their car runs over. Many people might wonder if they ever need to worry about replacing the shocks and struts of their automobile. They may want to learn how long these parts are supposed to last and what the signs are when they are not working the way they are supposed to. Signs it is Time to Change a Strut Anyone can check to see if they have a problem with their struts and shocks. The only time they need to be replaced is if they are damaged in some way. One of the most common problems with shock absorbers happens if they start leaking. They are filled with oil, and if this oil leaks out, the shocks and struts will not function properly. This type of pro ... read more

When people go to a mechanic for an oil change or for some other basic maintenance, they may be told that they need a front end alignment. There are two reasons that a person will be told this information. They may really benefit from getting a front end alignment. An honest mechanic will want to make sure that a person’s car is working the way that it should. The second reason that this can happen is because the repair shop wants to add something on to the bill. They will do the work, but it may or may not have been really necessary. In order to know when a repair shop is telling the truth and when they are trying to sell unneeded services, a person needs to understand what a front end alignment is. What is a Front End Alignment? A front end alignment is designed to correct the wheels of the car to make sure they are pointing in the right direction. When the wheels are out of alignment, the car will be more difficult to steer and could ca ... read more