Gene's Car Tips - Page 25 of 49

How We Keep Your Ride Going Strong in Glendora’s Summer’s Heat

Gene-Car-Talk

We know we can feel our energy ooze out of us in the summer heat and your car feels it too! Just imagine sitting there day after day on the hot pavement in Glendora while the relentless summer sun shines down on you. Car’s components such as rubber are very sensitive to heat and tend to become brittle and crack. Here a just a few things we at Certified Automotive Specialists look for when we service your vehicle for summer:

Batteries take a beating. Between the car’s vibrations and heat, they usually only last five years. It is always a good idea to have them tested and the technicians at Certified Automotive Specialists can help determine how much life they have left in them.
Cooling systems are very susceptible to summer heat. You will notice more cars sitting on the side of the road with steam pouring out from under the hood during the summer months. We always check your cooling system thoroughly to make sure the coolant isn’t contaminated. We also check the rubber components for cracks and frays. If they are past their prime, we will recommend replacing them so you don’t end up on the side of the road. We have had more than a few vehicles towed in to Certified Automotive Specialists due to a faulty cooling system that could have been prevented.
Tires need the proper inflation to function well. They don’t operate well if they are over-inflated or under-inflated. They need to be just right!
Fluids and filters need to be checked and replaced if needed. They do a lot of work to protect our vehicles.
Air-conditioning systems are a must in Glendora and need to be looked at so you and your passengers stay comfortable no matter how high the outside temperatures climb. We make sure to check the refrigerant and other components.

We are here to help your car face the challenges that come with hot days. Give us a call. You and your car will be glad you did!

Please call us with any questions at 626-963-0814 or visit our website at www.CertifiedAutoCA.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

AIR CONDITIONING FREON UPDATE

In an effort to slow down the human factor in global warming, car manufacturers in the USA will now receive substantial CO2 credits which means more miles to the gallon if they comply with the plan to phase out R-134a refrigerant. Europe has already ramped up in this area.

The new EPA regulation states that R-134a cannot be installed in new cars and light trucks built for domestic sale after 2021. Similar regulations for medium and heavy-duty trucks are coming this year, so the 2021 deadline may affect all domestic vehicles by that time. Vehicles for export will still be able to use R-134a systems until 2025.

In the meantime, Daimler, which had charged that the alternative refrigerant R-1234yf posed potential fire safety dangers, has finally agreed to use R-1234yf systems in its Mercedes vehicles for markets where the refrigerant either is mandated or is effectively pressed for by regulatory bodies (as in the U.S.). There has not been a set rollout schedule, however. Daimler stated that it will add an under the hood argon gas canister with spray lines directed at all parts that its engineers say might become hot enough for a leaking refrigerant to ignite. It will be a fire-extinguisher of sorts.

R-1234yf cannot be retrofitted to R-134a systems so production of R-134a will continue indefinitely for service. The R-1234yf CAFE credits are 13.8 g/mi for cars, 17.2 g/mi for trucks. (GWP, a metric used by environmental regulatory agencies worldwide, is a measure of how much a given mass of a gas contributes to global warming. It is a relative scale which compares the amount of heat trapped by greenhouse gas to the amount of heat trapped in an equal mass of CO₂.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles began transitioning its changeover in 2014MY. General Motors has had just one entry in that period, the Cadillac XTS, but GM will be virtually across the board by the end of this year. Ford says it will begin its changeover in April with the Escape, but no details of its rollout are available. Sending vehicles with either refrigerant down the same assembly line is not a difficult process.

The price of R-1234yf is reported to me much higher that R-134a. We at Certified Automotive Specialists wanted Glendora drivers to know what is coming! To find out more about air conditioning and Freon (refrigerant) visit our website.

Please call us with any questions at 626-963-0814 or visit our website at www.CertifiedAutoCA.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Don’t Strike Out – Mechanical Failure

Mechanical Failure

It seems every day when I hear the news, there is at least one automobile accident tying up traffic on Glendora highways. Most accidents are caused by impaired drivers (75%) but sometimes the state of the automobile is to blame. Here are the top five causes of accidents due to mechanical failure:

Brakes – brake pads, leaking brake fluid and a malfunctioning ABS system are all reasons brakes fail.

Tires – blowouts, bald tires and improper inflation are all reasons for serious problems.

Wipers – If you can’t see to drive because your wipers aren’t doing their job you are in serious danger!

Lights – More accidents happen at night and a lot of this is due to dim or otherwise impaired headlights, tail lights, brake lights, blinkers and turn signals.

Steering – A car’s steering system is comprised of many parts and of course, overtime, they need to be replaced due to normal wear and tear.

The good news is that the majority of mechanical failures are preventable. Keeping your car up-to-date on service and repair will certainly less the chances that your car is the problem on the road. The goal of Certified Automotive Specialists is to keep the drivers of Glendora safe at all times.

Please call us with any questions at 626-963-0814 or visit our website at www.CertifiedAutoCA.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

We’ve All Heard The Jokes… But Could It Happen?

By Gene Morrill

We’ve All Heard The Jokes… But Could It Happen?

If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason at all, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally, executing a manoeuver such as a left-turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, and you would have to reinstall the engine.
4. When your car died on the freeway for no reason, you would just accept this, restart and drive on.
5. Apple would make a car powered by the sun, reliable, five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five percent of the roads.
6. Oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single ‘general car default’ warning light.
7. The airbag would say ‘Are you sure?’ before going off.
8. Occasionally, for no reason, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key, and grabbed the radio antenna.
9. Every time GM introduced a new model, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
10. You would press the ‘start’ button to shut off the engine.

With our cars becoming “computer on wheels” we can expect software updates to become a reality. Currently, Tesla Motors is wanting over-the-air Wi-Fi and 4G wireless downloads so cars can self-park and also have other functions. The more we push for autonomous cars, the more we will rely on software and software updates and downloads to keep them going. Tesla has a new software now that allows certain sedans to park themselves without a driver assist. To download this software takes 45 minutes and it also boosts engine performance and battery usage.

Cars have 200 million lines of code…that only a software expert can appreciate. To the lay person it means regular “updates” and software bugs. In 2014, Toyota had to recall over half of the Prius’ sold due to a software glitch. The more “connected” cars become, the more updates and bugs we can expect.

Software companies are all vying to be a part of the new automotive technology and of course, hackers are standing by as well. We are in for a ride…one way or the other!

Please call us with any questions at 626-963-0814 or visit our website at www.CertifiedAutoCA.com

Home Town Service You Can Count On!

Certified Auto Specialists News and Videos for Glendora: A Broken or Damaged Timing Belt

The timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your auto.

An old timing belt can lose a “tooth” in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing belt slip – or a broken timing belt – can be disastrous on some engines. In “interference” engines, open valves can get in the way of the piston when the timing belt breaks or slips. When that happens one or more valves can be bent requiring expensive engine repairs.

It is important for Glendora drivers to replace their timing belts as recommended in their owner’s manual to avoid unnecessary breakdowns. Ask the team of professionals at Certified Auto Specialists in Glendora if it’s time for your timing belt to be replaced.

Give us a call

Certified Auto Specialists
626-963-0814
476 Vermont Avenue
Glendora, California 91741

Vehicle Maintenance Videos by Certified Auto Specialists: Air Conditioning Inspection

Most auto manufacturers recommend an interval for an air conditioning system inspection. The analysis uncovers leaks, worn hoses and assesses the condition of the other components.

Environmental laws in some areas require leaks to be repaired before refrigerant can be added. Also some parts manufacturers require other components to be replaced along with certain failed parts in order to maintain the new part warranty. This is because a given failure may be the result of another worn or damaged part that will, if not replaced, prematurely damage the new component.

Certified Auto Specialists in Glendora is fully equiped to restore your flow of cool air.

Give us a call

Certified Auto Specialists
626-963-0814
476 Vermont Avenue
Glendora, California 91741

Certified Auto Specialists Smart Car Care Videos: Alignment Inspection

When doing an alignment inspection, the tech will check your tires for uneven wear as well as suspension and steering parts for signs of wear or damage. He’ll also compare your current alignment with the auto maker’s settings.

Your vehicle owner’s manual will have a recommendation for when to check alignment. Of course, this recommendation is based on normal driving. If you have been in collision, hit a curb/pothole, frequently drive off-road around Glendora, or notice any symptoms of misalignment, have your Certified Auto Specialists service professional carry out a critical alignment check.

Give us a call

Certified Auto Specialists
626-963-0814
476 Vermont Avenue
Glendora, California 91741

Certified Auto Specialists Auto Tips and Videos: When to Replace Your Wiper Blades

There are several vital factors that go into how often Glendora drivers should replace their wiper blades. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the faster the blades will wear out – especially if you use them on an icy windshield. Whether it’s a lot of bugs and road grime from California highway driving or lots of wet weather – your blades get a work out and start to wear.

But your wiper blades break down even when they aren’t used frequently. They are damaged by sunlight and temperature changes as well. The rubber in the blades can dry out and crack and eventually fall apart. Check your wipers: If they’re not doing their important job, have them replaced.

Talk to your Certified Auto Specialists service professional about how you drive – we can counsel you on the ideal blades for your needs.

Give us a call

Certified Auto Specialists
626-963-0814
476 Vermont Avenue
Glendora, California 91741