Ask Us About Tires!
Monthly Archives

November 2022

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Engine Dashboard Warning Causes

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

There is little else more frustrating than realizing something is wrong with your car. Even worse is knowing that there is an issue but being unaware of how to solve it. If your vehicle’s engine dashboard warning is signaling a problem with your vehicle, then we recommend reading on so that you can learn for yourself what the cause may be. Whenever you are in the area and looking for affordable and high quality auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, then we recommend giving us a call or stopping by for a visit, so that we can address any questions or concerns that you may have. We are always more than happy to help in any way that we can, so do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to speaking with you soon. 

Catalytic Converter Failure 

We all know the feeling. You’re driving around in your vehicle on a perfect day only to discover that one of your engine dashboard warning lights has come on. If you are someone who is not familiar with maintaining the health of your vehicle, then you may put off the issue thinking that it is simply your vehicle showing its age. However, we recommend against ignoring your engine dashboard warning lights. In fact, you will want to take this issue a lot more seriously whenever you encounter it. One main cause of an engine dashboard warning is a failure of your catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is a part of your vehicle’s exhaust system. In simpler terms, this part is responsible for processing your vehicle’s exhaust before it is released through the tailpipe. As the years go on, it is common for catalytic converters to get clogged and if this happens then this could lead to malfunctions. When malfunctions occur, your check engine light will turn on. 

Electrical System Failure 

Another reason why you may notice your engine dashboard warning light come on is due to electrical system failures within your vehicle. You may not be aware of the fact that your vehicle has various sensors and computer chips within it. If any of the sensors or computer chips begins to malfunction, then your check engine light should it turn on and notify you about the issue. If, however, the electrical issue involves the battery or alternator, then a battery-shaped or ALT light should turn on. 

Faulty MAF Sensor 

The MAF Sensor in your vehicle stands for the mass air flow sensor. This sensor is responsible for tracking the air that comes into your vehicles engine. Overtime, this sensor can get dirty or begin to malfunction as it gets older, although it’s important to note that these sensors typically last your vehicle’s lifetime. Again, when you notice your check engine light turn on, then this could signify and issue with your sensor. auto repair Philadelphia, PA

Faulty O2 Sensor 

If your vehicle is experiencing a faulty O2 sensor, then this could also be a reason why you are seeing your check engine light. The O2 sensor stands for oxygen sensor. Typically, this type of sensor usually lasts around 90,000 miles. Once this sensor begins to fail, then you will end up with a light on your dashboard letting you know about the failure. Additionally, it is also important to note that your vehicle will not be able to pass an emissions test with a malfunctioning O2 sensor. 

Learn more about auto repair in Philadelphia, PA! 

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Fluctuating Temperature Gauge

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

It can be difficult to understand when something is going bad with your vehicle. If you aren’t familiar with how to care for your vehicle, it can be easy to ignore warning signs and concerning symptoms. If you have noticed your vehicle’s temperature gauge fluctuating recently, then continue reading for some of our insight and suggestions. Whenever you are in the area and are looking for affordable auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, we recommend giving us a call or stopping by for a visit, so that we can address any questions or concerns that you may have involving your vehicle. We are always more than happy to help in any way that we can, so do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to speaking with you soon.  

A Rusty Thermostat 

Recognizing that there is an issue with your vehicle can be a difficult thing to catch, especially if you are someone who is always busy. It’s important that every time you get into your vehicle that you try to make yourself aware of any inconsistencies from the day prior or unusual symptoms. When inspecting your vehicle before taking it out for a spin, we recommend taking a look at the thermostat. If you notice any bizarre issues such as corroding, then this could mean that the valve that lets coolant out into the engine could be stuck in the closed position. If this is the case, then coolant may be seeping out and puddling around your thermostat. Additionally, this liquid will eventually turn into a gel and will slowly begin to eat away at any metal within the thermostat housing. Eventually, this could lead to a larger coolant leak, which you will want to avoid at all costs!  

Leaking Coolant 

Continuing on off of the point stated above, if you notice coolant puddles on your garage floor then this could be another indicator of a faulty thermostat. In fact, as your vehicle’s coolant begins to eat through the metal of the thermostat housing, eventually, you will end up with a hole that will begin to leak coolant. As a result, the level of coolant in your engine will begin to diminish, which could make driving your vehicle a serious hazard. This is because low coolant levels cause the engine to begin overheating. If you drive with an overheated engine, then your vehicle can suffer severe engine damage. auto repair Philadelphia, PA

Erratic Temperatures

Going back to the original point, if you notice that your vehicle temperature gauge is beginning to fluctuate, then this is a clear indicator of a malfunctioning thermostat. Instead of working properly, your thermostat is not reading your vehicle’s engine temperature correctly and as a result, releases coolant at the wrong times. So, if you notice that your engine constantly goes back and forth between being too hot or cold, then you will definitely want to take your vehicle into a mechanic so that they can take care of the problem. 

Learn more about auto repair in Philadelphia, PA! 

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Signs of Worn Suspension

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

Owning a vehicle can be a great and liberating feeling until it is not. Unfortunately, running into issues and problems with your car comes with the territory. If you have been out driving in your vehicle and have noticed that you can suddenly feel every bump in the road, then this may be a sign that your car’s suspension is worn. While this may seem like a death sentence for your vehicle, we promise it is not as dramatic as it may seem. Whenever you are in the area in need of affordable and high-quality auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, we recommend giving us a call or stopping by for a visit so that we can address any questions or concerns that you may have. We are always more than happy to help in any way that we can, so do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to speaking with you soon! 

Tilting, Squatting, & Lurching 

It is very easy to get used to the strange quirks of your vehicle. Whether or not your vehicle was purchased with these quirks or not, it is important not to immediately overlook some minor issues. Many people who own vehicles overlook things that don’t have to do with the exterior of the vehicle. Whether or not you are car-savvy or not, it is important to remain knowledgeable about the inner workings of your vehicle so that you are able to address any issues when they arise and before they snowball into bigger problems. If you notice that your vehicle has begun tilting, squatting, or lurching, then these motions could be signs that the struts and shocks in your car have gone bad. If you notice that your vehicle has begun tilting or leaning every time you turn a corner, then this can be an indicator to look out for. Additionally, you may also feel your vehicle’s body squat when you press down on the gas pedal. Lastly, having a vehicle that lurches forward when you step on the brake pedal is not something that you should overlook. 

Greasy Shocks 

While it is oftentimes necessary to know your way around a vehicle in order to address a problem, it is also possible to use your senses in order to understand when something is off. If you suspect that your vehicle’s shocks have gone bad, then you can discern whether or not they have by simply touching the shocks themselves. If you notice that they have a greasy film on them, then this could mean that they are leaking. In fact, the shock absorbers will begin to leak when they get too old. We recommend bringing in your vehicle to the closest mechanic near you so that they can install new shocks and struts in your car. auto repair Philadelphia, PA

Low Sitting Corner

If you’ve been operating your vehicle recently only to discover that one corner sits lower on one wheel, then this could be a bad sign of a broken suspension spring. If you fail to have your suspension inspected every 15,000 miles, then it is possible for you to end up with a broken spring. Additionally, the wheel that has the broken spring will begin making loud noises every time you drive over bumps. If you encounter this issue, then take your car to the nearest mechanic. 

Learn more about auto repair in Philadelphia, PA! 

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Signs of a Missing a Catalytic Converter

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

As a car owner, there are a lot of issues and unfortunate situations that you will inevitably find yourself in. Truthfully, no matter how cautious you are, there are some things that are just unavoidable. If you have noticed that your car has been making a roaring sound, then this could be a sign of a missing catalytic converter. If you’d like to learn more about it, then continue reading. Whenever you are in the area and need affordable and high-quality auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, we recommend giving us a call or stopping by for a visit so that we can address any questions or concerns that you may have. We are always more than happy to help in any way that we can, so do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to speaking with you soon. 

Jerky Acceleration 

Nobody knows your vehicle better than you, so it’s important that when you drive your vehicle around that you are aware of any issues or new symptoms that may arise. Oftentimes, we can get so used to our vehicles that we can begin to ignore or overlook small issues that can eventually snowball into massive problems. A common thing that many people seem to overlook when driving their vehicle for a long time is new noises or sounds. While some sounds may just be the result of an older vehicle, there are others that could be a sign of a much larger issue. A major sign to look out for is a vehicle that is making a roaring noise from the engine. If your vehicle is doing this, then we recommend paying close attention and not overlooking it as this can indicate a missing catalytic converter. if you continue to operate your vehicle when the engine continues to roar loudly, then you will likely notice that the acceleration jerks and the engine will continue to get louder with each jerking motion. This is because the engine is working to push the exhaust out of it and into the space where the catalytic converter once was. Since the catalytic converter is no longer in the space that it once was, then it is no longer able to absorb the force that the exiting exhaust makes. As a result, you will have issues when attempting to accelerate as the engine continues to release the exhaust. 

Low-Speed auto repair Philadelphia, PA

Another sign that your vehicle is missing its catalytic converter is if you have trouble when driving at slow speeds. If you are noticing issues with your vehicle when traveling at slower speeds, then this is due to the engine struggling to produce low-end torque. Low-end torque is the power production that supports motion when you are driving at slow speeds. With the catalytic converter missing, this ends up affecting the power production in your vehicle. As you continue to pick up speed the operation of your engine will begin to even out due to it still being able to produce high-end torque without issue. To solve this issue with your vehicle it is recommended to replace your catalytic converter. If you are unable to do so yourself, then we recommend taking your vehicle to a professional. 

Learn more about auto repair in Philadelphia, PA! 

Call Now Button