A Sticky Brake Situation (Parking Brake Service and Maintenance) We’ve all been there. You park your vehicle on a steeper than usual hill and worry about it rolling down while you’re running your errands. So you decide you’ll use the parking brake. When you get back, you release the parking brake, hit the ignition, put […]

Busted: The Maintenance-Free Myth in Tucson There’s a segment of the Tucson area population that’s not committed to proper vehicle maintenance. Also, in recent years, a large percentage of new vehicles in Tucson have been leased. These folks plan on turning the vehicle in after two or three years, so they haven’t focused on the […]

Avoiding Exhaustion (EGR Valve Replacement) No, ERG isn’t the sound a pirate makes. It’s a part in your vehicle that recirculates exhaust gas to reduce certain gases and pollutants in the atmosphere. In fact, ERG stands for “Exhaust Gas Recirculation.” One gas our vehicles may make when they burn fuel is nitric oxide, which can […]

Motor Oil—The Synthetic Advantage (Synthetic oil vs Conventional) You’ve probably already heard that regular oil changes are extremely important for the health of your vehicle’s engine. That’s sound advice. But what you might not know is when it comes to motor oil, the real thing may not be the best thing for your engine. There […]

When Your Tires are Tired (Tire Replacement) Tires are so reliable these days that few drivers pay much attention to them. But tires wear out. They have a tough job since they are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. They have to get your vehicle going from a stop, keep […]

Timing is Everything (Timing Cover Replacement) There’s an important part in your vehicle that shields your timing belt, timing chain or cam belt from the debris and gunk that can be kicked up from the road. It’s called the timing cover. It’s important because the timing belt or chain is what coordinates parts of your […]

Differential Essential (Differential Fluid Exchange) What’s the dif? To an automotive technician, it’s the differential, a part of your vehicle that helps direct power from the engine to the wheels. The differential is a gearbox that enables the drive wheels to turn at different speeds (they do that when you turn). Inside the differential is […]

Keeping Yourself in Suspension (Control Arm Assembly Replacement) When you are pointing your vehicle straight down the street, it should go straight. That’s pretty straightforward, right? Sometimes, though, you may notice you have to keep adjusting the steering wheel to keep going straight. While that could be caused by many different issues, one possibility is […]

Bump in the Road (Alignment) There’s something you can do that helps your tires last longer, wear more evenly and your vehicle handle better. “Sign me up,” you say! Wondering what that is? It’s aligning your wheels, and it will literally point you in the right direction when it comes to a better and safer […]

Lubricate Driveshaft See if any of these are happening to your vehicle. You feel it vibrating excessively underneath when it’s running, or you hear strange clunking, grating, or grinding sounds coming from beneath. Maybe it’s hard to turn your vehicle, or you can hear squeaking when you’re going slow. Perhaps you feel a shudder when […]