Fort Collins Auto Repair

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

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