Frequently Asked Questions
One of the most stressful things in life is when your car breaks down. here are some question you may need answered when this happens.
How Do I Choose Car Repair Facilities?How Do I Choose a Qualified Certified Technician?
How Do I Understanding the Meaning of all the repair charges?
What should a full written estimate include?
What should I do if my car won't start?
What can happen to my vehicle's air conditioner?
How does a transmission work?
What are all those noises coming from the transmission?
What causes my engine to stall?
How do I know if something is wrong with the cooling system?
What should I do if my car is dead?
What could be wrong with my engine?
What causes exhaust problems?
What can happen to a fuel pump?
Why is my steering wheel wobbling?
What is car suspension and How It Works?
How Do I Choose Car Repair Facilities?
Ask for recommendations from friends, family, and other people you trust. Look for an auto repair shop before you need one to avoid being rushed into a regretful decision for the best prices, and compare warranty policies on all repairs. Check for current licenses if state or local law requires repair shops to be licensed or registered. Also, your state Attorney General's office or local consumer protection agency will record of complaints about a particular repair shop so check before you take your car for repair. Make sure the auto repair shop will honor your vehicle's extended warranty if you have one.
How Do I Choose a Qualified Certified Technician?
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Look for shops that display various certifications - like an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) seal. Certification indicates that some or all of the technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and competence in specific technical areas. Make sure the certifications are current, but remember that certification alone is no guarantee of good or honest work. Ask if the technician or shop has experience working on the same make or model vehicle as yours.
How Do I Understanding the Meaning of all the repair charges?
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Before you agree to have any work performed, ask shop labor rate and the full price on parts and supplies. Most shops charge a flat hourly rate for labor time. This published rate is based on an independent or manufacturer's estimate of the time required to complete repairs, a rack charge if you decide to have the work performed elsewhere. If you decide to have the work done they usually will roll the charge into the repair, also ask for a full written estimate.
What should a full written estimate include?
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It should identify the condition to be repaired, the parts needed, and the anticipated labor charge. Make sure you get a signed copy. It should state that the shop will contact you for approval before they do any work exceeding a specified amount of time or money. State law may require this.
What should I do if my car won't start?
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If a car won't start, try not to panic. It's best to stay calm and try to narrow down the possibilities of why it isn't working. If there's a click, but the engine won't start, it may be a dead battery. If the interior lights are strong, and it doesn't appear to be the battery, it could be a faulty ignition switch. Special tools are necessary to test for some problems like proper compression, and a repair manual or how-to instructions may be needed for some diagnostic procedures.
What can happen to my vehicle's air conditioner?
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If the vents are blowing out hot air or if the compressor is making a strange noise, there may be a bad shader valve or other component failure. This could mean a ruptured hose and a resultant oil or coolant leak. Also, if the vehicle is older, it may contain chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs) and will need to be retrofitted.
How does a transmission work?
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A transmission system gets power from the engine to the wheels. A manual transmission is connected to the engine through a clutch, and a five-speed transmission, for example, applies one of the gear ratios to an input shaft to produce a different rpm value at the output shaft. In an automatic transmission system, there is no clutch pedal or gear shift, and a planetary gear set is utilized to accomplish the different gear ratios.
What are all those noises coming from the transmission?
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An automatic transmission won't work properly if parts like o-rings get worn. A stuck piston in the valve body, or making a small mistake during repairs can create other problems. Leaking transmission or hydraulic fluids can cause serious problems. When changing gears with a manual transmission, be aware of loud noises like grinding, whining, or humming noises, and if the engine rpm increases but the speed stays the same, the clutch may need to be replaced.
What happens when the brake pedal sticks or grabs?
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Causes vary and could be a loose or damaged caliper mounting bracket, damaged brake hose that has a deteriorated lining and doesn't let the brake fluid return to the master cylinder. In the worse case scenario, there could also be a problem with the master cylinder, and the brake pedal assembly might needs to be replaced.
What causes my engine to stall?
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When an engine stalls, it could be one, or a combination of several reasons. The engine might not be getting enough air or fuel. The spark plugs, ignition switch, fuel pump, or distributor might be bad, or there could even be a clogged air filter. In a manual transmission, other causes might be a sudden increase in the engine load if the clutch is released too suddenly, or the driver forgets to depress the clutch or change to neutral when stopping the vehicle. If there is not enough fuel pressure, it could be a clogged fuel filter, or the fuel pump could need to be replaced. If spark plugs are not working at full efficiency, or if there are problems with the ignition system, the vehicle may stall. If it's the ignition system, an ignition coil could need to be replaced, or it could be fouled plugs, improper plug gapping, or many other
How do I know if something is wrong with the cooling system?
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Temperature gages and warning lights for engines should warn the driver if the engine temperature is too cold or too hot. Sustained high temperatures can harm the engine, and cold temperatures may result in poor fuel economy and damage to the engine. A bad thermostat, engine fan, or leaks in the system can wreck havoc with the temperature, as can a damaged or loose belt or hose.
What should I do if my car is dead?
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A dead car battery is the most common reason that a car won't start. That makes it easy to jump to the conclusion that it is the battery. If there's no cranking sound when the ignition is turned, there's probably something wrong with the battery or the starter. Aside from the battery, it could also be an alternator, a faulty ignition switch, a bad starter solenoid, or a bad voltage regulator.
What could be wrong with my engine?
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Since so many different things can go wrong with an engine, its best to isolate the basic source of the problem first. Is it a fuel/air intake problem, ignition problem, or bad spark plugs? Using a decision-tree method through each system and subsystem may help to pinpoint the problem.
What causes exhaust problems?
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If there's a loud noise coming from the muffler, the muffler or pipes may be worn or corroded and will need to be replaced. A hissing or popping noise may mean there?s an exhaust manifold leak, which can be dangerous. The catalytic converter can also create exhaust problems, since it can become clogged or fouled and get overheated or fail due to bad exhaust valves. Additives that cause the mixture or temperature to change can also create problems.
What can happen to a fuel pump?
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A fuel pump may not work correctly if dirt or rust particles get in the fuel line and/or if there's a plugged fuel filter. Also, if a vehicle won't start, and it's not the battery, there's a good chance that it's the fuel pump, especially if the vehicle odometer is hovering in the 100,000 mile range. In some pumps immersion in gasoline is necessary for cooling, so keeping a gas tank on near empty too often may possibly shorten it's life span.
What is car suspension and How It Works? Along with springs, shock absorbers also play key role in the working of suspension. A shock absorber absorbs the shock. While driving car on a rough road, it dampens the induced vertical motion.
The shock absorber has two major functions to accomplish. Firstly, it absorbs the shock caused by driving on a bumpy road by stopping the transmission of shock to the car chassis. Secondly, it manages the suspension in all road conditions. It makes the vehicle well planted on road. They are also known as dampeners or velocity-sensitive hydraulic damping devices. The working of the shock absorber is well conjunct with springs. The movement of the wheel is allowed by spring. Thus, lead to conversion of energy in road shock to kinetic energy of unsprung mass. Later, damper dissipates this energy. Damper performs dissipation by forcing gas or oil through a small hole or constricted valve.
Adjustable shock absorbers are also available in the market that allows modifications in the size of constriction. Smaller the size of constriction, stiffer will be the suspension. Nowadays, car manufactures are also offering different types of suspensions for both the front and rear axles. They are categorized as dependant and independent suspension types.
Thus, if you are experiencing wallowing motion on undulating road surface that means suspension of the vehicle is going through excessive wear. It calls for immediate replacement, as it would not disable the car, but would lead to accident. Replacement of old worn out suspension with a new one will lead to enhanced handling, as it will minimize from end drive while braking. It also enhances safety and security of the vehicle by controlling body sway.
A car's front suspension is also referred to as a struts which attaches directly into the front frame near the engine compartment. And a car's rear suspension system is also known as shocks which ride independently.
Why is my steering wheel wobbling?
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Problems like vibrating, wandering, wobbling, or pulling to one side could mean the steering linkage is loose. If the power steering fluid is low or empty, the vehicle may make a groaning sound. In addition, low fluid or problems with other components could make it difficult to steer the vehicle. If components are replaced, the system will need to be re-aligned.
