THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OIL CHANGE, A TOP PRIORITY


Although The Oil Change is the most common maintenance for your automobile, new or later model, it is still the most important. To maintain your auto's smooth operation and extend its engine's lifespan, an oil change is required every three months, along with a new oil filter. The high level of heat and motion to drive your auto again requires clean oil as required by your automobile specs. A short list of why you need to change your oil is below. 



Top 5 Reasons Oil Changes Are Important.

·       

Maintains engine lubrication. Imagine all the moving parts, pistons, valves, and other engine parts moving at high rates of speed under the hood of a car. ...

·        Cools engine components. Moving parts that lack proper lubrication create friction, creating heat. ...

·        Removes engine wear particles and sludge. Dirt particles are deadly to engines. ...

·        Improves gas mileage. ...

·        Promotes vehicle longevity. ...

An oil change also gives our staff a chance to survey the overall automobile's mechanical operations, its accessories, including safety features, and fluids. Each auto will have its own oil requirements, including regular oil or synthetic, including the viscosity of the oil. Quick Auto Service is here to make sure your automobile is running at its maximum level.


BALL JOINTS WHEN DO YOU NEED REPLACEMENTS

When do the ball joints need to be replaced?


Your car has many components that are vital for safe driving, and a ball joint is one of them. A ball joint is a part of the front suspension. It connects the control arm to the part that holds the front wheel called a steering knuckle, see the illustration. Bad ball jointBall joint in a typical front-wheel drive carThe connection is flexible, so the front wheel can steer and move up and down. Modern cars have at least two ball joints in the front end; many trucks have four.


In many cars, a ball joint is built into the control arm and is replaced as one unit. We covered control arms in this separate article: When do control arms need to be replaced? Here we will focus on the type of ball joint that comes as an individual part, like in these photos. What does it do and when should it be replaced?


A ball joint consists of a housing (socket) and a stud with a ball; it serves as a flexible joint. In some trucks, ball joints have grease fittings and need to be greased periodically. The majority of modern cars have non-serviceable ball joints that are greased at the factory and sealed with a rubber or polyurethane dust boot. Ball jointBolt-in ball joint.Ball jointPress-in ball joint.


When do ball joints need to be replaced? 


There is no mileage requirements. Ball joints need to be periodically inspected and replaced if worn. We have seen them last for over 160K miles, but potholes, speed bumps and road salt in winter months take their toll. If not caught in time, a badly worn ball joint can even separate while driving. If it separates, a vehicle will lose control. You might have seen an older car with one of the front wheels collapsed under the vehicle. See the photo of a separated ball joint below.

Ball joints cannot be properly inspected during a "visual inspection." To check a ball joint, the front wheel has to be lifted off the ground, for example, when the car is raised on a hoist in a repair shop. In some trucks, checking ball joints is not a quick task: load-carrying ball joints, for example, must be unloaded to check them. Mechanics have specific instructions from car manufacturers on how to inspect ball joints and when a ball joint is deemed to be bad.


For example, a ball joint is usually replaced if it has excessive play or if it's loose. It's also replaced if the dust boot is broken or torn. Bad ball jointThis worn-out ball joint has separated. When a dust boot is damaged, grease can come out and water and dirt can get inside the ball joint. In either case, a ball joint won't last long. In some trucks, grease fittings serve as ball joint wear indicators. If a car has a bad ball joint, it's considered unsafe to drive.


It might also be a good idea to replace a ball joint as a precaution if it shows early signs of wear; for example, if it looks dry (lacks grease) or shows excessive rust damage. Corrosion damage is a major cause for ball joint failures. A ball joint that lacks grease may produce a creaking or squeaking noise when driving slowly over large bumps or when turning the steering wheel. Of course, several steering and suspension components can produce a creaking noise; the source of the noise must be diagnosed properly.

CHANGE YOUR STARTER BEFORE YOUR AUTO DOESN'T START


It requires significant force to get your engine turned over and firing, and it falls to the starter motor to make it happen. A failed starter stands in the way of using your vehicle at all, and once it begins to fail, a replacement is the best way to restore its function.

The starter motor in a car is a heavy-duty electric DC (Direct Current) motor. It is bolted to the engine or transmission and is powered by the 12-volt battery. The starter motor's job is to turn over the engine when you want to start it.


                   What are the signs that the starter motor is going bad?

  • The engine won't turn over on the first attempt; The failing starter may click but won't turn over on the first try. It may take several tries to make it work.
  • At times, a worn-out starter motor won't work when the engine is hot, but starts working again after the engine cools down.
  • When starting, the engine turns over slower than usual, even though the battery is good.
  • The starter motor sounds 'strained' when turning over the engine and possibly produces an abnormal grinding sound.
  • When the overrunning clutch of the starter motor fails, you can hear the starter motor runs, but it fails to turn over the engine, or turns it over after several attempts.
  • When the starter gear fails to engage with the engine flex plate or flywheel gear when starting, you may hear a loud screeching noise, but the engine will not turn over. This could happen due to a bad starter motor or a worn-out flex plate/flywheel gear.
  • One of the main fuses protecting the starter motor circuit burns out when starting the engine due to excessively high current drawn by a worn-out or shorted starter motor.
  • Tapping the starter motor makes it work when it's worn out and fails to operate.

HOW TO REPLACE THE STARTER

A starter motor has two wires connected to it: a small wire for the control circuit and a larger cable that is connected to the positive battery terminal (see the diagram below). If there is a battery voltage at both starter terminals when pressing the Start button or turning the key, and the starter motor doesn't run, it's bad and needs to be replaced.

HAPPY TRAILS, QUICK AUTO REPAIR


When a car overheats, this can cause severe damage and lead to expensive repairs. Maintaining your radiator and making radiator repairs extends its lifespan and helps avoid potentially costly repair bills. Radiator repair to fix leaks and maintenance using proper coolant helps keep your radiator working properly. However, radiator repair may not be sufficient if the radiator has deteriorated to the point where replacement is better.


How often do car radiators need to be replaced?

How often do car radiators need to be replaced depends on how well the vehicle is maintained. The average lifespan of a radiator in a new car is 8 to 10 years, which is equivalent to 50,000 to 100,000 miles of use.


You will know it is time to consider replacing your radiator when you experience any of these conditions:

Overheating Engine - When your motor overheats frequently, and your engine always runs hot, this is a sign that your radiator may need replacement.

Leaking Coolant - Seeing a puddle of coolant under the vehicle is a sign that your radiator has a leak and needs repair and potentially replacement.

Rust and corrosion - Excessive rust and corrosion that shows in the coolant is a sign that the radiator should be replaced.

Strange Sweet Odor - When coolant escapes the radiator and enters the motor, it may cause a strange, sweet smell to come from the exhaust.

Vehicle Age - Any vehicle that is around eight to ten years old is a candidate for radiator replacement.

Driving Conditions - Depending on the driving conditions where you live, radiator replacement may be necessary more often, such as areas where salt is used on the roads during winter.


HAVE QUICK AUTO SERVICE CHECK YOUR RADIATOR AND SAVE FUTURE REPAIRS. 

MAINTAIN YOUR RADIATOR HAVE IT CHECKED ADVOID ENGINE DAMAGE AND BREAKDOWNS.