June 2015 – Affordable Auto Service

5 Common Steering Problems

We don’t need to tell you how important it is to be able to steer freely while you’re driving. If you are having difficulty steering, or your hear troubling noises while turning, you’ll want to find a safe place to park and address the issue. Attempting to drive with the problem can lead to accident and injury.

There are numerous reasons why your steering may be inhibited. Today, we look at five common causes of steering problems, and we discuss how you can fix the issue.

1. Low Power Steering Level – Just like the rest of your car’s fluids, your power steering fluid needs to be at the appropriate level for your car to run optimally. If you notice that it’s difficult to steer your car, the first thing you should check is your power steering level.

2. Power Steering Leak – This problem goes hand in hand with the above issue, as the biggest culprit of low power steering levels is a leak. Unlike oil, power steering levels aren’t always the same color. Power steering fluid typically comes in one of three colors, clear, red or pink, so if you notice a puddle of those shades underneath your car, check your power steering fluid levels.

3. Damaged Steering Rack Mount – If your steering wheel starts to feel uncontrollable, you might have an issue with your steering rack mount. Steering rack mounts are something you can fix on your own if you know what you’re doing, but they are best serviced by a certified mechanic. If you’re unsure, err on the safe side and bring you car into the shop.

4. Damaged Power Steering Belt – Your power steering belt drives the power steering hydraulic-fluid pump, which is turned by a pulley on the crankshaft. If the belt gets slack or wears down, the steering wheel may start to feel heavy or jerky. Typically the issue can be fixed by tightening the slack belt, or by replacing it altogether.

5. Bad Strut Bearings – If your wheel begins to wander or stray while you a driving, you might have a problem with your strut bearing or tie rods. This could be caused by a broken steering rack, so this is another issue your mechanic may inspect if you suspect your car’s wheel is damaged.

5 Common Reasons Cars Break Down

Although they may vary greatly in look, the majority of cars are pretty similar when you look at what makes up the actual vehicle. Because of this, most cars are affected by a lot of the same issues. Today, we take a look at five of the most common reasons your car breaks down.

1. Bad Battery – Batteries aren’t typically an issue during the warm summer months, but most Minnesotans have had troubles with their car’s battery at one point or another during the freezing winter months, especially if you have to park on the street. If your car won’t start, it may be a battery issue. Check out this post for more information on bad batteries.

2. Belt Blues – Belts are the muscles of your car, as they make the internal components move. Damaged or broken belts are akin to tearing your hamstring – it really hampers your ability to move normally. Unlike muscles, belts won’t get better with rest. Like a lot of mechanical issues, it is much preferred to prevent a broken serpentine belt than fix a broken one, especially since a broken belt can cause major engine issues.

3. Broken Brakes – Although you’ll still be able to drive with bad brakes, as you can imagine, it’s not recommended. Extremely worn brake pads or rotors can make it nearly impossible to stop, which can lead to injury and damage to property. If you hear squealing, rattling, shaking or have problems while braking, take your car into a repair shop immediately.

4. Shot Starter – If you put the key in your car, turn it and hear nothing (or a clicking sound), you may have a problem with your starter. If this happens, try to turn on your car’s interior lights or headlights, as it could be an issue with your battery. If your lights turn on, you know your battery is in good shape, and it’s likely a problem with the starter or relay.

5. Overworked Engine – If your car’s temperature gauge shoots up into the red, your engine may be at risk for overheating. If this happens, turn off the air conditioner and blast your heat. This will help move hot air away from the engine. Once you’re home, check your radiator to ensure it’s full of coolant. If your radiator or engine overheats and breaks down, you’ll have a hefty repair bill on your hands. Keep an eye on your engine’s health.

Why Is My Carâ€™s Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air?

The summer solstice is right around the corner, and that means temperatures will be creeping up into the 90s. If you haven’t already, it’s nearly time to turn your car’s system from winter heating to cold air conditioning for the summer.

Air conditioning is one of life’s great luxuries that can turn a drive into a miserable car ride if it’s not working properly. If your car’s air conditioning isn’t working, or the system is blowing warm/hot air when you try to turn down the temperature, you have a problem. Today we look at what might be causing those issues.

Car Won’t Get Cold

Here are a couple reasons why you might be having problems with your car’s cooling system:

Recharge Your System – The simplest fix is that your AC system simply needs to be recharged. You can recharge your system with a handful of helpful products. These products typically cost between $20-$35, so it’s a relativity cheap option to pursueÂ if you want to try and fix the issue on your own. If it doesn’t work, you may have a leak.

Freon Leak – Freon is the chemical component that keeps your car cool. If there’s a leak in your system, your freon will eventually run out. There are a couple of products out there that allow the driver to refuel their freon levels on their own, but if your car’s cool air fades over a few days or weeks, you likely have a leak and will need to have it serviced by a mechanic.

Blend Door Issues – As we mentioned above, now is the time to turn your system from heat to cool. If your car is still blowing out hot air, you likely have an issue with your blend door. Your blend air door draws in cold car when you change the vent system from hot to cold, so if it’s still kicking out warm air, the system may be drawing in heat from the engine and blowing it out. This is a job that is best preformed by a qualified mechanic.

What Causes Tires To Wear Out Faster?

Your tires are an essential part of your car. The problem is that most people don’t give their tires a second thought unless they get a flat.

People believe as long as their tires are inflated, they are in proper working order, but that’s not necessarily true. If you don’t take care of your car’s tires, you’ll likely find that they wear out faster, and nobody likes buying new tires. Today, we explain why some tires wear out faster than others so you can go farther on your set of wheels.

Why Do My Tires Wear Down Quickly?

The life of your tires is based on how quickly your tire tread wears down. Tire tread helps you grip the road, so you can see why driving on severely worn tread can be dangerous. Some things that cause your tire tread to wear down quickly include:

1. Improper Tire Inflation – If your tires aren’t at the optimal pressure, they’ll wear out more quickly or unevenly. Proper tire inflation will ensure your tires are able to handle a variety of different vehicle aspects, including the vehicle’s weight, cornering distribution and braking forces. If your tires are out of whack, the tread may wear out more quickly when you break or turn in a certain direction. Additionally, you’ll actually lose grip with the road if your tires aren’t at the right pressure, so follow the inflation guidelines in your owner’s manual.

2.Â Misaligned Tires – Wheel and tire alignment ensures all your tires travel straight forward. Have you ever been driving down the road and noticed that your car was pulling to the right? Odds are your vehicle is misaligned. When your car is out of alignment, your tires hit the road at the wrong angle, causing the inside or outside or your wheels to wear down quicker.

3. Driving Patterns – Certain driving maneuvers also quickly wear your tires down. Some of these maneuvers include:

Spinning your tires

Hard breaking

Fast acceleration

Driving at fast speeds

So if you do a lot of city driving, avoid slamming on the accelerator or the brakes as you make your way through town. If you do, you’ll be buying a new set of tires before you know it.