One of the hardest working components of your vehicle is its transmission, shifting gears up and down when you need it to. The transmission is vital to your vehicle driving properly, and if you start to see signs of problems in it, it’s best to have them fixed earlier rather than later. (Since nearly all new vehicles have automatic transmissions, we’re leaving manual transmissions for another time since their issues are different.)

One sure sign your transmission has a problem is when you notice it’s not changing gears like it used to. Or perhaps you observe when it does change gears, they slip when you are driving. Gear change problems could be as simple as something wrong with your transmission fluid, but it could be more serious, so get this one checked out soon.

Another trouble sign is when you feel your transmission shaking and vibrating as you’re accelerating, decelerating or trying to maintain a constant speed. Hearing odd noises when you are standing still and in neutral is another warning that something’s wrong,

It’s always a good idea to look around on the garage floor, or wherever you park your vehicle, to see if there is anything leaking. Transmission fluid leaks are an important sign of trouble and should be followed up quickly. The fluid is usually clear or pinkish red, and it smells sweet. Call us soon if you see it under your vehicle.

Your nose can also be helpful in sensing when your transmission might need attention. Transmission fluid can burn when it overheats, and if you smell a burning smell, let your service advisor know as soon as you can. Other odors that could alert you to transmission problems are burning plastic or rubber from wires.

The earlier we can catch a transmission problem, the better. If you drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission and notice any of these trouble signs, have a technician check them out so we can “shift” our attention to it as soon as possible.

The post T for Transmission, T for Trouble (Automatic Transmission Trouble Signs) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

Name someone you know who enjoys spending a lot of money on gasoline. Yeah, me neither. That’s because it costs quite a bit to keep fueling your vehicle.

One way to save money on gas is to get good fuel economy, and most of today’s vehicles are designed to maximize your mileage. But you might find you’re filling up more frequently than you used to and are wondering what can cause your fuel economy to tumble. Here are a few possible reasons your mileage has been headed downhill.

A logical spot to start is in your fuel system. You may have a faulty fuel injector or an old fuel filter clogged with debris. Another problem might be oxygen sensors, which measure the air coming into your engine and the emissions going out. An illuminated Check Engine light may be a sign of trouble there. Plus, worn-out spark plugs can reduce your fuel economy.

Under- inflated, or over-inflated, tires can also be a cause. Make sure they’re all at the same pressure. When’s the last time you changed your engine air filter? One that’s clogged and dirty can rob you of better fuel economy. Another bandit is a dirty, leaky, or clogged exhaust system, so have it checked out by a pro.

Finally, how you drive can also mean wasted gasoline. Jackrabbit starts and speeding use more fuel than smoother acceleration. And if you often sit there with your engine idling while you’re waiting somewhere, you’re throwing fuel away. Just turn the ignition off.

Try out some of these fuel-conserving habits and they’ll pay off for you in the long-run.

The post Mileage Headed Downhill? (What Causes Bad Fuel Economy?) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

You may have never thought about it, but when you turn a corner, the wheels on one side of your vehicle turn at a different speed than the other side. What is this magic? The answer is something called the differential.

A differential is a gear box placed between the drive wheels and needs lubrication to work. Over time, that fluid can become contaminated, reducing its effectiveness. You likely won’t be able to detect any signs that it’s happening, though it may get a little noisier over time.

If you continue to drive with contaminated and degraded differential fluid, the gears may wear prematurely. That can also contribute to excess wear on the drive-wheel tires.

Two-wheel drive vehicles have one differential while all-wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles will have two or three. Your vehicle’s manufacturer has guidelines on how often you should have the differential fluid changed, and we recommend you follow those.

Changing the differential fluid is different depending on what model and year of vehicle you own. Some have a drain plug so the fluid can be removed and replaced. In others, a cover and gasket on the differential will have to be removed and replaced.

Because differentials have constantly moving parts, they generate heat. That’s why some have a vent to help dissipate the heat caused by friction, and sometimes that vent will need replacing.

When you bring your vehicle in for differential fluid replacement, our technician will also inspect the differential for other issues and test drive it to make sure it’s operating the way it should.

The post Gearing Up (Differential Fluid Service) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

When it comes to ease and precision of steering, today’s vehicles are engineering marvels. One of the keys to just how good steering is lies in the refinement of power-assisted steering which we know simply as power steering. At the heart of the system is an electrically or belt-driven power steering pump. It can apply hundreds of pounds of hydraulic pressure to the steering gear so you can turn your heavy vehicle with little effort.

The more time and distance your vehicle travels, the more wear your power steering pump experiences. One sign your pump may be aging is that you hear a whining or groaning sound coming from your wheels when you turn. You also may feel a vibration through the steering wheel, or the wheel is harder to turn or responding more slowly than normal. Another sign of trouble with the power steering pump is power steering fluid (reddish-brown) leaks on the ground around your vehicle.

If you encounter these symptoms, have us check your vehicle sooner rather than waiting. If your steering fails, you may find the wheel may lock up or it may become extremely hard to steer. Both scenarios can be dangerous. A technician will check out your vehicle and recommend the necessary repairs.

They’ll also evaluate the belts, hoses and fluids that are part of your power steering system. A well-maintained power steering system can ensure that feeling of confidence and precision that makes driving safe, easy and a pleasure.

The post Steer Clear (Power Steering Pump Replacement) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

When you see some liquid sitting underneath your vehicle, your mind starts churning. Is that normal? Is that something serious, or did I just spill my drink? Here’s a quick list of what those fluids look, smell and feel like, as well as what they might be. No, we don’t recommend you taste them to verify.

• Clear and underneath your air conditioner or under the end of your tailpipe. It’s likely something as simple as condensed water. This probably doesn’t need immediate attention, but you should keep checking periodically.
• Oily, brown, golden or black. That could be the sign of engine oil leaking. Oil may also smell if it has been leaking on metal and burning. This is one you should have checked out fairly quickly.
• Green, blue, red, yellow, purple or orange and watery under the engine. Smells sweet. May be coolant (antifreeze) and a sign of a leaking radiator, hose or clamp. Also, could mean your water pump is shot or radiator is broken or cracked. The more that’s there, the more important it is for us to check it out soon.
• Yellow, slippery and smells a little foul. Could be brake fluid. This is one that you should bring to us quickly to have us inspect.
• Red or pinkish and collects under the engine or middle of your vehicle. Could be power steering fluid. Here’s another one that should be checked by a professional soon.
• Red or brown liquid from around your transmission or between your radiator and the transmission, smells sweet. You might smell burning from around your engine area, too. Might be transmission fluid. Another one where it’s important to have a pro look at it soon.

Your eyes and nose can be helpful to spotting things that need attention on your vehicle. When in doubt, head on over to see us so a technician can check it out. Taking care of it sooner rather than later could save you an expensive repair down the road.

The post You Are the Fluid Detective! (Leaking Fluids) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

What do mud, bird droppings and frost all have in common? When they’re covering your windshield, they can temporarily obscure your view of the road, leaving you driving blind. And when you can’t see the road clearly ahead of you, it can be really scary.

That’s one of the reasons it’s important to maintain your windshield cleaning system, which includes your wipers, blades and washers. They’re three vital components that work together to ensure you’re clearly seeing what’s going on with the road and drivers around you.

Your wipers are doing the physical work on the surface of your windshield’s glass. The rubber or silicone is what touches the surface of the glass, and after time and exposure to the elements, wiper blades can get brittle, lose their flexibility, rip and tear to the point where they simply can’t clear the glass.

What holds the wiper blades close to the glass is important, too. Conventional blades use a metal frame which holds flexible rubber inserts. Just the inserts can be changed which keeps replacement costs down.

Another type that’s gaining more popularity is called a beam blade. It doesn’t have a frame but instead has a stiff beam and blade combination. Beam blades can conform more snugly to the curved glass used in many recent vehicle designs. Plus they have a sweeping shape which harnesses the pressure of the air that passes over them to apply more pressure during wiping, especially effective at highway speeds. High-tech rubber wiper blades, what …?! Seriously, they are pretty cool.

If you crossed the conventional frame blade with a beam blade, you’d have the hybrid wiper. It’s constructed like a traditional wiper with a plastic frame that takes advantage of the aerodynamic shape of a beam blade.

Equally important to your windshield is the washer system since wiper blades simply don’t work on dry glass. The washers use a pump to shoot fluid on your glass to remove debris, dust and other contaminants.

All these systems need to always be at the ready since we never know what elements we’ll encounter on the road. Regular inspections and maintenance of your wipers and washers can ensure you’ll be able to see far down the road ahead of you for clearer vision and safer traveling.

The post Why Maintaining Your Windshield Wipers and Washers Matters (Windshield Wiper and Washer Inspection) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

When you notice one of your headlights has gone out, it’s important for the safe operation of your vehicle to get it changed and working again. Not only is replacing a headlight important for your ability to see in the dark, but it’s also vital that it be lighting your way and aimed correctly so oncoming drivers aren’t blinded.

Changing a headlight used to be something a driver might try to do themselves. But that was back when headlights were standard sizes and fairly easy to access on your vehicle. That has all changed with new technology and designs in today’s vehicles. Most lamps are now LEDs, and there are different sizes, intensities, and shapes in different vehicles. Accessing those bulbs has also grown extremely difficult in some cases, and we recommend you have one of our professional technicians do it for you.

It’s just as important that your brake lights and side marker lights work, too, as they contribute to the safe operation and visibility of your vehicle. A technician will check to see what is causing a light not to illuminate, which could be a bulb, but also could be a problem with the electrical system in that bulb’s circuit.

Having all your lights working is not only a matter of convenience, but a matter of safety too. So don’t be in the dark when you don’t have to be. Let our technicians light up your life a little by making sure all your bulbs are working right.

The post See the Light (Bulb Replacement) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

We’ve all noticed them at one time or another on the street: a car or truck that drives by and the deep roar from their exhaust system sounds like a drag racer on the line. But what happens when that rumble is coming from under YOUR vehicle? Well, it could be a sign your muffler needs attention.

You may notice other signs if your muffler needs to be replaced. Your fuel economy may have plummeted, the smell of exhaust is blowing into your cabin, or your engine isn’t running in its usually smooth manner. Or you may notice your vehicle’s temperature gauge is showing it’s running hotter than usual.

Mufflers sit under your vehicle, so they are exposed to all sorts of nasty things every day, and every season. It may be dirt or salt from the road that gets kicked up on it, or you may rough it up with the potholes and speed bumps on the road. Also, moisture from rain and snow combined with chemicals and brine can literally dissolve your muffler and other components of your exhaust system.

When you start to notice one or more of these signs, it’s time to head on over to have one of our technicians look at your exhaust system. Under normal conditions, mufflers may last anywhere from five to seven years. But when they start to go, to ensure your vehicle runs the way it should, you should have your muffler (and the rest of the components in the exhaust system) inspected and replaced if necessary.

Ideally, it makes sense to have your muffler and exhaust system inspected regularly when you have other routine maintenance done to your vehicle, such as oil changes and tire rotations. That way, you can know sooner rather than later that your muffler is on its last legs before your (noisy) vehicle begins to draw the wrong kind of attention from other drivers.

The post Rumble from Down Under (Muffler Replacement) appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

You may have heard someone say they just got the air filter replaced in their vehicle. But did you know your vehicle has two different major air filters and they both perform quite different—but very important—duties?

Today’s vehicles have a cabin air filter, and an engine air filter. The engine air filter cleans the air that enters your engine so it can run better, and so contaminants don’t foul vital parts. While the cabin air filter keeps the air inside the vehicle’s cabin clean, the place where you and your passengers sit.

It is important that you have each of these types of filters changed at regular intervals, or earlier if either shows signs that they’re contaminated. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual often will recommend how long that interval should be.

First, let’s look at the engine air filter. Your vehicle’s manufacturer will offer guidelines on how often you should change the engine air filter as a matter of routine, by mileage or time interval.

If you see signs of engine air contamination, such as misfiring, an illuminated check engine light, smoke coming out of your tailpipe, or loss of power, you may need to have the engine air filter replaced sooner.

Next, the cabin air filter. Again, the vehicle manufacturer will suggest how often you should replace it. But if you notice excess dust in the cabin, on the dash, console or seats, a bad smell in the cabin, or lower air flow out the heating and cooling ducts, you should have us check to see if your cabin air filter needs replacing. In either case, we’ll make sure we replace your air filters – either engine or cabin – with ones that are right for your vehicle.

The post Cabin Air Filter and Engine Air Filter: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Advantage Auto Repair.

When you are comfortably headed down the road, you may not realize how many of the imperfections in the driving surface are being smoothed out, so you hardly feel most of them. You can thank your shock absorbers for a lot of that comfort, and it’s important to make sure you keep your shocks in good shape.

Newer vehicles have shock absorbers in the back wheels with another shock absorbing assembly in the front which may also have a spring component as well, called struts.

Shock absorbers not only keep your vehicle traveling smoothly and comfortably, but they also contribute to its stability. Increased stability will help you be able to handle sharp turns and sudden stops more easily. Shocks also prolong the life of your tires because they’ll grip the road more tightly. And a nice side benefit of that is your tires should last longer.

After months hitting a lot of bumps on uneven road surfaces, eventually your shock absorbers will start to wear. You may notice your vehicle begin to sway more when you go around a corner, and it might be more difficult to steer. Your tires can start to wear unevenly, and the tread may show signs of cupping (flat spots).

Other signs your shocks could need replacing is when you hit a hard bump in the road and your vehicle continues bouncing more than you remember. Your shocks may have suffered extreme damage that can causes fluid inside to leak.

If you notice any of these signs, head on over so we can check things out. We also recommend you have your shocks regularly inspected so you can take care of problems before you start feeling some of those symptoms of wear. Your vehicle’s manufacturer usually will include recommendations in your owner’s manual on how frequently you should have shocks inspected.

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