Here are five, what they do and basic maintenance.

Engine Oil

The first thing that most car owners learn about is how to check their vehicle’s engine oil. For most, you just need to open up the bonnet and find the oil dipstick. After you pull this out, wipe it down so it is clean. Then you need to replace the stick and pull it out again. This will give the oil level and it should be above the line on the stick.

You should check your oil level at least once a month, more frequently for older cars. Replacing the oil is only required when the level gets low, as determined by the dip stick.

Transmission Fluid

The gears of your vehicles are kept healthy with transmission fluid. The same process of checking your engine oil can be done for your transmission oil; though the engine should be running. This test needs to be done monthly.

The fluid should be red, if it is brown or smells burnt then you need to replace the fluid at a reputable mechanic’s.

Coolant

This is what keeps your vehicle cool and is vital. If you run out of coolant, your vehicle could overheat. To check this fluid you need to ensure the engine is cool and not running. Then open up the coolant cap and see the level of the fluid against the line. This should be done about every four to six months. If it is low, add some more, ensuring it is the same type that is already in the car.

Brake Fluid

Just like the transmission fluid, this is part of a closed system. Therefore, your car should never actually run low on it. Still, it is an important fluid to regularly check as leaks can occur or can become dirty and less effective.

Check the fluid by looking at the brake fluid reservoir on the driver’s side of your vehicle. The liquid should be a golden color. If it is brown, take it to a mechanic to be replaced.

Power Steering Fluid

When this fluid starts to get low you might hear a creaking, or other weird sounds. The reservoir to check the levels should be under the bonnet. If it gets low get your vehicle to a mechanic.

If you check these fluids regularly, you should be able to keep your car running smoothly and have cheaper repair costs.

The post The 5 Fluids That Keep Your Car Running Smoothly appeared first on RPM Auto Repair.

Car Repair, The Common Issues

Here are the most frequent repairs according to the survey:

5. Replacing Spark Plugs

This is a small part that when faulty can result in huge problems for car owners. While changing the spark plugs on your own is a possibility, and can cost significantly less, a faulty spark plug can cause significant damage to your gas mileage and your catalytic converter. The latter of these car components is very expensive and therefore it is worth the small expense of the experienced mechanic to save on the potential costs of further repairs.

According to the survey, spark plugs were responsible for 3.71% of all repairs.

4. Replacing Mass Air Flow Sensor

This device measures how much air is supplied to the engine and then determines the amount of fuel that is required to keep it running. Nearly one in twenty repairs (4.36%) are because of a faulty mass air flow sensor; but this needn’t be the case. This repair is preventable if you replace your air filters on a regular basis. Replacing the air filters would cost you about $20-$30; a sensor repair can cost you approximately $200.

3. Catalytic Converter Replacement

The catalytic converter replacement takes up 6.4% of all repairs and the most expensive on this list. However, this repair is completely avoidable if you pay attention to other, less expensive, components of your car; for instance, your spark plugs and fuel injector. Ignoring these components for too long will result in a damaged catalytic converter and an expensive repair bill, often over $1000.

2. Loose Fuel Caps

Nearly one in ten repairs (9.28%) are because of loose fuel caps. While this repair is fairly cheap to correct, it can cause additional problems: mainly to the efficiency of your fuel usage. CarMD estimates that approximately 147 million gallons of gas is evaporated each year because of lost, damaged or missing fuel caps.

1. Oxygen Sensor Replacement

Only just being the top reason why cars end up in the repair shop, the oxygen sensor is an essential repair that needs to be done by a mechanic. The main reason for this is because the sensor that detects whether there is too much or too little gas in the tank is often hidden behind special covers that require specialist tools.

Conclusion

Many of the most frequent car repairs are fairly inexpensive. Those that are expensive are often the result of poor maintenance or smaller items not being repaired early enough. Ensure you don’t create a larger bill for yourself by having a preventative car maintenance schedule in place.

Actions you can take:

• Conduct regular car maintenance to check for potential problems before they become too serious.
• Change your air filters regularly.
• Speak to us about what preventative measures you can take to ensure your car is only in the repair shop when it is needed.

The post Common Car Repairs Worth Knowing About appeared first on RPM Auto Repair.

When Should You Get a Timing Belt Change?

Because most cars have a timing belt installed, your car most likely has one too. If you are unsure if your car has a timing belt or chain, remember to check your owner’s manual and the scheduled maintenance section or just give us a quick call, we are happy to help you figure things out.

Timing belts should be replaced at scheduled service intervals. The timing for these changes can range from 60,000 to 110,000 miles; depending on your vehicle’s make, model, engine type and the year it was produced.

If you haven’t had a timing belt change for 72 months, even if you haven’t reached 110,000 miles, you should arrange for a new belt to be fitted anyway. This is strongly recommended by many car manufacturers, including Honda, as belts can degrade over time.

It is not safe to judge the condition of the timing belt by visual inspection alone. Some damage may be hidden and incorrectly assuming a belt is safe can be dangerous and expensive.

What Happens If Your Timing Belt Breaks

If you are unfortunate enough to have your timing belt break, your car will come to an immediate stop. Your car will need to be towed to the nearest repair shop and your engine may have suffered internal damage. Next to the timing belt change, this could result in your vehicle needing a new engine, which is very expensive and takes a significant amount of time to complete.

Change The Water Pump

Even on regular changes of your timing belt you should look to replace the water pump. Not doing so can cause more trouble for you later on, such as breaking the timing belt: which makes the original work pointless and add additional repairs.

Not having your vehicle can be very inconvenient. Therefore, ensure you aren’t making one of the most common car maintenance mistakes and ensure all the maintenance is undertaken at the same time. This will save you time, costs and be more convenient.

The post When Should You Get a Timing Belt Change? appeared first on RPM Auto Repair.

There is no single error indicated by the light; it could be one (or more) from a host of various problems. So what should you do? How do you check what is wrong with your vehicle?

While the activation of the light does not necessarily mean you need to immediately end your journey and call for assistance, it does indicate there is a fault with your car. The most common causes for the indicator are a malfunction of the oxygen sensor, mass air flow sensor, spark plugs or wires.

Not getting the vehicle quickly enough to a mechanic could result in a higher repair bill later on when the fault worsens or causes further damage. Also, the longer you leave the maintenance check, the more money you are spending due to a decrease in fuel efficiency.

What To Do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On

If the check engine light starts flashing, you should immediately schedule a check for your vehicle. This is a sign that there is a major fault with your vehicle and this could be dangerous.

When your vehicle is in for a maintenance check, your OBDII trained and certified technician will use the best diagnostic tools to identify the cause of the fault. Then your technician should be able to advise you of the best course of action and what repairs are required to return your vehicle to its peak performance.

The post What To Do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On appeared first on RPM Auto Repair.

What happens during a car tune-up has changed significantly over the years as automotive technology has advanced and legislation has come into effect. You need to ensure certain tasks are carried out to be confident your vehicle is safe; but, the definition of a car tune-up is not the same everywhere.

So here is the car tune up checklist and what you can expect from you visit at RPM Auto Repair.

Car Tune Up Checklist at RPM Auto Repair

The first thing we do is a number of checks to see where problems may be. Our car tune-up checks include:

• Scan for faulty codes
• Battery voltage
• Tire pressure test
• Inspect spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor
• Replace spark plugs
• Check and adjust curb idle speed as required
• Clean fuel injectors
• Visual check of emission control related devices
• Exhaust emissions (this is a must to ensure your vehicle meets legal requirements)
• Verify idle speed
• Check and adjust ignition timing as required
• Hoses and belts for wear and tear
• Check all fluid levels
• Road test vehicle

About Repairs And Replacements

Next to the items on the car tune up checklist, you might want to consider replacing some parts depending on your mileage. These include the spark plugs, rotor cap, distributor cap, fuel and air filters, PCV valve, sensors and breather filter.

The spark plugs need to be changed periodically for safety. The electrodes wear every time the plugs fire; by the time that vehicle has travelled 45,000 miles the spark plugs would have fired approximately 60-80 million times. The wear on the spark plugs can cause the sharp edges to become smooth and rounded and the distance between the plugs is greater. This therefore requires more voltage for the ignition or the plug may misfire.

You should also ensure your O2 sensor is replaced periodically. EPA studies have found 70% of vehicles failing their emissions tests require a new oxygen sensor. A slightly worn O2 sensor will cause your vehicle to use more fuel. In theory, you should get a Check Engine or Malfunction Indicator Lamp warning when the O2 sensor begins to degrade; but there are many cases when a badly worn one will still function without the warning.

Conclusion

Using our car tune up checklist will help you get your car the tune up it deserves.

You can find RPM Auto Repair at 1025 Water Street in Santa Cruz, California or talk to your mechanic about their car tune up checklist and compare it against ours above.

RPM Auto Repair provides car tune-ups and other maintenance services to the Santa Cruz, Capitola, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Soquel & Aptos areas. Our expert mechanics are perfect for any maintenance or repair requirement you have.

Give us a call today and arrange for your car to be inspected!

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