When you are looking for interesting information about cars, check out our blog! We strive to entertain and educate Truckee drivers about any and all auto repair related topics, and if you have any other questions, we encourage you to ask the auto mechanics at Quality Automotive Servicing.

Monthly Archives: October 2010

My Check Engine light came on, is it OK to drive?

The diagnostic experts at Quality Automotive Servicing can diagnose and pinpoint why your check engine light is on. There are many sensors and computerized components that manage engine performance and emissions. When these fail, the "check engine" light is illuminated. Although your car may seem to run fine, the light is alerting you that the computer has detected a malfunction in a fuel, ignition, or emission control circuit (the circuit that monitors these systems). You should have the problem diagnosed as soon as possible. If the light starts flashing, your car's computer has detected an engine miss that could lead to severe damage and a breakdown (i.e. catalytic converter damage). For your safety and the vehicle longevity do not continue to drive with the light on. When you call of visit the shop it is helpful to have some information. What were the driving conditions and circumstances when the light first came on? Did it come on shortly after you filled the fuel ... read more

MotorVac Saves You Money on Gas

Save on gas and increase your engine efficiency with a MotorVac cleaning from Quality Automotive Servicing. High concentrations of carbon deposits accumulate in the fuel injection system, intake valves, combustion chambers, oxygen sensor and catalytic converter. The build up of this “gunk” hampers your engine performance and shortens the life of all the components involved. MotorVac is not a solvent, but a detergent cleaning, making it environmentally friendly. This service will clean out the carbon buildup in your emissions system, fuel system and catalytic converter. Customers who have had a MotorVac cleaning rediscover the power in their engine for towing and everyday driving in our mountain environment. You will find your engine runs smoother and starts up with ease. Best of all, in these days of increasing gas prices, you will save at the pumps. Watch this video for an explanation but don't laugh how they lament about the cost of gas at $2.80 per gallon. ... read more

Categories:

Recommendations

What are some preventive maintenance measures I can have performed to improve performance and increase gas mileage?

Engine performance and gas mileage go hand and hand. If your vehicle is running inefficiently, you will not experience increased gas mileage and could possibly be doing damage to your engine and components. We can not stress enough how regular maintenance will prevent unexpected and costly future repairs and roadside breakdowns. Here are some recommended maintenance items. Regular oil changes. Pushing dirty oil through your engine and components is harmful to the engine. Air Filter inspection and change as necessary. Fuel injection system serviced every 15,000 miles to prevent carbon build-up and deposits that restrict fuel flow and degrade engine performance. Transmission fluid and filter replaced every 30,000 miles to ensure proper lubrication, preventing damage and ensuring smooth performance. Timing Belts changed every 60,000 miles or as recommended by the manu ... read more

Categories:

Service

Wait, I just had my repair completed and my Check Engine light is back on.

We recognize that it is frustrating to have your vehicle diagnosed and repaired only to have the ‘check engine’ or ‘service engine soon’ light come on again. The function of your vehicles computer and the 'check engine' or 'service engine soon' light is to warn you of a problem. This might be related to the repair or it might be an entirely different problem. If there are several issues with the vehicle that the internal computer is detecting, the light will come on sometimes right away, sometimes later on down the road. You will need to have the vehicle re-inspected and possibly diagnosed to determine an additional problem

Steps to prevent overheating

Overheating is caused by anything that leads to a loss of coolant, prevents the cooling system from getting rid of heat, or causes excess heat in the engine itself. There are several components or conditions that can cause overheating; water pump, radiator, heater core, hoses, freeze plugs, head gasket, radiator cap, deposits and build up, thermostat, cooling fan, fan clutch, shroud, fan belt, ignition timing, or exhaust system. It’s important to discover the cause of overheating before you become stranded and do major damage to your engine

Categories:

Service
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