Custom Automotive Care

It’s a fact that your car will stop in a shorter distance if we can keep the wheels rolling, sliding or skidding the tires will increase your stopping distance. These systems were designed to keep your wheels rolling in a panic stop. Each wheel has a sensor to let a computer know if the wheel is spinning, if a wheel stops in a hard stop situation the system will remove some of the pressure to that wheel and allow it to spin, in turn shorting your stopping distance

While the largest part of your engine is mechanical, hydraulics plays a significant role. You’ll find fluids at work in a number of different areas. Your car’s fluids include: Engine oil Transmission fluid Coolant Power steering fluid Brake fluid Washer fluid All of these fluids must be transported from one place to another in order to do their job. While some fluids run primarily within the engine or another component (oil, for instance, or transmission fluid), others don’t. Consider engine coolant – it’s stored in your radiator and overflow tank/reservoir, but must move from there to the engine and then back again. Power steering fluid is another prime example – it must be moved from the power steering fluid reservoir at the pump, into the rack and then recirculated once more. Moving fluid from one area to another requires hoses, and hoses are prone to wear and tear. They’ll eventually decay a ... 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

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

Your skeleton provides the structure to hold up your weight. Your joints cushion you as you walk and allow you to change direction. Your vehicle’s suspension system is similar: It bears the weight of your vehicle, absorbs bumps in the road and controls the body as you steer through curves on Lincoln roads and streets. Your suspension system keeps your car up off the road. From there, it’s responsible for a smooth and comfortable ride. Like the bones in your body, vehicle suspension parts are connected by joints that allow all the components to move as they should. Over time and miles, the joints start to wear and your suspension gets loose and doesn’t operate as precisely as before, reducing proper tire contact with the road. An accident, pothole or hitting a curb or rock can also damage or break vehicle suspension components. If you’ve ever hurt your foot, you know you’ve had to walk differently to keep it from hurting as bad ... read more