Latest Automotive News

The Dreaded “Check Engine” Light Uh oh. There’s that “Check Engine” light. Or, maybe your car has a “Service Engine Soon” light illuminated. Sounds ominous, doesn’t it. Well, there’s a reason. Let’s discuss what it means when you get a “Check Engine” light and what you need to do about it.

Why the Light Turns On All modern vehicles have a computer or ECM (Electronic Control Module) that controls the engine operation. It also performs onboard diagnostics which is referred to as OBDII. The main purpose of this module is to keep the engine running at top efficiency with the lowest possible emissions. Today's strict emission regulations are not very easy to achieve - to keep it in compliance, the engine needs to be constantly and precisely adjusted according to various conditions such as speed, load, engine temperature, gasoline quality, ambient air temperature, road conditions, etc.

The best thing about the “Check Engine” light is that it often detects little problems before they become big, expensive problems. Not every problem gives you obvious indications like you get with such things as hard starting, rough running, stalling, etc. That’s why it is very important not to ignore this little light. The “Check Engine” light alerts you to problems like poor fuel mileage, reduced performance or excessive exhaust emissions.

Vacation time now begins and it is never too soon to prepare your vehicle for a safe, comfortable, and fun time. After all you earned so why not prepare, get ready and have a vacation you will remember with good memories. You want to take a much needed vacation from your everyday concerns and problems, not one of tow truck bills, or vehicle repair bills especially from a mechanic you are not even familiar with and maybe uncomfortable with. Car trouble, usually due to neglected preventive maintenance, brings an abrupt end to vacation plans.

The situation usually means more than just a repair bill, says the Car Care Council. It can involve towing charges, lodging and possibly a rental car. Add to that the cost of extra phone calls, meals and general inconvenience, and the ordeal becomes expensive. This scenario usually can be avoided with a pre-vacation inspection performed by the vehicle owner or a qualified automotive technician.

The most important thing in taking an automotive vacation is to make sure your vehicle is in top shape. A monster in the form of car troubles can destroy even the nicest vacations. So before packing suitcases, filling the cooler with drinks and snacks and whipping out your trusty road atlas, take some time to make sure that your vehicle is ready to take you to paradise.

The following items include things that most people can do for themselves very easily just by reading the vehicle's owner's manual. If you don't have the time or lack the confidence to do these things yourself, bring it in to Dings Complete Car Care and have them give the car a good going over. If your vehicle is due for an oil change or other regular maintenance in the time you are away, get it done before you leave. However you choose to prep your vehicle, do it at least a week or so before the trip, so that if the car needs any servicing it can be done before your vacation.

Do not be a customer that comes into the shop 30 minutes before closing on a Saturday afternoon with the car packed to the roof rack with luggage, camping gear and a wife and three kids. In hopes of getting a tune-up, oil and filter change and front brakes replaced. The trip will be most probably delayed until the following day until we finish with all the work.

Vital fluids:
Check all of your vehicle's fluid levels. This includes engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Most new cars have transparent reservoir tanks and in many cases, you don't even have to get your hands dirty. Refer to the owners' manual for the proper procedures for checking and adding fluids to your vehicle. In particular, when checking the brake fluid level, also look at the fluid color. It should be clear or light amber. If it's dark and cloudy, the brake fluid is contaminated and should be replaced and the brake system flushed. Click on our brake page on our website for more information and email us for an appointment.

You can also do a quick "leak test" in your driveway. Let your engine run for about 15 minutes so it reaches full operating temperature. Then park it over a large piece of cardboard a while and see if any fluids have dripped from underneath it.

Very often you can tell what fluid it is by feel and color. A reddish liquid is either power steering fluid or transmission fluid. Engine oil is usually black or brown. Pink or yellow green liquid is anti-freeze. Clear liquids are either water, condensation from the air conditioner, which is no problem, or clutch or brake fluid. If you are in unfamiliar territory, don't wait until the fuel gauge reads empty or the low fuel light comes on. Start looking for a refill at half a tank. Better to make one too many pit stops then one too few.

Belts and Hoses:
Check all the drive belts and hoses for any signs of wear and deterioration. Belts that are frayed, glazed, cracked, cut or have chunks missing should be replaced immediately. With the engine off and cold, look at each hose and see if there are leaks, bulges, cracks, or swelling. If they look good, give them a squeeze test. Good hoses are firm but flexible. Any hoses that feel spongy, soft, or brittle should be replaced. Any hoses or belts that are in need of replacement please give us a call or email us the make, model, etc. so we can have your part when you bring your vehicle in for repair.

Battery:
One of the leading causes of roadside problems is the battery. Check that the battery electrolyte is up to the proper level by removing the battery caps and looking inside. The proper level is about =" to >" above the battery plates. The most common battery types today are maintenance free batteries. Maintenance free batteries have sealed caps and require no checking. But some batteries say maintenance free but do have removable caps. These should be checked in the usual manner. Finally, check the battery to see that there are no cracks or holes in the battery casing itself. If the battery is four or five years old, consider replacing it.

Also, make sure that the battery terminals and cables are clean and securely attached to the battery terminals. If the terminals and cables are covered with "snow", remove the cables from the battery and thoroughly clean the cables and terminals. You can use a mixture of baking soda and water, which will neutralize the battery acid. You can clean the cables and terminals with a battery cleaning brush or some medium emery cloth. Check the terminals and if they are eaten away, replace them. When they are nice and clean, re-attach the cables and make sure they are tight. You can coat the terminals with white lithium grease or Vaseline® to protect them from corroding again.

Brakes:
If you hear any grinding noises or feel unusual vibrations when you apply the brakes, or if the vehicle pulls to one side, take the vehicle in for a comprehensive checkup. It would be a good idea just to have your brakes looked at to be sure they won't need replacing 1,000 miles into your trip. Take a look at our Brake page on our website and remember you can phone, fax, or email us if you need to make an appointment. Dings Complete Car Care will be very willing to check your brakes, for as they say, “Rather safe than Sorry.”

Cooling system:
Sustained high speed driving and hot summer days combine to put a lot of stress on an engine's cooling system. If your vehicles is using conventional green anti-freeze and hasn't been flushed for two years, now is an excellent time to do it. If it has extended life anti-freeze go with the manufacturers recommended change intervals. If this interval occurs during the trip, do it now. The cooling system should be refilled with a 50/50 mix of new antifreeze and water. Don't refill with just straight anti-freeze.

Air-conditioning:
Make sure your car's heating and A/C is working properly. Run it for a while in each of its operating modes and check that the airflow is coming from all appropriate vents. If the A/C system takes an inordinately long time to cool the inside of the car, or if the air never gets cold enough, the system probably needs to be checked for leaks and recharged. If the A/C smells like your sons gym socks, the drain hose is probably clogged or restricted.

While following this list of checks and inspections are a good idea, you should be aware of other, more general warning signs as well. Ticking, clunking or knocking noises, a sudden vibration or shimmy, or anything out of the ordinary is probably a symptom of a hidden problem that should be checked before hitting the road.

Keep in mind that no matter how careful and thorough you were in doing your pre-trip preparations, unexpected problems can still happen. So it is a good idea to have some basic emergency gear onboard in something does happen. Jumper cables, flares, a disposable, pre-paid cell phone, a gallon of anti-freeze, a gallon of water, three quarts of oil, a couple of quarts of ATF and a couple of gallons of bug juice can be worth ten times their weight in gold when you need it 50 miles from nowhere. Another good idea is to make a check list of things to check when you make a pit stop so you can be sure to cover all your bases

            Dings Complete Car Care hopes all their customers have safe vacations and want to remind you that that is what we are here for. If you have a question regarding your vehicle that you are not quite sure of what repairs it may need or part please feel free to email us and use our form provide on our website. Happy vacation everyone

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Dings Complete Car Care
1813 Columbia Street
Vancouver, WA. 98660
Phone: 360-694-7599/ 695-6030
Fax: 360-695-6024