Fort Collins Auto Repair

As a driver in Colorado, you know how annoying (or flat-out dangerous) it is to have streaking or inoperable wiper blades. The importance of these relatively small and fragile car part cannot be overstated when driving in poor weather conditions.   But don’t worry:   You can avoid broken and brittle wiper blades or inoperable wipers by incorporating the following advice.   Enjoy Longer-Lasting Wiper Blades with These Four Tricks   1. Test your wipers and wiper fluid before driving off You don’t want to be in desperate need of a squirt of windshield wiper fluid when you realize you’re out. Also, if your windshield is dirty, go ahead and clean it first. Don’t use your wiper blades to clean this!   If you notice a fluid squirter isn’t working or that the wiper blades are stuck to the windshield, you can hop out and attend to these issues while you’re still parked.   2. If your wipers appear to be frozen, remov ... read more

A recent study found that younger drivers are “1.5x more likely to identify popular emojis correctly” than the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) dash warning light. Who cares?   Well, while funny, the finding is also concerning. Dash warning lights are important indicators for things gone wrong with your car. Not understanding them can lead to unexpected and costly auto repairs.     Know about these dash warning lights and you’ll save time and money down the road   Do you know what the check engine light means? What about all the other lights that ocassionally pop up? Here's the download:   Most warning lights require professional diagnosis and repair. You can learn ... read more

Keep up on your vehicle maintenance and you’ll most likely avoid ever needing the help of an engine shop. But even proper diligence doesn't always stop a breakdown. Here are 6 signs that could indicate an engine needs repair. Check Engine Light There are many dash warning lights that can pop up. But here, we’re specifically talking about the check engine (or service engine soon) light. The presence of the check engine light is especially concerning if it is flashing. This indicates you need to get your vehicle to a qualified mechanic as soon as possible. Consider parking your vehicle and having it towed to the shop, especially if there are other symptoms such as the engine stuttering. When the check engine light is flashing it means the engine is in need of repair, and that further driving could cause permanent and irreparable engine damage. Smoke from Exhaust Some smok ... read more

Whether you’re a weekly commuter or weekend warrior, saving money on gas is probably worth it to you. After all, gas can add up to around $200 a month just for the necessities of your life. Getting that cost down can greatly impact the overall cost of driving your vehicle and allow for more dollars to be allocated elsewhere such as for trips and vacations. And don’t worry, buying a new vehicle is not necessary to improve your fuel economy! Follow these tips to maximize any vehicle’s fuel efficiency. 1. Vehicle Maintenance Up-to-Date A vehicle runs optimally when all systems are in great working order. Having necessary repairs and staying up-to-date on factory scheduled maintenance helps ensure that all systems in your vehicle are functioning at their best. Preventive maintenance will not only help you ... read more

Fleet Repair Management The more vehicles you own, the more difficult it becomes to manage maintaining them. Think about it--a vehicle requires an oil change and tire rotation about every 3 months, other fluids serviced at 6 or 12 months, and a host of other inspections and replacements recommended in the schedule of your Owner’s Manual. Depending on how much you drive, your vehicle may need to go into the shop or be attended to 4-5 times a year or more. If you have multiple vehicles that are used to get a job done--a fleet--it becomes ever more important to have a system in place that keeps them running in tip-top shape. Now imagine your fleet of five or ten vehicles, all of which are required for the proper functioning of your business, and keeping up on what service each vehicle needs and when. Sounds impossible! If you are a fleet manager, sm ... read more

Staying cool is one of the most important things these days. OK, there are more important things, but it would be pressing to find someone who won't agree that getting into a hot car is highly inconvenient. Even dangerous [painful]. Including vehicle maintenance for summer, how to keep your car cool is a popular question during these hot Colorado summer months. Completely avoiding a vehicle from getting hot may be close-to-impossible but a few thoughtful actions could really make the difference between roasting alive and actually beating the heat.   1. Cover your hot bits   The initial shock (or injury) of getting into a hot car is oftentimes caused by infamous areas that end up burning hot--the door handles, leather seats, steering wheel, seat belt buckles and gearshift. To avoid getting burned, all you need is to do is simply ... read more

Auto repair tends to come in two major wrench-in-your-life categories: Unexpected and Costly A vehicle breakdown ranks high on most people's priority list of things to avoid. And for good reason--breakdowns cost you major time and money. Furthermore, they force you to completely overhaul your day while leaving you riddled with anxiety, fear and doubt about what it’s going to cost, and how you’re going to get back on the road and back to your life. Luckily, there’s a third category—your saving grace: Preventive Vehicle Maintenance. This is the key to avoiding unexpected and costly auto repair. Such as health problems, a dirty house, leaky faucet, a garden full of weeds, saving for retirement or an avocado, the longer you wait--the worse it gets. When you see, hear or smell something unusual with your car, it’s important to pay attention and to act. Problems in vehicles usually start small and th ... read more

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