Fort Collins Auto Repair

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

What car maintenance is best during summer? Did you know your vehicle works harder during summer months? Yep, while you’re getting that much needed R&R, your car is doing just the opposite. So why not be nice and consider your car maintenance plan? It’s the least you could do for your hard-working baby and the most you could do for ensuring your summer road trip is a success.   We’ve narrowed down the most important car maintenance items, based on Colorado’s summer climate, to keep your vehicle in the best shape during the hottest months. Timing Belt – Summer trips become quite a drag when you have a breakdown-which happens if your timing belt breaks! Replace your timing belt per the manufacturer’s recommended mileage interval to prevent a breakdown and potential engine damage. Doing so before your summer trip will help ensure vehicle dependability and safety. Tires &ndas ... read more

Receiving this award is a great honor to us for many reasons. One, the BBB is a nationally recognized organization with an incredible track record promoting and advancing ethical and sustainable business practices. More importantly, the BBB Torch Award for Ethics exemplifies the way in which Community Auto has served the Fort Collins community from the beginning. And it is these principles that are especially important in the business of auto repair. You may be surprised to learn that the most important thing when choosing an auto repair shop is trust. It’s not about price. In fact, repairs are always expensive when you’re buying things you don’t need. When you do not have auto repair & maintenance knowledge nor an understanding of the mechanical state of your vehicle, you place absolute trust in ... read more