Fort Collins Auto Repair

Your vehicle's timing belt is important to the overall operation of the engine. It ensures the correct timing of the crankshaft and camshaft so that the engine valves open and close at the proper times. Over time, timing belts begin to wear out and can fray or tear. This is why they need to be replaced at certain intervals, typically around every 60,000 miles or so. When a timing belt breaks, it can cause damage to surrounding components and end up costing you more money on repairs.  If you're unsure how often your vehicle's timing belt should be replaced, refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for this information. It is so important to replace your timing belt on time, even if you don't see damage on the outside of the belt. The inside of the belt could be dry, making it more likely to snap unexpectedly. Not only will a snapped belt leave you stranded, but it can bend valves, cause piston damage, and ruin cylinder heads.  The level of damage t ... read more

Here at Community Auto, we understand that our community and our nation as a whole is dealing with some very uncertain and worrying times. While the majority of us have been asked to shelter in place and avoid group settings to avoid spreading COVID-19 further, our essential services still need to remain open in order to protect the infrastructure of our county. Among these essential services is auto care.  Auto repair is essential, now more than ever, because many of us are relying on our cars to get us to the store to purchase food and supplies for our families and to check on loved ones who may need our assistance. There are also since thousands of healthcare, law enforcement, first responders, and other essential field workers who need their vehicles to get them to work every day. This is why our shop has remained open to serve our community and has adapted new procedures to keep our services sanitary.  We have implemented measures to do our part in preventing the sprea ... read more

Consider this: automotive repair is inherently a sustainable business.  Why is that? Because keeping vehicles on the road by repairing them is more environmentally-friendly than producing new vehicles. Truth is, automotive is the top recycling industry in the world. And believe it or not, about 86% of a car is recyclable. New cars are made from about 25% recycled materials.    A major part of day-to-day operations in an auto repair shop includes a lot of recycling. Everything from scrap metal, dirty fluids, old car batteries, used car parts, paper and corrugated cardboard are recycled daily.   If you’ve ever completed a car repair on your own, you know what we mean. At the end of an oil change, for example, you are left with a load of dirty motor oil plus a used oil filter. If ... read more

We love our cars. When they’re running great, we depend on them to get us to where we need to go. If you’ve ever been without a car, you know the freedom they represent.  But with great freedom comes great responsibility. Vehicles emit a host of toxic gases from combustion in the engine, which come right out the tailpipe and into the atmosphere.  Emissions tests are designed to ensure these gases are released at a safe limit, improving air quality and the environment. Therefore, these tests are government regulated.  You won’t legally be allowed to drive your vehicle if it fails its emissions test.  Whether you’re a “fix it when it breaks,” or “prevent a breakdown in the first place” kind of driver, the required emissions test will be the legal determiner if you can get your vehicle registered and drive it on public roads.  How do I get an emissions test? In Colorado, there are two options for getting a gas ... read more

Isn’t it frustrating to spend your time and money taking your vehicle to an auto shop only to learn the problem is something you could have easily fixed yourself?  Knowledge is power. Therefore, we believe part of our job to educate drivers on how their vehicles work. Be sure to pick our brains whenever you come into the shop.     But for now:     We have five secrets to keep you from needing to make that appointment call.   1. Save yourself a trip to the auto repair shop by taking care of your car battery   If you go to start your car and the engine won’t crank and the electronics (lights, radio, door locks, etc.) won’t work, your car battery might be dead.      Now, instead of having your vehicle towed to the shop, you can try a few things on your own.   First, check for corrosion on the battery terminals.   When corrosion builds up on the terminals, it can make for poor connection to ... read more