Fort Collins Auto Repair

There is nothing quite like the sinking feeling of turning your key or pressing the start button only to be met with a dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and an engine that refuses to turn over. You might think your battery died, or your starter gave up the ghost, but when you pop the hood, you find a much fuzzier culprit. We’ve seen it here at the shop. A nest of dried grass perched on top of the intake manifold and a wiring harness that looks like it was put through a paper shredder. Rodents love your car. To a mouse, a squirrel, or a rat, your engine bay is the ultimate luxury apartment. It is warm, it is sheltered from predators, and most importantly, it is full of snacks. Many modern car manufacturers have switched to soy-based insulation for wiring because it is more environmentally friendly, but to a hungry rodent, those wires taste like a five-course meal. Once they settle in, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage in a single night. At our shop, we have spen ... read more

An overheating engine has a way of making drivers bargain with the dashboard. Maybe it will cool down at the next light. Maybe turning off the A/C will help. Maybe home is close enough. That thinking can get expensive fast. When the temperature gauge climbs, the engine is already outside its safe range. A few extra miles can be enough to turn a cooling system repair into gasket damage, warped metal, or internal engine wear. Heat Starts Changing Engine Parts Fast Engines are built to run hot, but they are built to run within a controlled temperature range. The cooling system keeps that heat under control with coolant, the radiator, thermostat, water pump, fans, hoses, and pressure cap. When the system cannot keep up, metal parts expand beyond their intended limits. Aluminum cylinder heads, gaskets, seals, and plastic cooling parts can all be damaged by excess heat. The longer the engine runs hot, the more stress those parts take. That is why overheating should nev ... read more

Transmission slipping is one of those problems that can feel subtle at first. You might notice the engine revving higher than expected, a delay when shifting, or the car not accelerating the way it used to. Since it can come and go, many drivers wait before getting it checked. That delay can make things worse. Slipping usually means the transmission is not holding power correctly, and that condition tends to get worse over time. Low or Degraded Transmission Fluid Transmission fluid plays a critical role in pressure, lubrication, and cooling. When fluid levels drop or the fluid breaks down, the transmission cannot maintain the pressure required to hold gears properly. A leak may cause a low fluid level, while old fluid loses its ability to protect internal components. In both cases, slipping can result. Checking fluid condition is one of the first steps during an inspection. Worn Clutch Components Inside the Transmission Inside the transmission, c ... read more