There are many signs and indicators that you should be aware of so that you can take your car to your auto shop in Sacramento and prevent problems from developing. You can often get some idea of what may be wrong by considering the symptoms. Watch this video for a look at a few symptoms of a transmission problem.

Whether you have a manual or automatic transmission, there are a few indicators that might pop up when the transmission is in trouble. An automatic transmission that makes loud noises when you switch gears could point towards a fluid problem; slipping out of gear may suggest a fluid problem or worn clutch bands. You might also experience grinding and slipping when your manual transmission is low on transmission fluid. Always address these issues sooner rather than later in order to prevent the development of a bigger problem.

When you want an investment to last for a long time, it is wise to provide the necessary maintenance. Your auto mechanic in Sacramento can help keep your vehicle in top shape, but it is your job to recognize when to bring it into the shop. It also helps to understand the different aspects that must be maintained and keep an eye on them to prevent problems from going unnoticed. Your brakes, tires, and oil are all necessary components that must be maintained on a routine basis for your own safety and that of others on the road. Here is an overview of these essential maintenance items on your vehicle.

Check Your Brake Pads

Whether you see a speeding car as you pull out of your driveway or notice an animal in the road at the last second, you will need properly functioning brakes to be able to react. This is why your brake pads are among the most important maintenance items on your vehicle. There are many different factors that influence the working lifespan of your brake pads, from the weight of your car to the way that you drive it . Have your auto mechanic check your brake pads on a regular basis to keep your brakes in shape.

Inspect Your Tires

Your tires are unique in that they bridge the gap between your vehicle and the road. As the only parts of the car that make contact with the ground, it is crucial that your tires give you the control you need. Like your brake pads, the lifespan of your tires may vary based on a range of factors. Check the ridges on your tire to see if your tread is running too low.

Change Your Oil

Your car depends on an orchestra of moving parts, and your oil keeps these parts lubricated. As time passes, however, the oil will become contaminated due to heat and exhaust gases. You can check your owner’s manual to find out how often you should have the oil in your car changed; failing to change your oil on time can cause parts to wear out quickly.

Every car comes standard with a catalytic converter so that the amount of pollution generated by driving cars is reduced. In fact, federal, state and local governments have passed statutes and ordinances that require you to have your vehicle inspected on an annual basis to ensure that its catalytic converter is functioning proplery and preventing pollution.

This brief guide to catalytic converters can help you better understand your catalytic converter and know when it may need to be serviced. Remember, the key to ensuring that your vehicle stays road ready for years to come is to take care of it by undergoing routine maintenance procedures.

What is A Catalytic Converter?

Catalytic converters are small metal boxes found on the underside of your car, truck or SUV. Two pipes are connected to catalytic converters. The first pipe runs from the engine to the converter and transports polutants so that they can be converted into exhuast by the converter. The second pipe runs fromt the catalytic converter to the exhuast and forces the converted byproducts out through your vehicle’s tail pipe.

How Does It Work?

When the poillutants reach the catalytic converter, chemical catalysts are added to aid in converting the pollutnats into acceptable exhuast. There are two primary processes by which converstaion occurs.

• Reduction: reduction is the process of removing oxygen from nitorgen oxide (a harmful pollutant). Removing oxygen from nitrous oxygen breaks the compound into sinlge molocules of oxygn and nirtogen (neither of which are harfmul).
• Oxidation: oxidation is the process of adding oxygen to carbon monoxide (a toxin) to convert it into carbon dioxide (which is less toxic).

With gas prices ever increasing, car owners are more and more conscious of their gasoline consumption. Your car’s gas mileage can heavily impact your budget and your mobility, so maxing out your gas mileage is crucial. Here we have detailed a few tips on maintaining your car’s gas mileage – from car upkeep down to the way you drive.

Watching Fuel Efficiency

1. Avoid using “roof racks” or “sky boxes.” These attachments to your roof interfere with your car’s aerodynamics and create drag, which slows your car down and decreases efficiency.
2. Keeping your tires properly inflated will help maintain gas mileage as well as prevent additional wear and tear to your tires. Ideally, you should check them once a month.
3. Driving calmly will also help your fuel efficiency. Avoiding the urge to pass every car in front of you, along with avoiding wild acceleration and frequent braking, will help prevent using unnecessary extra fuel. This is also a safe driving practice to keep you and others safer on the road.
4. Following the posted speed limit is an added plus to your mileage. Many cars reach optimal efficiency between 45 and 60 mph. Driving at or slightly below the speed limit will help your car perform efficiently to save gas, along with keeping you and others safe.

Inspecting your car and regular tune ups are also essential to maintaining good gas mileage and extending the life of your car. For professional car service, repairs, and more, call us today at (916) 452-0917!

When your check engine light comes on, do you take it to the shop to get checked out or just wait to see if your car experiences trouble? If you do the latter, even though plenty of people do it also, small problems could become much bigger over time. However, getting your car checked out doesn’t have to take a lot of time; just drop it on by our shop for our diagnostic services. We’ve put together an overview of how they work.

How it works:

When you take your car to our shop, we hook its computer up to our diagnostic machine. Contrary to what many people believe, this doesn’t just tell you the problem. However, it does give us a list of potential problems that our skilled mechanics can then narrow down until we find the culprit causing that pesky warning light. Afterwards, we can almost always get the problem fixed on the same day.

Don’t wait on pins and needles to see if your car has a major problem; take it by our shop. You’ll get professional, efficient service every time! Give us a call at (916) 452-0917 for more information.