How to Troubleshoot Your Windshield Wipers and Washer

January 18th, 2012

Your windshield wiper and washer might not seem like a very important part of your car, but it plays a crucial role for maintaining your safety while driving. Your car’s windshield is supposed to keep the wind, dirt, dust and other outdoor elements from distracting you while you’re driving; not keep you from seeing the road. For a lot of cars, malfunctioning or worn out windshield wipers don’t keep the windshield clean enough for a completely unobstructed view.

The problems that you’re having with your windshield wipers could just be from plain old wear and tear or there could be something wrong with the system. Here are the common problems for windshield wipers and washer and the corresponding solutions.

1. Your windshield wipers are leaving streaks on the windshield

This problem is usually caused by old and worn out windshield wipers with cracked rubber. You will have to replace your wipers. Good quality windshield wipers usually last for a year.

2. Your wipers don’t operate (there’s no current to the motor)

If your wipers don’t operate and the motor doesn’t run at all, then there’s probably no current reaching the motor. This could be caused by a blown fuse or circuit breaker which you’ll need to replace. It could also be caused by a loose or broken wiring connection or a defective switch which will also need to be replaced. The lack of current could also be due to defective or corroded terminal which you can clean or repair.

3. Your wipers don’t operate and the motor heats up and hums

If your wipers don’t operate but you hear the motor humming and feel it heating up, then it might be time to have the motor serviced. It could also be caused by a bent or damaged linkage which will need to be replaced. The arms could also have been improperly installed on the linkage pivots which can be fixed by repositioning them or reinstalling them.

4. Your wipers don’t operate but the motor runs

If you feel the motor running but your wipers aren’t operating, then it’s usually because a linkage has been broken or disconnected. This can be corrected by connecting the wiper linkage or by replacing the broken linkage.

Remember, the comfort and safety of you and your family is our business. Whenever you believe there is a problem with the performance or safety of your auto check here first. Our motto: Any Make, Any Model, Any Problem – Large or Small!
 

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10 Important Tips for Getting Your Car Ready for Winter

January 6th, 2012

Did you know that in 2009, there were 5.5 million car accidents in the United States? Around 31 000 of these accidents were fatal and more than 2 million people were injured. Most of these car crashes happened in December, and it’s no secret why. Cold areas that experience extremely cold weather have to deal with snow and ice during this time of the year which creates a very dangerous driving environment. That’s why it’s very important to make the necessary preparations for winter driving to make sure that you’re as safe as possible while driving your car. Here are essential steps to winterizing your vehicle:

1. Get the right kind of oil change when it’s needed (and not a day after)

30 000 miles is the usual milestone for drivers to get their car fully serviced which includes an oil change. If you’re getting close to the 30 000 mile mark, don’t wait around; have your oil changed right away.

When getting an oil change, make sure you have the right kind of oil for winter. Engine oil thickens in low temperatures which makes it harder for engines to start. You can prevent this problem by getting a multi-viscosity oil (it maintains good oil flow at cold temperatures but can still be used in warmer weather).

2. Make sure you have a clean windshield

Your windshield is supposed to protect you from the wind and from other outdoor elements, not prevent you from seeing. If your windshield wipers are starting to leave streaks of water or if the rubber is beginning to crack, it’s time to replace them. Good windshield wipers usually last for about a year.

During winter, it’s better to use windshield washer. Water will just freeze and compound the problem.

3. Make sure your battery is in tip-top shape

Check your battery for corrosion on its posts and connections. You also need to make sure that it has enough water. For conventional batteries, you can remove the plastic caps on top of the battery to check for the fluid level. If it’s low, you can add distilled water. If your battery is more than three years old, have certified repair shops check to see if it can still hold a charge.

4. Check your cooling system

The extreme cold of winter is one of the top causes of cracks on the rubber parts of your car. You will need to check your belts and hoses for wear and tear to make sure that they don’t suddenly break while you’re driving.

5. Check your tires

Having properly inflated tires are essential for getting the best possible traction while driving so you’ll need to check your tire pressure. Don’t forget to check your spare tire too.

If you live in an area where you regularly get snow, then it might be wise to invest in snow tires.

6. Let the engine warm up fully

Cold weather and condensation build up can cause premature rusting in your exhaust system components. You can help prevent this by getting your engine up to its normal operating temperature before driving your car to speed up the evaporation of the moisture in your car’s system.

Keep in mind that revving the engine excessively right after starting doesn’t really make it warm up faster.

7. Keep the gas tank as full as possible

Having a full gas tank helps prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines.

8. Get a brake check

If you haven’t had your brakes checked in the last 6 months, it might be prudent to have them checked right away.

9. Check your 4-wheel drive (if you have it)

If you have 4-wheel drive for your car, it’s best to have a certified repair shop look it over before using it for winter driving. Most drivers don’t use their 4WD systems for months which can cause problems with engaging and disengaging the system.

10. Keep an emergency kit in your car

An emergency car kit is essential for winter driving because you never really know when you’ll be in a car accident or if you will be stranded in this terrible weather. Here are some of the items that every car should have during the winter season:

 

i.                Blanket

ii.               Extra set of warm clothes (including boots and
gloves)

iii.             Water and food (including hard candy)

iv.              Ice scraper

v.               Small shovel

vi.              Flashlight (make sure that the batteries are
full and it’s working well)

vii.            Windshield washer fluid

viii.          Flares

ix.             Jumper cables

x.              Tools

xi.             Tire chains

xii.           Tire gauge

xiii.          Spare tire (with proper tire pressure)

xiv.          Tire changing tools

xv.            First-aid kit

xvi.           Paper towels

xvii.          A bag of sand or salt or non-clumping kitty
litter (for traction if you get stuck)

 

 

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Tips for Maintaining Your Car’s HVAC for Summer Use

December 15th, 2011

If you ever experienced losing your car air conditioning during the summer, then you already know how uncomfortable a hot car can get; especially if you’re stuck in traffic. We rely on our car’s air conditioning system the most during the hottest summer days, which also means that it’s more prone to breaking down on those steamy hot days. To make sure that your car’s air conditioning is in tip top condition when you need it the most, here are a few tips that you can use to optimize your air conditioning system’s performance during hot summer days.

1. Check your refrigerant levels.

Most air conditioning failures that happen during summer are a simple case of not having enough refrigerant. If you don’t regularly maintain your car’s air conditioning system, then it’s time to have it checked. Keep in mind that having your air conditioning system maintained should be part of your car’s regular maintenance.

If you have your air conditioning system regularly maintained but you’re having problems with your refrigerant levels, then you should have it checked for a leak. Aging pipelines and cracked rubber rings are the common causes of refrigerant leak. When getting maintenance work done on your air conditioning system, make sure that the refrigerant being used is of good quality to avoid pipeline corrosion, explosion, or leakage.

2. Check on your air conditioning filters.

If your air conditioning filters has gathered too much dirt and dust, it will not only affect its filtering ability; it will also affect cooling performance. Cleaning air conditioning filters is part of regular air conditioning maintenance unless it has gotten too dirty which means that it will need to be replaced.

Most of the problems that we experience with our cars’ air conditioning systems are easily avoided with proper maintenance. To make sure that you never have to experience sitting in a car on a hot summer day without the advantage of air conditioning, be sure to have it regularly maintained along with the rest of the vehicle.
 

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Five Top Signs of a Blown Head Gasket

December 7th, 2011

A head gasket is vital for having an efficient and well-functioning car engine. It can be found between the engine block and combustion cylinder, its purpose being to act as a sealant for the cylinder head to ensure maximum compression. It also functions by making sure that your car’s coolant and engine oil don’t mix. Because a head gasket is vital for your car to run properly, it’s important for you to be able to spot the problem immediately so that it can be repaired.

Head gaskets typically fail at the thinnest area between the two adjacent cylinders, which is its weakest point. The gasket can burn through or crack which will then allow the engine oil and coolant to mix which will lead to an abrupt drop in your engine’s performance. While your engine can probably still run with a blown gasket, it will only run very poorly and inefficiently.

At some point in your vehicle’s life, you might experience a blown head gasket which you can usually spot by looking out for certain indicators. Here are the top five signs of a blown gasket:

1. White smoke from your exhaust

One of the most common signs of a blown gasket can be spotted in your exhaust. A gasket leak will usually lead to having white smoke coming out of your tailpipe that comes with a sweet smell. In some cases, drops of water can also be spotted dripping from the end of the tailpipe.

2. Bubbles in your radiator

Another common sign for a blown gasket is finding bubbles of air in your radiator. You can check for this by removing the radiator cap then warming up your engine. If you see bubbles come out from the top of the radiator when you rev your engine, then chances are you have a blown gasket.

3. Contaminated oil

The next sign for a blown gasket is contaminated oil. If you notice that your oil cap is surrounded by a milky ring, then this is likely caused by the coolant that’s entering the engine oil which indicates a leaky gasket. The milky ring that you see is formed when the mixture evaporates.

4. Poor engine performance

A leaky or blown gasket leads to compression loss which leads to poor engine performance and engine inefficiency. If you experience a sudden drop in terms of engine performance and rough idling, then it could be an indicator for a blown gasket. Engines with a blown gasket also easily overheat and could be dangerous so it’s best to have it repaired immediately.

5. Green-tinted spark plugs

One of the last indicators of a blown gasket can be found on your spark plugs. If the problem of a blown gasket is severe, then you will see coolant seeping or squirting out of your vehicle’s spark plugs. If your car has a green coolant in its system, you may also see a green tint surrounding them.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to have your car checked and have the head gasket replaced. While you can also replace your head gasket yourself, it takes a little more skill and know-how so it might be best to leave it to the experts if you’re not too handy around the garage.
 

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