Author: leahysauto

When it comes to your car one of the worst experiences you can have is engine overheating, so when your engine’s temperature rises above the normal it points to a potential problem in its cooling system.

Engine Heat and Cooling System Fundamentals

The first thing you want to know is to get an understanding of the vehicle’s default engine temperature, which you read from the gauge. If you have identified the normal temperature range for your engine then it will be easier to identify a spike in temperature levels. This assists in early detection of a fault.

Engine Coolant System

It is necessary to understand how engine cooling works so that you can grasp some of the factors that contribute to overheating of the car engine. Normally, a huge percentage of modern cars adopt a liquid cooling system to minimize heat when the engine is running and consequently heating up. In this system, the coolant which is a mix of anti-freeze and water is distributed throughout the engine to soak up the heat, then it is directed into the radiator to discharge the heat.

Leaking Cooling System

Leakage within the coolant system and its components can happen at any point. The leak can be in the water pump, radiator, the hoses, thermostat housing or head gasket. If a leak occurs in your engine’s cooling system air is drawn into the system. A regular fallacy told is that the cooling system’s leak leads to overheating of your car due to the loss of large amounts of coolant. Instead, the actual cause is the entry of air into the cooling mechanism, eventually, it creates an airlock – a bubble of air.

If an airlock results, the cooling mechanism is incapable of circulating the water and anti-freeze coolant, trapping any coolant in the engine. Consequently, the coolant rapidly gains heat and the engine can also overheat quickly.

Contaminated Coolant and Blocked Coolant Hoses

Coolant hoses can get clogged by dirt and sediment arising from the erosion and disintegration of coolant mechanism parts or coolant. When this occurs, it hinders the movement of coolant, which minimizes the overall effectiveness of your car cooling system. If there is an excessive build-up of dirt and dust it can cause the engine to overheat since the coolant is not flowing through the tubes.

Radiator Problems

The radiator functions by discharging engine heat into the air through the system’s coolant. It should be leakage-free, have no clogging and its fan must maintain a stable flow of air over it. Also, the thermostat has to work as expected. A dirty fan can hinder the proper performance of the thermostat.

A Defective Water Pump

The water pump propels the coolant through the whole cooling system. Anything that inhibits the working of the water pump will reduce the circulation of the coolant which will then cause engine overheating.

The quicker you address the defects by stopping by your local Leahy’s Auto, the lower the possibility of being stuck on a busy highway with an overheated car, worried about an expensive repair. Call us today!

With time, the tire treads wear out, which means they need replacing. There is no way to escape this. However, the moment you see your tire is wearing out strangely or uneven, then automatically know you have an issue. Such issues decrease the lifespan of a tire greatly. The good news is that they are solvable issues.

Uneven, unusual, or strange tire wear is generally a sign of other problems in your vehicle. The exact problem is indicated by the way they wear out, and the problem can be one of the following:

Center Wear

When the center part of your tire is wearing out faster compared to the edge, the problem is most likely tire over inflation. Furthermore, over-inflating car tires cause them to wear out twice as fast than how they are supposed to. Other problems of tire over inflation include a bumpier ride, high risk of losing control, especially in poor roads or weather.

Edge Wear

Edgewear is when both edges of a tire are wearing out faster compared to the center part of the tire. It is actually the opposite of the center wear. This problem is mainly caused by an underinflated tire. In a nutshell, it is quite the opposite of center wear, including the cause.

Either The Inner Or Outer Wear

When your tires begin to wear on one side (either the inner or outer part), the problem is wheel balancing. It is important to note the difference between edge wear and inner or outerwear. Do not confuse the two.

However, unlike edge wear and center wear, which are problems you can solve on your own (simply by putting the correct air pressure; as specified by manufacturers); inner or outerwear is a problem that needs a professional. That is because there are many situations or causes that can make a wheel alignment to go off a bit. Examples of other causes include suspension failure, worn-out bushes, and others. If the problem is left to linger, it could lead to serious problems such as suspension problems.

Diagonal Wear

Also known as cupping wear; it is a type of wear that creates a diagonal scalloping wear pattern. The main cause of this problem revolves around vehicle suspension. It may indicate a worn-out, bent, or any other manufacturing problem to the suspension.

The Life Span Of Tires

There are three factors that affect the life span of a tire, which are:

• The number of years you have had them
• The number of miles they have traveled
• Wheel based problems

Now that you have all this new information, check your tires with us a Leahy’s Auto. You want to call before your tires wear even further.

The mention of automobile damage has many car owners thinking of road accidents. The need for defensive driving and being always alert when on the roads does play a vital role in minimizing the risk of damages and accidents. However, it is not possible to prevent every accident. But even then, you can, for the most part, avoid many of the non-collision related damages to your vehicle.

• Be mindful of how you park

Many people pay little to no attention as the amount of room they have between their vehicle and the other vehicles when parking. Some people may be cautious when opening the car doors, but a strong gust of wind can be all it takes for an accidental bang or scratch caused by the door to occur. Therefore, be your brother’s keeper by being mindful of how you park your car. Also, consider the rogue shopping carts and try to park your vehicle a significant distance from the cart corrals.

• Always hide your valuables

If you have valuable in your car, make sure that they are kept out of sight so that they do not attract thieves. Keep in mind that this is in no way a means to prevent break-ins, but it can help reduce the probability of such a thing from happening. In most cases, thieves will strike when they see something they want. Make use of the storage compartments such as the glove box, console, and the trunk to keep your valuables.

• Cover up your vehicle

If you have a garage, then let it be where you mostly park your car. If you do not have a garage (even the portable type), then invest in a cover that you can drape over the vehicle to protect it from the elements. For instance, the sun can scorch the paint, causing it to crack or fade. Therefore, a cover will be a wise, protective measure. Getting your car off the street and into the garage to protect it from hail and other adverse weather. You also will keep it safe from people that may scratch or dent it when walking by or playing.

• Avoid flood zones

If there are possible floods reported, take care, and avoid any zones that are prone to flooding. The amount of damage that the water can cause can have serious, long-term effects. And not forgetting the rain, it is wise to roll up the windows and close the sunroof when parking your car to prevent the water from getting in and damaging the interior.

• Clean your vehicle regularly

The amount of dirt, salt, and different grime and gunk that collects on your car is a lot. Such things can damage the paint or be the reason for small scratches. You can avoid such damages by washing your vehicle as often as possible, more so after long trips.

If you want to have your vehicle prepared to prevent damage get to your nearest auto body repair shop. Get in touch today, give us a call, so you can better be prepared for preventing damage to your vehicle

Small dents on your car’s bodywork can be very frustrating to say the least. Just the thought of you having to contact your insurance company and taking your car to an auto shop for repair is enough to make you go crazy because you are only dealing with small dents.

What Is Paintless Dent Repair?

When it comes to fixing dents on your car’s, the first thing that will come to your mind is cost. However, you should never have to worry about incurring huge costs when there are cheap solutions such as PDR or Paintless Dent Repair. PDR is commonly used to fix tiny dents caused by hailstorms, but it’s also effective at fixing small and even large dents on your car’s bodywork. PDR is effective because it leaves the paintwork on your car as is meaning you don’t have to worry about your car having different shades of paint on its panels. The process keeps the original paint intact. No additional paint is needed during the repair process which makes the cost of repair very minimal. The resale value of your car is also maintained as well.

Paintless Dent Repair involves accessing the back or unexposed sections of damaged panels and then pressing them gently with specialized rods to put them into proper shape. PDR is extremely fast when compared to conventional dent repair techniques such as body fillers and sanding.

Applications of Paintless Dent Repair

PDR is effective in fixing the following problems:

– Small and large car dents
– Dents on newers cars (vehicles made from 1990 and onwards)
– Dents with no broken or cracked paint
– Dents that are not close to panel edges
– Fixing panels that haven’t had any previous repair

PDR is also commonly used in fixing hail damage. Insurance companies typically expedite the assessment and repair processes for hail damage cases.

Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair

PDR offers some of the following benefits:

– A car’s original paint stays intact
– No risk of color mismatching on paint job
– No chance of paint overspray onto other parts of the car
– Fast repair process
– Very affordable when compared to conventional body work repair techniques
– No body filler or repainting needed

It’s a well-known fact that car with an original paint job fetches more than a vehicle that has been repainted. Regardless of the location of the dent, it’s always advisable to maintain your car’s original paint job.

Contact Your Insurance Company After Getting Your Hail Damage Repair Quote

Your first order of business after observing damage on your car’s body work should be to call your insurance company and auto repair shop. Your auto repair shop will help you determine the best repair option for the damage you sustained. On the other hand, your insurance company look into how the damage occured and proceed to cover for repairs if your claim is approved.

How Do I Find An Auto Repair Shop That Offers PDR?

If you are looking for an easy and convenient way to fix the small and large dents on your car, then you should look for a quality auto body shop that offers paintless dent repair. A simple search of auto repair shops near you should give you an idea of where to go and who to call.

If by bad luck you get involved in an auto collision, your top priority is likely going to be ways to get your vehicle back on the road quickly. Well, this is an understandable fact. After all, we depend on our vehicles every day and getting into an auto accident is a terrible inconvenience. Therefore, to get the best auto body repair shop is paramount. Below are a few questions to ask;

Do They Offer Auto Body Repair Work Warranty?

It is always a good idea to ask an unto body repair shop if they offer any kind of warranty. If the answer is YES Know its grace period and what they cover. They may have a policy that will help you avoid further problems, inconveniences and frequent returns to the shop for repeated issues.

Are They Insured?

Be sure to find out if the repair shop is insured against fire and auto theft before you leave your vehicle there. The question is important, and many car owners forget to ask, due to one reason or the other. A good and reliable auto body repair shop should be in a position to walk you through their insurance coverage. They should have a cover that protects your vehicle against theft or burglary, while it is at their hand.

Is The Paint Going To Match The Rest Of The Vehicle?

A majority of vehicles have a paint code either under the trunk, door, or hood. An experienced repair mechanic should be in a position to match the paint on the car with the area being repaired.

Will They Include Everything In Writing?

It is always wise to ask everything in written form before agreeing. It should include the estimated price, the items used and billed, payment policy, and any other thing. You should be prepared every time when dealing with a collision repair shop.

How Long Will The Repairs Take?

A majority of the time, the number one question on many people’s mind is usually how long will the repairs take. However, when it comes to car body repair, there isn’t always a clear answer. It always depends on the extent of the damage, your insurance company, and how busy the shop is. But when it comes to a reputable repair shop, be assured that your car is in the right hands, call us if you need repairs done today.

If your engine does not start, your car will not move. Therefore, it is the most fundamental car problem. The starter is a specific part in the engine provides cranking power allowing it to start.

It’s popularly known as the starter motor or cranking motor. It works by cranking or rotating when you press the ignition key or button that sends an electrical signal to the starter. That’s how you start up the engine.

Your engine will fail to start if the battery that supplies the electrical charge to the starter is dead or if the starter doesn’t work at all. If the engine doesn’t start yet the starter is working, there is an issue with the spark, a compression issue or the fuel supply.

Depending on the exact issue, the engine will have a different reaction when you are attempting to start. Here is what you need to know about the various issues.

If The Engine Doesn’t Crank

Here, you could have some of the following problems.

1. Battery Issues – Here, the engine will not crank if the battery isn’t supplying enough or any power to the starter system. You will turn the key or push the start button but the electrical signal will not be transmitted.

2. The Key Won’t Turn – Here, the steering might be locked with the ignition lock. Also, there could be an issue with the ignition system or the key itself.

3. Starter Motor Problems – When the starter motor has failed the starter solenoid is the problem. It is used to transfer an electrical current to the starter motor when the ignition switch transfers the signal. The starter solenoid can fail completely or be damaged.

4. Ignition System Issues – Here, you are likely to experience a few failure points any of which can result in a problem with your engine. For instance, if you turn the key yet the engine doesn’t crank and have checked and confirmed that the battery is functioning properly, there might be an issue with your ignition system.

If The Engine Cranks But Won’t Start

Here are some of the problems that could cause this.

1. If The Engine Cranks Very Weakly – First, check the battery because if it is weak, it’s likely to cause a weak engine crank. On the other hand, the connections from the battery to the starter motor could have become loose or damaged.

2. If The Engine Becomes Flooded – It refers to when the engine cracks quite briefly and stalls then refuses to start again.

3. Lack Of Fuel – Your vehicle might not have enough gas.

4. Fuel Pump Problems – Here, the fuel pump itself might have some problems and so does the engine computer or the fuel pump relay. The fuel pump might be damaged too.

5. Mass Airflow Sensor Problem – If there is a breakdown in the mass airflow sensor, the engine will start briefly and stall immediately.

6. Engine Computer Problem – If there is a problem with the engine computer, the engine is likely going to crank but fail to start.

7. Engine Compression Problems – Here, the engine will start overheating. These problems might also be caused by a chain skipping or timing belt.

In conclusion, check any of these problems to identify why your car will not start and fix them immediately or have Leahy’s Auto check them for you. Call us for a quote.