Check Engine Light Tips

People often ask about check engine lights: “Can I keep driving? “Is it important?” “I’ve heard it’s just my gas cap” “Can’t I just unplug my battery to reset the light?”
Check engine lights mean there is something wrong. Sometimes major and sometimes minor. It is not uncommon for a neglected repair to result in very serious (and expensive!) repairs down the road.
A check engine repair code is not a diagnosis of your problem. It is simply an indication of what emission-related system has a problem. A specific code only “points” to the area of concern. Sort of like telling your doctor “it hurts right here.”
Only after a series of tests by a qualified automotive service technician can the failure (or series of failures) be identified.

Don’t let your neighbor down the street turn your light off and then end up ruining a thousand dollar catalytic converter…or worse.

It’s worth it to have a professional diagnose the problem. It could save you a lot of money (and quite a few headaches) in the long run.

Winter Safety

Please be careful driving this Christmas season.
Crazy, distracted people and unique weather conditions all contribute to the need to pay special attention on the road.
If you have weak brakes or tires that are under-inflated or badly worn, this may not be enough to keep you safe.
Please stop by your local car care professionals (hey..that’s us if you are close by!) and make sure you are ready for whatever the season brings you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your friends at www.tireabc.com.

Brakes

They stop your car.
That’s important!
There is a brake mechanism housed at each wheel position on your vehicle.

You either have disc brakes or drum brakes.
Most newer cars have disc brakes.
Think of a ten-speed bicycle; the rotor in your brake system is like the wheel and the pads are…well…like the pads.
The pads squeeze against the rotor and cause friction which stops the car.

Drum brakes have shoes that push out against a brake drum.

Since both systems use friction, there will be wear.
You need to know if the wear is significant enough to require replacement.

If you wait until your brake pads or shoes are worn through completely, you will cause damage to the drums or rotors.
This can get very expensive.

…and dangerous.

That’s why it’s so important to have your brakes checked regularly.

Besides regular inspections, bring your vehicle in if you experience any of the following issues:

• A shimmy or shake when stopping
• Pulling to the left or right when braking or stopping
• Noises: squeaks, chirps, grinding, groaning
(some of these can be normal, but they should be checked anyway)
• Brake light on the dash stays lit or flashes
• Your brake pedal slowly drops toward the floor as you sit with your foot on the brake

Whether you come to Tires Unlimited/UnlimitedCARE Auto Service (please do!), use another service provider or simply fix it yourself remember…your safety and vehicle performance is our priority.

Are you REALLY following your owner’s manual?

AAA Study find: “Most motorists drive under ‘severe conditions’”

AAA has always advised motorists to follow the automobile manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to improve the reliability and longevity of their vehicles. However, owner’s manuals usually contain two different maintenance schedules — one for normal service and one for severe service, depending on how the vehicle is driven. In a recent study, AAA found more than half of all motorists follow the wrong maintenance schedule.

When polled by AAA, only six percent of motorists felt they did most of their driving under severe service conditions. But when asked about the actual driving behaviors that create severe operating conditions, 62 percent of motorists admitted they drive their vehicle that way all or most of the time.
Vehicle manufacturers vary slightly on how they identify severe service driving, but AAA’s study asked motorists if they frequently:

Drive on short trips of less than 5 miles in normal temperatures or less than 10 miles in freezing temperatures.

Drive in hot weather stop-and-go traffic.

Drive at low speeds of less than 50 miles per hour for long distances.

Drive on roads that are dusty, muddy or have salt, sand or gravel spread on the surface.

Tow a trailer, carrying a camper (if a pickup truck) or transport items on a roof rack or in a car-top carrier.

“Manufacturers provide differing sets of recommendations for severe driving conditions because of the increased wear they put on vehicle components and fluids,” said John Nielsen, director of AAA Approved Auto Repair and Auto Buying Services. “With increased traffic congestion and longer commutes becoming more common, many motorists do not realize what they think of as normal driving is actually severe when it comes to wear and tear on their vehicle.”

Maintenance schedules for severe driving conditions typically recommend having the vehicle’s fluids and filters changed on a more frequent basis, and more frequent inspections of some components.

AAA advises motorists they should:

Read their owner’s manual and/or maintenance booklet.

Learn what the manufacturer considers normal and severe service driving conditions for their vehicles.

Make an honest assessment of their driving habits.

Schedule service in accordance with the appropriate maintenance schedule.

For additional assistance in evaluating whether you drive under severe conditions and determining the proper maintenance intervals for your vehicles, please contact Tires Unlimited @ 408-418-2111 (http://www.tireabc.com)

The AAA study was conducted as part of the 2008 AAA Car Care Month and included interviews with 841 U.S. adults, both AAA members and non-members, who currently own or lease a motor vehicle. Interviews were weighed by age, sex, geographic region and race to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total population, 18 years of age and older.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com

Which car should I buy?

Being in the automotive repair business, I hear that question a lot.

Yahoo just ran an article that listed the top ten cars as ranked by repair cost. (In other words, the top ranking went to the car that cost the least to repair.)

Here are Yahoo’s results:

1. Toyota 2. Hyundai 3. Honda 4. Ford 5. General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC…with Buick leading) 6. Mitsubishi 7. Nissan 8. Kia 9. Volkswagen 10. Chrysler

You may want to check out the article yourself and get more details. Here’s the link: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/report–which-cars-cost-least-to-repair-.html

They also featured a link to an article entitled “5 used cars to avoid”

1. VW Beetle, 2. VW Passat, 3. GMC Acadia, 4. Ford Expedition, 5. Chrysler Town & Country Minivan

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-40543260/used-cars-5-to-avoid-and-5-better-alternatives/?pageNum=6&tag=contentMain;contentBody

 

I have plenty of opinions of my own. Feel free to call me at 1-877-TIRE-ABC and pick my brain if you are looking for a car. We fix them all and have seen good and not-so-good in many different car brands.

 

Jeff

 

 

Maintenance – Spend a Little…Save a Lot

The most common automotive breakdowns can often be avoided by utilizing proper maintenance. Follow the schedule that you vehicle manufacturer provided in your owners manual.

Not sure what needs to be done? We can look it up. We have all of the manufacturers’ recommended service listings available.

We are the alternative to high-priced dealerships. Our technicians are fully trained, our equipment is up to date and high tech. Our prices are good.

Give us a shot.

You’ll be glad you did.

www.tireabc.com
408-418-2111

Black Tires

Here’s more of a “did you know?” than a tip – but still kind of interesting:

The reason tires are black is because of an additive used to make the rubber stronger. It is called carbon black and it actually help hold the rubber together. It’s produced by the incomplete burning of oil or gas and has been used in tires since 1912. Prior to that, clay was used as a reinforcing agent. Take a look at a rubber band and you’ll see the more natural color of rubber. When clay was used prior to 1912, it caused tires to show more of the rubber’s natural tan color.

Carbon black is still the best strengthening agent that can be used in tires. It chemically and physically attaches itself into the structure of the rubber. But the carbon black does tend to “leech” out of the tires. Handle some tires and then look at your hands. You can also find this out by leaving a tire laying on a piece of vinyl tile or section of concrete. The tile will stain and you won’t be able to get it out.

You’ll notice bicycle tires that aren’t always black, but they don’t need to be as strong as the tires on a car, truck or motorcycle. Some cars have white sidewalls or white letters; some even have colored inserts, but in each case the non-black section of the tire is the weakest.

This information may not be life-changing, but the carbon black in your tires is life-saving. Those tires would never stand up to the abuse they take without the strength that comes from the carbon black.

Full of Hot Air?

What’s the big deal about tire air pressure?

Keeping the right air pressure is as important as tuning up your engine. It may even save you more money than a tune up. The right air pressure makes your tires last longer, helps your car to handle well and makes it safer in every way. If your air pressure is improperly adjusted, you can end up with lousy gas mileage, shorter tire wear and poor handling. Your car or truck can even end up overloaded.

 

Don’t forget your tires…you need to take care of them!

Tires work pretty well most of the time, so they are easy to forget about. But tires lose air every day…rubber is porous and a little air seeps out daily. You can lose as much as two pounds of air pressure in a month on a perfectly “healthy” tire. In warmer weather, this can happen even faster. You should check your air pressure whenever you fill your gas tank; if you don’t do that, do it at least every second fill-up.  Some cars have a different pressure for front tires and rear tires. This is important…engineers spend years in school calculating these things.

 

How do I know how much air my tires need?

Don’t go by the numbers on the tire…these tires fit a number of different cars…some heavy and some light. Check your owner’s manual or the tire placard. This is found on the glove box door, gas cap door, doorpost or on your car door. This tells you a bunch of things you need to know: maximum vehicle load, air pressure and proper tire size.  Go to a tire professional for detailed information. Tires Unlimited / UnlimitedCARE Automotive Service has this information if you need it.

 

There are a lot of reasons that air pressure needs attention

Tire pressures change with the weather, one PSI for every ten degree change in ambient temperature is common. Sometimes you will have something that punctures your tire and actually stays in the tire. This can cause a slow leak because the nail/screw/whatever actually holds some of the air in the tire. Keep alert to your car’s behavior. Vibration, funny sounds or a pull can be indicators that you have a problem in this area.

 

Use an air gauge

There is no other way to know how much air is in your tire. A full tire looks pretty doggone similar to a very low tire…even to an expert. You need to check the tires cold. That means before you have driven even a mile. Yep…one mile of driving will cause enough friction to distort the readings on your tire. So who can check your tires the best? You got it…YOU CAN! Buy a good air gauge and ask a tire professional to show you how to use it. Tires Unlimited / UnlimitedCARE Automotive Service is just one of many places that can help you with this important maintenance issue.

 

What can it cost to neglect this?

If your tires are not kept properly inflated, you can lose from ten to fifty percent of the tire tread life that is designed into your tires. That is expensive! A tire with low air pressure also “drags” more and does not roll as easily; such a tire will contribute to poor gas mileage.  You can help keep things “green” by just checking your tire pressure. Be responsible. See a professional. Do your part!

 

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Wet Windshield

The time is coming soon (today?) for some drizzle of rain. Do you remember how clean your windows looked when your car was new? You can duplicate that experience with a thorough windshield washing and new windshield wipers. We recommend the (slight) extra cost for complete wiper blade replacement as opposed to just inserts. For one, they are easier to install and two, the spring tension is fresh and keeps the wipers pressed nicely against your windshield. As far as washing the windshield, Windex (or similar glass cleaner) does a great job. If you have tree sap or stubborn bug stains that bug and tar remover won’t correct,  invest some elbow-grease into a quick polish of your windshield using an automotive polish. Treating your window with Rain-X is also a great option. But don’t forget, however you get it clean, a clean windshield with new wipers makes traveling in the rain a safer experience.