Wondering when is a wheel alignment necessary?

Are you having car alignment issues and wonder how it is affecting your tires, suspension and steering systems? A misalignment issue normally means that the tires on your car are not pointing in the same direction as the steering wheel.  This will shorten the life of your tires by thousands of miles as well as compromise the steering and suspension systems.

A car alignment issue can develop over time, but it’s more likely to be caused by a specific incident.  If you drive down poorly maintained roads, through potholes, or even hit a curb, your car alignment can be greatly affected.  

You may be wondering, “When is a wheel alignment necessary?”  Here are some noticeable signs to watch for:

• Vehicle pulls to the left or right as you’re driving on a straight road
• Uneven or rapid rubber and tread wear on your tires 
• The steering wheel is crooked even when driving straight
• Squealing tires

What are the benefits of the correct car alignment?  Here are a few good reasons:

• Boosts your car’s handling and safety, 
• Increases fuel efficiency,
• Prevents damage to crucial steering and suspension components, and 
• Extends the life of your tires.  

When should you have a car alignment service?  Normally, it is a good idea to have the alignment inspected about every 6,000 miles, which is about every other oil change.  Or, as soon as you start to notice premature wear on your tires.  The price of a car alignment service is much less than buying a new set of tires!

Are you wondering when is a wheel alignment necessary?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about our wheel alignment services and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

Wondering What Causes Headlights to go out?

Have your headlights suddenly stopped working?  Or are they looking dim and fogged over?  Take note of the type of failure and head to your auto shop.  Even though headlight technology isn’t complex, there are many ways that headlights can fail.  First of all, your Auto mechanic will want to know whether both lights failed at once, or just one, and whether or not the high or low beam mode still works.

So what causes headlights to go out?  It's commonly an electrical issue or a physical problem with the bulbs themselves. Based on which bulbs have stopped working, and under what circumstances, you can use the following information to narrow down a solution:

1. One headlight doesn’t work.  This is usually caused by a burned out bulb. If it still doesn't work after replacing it, suspect a wiring or fuse issue.  
2. Both headlights don’t work.  Bulbs usually don’t burn out together, but it’s still vital to rule that out by checking for power. Most total headlight failures are caused by a bad component like a fuse, relay. Wiring issues can also cause both headlights to stop working.
3. The high beams and/or the low beams don’t work.  Most headlight failures that are limited to just high or low beams are related to a relay or the high beam control switch.
4. Headlights seem dim.  If your headlights always seem dim, the issue could be foggy lenses or worn out bulbs. If your headlights seem to dim during specific circumstances, there may be a charging system problem.
5. Other headlight issues.  Caused by some combination of bad bulbs, wiring or relay issues, and bad switches.

In the past, many car owners were able to replace burned out headlights or brake lights themselves.  But with the design of today’s vehicles, headlights and brake lights are much harder to access.  If you don’t own the right tools and diagnostic equipment, it is much smarter to go straight to your mechanic who understands how to check the headlight system, inspect the fuses, and take a look at the switch and relays.  

Wondering what causes headlights to go out?  Call the ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about headlights and brake lights and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

Are you Wondering, “Why Does My Car AC Not Work?”

You’re ready to head for home after a long day at work; start the car and turn on the A/C.  Generally, it takes a few seconds for the air to get cool, but on this day it just keeps blowing hot air. Wondering, “Why does my car AC not work?”  It may simply just need fresh coolant added to the radiator.  To determine the cause of the issue, take your vehicle to your auto shop and have a certified car AC repair technician inspect and repair your AC unit. 

It’s vital to keep your A/C in tip-top shape as repairs can be costly.  With the introduction of computerized parts, today’s A/C system is more composite than in the days of “do-it-yourself” vehicle maintenance. 

 

Air conditioning systems work on the principle that when the refrigerant is compressed and cooled, then allowed to expand again, it will get very cold.  If your AC’s compressor isn’t able to create a high enough pressure in the system then the refrigerant will not correctly cool when it is allowed to expand through the expansion valve or orifice tube.   

Broken cooling fans can also cause a lack of cooling at your condenser.  The fans could be burned out, a bad mount, a chipped fan blade, or simply a blown fuse or burnt out relay.

Another cause of why you’re AC does not work if there could be an electrical issue such as a faulty signal from your ventilation system caused by a broken wire or bad module.  Or there could be bad sensors tripping off your system or even a sensor in your vehicle’s motor that is causing the system to shut off inadvertently.  

Tip to Remember:  Schedule a routine car AC repair service at least once a year, preferably before you start your summer road trips.  You will notice the benefits of improved gas mileage, a more environmentally-friendly vehicle, and a more comfortable drive.

Wondering why does my car AC not work? Call the ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about car AC repair and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

How often should headlights be replaced?

Do you wonder how often should headlight be replaced?  If you are finding it more and more difficult to see the road at night, it could be caused by dim headlights and not your glasses. Ask your auto technician to inspect all the power accessories in your vehicle to rule out a possible auto electrical repair.  Standard halogen headlights naturally dim over time so all that may be needed to improve your visibility at night are new headlights.

Just like wiper blades, headlights should also be inspected periodically.  Changing a car's headlights before they burn out will increase your ability to see roadside objects, such as street signs, as well as your reaction time in avoiding road hazards.  It will also provide you with a greater sense of safety and security on the road.  Fortunately, replacing headlights more frequently is a simple and inexpensive way to make night driving safer for any age driver. 

Here are a few easy tips to help keep your headlights in good working order:

• Give your headlights a quick scrub when you clean your windows at the gas station. 
• Replace your headlights before they get too dim and burn out. 
• Replace headlights in pairs to avoid uneven illumination.
• Consider replacing normal halogen headlights with high-performance headlights that produce light closer in color to natural daylight.
• Inspect that your headlights are correctly adjusted as they can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving.

A Safety Tip to Remember:  Periodically inspect that all your car lights are in good working order. Ask someone to turn on the headlights, brake lights and turn signals as you walk around the outside of the car.  If there are issues with your lights or other power accessories, ask your mechanic about a needed auto electrical repair.

Wondering about how often should headlights be replaced?  Call the ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about auto electrical repair and to Make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

Wondering about the symptoms of bad struts?

Automotive shocks wear down slowly over time and as the miles add up.  Like all other automobile parts and systems, shocks and struts have a specific maintenance schedule.  Auto repair specialists say that normally they should be replaced between every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the wear and tear they have received.

What keeps your vehicle balanced and connected to the road?  It’s the automotive shocks!  The many different components that make up the steering and suspension systems play a big role in keeping your ride smooth and safe.  The life span of shocks and struts will depend on your driving patterns. If you consistently travel over bumpy streets and adverse road conditions, then these parts will want to be replaced more often than those used for commuting short distances every day. 

What are the symptoms of bad struts?

• Poor steering response.
• Steering performance is stiff.
• Your car sways when turning and changing lanes.
• Your vehicle bounces excessively when driving.
• Braking performance is unstable.

These warning signs can occur at any time, so be on the alert for any of the above signs.  If you notice that there’s something off about how your vehicle handles on the road, it may be time to replace the automotive shocks or struts

Wondering about the symptoms of bad struts? Call our ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about automotive shocks and struts and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

Are you wondering when should you get a Tune up on Your Car?

Have you noticed dashboard lights coming on and wonder what the issue might be? There is a way to find out!  Today's vehicles are designed with computer processors, microchips and sensors, which can be linked to a specialized diagnostic computer which scans the operating systems.  

This diagnostic computer can find issues associated with the transmission, oil tank, gas tank, exhaust system, and other components.  It can also indicate ignition timing problems, level of buildup in the combustion engine, fuel injector performance, whether the ignition coils are firing, engine rpm levels, air and coolant temperature, crankshaft and camshaft position, and throttle opening.  In other words, it will let you know when it times for a tune up!  

So when should you get a tune up on your car?  A car diagnostics will help your mechanic pinpoint potential issues lurking under the hood.  Of course, a tune up will vary from vehicle to vehicle-based on age, mileage and unique manufacturer recommendations for that vehicle. 

Tune-ups remain an important part of vehicle maintenance and should never be overlooked.  You will save a lot of time and money because your mechanic can perform wanted repairs the first time around, and not on a "trial-and-error" basis.  The issue can be identified quickly, parts can be ordered and the issue fixed before it gets any bigger.

Wondering when should you get a tune up on your car?  Call Our ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about car diagnostics and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

Wondering How Often Should You Get An Alignment on Your Vehicle?

“Oh no, my vehicle keeps going left but I’m steering straight!  Will this damage my vehicle?”  If you have owned a car for very long, you have possibly had those same questions.  Car alignment problems aren’t always obvious right away and they tend to get worse over time.

How does poor alignment affect the handling of your vehicle?  Car misalignment is a condition when tires are not pointing in the same direction as the steering wheel.  It can shorten the life of your tires by thousands of miles and compromise essential steering and suspension parts.  As soon as you start to notice steering issues, make sure to make an appointment.  Your mechanic can advise whether you want an all-wheel alignment or just a front alignment.

So how often should you get an alignment on your vehicle?  It’s a good idea to have your car alignment inspected about every 6,000 miles.  At the very least, have it inspected at every other oil change or at the first sign of premature tire wear. Here is why the correct front alignment is important:

• Boosts your vehicle’s handling and safety, 
• Improves fuel efficiency,
• Prevents damage to important vehicle components, and 
• Extends the life of your tires.  

Remember:  The price of a car alignment service is much more cost-effective than paying for a new set of tires!

Need to know how often you should get an alignment on your vehicle?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about our all-wheel or front alignment services and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.