American Auto Air And Repair Specials
NEWS AND KNOWLEDGE TO KEEP YOUR CAR RUNNING LONGER AT A LOWER COST PER MILE
  • CURRENT SERVICE SPECIALS
    • Heating & Cooling Inspection
    • Cooling System Maintenance Special >
      • Climate Control System Diagnostic Special
    • Brake Fluid Flush
  • American Auto Air - Full Service Auto Repair
  • Car Care Information
    • Why Don't I Have Any Heat?
    • Your Car's Heater Core >
      • Does Antifreeze Wear Out?
    • What are your vehicle's warning lights telling you?
    • Cost of not getting an Alignment
    • Archived Articles >
      • Are you going to stop when you hit the brake?
      • Car Care Council - Check Vehicle Lights
      • Why does my mechanic always find something wrong?
      • Differences between normal and severe driving conditions.
    • More Tips
  • The True Cost of Ignoring Maintenance
  • WARNING TIRES EXPIRE!!
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Schedule A Steering and Suspension Special

Did you know that the fluids in your car "wear out"

10/28/2014

1 Comment

 

Vital Fluids Wear Out

All the fluids in your vehicle can breakdown over time changing in molecular structure.   They become less effective because of contaminates and fail to perform as they were intended. 

Coolant - Wears out over time from rust and scale deposits that build up over time.
  This build up changes the coolant's chemical properties.  These changes can cause the coolant to go from protecting the cooling systems' components to damaging your radiator and reducing the life of the water pump.


Transmission Fluid – Transmission fluid is an oil, and is subject to viscosity breakdown and the loss of its protective, lubricating, and cooling properties.  Operating the transmission on that is worn out results in premature wear and ultimately failure.

Power Steering – Contamination by metal flakes and damage from overheating reduces the protective properties of the fluid.  The sooner the cause of the contaminates is identified the lower the cost of repair

Brake Fluid – Brake fluid is hydroscopic in nature, meaning that it absorbs moisture which reduces the effectiveness of the fluid leading to premature brake failure.

When was the last time you had your fluids checked for anything more than they were at the right level?


1 Comment

A Worn Suspension System Causes More Than A Bumpy Ride

8/8/2014

4 Comments

 
How is your vehicle handling life’s twists and turns?  If your vehicle isn’t handling the way it used to, don't take chances, get it checked out by the experts at American Auto Air & Repair. Serving Reno’s drivers since 1976, we know how to repair the intricate systems in today's cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Driving with worn shocks is as dangerous as driving on bold tires.  A worn-out suspension does not absorb the bumps and low places in every road. This gives your car an uncomfortable ride, makes it difficult to handle and increases stopping distance.

Shocks and struts are key components of the suspension system. They provide critical support to the handling of your vehicle – which is why they are extreme safety features.  It is important to have these parts inspected regularly to ensure the performance of the parts. If your vehicle's shocks and struts are wearing, it can allow disproportionate weight transfer-reducing handling and braking performance, and the tires capability to grasp the road.  Did you know that 50% worn shocks or struts can decrease your stopping power by up to 23%?  At 30 miles per hour, that can add 6 feet of stopping distance!

Most vehicles with more than 50k miles have worn shocks and struts. They degrade slowly so you just get used to it. This puts extra stress on other suspension components causing them to wear out sooner. New shocks/struts make your car feel new again and bring the handling back to as new condition

More than 50,000 miles on your shocks and struts?  Bring your vehicle to American Auto Air & Repair for a Shock and Strut Inspection today! 

4 Comments

Lack Of Trust In Your Auto Repair Facility

7/30/2014

0 Comments

 
 I recently read the results of a poll with the question: "Do you trust your mechanic?" And I was surprised to see that 46% of those who responded said no, they don't. If you don't trust your mechanic, why do you bring your car back to him? If you didn't trust your doctor, you would find another doctor. Your mechanic is very much like your doctor. He has to diagnose and treat your car. Today’s cars with all the electronics and computers can tell your mechanic where it hurts but can’t tell him why.  In fact if you want to take it a step further your mechanic has to be better than your doctor because your car isn’t like every other car, each system in each make is different.  American Auto Air & Repair has one of the top diagnosticians in the Reno area.  Don’t feel good about your current auto repair facility give American Auto Air a try.

0 Comments

Check Engine Light On? - That's going to cost me!

7/22/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture

Wait - maybe not much. Based on several studies the number 1 or number 2 cause of check engine lights coming on is a loose or broken gas cap.

Believe it or not, a loose gas cap really can make your check engine light come on. Why? Because gasoline vapors are considered to be emissions, and a loose gas cap allows gasoline vapors to leak into the atmosphere. Your car’s ECU can detect this and considers it to be a problem with your car’s emissions system, so it turns on the check engine light. The good news is that it’s an easy problem to fix – just make sure to tighten your gas cap properly each time you fill up.
If your gas cap is just loose because you’re negligent, then it shouldn’t cost you anything to tighten it. What you do is, get out of your car and tighten it (when the vehicle is stopped). However, if your gas cap is damaged and needs to be replaced, you’re looking at spending a few bucks. A messed up gas cap situation accounts for over seven percent of the situations that a check engine light goes on, which is actually quite a bit higher than a lot of other reasons. You should hope, just hope, that the gas cap is the problem. A lot of other problems will hit your wallet much harder. We recommend you try tightening it first and then see if the light goes off.

If it's not your gas cap have this checked as soon as possible. If your check engine light flashes when driving, reduce the vehicle speed immediately until the light illuminates constantly. If it continues to flash, avoid heavy acceleration and high engine speed, stop the vehicle and have it checked immediately. Never ignore a continuing flashing check engine light! (In some vehicles, the light turns red.) If it is safe to do so, try stopping the vehicle, turning off the engine, waiting several minutes, then restarting the engine to reset the engine management system.


1 Comment

Reduce the stress of winter driving - On your car

12/3/2013

6 Comments

 
The cold of winter brings it own stress on your car.  Here is some great information on what can go wrong and how you can prevent it.  Your investment in preparing your vehicle for winter can save you money, time, premature wear & tear on you vehicle, as well as preventing you from becoming a roadside Popsicle.

1  Spark plugs, Wires, Fuel filter, and air filter

For dependable cold starts and good fuel mileage, you have to maintain these.  At American Auto Air and Repair we use a computer scan tool to make sure that there are no trouble codes logged in the systems memory.  Sensors such as those for coolant temperature, air temperature and oxygen can go bad resulting in poor performance and mileage.

2  Rubber, anything exposed can also be damaged by the cold

Anything that is exposed to the elements and dirt can get damaged.  Road grime and salt are two of the most destructive elements.  It is always good to get your vehicle checked for torn protective rubber boots and bellows on critical drive train, steering and suspension parts.  Remember these are same parts that were exposed to the string of 100 degree days last summer here in Reno.

3  Engine and Transmission Oil Filters

Oil gets heavy when it is cold, and that causes them to flow slower.  If your filter is dirty, then you might get substantial lose of oil flow, which can produce more heat through friction.  Over time this can lead to damage to the engine and/or transmission.  Make sure your engine and transmission work is current now. 

4  Hoses and belts

These can get stressed in the cold.  Brittle or soft belts with missing ribs or cracks need to be replaced.  Data collected from National Car Care Month inspections shows 19% of cars have belts that are damaged, cracked and needing replacement and 17% with hoses which were damaged, cracked and needing replacement.

5  Cooling System

Your cooling system also protects the engine from freezing up as well as keeping it cool.  Your coolant should be mixed 50/50 with a combo of water and coolant.  You should have the coolant protection checked every year before winter and if the coolant tests out above the protection level of –30 to –35 degrees F, then you should have the system flushed and refilled with a fresh mix.  American Auto Air currently has a 7-point Cooling System Maintenance Service Special available.

6  Windshield Wipers

Snow and ice often settle at the base of the windshield, freezing blades in place.  Your wipers aren’t made to plow snow and might burn out if you try to break the ice formed when you are starting the car. The wiper system needs regular replacement due to many reasons, including driving conditions, frequency of use, and the material used in making the wiper parts. During the 2010 National Car Care Month Inspections 39% had front windshield wiper failures while eleven percent of vehicles also needed service on their rear wipers.  Wipers can skip, smear, or just plain not move water well. Bring your vehicle to American Auto Air for a new set of wiper blades before the snow starts falling and you can’t see out your windshield.

7   Lights

Automotive lighting play an important part in enabling you to operate your vehicle safely in and around the streets of Reno. The chance of you having an accident increases if you aren't able to see (or be seen) when operating your auto.  Vehicle lighting provides a means of communicating among drivers and is vital to any properly functioning vehicle. Vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month have shown lighting to be an often neglected maintenance item, approximately one out of every ten vehicles (11 percent) needed work on at least one of their lights.  Let American Auto Air replace any light that isn’t properly working on your vehicle.

6 Comments

Keep Car Costs Down - Create A Partnership

12/2/2013

1 Comment

 

Creating A Partnership To Keep The Cost Of Driving Down

With the initial cost of purchasing your vehicle raising, the price of gas continually going up and the simple truth that all of us need to keep our vehicles running longer and further, auto repair facilities and vehicle owners need to work together to reduce the overall cost of vehicle ownership.
American Auto Air & Repair and you can create that partnership to keep the cost of auto ownership down.  All vehicles need repair at some point; today’s vehicles are not a single big machine but a collection of small machines working together each requiring specialize maintenance.  The better you care for your car and each of its major systems the less it will cost to operate in the long run. 

Lapsing maintenance on your car’s fluid exchanges, dirty filters, bruised belts and aging spark plugs can lead to bigger problems like busted-up radiators, slipping gear shifts, squealing brakes and/or engine failure. That’s why routine maintenance is key to vehicle longevity. Maintenance you think you can “let go” in the short term can often be an “oh, no!” down the road.  The best thing for you and your vehicle is to find a trusted local shop that can do the preventative maintenance and the eventual repair. 

We can work together before there is a need for a major repair and you’re having to shell out large amounts of money.  The practice is called preventative maintenance.  And we both play a vital role.

OUR INDIVIDUAL ROLES

You, The Vehicle Owner -

Your role is heading off serious repair problems before they happen.  It’s simple, (1) make an appointment and to come in for the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance items when notified and pay attention to your car as you drive.  (2) Your daily role in the preventive maintenance program is to detect many common vehicle problems early on by using your senses:
  1. "Eyeballing” the area around your vehicle
  2. Checking the color of your vital fluids
  3. Listening for strange noises
  4. Sensing a difference in the way your vehicle handles
  5. Noticing unusual odors both inside and outside your vehicle

Just by using your 5 senses you can save lots of dollars.  If It Looks, Smells, Feels or Sounds like car trouble, it probably is!  Make note of what what you see, hear, smell or feel and let your mechanic know. Sharing everything you know about what the car is doing is the way to the lowest possible repair bill.  Not sharing may result in additional diagnosis (which costs money) or, worse, may result is an incomplete or improper repair. 


Your Trusted Local Shop - 


Our role is to work with you each step of the way in car ownership and

  1. Alert you when the Manufacturer's Recommended Maintenance items are due.    Completes the work with fully trained technicians (not a minimum wage "grease monkey") under the supervision of ASE Master Certified Technician Shop Foreman.
  2. Review your vehicles service history every time you come in, checking for any previously recommended services.  For example last time you were in he may have recommended: “You should have your brake pads replaced due to the pad wear being close to 20%”. This alerts both the tech and you to be aware of a potential safety issue.
  3. Inspect your fluids, belts, hoses, and safety equipment (lights, wipers, etc) and alert you of any potential problems.Not just the oil and coolant but all the other fluids as well.
  4. Perform any repairs authorized with trained technicians before you or a loved one are dumped on the side of the road. Backs those with at least a 12 month 12,000 warranty.

There is the staggering statistic that 5.2% of all motor vehicle accidents can be attributed to mechanical defects due to neglected vehicle maintenance, which translates to eleven people injured every hour and one person dies every three hours due to accidents that could have been prevented.

Let’s get this partnership underway saving you money and keeping everyone who rides in your car a little safer.  Give American Auto Air a call today at 775-826-6050.

Keeping The Cost of Automotive Ownership Down: A Winning Partnership

1 Comment

    Author

    Robert Willumsen is the Business Operations Manager for American Auto Air  American Auto Air is a family owned and operated full service auto repair facility serving Reno and the surrounding areas since 1976

    Archives

    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All
    Auto Repair Costs
    Preventative Maintenance
    Winter Safety

    RSS Feed