AUTONET TV

Helping Your Engine Breathe Easier

You may have heard someone tell you it’s time to replace your vehicle’s engine air filter and thought, “It’s OK.  I’ll do it in a while.”  While it’s tempting to put that off, keep in mind that having your engine air filter replaced is one of the easiest ways to maintain your vehicle’s performance and efficiency.  Here’s why.

Your engine needs the air that comes in to be clean because a proper fuel/oxygen mixture is necessary for good combustion.  If you wait too long to have the filter replaced, dust, dirt, air pollutants and debris from the road hamper the engine’s ability to get enough air.  That can lead to poor acceleration, lower fuel economy and strain on other engine parts.

The reason a dirty engine air filter reduces your fuel economy is that the engine’s computers have to compensate for lowered air intake by supplying more fuel to produce the same power. Over time, you’ll notice a significant difference. It’s important that you protect your engine from contaminants in the air. If dirt and dust aren’t filtered out before they get to the engine, that can cause premature wear on cylinders, pistons and other engine parts. In the long run, it may lead to costly repairs that are a lot more expensive than the cost of a filter.

If you value keeping our planet’s air clean, a fresh filter will improve the performance of your vehicle’s emission system, helping it run cleaner and reducing its impact on the environment

Think about it.  Getting a new engine air filter is quick, inexpensive and pays off with big benefits. Consider what it delivers for your engine’s performance, its long-term health and your fuel costs.  You and your engine will both breathe easier.

Matt Davis Auto
875 US Highway 70 W
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 600-5125
www.mattdavisauto.com

Keep Cool: Why Radiator Hoses Matter

If there’s one thing you want to make sure is going on under your vehicle’s hood, it’s that your engine doesn’t get too hot.  Heat is an engine’s worst enemy, and it can result in very expensive repairs, even leave you stranded in a tough spot.

One vital part of your vehicle is the radiator hose, which connects the engine to the radiator.  That’s where the heat goes to be carried away from your vehicle and is dispersed to the air outside.

A faulty radiator hose can lead to serious engine problems if it’s not handled quickly.  An aging, stressed radiator hose can develop cracks and leaks, leading to coolant leaking under your vehicle.  The rubber in the hose may weaken, swelling near the clamps that attach it to the radiator and may ultimately burst.  

You may smell coolant when a radiator hose is failing.  It has kind of a sweet odor, one that is a sign you shouldn’t ever ignore.  You may notice the temperature gauge on your dash is headed up past the middle zone, one possible sign of a radiator hose going bad.  And if you see steam coming out from under the hood, that’s a sign that some coolant may be leaking onto a hot surface.  

It is, of course, better to maintain your radiator hose’s health before any of these signs.  We recommend a technician regularly inspect hoses for wear, especially when you are planning a long drive.  It’s also important they check the areas next to clamps and bends.

Periodic replacement, say, every five years or so, is one way to reduce the chances of a radiator hose failure.  And it’s always a good idea to have the coolant in your vehicle regularly checked, as that may point to failures in the coolant system.  

Consider your radiator hose much more than just a rubber tube.  It’s one lifeline to a cool, healthy engine.  

No Charge (Why Won’t My Battery Hold a Charge?)

When your vehicle’s battery is dead, it leaves you with that horrible, helpless feeling.  A dead battery means it won’t hold a charge, and there are several reasons it won’t.

One is age.  Batteries have chemical and electrical systems in them that create power, and as time goes by, they won’t work well anymore.  They may have been degraded by exposure to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Batteries have a code on them that can tell you when they were manufactured.

Another reason your battery won’t hold a charge is corrosion on the terminals, the metal posts where your battery cables are connected.  A chemical reaction between the battery’s acid and air creates a salty moisture that can corrode those terminals.  

If your vehicle’s alternator is not working properly, it won’t charge your battery as it is designed to, and the battery may lose its charge more quickly than it should. Another possibility is there might be an electrical component that’s staying on when you turn your vehicle off, and it may slowly drain the battery so much that there won’t be enough power to start your vehicle.  

When you notice any of these things, bring your vehicle in so a technician can evaluate what’s causing the problems.  We will give your electrical system a thorough inspection and run tests that can tell the health of the battery and other components.  You may be able to avoid problems by having us evaluate your electrical system regularly as part of a periodic maintenance schedule.

Matt Davis Auto
875 US Highway 70 W
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 600-5125
www.mattdavisauto.com

Control Arms: Small Part, Big Impact

Here’s one part of your vehicle you may never have heard of: the control arm.  It’s the part that connects the wheel hub and steering knuckle to your vehicle’s frame.  What it does is lets your wheel move up and down while keeping it aligned with your vehicle.  

Most control arms have things called ball joints and bushings.  They take a constant beating and wear out after a while.  It’s important to make sure your control arms are in good shape so your steering is stable and handling easy.  It also reduces wear on your tires and allows your suspension parts to wear evenly.  

How do you know if you need a new control arm?  You might feel clunks or knocking sounds every time you drive over a bump.  Your tires may wear unevenly and you might feel your steering wheel vibrate.  You might find your vehicle pulls to one side when you’re driving. 

If you notice some of these signs, it’s a good idea to bring your vehicle over so one of our technicians can check things out.  If they find you need a new control arm, they’ll remove the old one, install the new one and tighten bolts to specifications recommended by the manufacturer. 

Sometimes we recommend replacing other components, such as sway bars, if it appears they’ve worn out.  It’s also a good idea to have us replace both control arms to keep your handling even.  And after a control arm replacement, it’s best to have us perform a wheel alignment.  

Matt Davis Auto
875 US Highway 70 W
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 600-5125
www.mattdavisauto.com