Fort Collins Auto Repair

Spring is here and it's time for your winter tire swap or changeover   Understanding tires can at first seem overwhelming. There are a lot of options and information to keep straight. Breaking down the categories and types of tires helps you to see what your options are. For typical commuting, most drivers opt for Summer, All-Season, M+S (mud and snow) and/or Snow tires. When deciding which tires to use in Colorado, there are some things to keep in mind. All-season tires simplify the decision of what tires to get and are sufficient for general driving in Colorado year-round. However, more specialized tires do in fact perform better under certain driving conditions. People who do off-road driving, mountain driving, or prefer a better performing tire for peace-of-mind and safety sometimes opt for Winter or M+S tires to be swapped out seasonally. A tire swap is neces ... read more

In our experience, it seems most vehicle owners know their vehicle needs an oil change. Next, they may know about a transmission flush and maybe even know a thing or two about car coolant. But when it comes to all the vital fluids needed to keep a vehicle running, many drivers are in the dark. Vital fluids are an integral part of a functioning vehicle, hence the name. It’s important to understand the fluids involved in keeping your vehicle functioning and the importance of keeping them clean. ​ Do you know your vehicle has eight unique fluids pumping through its veins? These fluids flow through and lubricate all of the vehicle's systems. The brake system, transmission, cooling and--as you know--engine all depend on fluids to function.   These fluids are:   Engine OilBrakeTransmissionCoolantPower Steering ... read more

What’s a timing belt? It’s nothing more than the heart of your engine. When it stops, your whole engine stops. And fixing it? Well, that’s open-heart surgery. You can’t “take a look” at your timing belt. You can’t just open the hood, pull out your flashlight and check the condition (like you can other belts). You need to break the chest plate. We’d start with an MRI, but unfortunately we don’t have those for cars yet. So we have to go in, remove bolts, covers and parts—perform surgery—just to even see it. A timing belt replacement is the greatest preventive maintenance procedure we perform. It’s removing that cystic growth from your thyroid. It’s not cancerous—yet. And better safe than sorry. Manufacturers and mechanics recommend a timing belt replacement at around 60,000-100,000 miles (unless yo ... read more

SHOCKing!! Your mechanic says your vehicle needs new shocks or struts. You’ve heard it before. What the heck are these things, anyway? And do you really need them? What are they? Vehicles come equipped with shocks, struts or both. Shocks, or a shock absorber, do just that: they absorb unevenness or bumps in the road, allowing the vehicle to travel steadily along. Struts serve a similar purpose and are designed differently. Both are mounted to your vehicle’s suspension system and are an integral part of steering, handling & control, comfort and safety. Learn more about the differences here. Shocks                                                                            Strut ... read more

It’s true—a tire alignment is necessary when you get new tires installed on your vehicle. You may also need a wheel alignment after colliding with a curb or pothole. And there are other situations, such as getting new struts or ball joints, which require a tire alignment as well. While you can imagine the importance of having a vehicle’s wheels set in a straight position, tire alignments are actually quite a complex procedure requiring specialized machines, knowledge and training. Knowing all that is involved, and how ultimately, a wheel alignment will save you time, money and a lot of headache down the road, you're better off understanding all that makes up tire alignment cost, which typically ranges from $70-$100. One of the greatest benefits a wheel alignment service has to offer is maximizing tire life. Tires are frequent and necessary vehicle maintenance items for drivers ... read more