Davenport Auto Repair

  The timing belt is important because makes the internal components of the engine work together.  I could get real technical and tell you how the timing belt keeps the flux capacitor inline with the rotary girder but I won't bore you with the details.  Basically, what you need to know is the timing belt is a rubber belt that controls how the valves and pistons move inside of the motor.  Because the belt is rubber, it is subject to shredding, breaking or slipping which can cause all kinds of horrible engine damage.  Our recommendation is to replace the belt as maintenance at the recommended mileage by your manufacturer to prevent any engine problems.  Also, on most vehicles the timing belt runs the water pump, other idler pulleys and a has its own belt tensioner.     We always recommend to replace all of the components when we install a timing belt.  It makes sense.  Not ... read more

          Often times we are asked, "why do I have to flush my cooling system? How often should I flush my cooling system?  Is it best to flush before winter or summer?, How do I figure out which antifreeze my vehicle takes?"  Here are a couple of simple thoughts about vehicle cooling systems:   Coolant, also referred to as antifreeze, is the fluid that absorbs the heat from your engine and disperses it out through the radiator.   When mixed properly is has a higher boiling point and lower freezing point than water allowing the engine to run at higher and lower temperatures. The Coolant, should be replaced (or flushed) per manufacturers recommendation or we recommend at least every 30,000 miles or 5 years which ever comes first.   Always check the antifreeze level when the engine is cold.  If you suspect a leak, check the level on the reservoir jug first thing in the morning when the engi ... read more

         For many people allergy season is no fun!  Although we have no cure for your allergies, we can help make sure your car is ready for the season. Replacing your cabin air filter at least once per year can help alleviate those sneezing and wheezing symptoms.  Sometimes leaves, bugs and debris can flow into the intake vents and clog the cabin air filter.  Here are a few other reasons why it is important to replace your cabin air filter: When this filter becomes restricted it can reduce the efficiency and flow of your vehicles air conditioner.  The cabin air filter removes dust, pollen and other pollutants from entering the vehicles ventilation system. Just like the furnace/AC filter in your home, these filter dust and air particles entering into the cab of your car. Also, a lot of times the cabin air filter area is where those pesky rodents like mice and squirrels like to nest for the winter. These are some of the fil ... read more

Today I went on a road test with a great customer because he was hearing an "intermittent weird noise while turning left" in the front of his SUV. Since he stated the noise does not occur all the time, I thought it would be best to go on a quick road test with him before we inspect further.  Right away I thought I heard it, there was a clanging noise coming from the rear end.  "Nope, that's not it.  My wife left a frying pan with a lid on it in the back seat," he said.  Hmm, so we drive a little more until I thought I heard it again near the dash area.  "Nope, that's not it.  That's about 27 dollars worth of change in the glove box rattling around."  Hmmm...after a few more twists and turns we were able to confirm the noise together. Upon further inspection we were able to pinpoint a bad wheel bearing on the left front.  That was easy. Often times a description of a noise or ... read more

Before you hit the road in the family Truckster here are a couple of quick tips to make she is ready for the road: 1) Checking tire pressure (especially in the summer) is very important-  make sure all (5) tires are set to the pressure recommended on the drivers jam door sticker. Yep, I said 5 tires, make sure to check that spare tire in the trunk or on the underside of your vehicle.  It's no fun finding out the hard way that your spare tire is low... 2) Check all fluid levels- Make sure engine oil and transmission fluid is full according to the dipstick.  Check the antifreeze level only when the engine is cold. If you are unsure what the level should be or type of fluids your vehicle requires, swing by and we will check it for free.  *Note- it is always best to start off a road trip after a fresh oil change if possible.   3)  Make sure all lights are working and your wipers are able to clean the windshield well.  Don ... read more

Often times we are asked "do you think it's worth fixing?" When customers run into high repair costs on high mileage vehicles sometimes they are in for a tough decision. For the most part, every decision is unique to its own situation. We understand when you're tired of pouring money into your aging machine. Here are a couple of tips to aid your decision whether or not to trade in 'Ole Sweetie.' 1) A newer used car may not mean you will visit us less. Do your homework on the vehicle you wish to purchase. Road test a few different models. After you narrow your selection, bring it in for a pre-purchase inspection. We will run a free reliability report on that year, make and model of the vehicle you have chosen. We have saved customers thousands with our pre-purchase inspections. Also, our inspection will help with final negotiations during your buying process. 2) Consider the depreciation and taxes you will pay on that vehicle. A $1000.00 is the amount of taxes ... read more

  Often times we have customers that assume or were told they need to go back to the dealership have their vehicle repaired because they have a warranty. Some customers are confused between an aftermarket and factory warranty. To clarify, a factory warranty is the warranty most manufacturers offer when you purchase a new vehicle. For instance, GM may give a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty when you purchase that new Impala. An 'after market warranty' is an extra warranty to cover repairs when the factory warranty expires. For example, you may be offered to purchase an additional warranty on that same Impala when the odometer hits 36,001 miles. Also, an after market warranty can be purchased on that gently used 2008 Impala with 65,000 miles. Again, it is usually purchased for an extra amount of money to cover future repair expenses. For example, a car dealer try to sell you a gold plan with some sort of deductible to pay if and when repairs are needed. We work with many differ ... read more

Recently we had a gentleman come into our shop because he could not get his cell phone charger to work. "It just stopped working and I even tried a new cell phone charger." After a 'professional inspection' of the power outlet, ie try my own charger from my own cell phone, we determined the customer is absolutely right, it's not the charger cable. After a little more testing we determined that the fuse was good but still no power to the outlet. After a little head scratching and more conversation with the customer we learned earlier in the day he jump started his tractor and maybe ever since then it stopped working? "Hmmmmm," Adam said "We better get into the computer and see what is going on." After a complete vehicle scan we found a battery voltage spike issue in which the vehicle computer shut down a few non important electrical circuits. (Yes most cars are smart enough to do that) After we cleared the codes and reset the computer all was go ... read more

"Stop and smell the Roses" Recently a few customers have come in with complaints of a "weird smell or foul odor when their vehicle is warmed up." Sometimes a foul smell can be a big deal and sometimes not. After inspecting the vehicles we found 2 different issues. In picture above a gentleman ran over a plastic grocery bag and in time it will burn completely off. In most cases this is not a big deal. The picture below shows a bad axle in which the seal and boot has blown out and it (literally) puked the grease onto the hot exhaust. After an axle replacement this vehicle smelled much better. We never know what we are going to run into, everyday is different and sometimes we just gotta stop and smell the roses

Why do my brakes squeak? Often time we get a call like this and we bring the vehicle into the shop for a brake inspection. Some of the times the squeal noise is coming from the warning clips on the brake pads alerting the driver that "Hey, it's time for that brake job!" Sometimes they are squeaking because the brake shoes on the rear are out of adjustment. A simple clean and adjust of the rear brake shoes could help eliminate that nails on a chalk board noise. Also, sometimes humidity and moisture cause that crazy noise. Whatever the cause, when you hear that squeaky noise we recommend to have your brakes inspected to make sure they are safe and reliable. PS- Anyone notice what is wrong with the picture? #squeakybrakes #DalesServiceDavenport #BrakeRepair