Lewisville Auto Repair

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

No one wants to know what happens when the disc brakes on a car fail. Most of the outcomes when this happens are not pleasant. While total failure of disc brakes is not a common occurrence, they do wear down over time. Brakes will not work as well when they are older as they do when they are new. Replacing them is considered one of the maintenance requirements for anyone that owns a car for a significant period of time. Signs that Your Disc Brakes are Going Bad Disc brakes worn by using a pad that presses against the rotor of the wheel. The friction that the pads cause on the rotor will slow the car down. Every time they are depressed, the material of the pads and the rotor will be worn down. If they get to a point where the pads have been completely worn away or if the rotors are damaged, they will not work the way they should and trouble may not be far behind. There are sings to watch for that signal it is time to replace your disc brake ... read more

Every day people are informed by a mechanic that their wheels are out of alignment and that they need a front end alignment. Many of these people will accept the word of the professional and tell them to do the work. Others will be skeptical and will think that they can live with the problem. Instead of ignoring the problem or tossing money into your car without understanding it, it is better to learn why you would need a front end alignment. Front End Alignment Due to Road Hazards It would be nice if the roads that we drive on every day were perfectly flat and always in good repair. The reality is that the roads are full of hazards that cannot always be avoided. One of the most common reasons that people will need a front end alignment is due to the potholes that they drive over. Running through a pothole is a fast way to knock a car out of alignment. There are plenty of other road hazards beside potholes. Curbs, barriers and la ... read more