Custom Automotive Care

There are a surprising number of small, inexpensive parts that can lead to expensive engine damage when they fail. It doesn’t seem right. Fortunately a lot of those things can be taken care of in routine maintenance. They may not be easy to remember, because it is a long list, but your service center can help you know what’s scheduled to be taken care of. Some of us really don’t look forward to going in for an oil change and then getting a list of the other things the manufacturer recommends. But automotive maintenance is all about prevention, and addressing small problems before they get big. Let’s take the fuel filter for example. You may not know this but the median age for private vehicles on our roads is over nine years. When cars get older, five years or so, they’ve accumulated a lot of dirt and rust in their gas tanks. If that dirt gets into the engine it can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. So somewhere between that ... read more

A simple penny can make a huge difference when it comes to your safety on the road. # TireSafety #PennyTest #RoadReady

This could mean you need a new battery. Have your car battery checked with each shop visit. Severe temperature changes can affect your car battery whether it is hot or cold. We offer a free battery check with every visit. #battery #startup #starter #car #batteryrepair ... read more

My coolant level is dropping but I don’t see any leaks. This could be caused by an internal coolant leak from a failed head gasket or from a porous cylinder head casting. We have had two vehicles in the shop recently that were losing coolant with no visible leaks. We found them both to be leaking through the cylinder head casting and getting into the engine oil. If you have any fluid levels that are dropping with no visible leaks don’t ignore it. It could lead to more expensive repairs the longer it’s put off. #coolantleak #fluidleak #overheating #lowlevel

As summer is here you should have your A/C system checked to make sure it’s full and the cabin filter is clean. But if your system is already not getting cold, it needs to get a look, if the refrigerant is low there has to be a leak, refrigerant won’t evaporate. Many times it can be hard to find the leak and we will want to add dye to the system and have you come back to check it again, a hassle for sure but sometimes there’s no other way. #coldAC #warmair #blowinghot

My radio will not turn off when I shut off my car. We have heard this complaint twice this week. You may think this is a complicated wiring problem or a ghost in the vehicle. In most cases it is due to a failed door ajar switch. If the computer does not see the door open it will not turn the radio off. It can be tested fairly easily with the right tools and knowledge. #radio #ajar #switch #wiringproblem

“My truck will start but will not stay running. It dies after just a few seconds. I replaced the fuel pump but it still does it.” In this case the fuel pump could be the problem or it could be something else entirely. The fuel pump was replaced without any formal testing or proof the pump was the cause. This was an expensive guess. As it turns out the fuel pump was not the issue. The computer lost the theft code because battery voltage was too low. All it needed was the battery charged (it had not been driven for a few weeks) and the theft system relearned. This was about a quarter of the cost of the new fuel pump that had been installed. Proper testing and diagnoses is usually more efficient than guessing and replacing unneeded parts. #fuelpump #theftlight #stalls #dies

Why is my timing belt important to change? This question has been asked recently. The timing belt connects major engine components like the crankshaft and camshafts to each other. The alignment of these components is very important to the operation of the engine. If the timing belt breaks or slips it can cause internal engine damage that would require the engine to be replaced, which is much more expensive than servicing the timing at the manufacturer’s recommended mileage. The timing belt also is connected to the water pump on most vehicles, so a leaking or failed water pump can damage the timing belt as well. One recent vehicle we replaced the timing belt on based on mileage, we found the water pump had been leaking and wasn’t far from failing, which could have ruined the engine. Routine maintenance is much cheaper than waiting until a problem has already occurred. #timingbelt #waterpump #enginereplace #maintenance

It’s raining inside my car, where is it coming from? If you have a sunroof it is normal to get some water leakage but the vehicle manufacturers have installed drain tubes to route the water to the outside of the car. If the drain tube gets plugged or becomes disconnected it could pool water on the floor boards or drip from the roof. We have also seen windshields that leak around the outside which can drip on the inside of the vehicle as well. If you notice the carpet is wet or drips from the inside of the vehicle you don’t want to put it off. This moisture can corrode wiring and get inside computers that are mounted behind the dash or under the seat. We have special techniques to pinpoint where the water is coming from and can get it repaired in no time. #waterleak #sunroof #wetcarpet

That’s a good question for Lincoln drivers. All batteries wear out and need to be replaced – but some are replaced before their time. For example, if your battery is dying and you need a jump-start, it could very well be that you have a bad battery. But you should have your battery tested first to see if it’s actually bad. The problem could be parasitic drain or a bad alternator that’s not properly charging your battery. One of the tests that we perform at Custom Automotive Care is alternator output. A surprisingly high percentage of “bad” batteries brought in are actually just fine: the problem is a failed alternator or control fault that is not turning the alternator on. On most modern vehicles the alternator is energized by the PCM (powertrain control module) or the BCM (body control module). These computers can change how much and when the alternator charges. A worn serpentine belt and/or belt tensioner can cause the belt to slip, as well. If the belt ... read more