Fort Collins Auto Repair

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

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

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

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

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

In Colorado we experience true seasons, and so do our cars. Like buying a coat for winter, seasonal maintenance helps prepare your vehicle for the ever-changing elements, thereby extending its life. “It takes very little time and money to make sure your car runs properly throughout the year and although breakdowns happen, they can definitely be minimized by taking a few extra preventive steps,” Rich White, director of Car Care Council. Our Seasonal Car Care Specials are designed for car service in Fort Collins and are ready to handle all of your car maintenance needs for each season of the year. They are a worry-free way to keep you on the road longer. Spring Dust, pollen, allergies, and rain are common themes that affect both you and your vehicle in the spring. This season is also a great time to prepare your vehicle for summer’s heat. What to be aware of come ... read more

Is buying a new car a waste of money? I get it–they’re pretty, and sparkly and new. They have all these features and leather seats that cool your back in the summer and an automated navigation system that talks to you even when you don’t want it to. Who wouldn’t want that? But if you can negate the idea that social status is tied to the car you drive (which is a myth, really), you’ll save yourself a lot of money that you can instead put towards things that will truly increase your happiness and well-being. A new vehicle is an expense, not an investment. Just by driving it off the lot, a vehicle depreciates by 11%. Wow! After one year of driving that new vehicle it will have depreciated by 25%, after three years 46% and after five years that vehicle will be worth 63% less ... read more