Archive for September 2019A Not-So-Straight Story (Vehicle Pulls to One Side)Posted September 15, 2019 8:31 AMA vehicle should travel straight down a straight road with the steering wheel centered. But time and travel can take their toll and soon you may find your vehicle pulling to the left or right. Those are not good signs and should be taken care of fairly quickly. One thing that you should note is when this is happening: if it is all the time, only when you brake, only when you accelerate. If you describe these symptoms to the service adviser or technician, it may help them pinpoint the cause more quickly. Many things can cause a vehicle to pull to one side, one of which is that it's out of alignment. If so, you could be doing damage to other components of your vehicle if you keep driving with it this way. If your tires show signs of uneven wear on the treads or if your wheels squealing, that is another clue. Improperly inflated tires can also cause your vehicle to pull in one direction. Your service facility can check to see if your tires have the pressure recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. When steering linkage wears out or a wheel bearing goes bad, both of those can cause a vehicle not to track straight. When components age and loosen up, they can present a safety hazard and premature tire wearing. Maybe you notice the pulling only when you are braking. That points to a failure of your braking system, perhaps a sticky brake caliper. When your vehicle was brand new, it went straight unless you guided it on a different path. It's best to have it checked out if it is showing some of these symptoms. It could save you money in the long run and you'll be driving a safer, better performing vehicle. That's what they mean by steering you right! AutoSurgeonInc An Oil for All Seasons (Engine Oil Selection)Posted September 8, 2019 10:24 AMYou swap your winter boots for flip-flops in the summer. Why not change your winter engine oil for summer, hot-weather oil? While it may seem like it makes sense, there's some good news. Most drivers don't have to, and here's why. Engine oil can be made in different thicknesses. That thickness is called viscosity, how easily it flows. Now, it makes sense that the hotter it gets, oil gets a little thinner and doesn't lubricate as well. So if you used a thicker oil in the summer, it's logical that it would protect better in the hotter weather. While there was a time when oils could be only made in one viscosity, times have changed. Using an ingenious formula, oil can now be created that changes its viscosity (called "multi-viscosity") as the temperature rises and falls. It self-adjusts to match the conditions. Now that's what I call a great invention. In most temperate climates, you don't have to swap out the type of oil you use in your vehicle each season. There are exceptions in extreme climates, but your service advisor can advise you on that. Your vehicle's owner's manual recommends the proper viscosity oil to use. Remember that even though you may not have to switch to a different type of oil, you DO have to CHANGE the oil at certain intervals. That's because oil eventually breaks down and picks up contaminants, and if you have old, dirty oil in your engine, it can cause damaging friction and heat. Regular maintenance at your vehicle service facility will ensure that your vehicle is running like a well-oiled machine. AutoSurgeonInc Too Hot to Handle (Vehicle Overheating)Posted September 1, 2019 9:11 AMIn the hot weather, seeing steam coming from the engine compartment is something we all dread. No one wants that to happen to them. But if you know the signs of overheating and how to deal with it, you may be able to reduce the risk of damage to your vehicle, maybe even prevent getting stranded on the road. Besides the steam coming out of the engine compartment, here are a few signs of overheating. Your vehicle has a heat gauge that may have a needle that can go into a red zone or up to the "H" (for High) position. You may smell odors, perhaps a burning (could be hot oil) or a sweet smell (engine coolant leaking). When you encounter any of those signs, you know you have to do something to keep the engine as cool as possible to avoid potentially catastrophic damage. Turn off the air conditioning and turn up the heat. While that last part may sound odd, it helps draw heat out of the engine. If you can do it safely, pull off the road to a spot away from traffic. Turn off the engine so it can cool down for a few minutes. You may want to call for help at this point, then switch on the key to "accessory" position to see if the engine has cooled down to the normal range. You may have to have your car towed to a service facility or, if there's one nearby, you may be able to slowly drive to it. But keep your eye on the heat gauge and immediately stop if it starts to overheat again. The best hedge against engine overheating is regular maintenance. When the cooling system and other engine components are working like they should, your chances of an overheated engine are drastically reduced. Your service facility will keep their eyes open for leaking hoses, cracked belts, rusted pipes and other things so they don't fail at the most inopportune time. AutoSurgeonInc | ||
SearchArchiveJune 2011 (16)July 2011 (4) August 2011 (5) September 2011 (4) October 2011 (4) November 2011 (4) December 2011 (5) January 2012 (4) February 2012 (4) March 2012 (5) April 2012 (4) May 2012 (5) June 2012 (4) July 2012 (4) August 2012 (5) September 2012 (4) October 2012 (3) November 2012 (5) December 2012 (4) January 2013 (4) February 2013 (5) March 2013 (4) April 2013 (4) May 2013 (5) June 2013 (4) July 2013 (4) August 2013 (5) September 2013 (4) October 2013 (5) November 2013 (3) December 2013 (6) January 2014 (4) February 2014 (4) March 2014 (4) April 2014 (4) May 2014 (5) June 2014 (4) July 2014 (5) August 2014 (4) September 2014 (5) October 2014 (4) November 2014 (4) December 2014 (5) January 2015 (4) February 2015 (4) March 2015 (5) April 2015 (4) May 2015 (2) June 2015 (6) July 2015 (5) August 2015 (4) September 2015 (4) October 2015 (5) November 2015 (4) December 2015 (2) February 2016 (2) March 2016 (4) April 2016 (4) May 2016 (5) June 2016 (4) July 2016 (4) August 2016 (5) September 2016 (4) October 2016 (5) November 2016 (4) December 2016 (4) January 2017 (5) February 2017 (4) March 2017 (4) April 2017 (4) May 2017 (5) June 2017 (4) July 2017 (5) August 2017 (4) September 2017 (3) October 2017 (5) November 2017 (4) December 2017 (3) January 2018 (4) February 2018 (4) March 2018 (4) April 2018 (5) May 2018 (3) June 2018 (4) July 2018 (5) August 2018 (4) September 2018 (5) October 2018 (4) November 2018 (4) December 2018 (5) January 2019 (2) March 2019 (4) May 2019 (2) June 2019 (5) July 2019 (2) August 2019 (2) September 2019 (3) October 2019 (5) November 2019 (4) December 2019 (5) January 2020 (5) February 2020 (4) March 2020 (5) April 2020 (1) May 2020 (2) July 2020 (1) August 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) October 2020 (4) November 2020 (5) December 2020 (4) January 2021 (6) February 2021 (4) March 2021 (4) April 2021 (4) May 2021 (5) June 2021 (4) July 2021 (3) August 2021 (5) September 2021 (4) October 2021 (5) November 2021 (4) December 2021 (4) January 2022 (6) February 2022 (4) March 2022 (4) April 2022 (4) May 2022 (5) June 2022 (4) July 2022 (5) September 2022 (4) October 2022 (5) November 2022 (4) December 2022 (4) January 2023 (5) February 2023 (4) March 2023 (4) April 2023 (5) May 2023 (4) June 2023 (4) July 2023 (5) August 2023 (4) September 2023 (2) October 2023 (1) January 2024 (1) February 2024 (4) March 2024 (1) April 2024 (1) May 2024 (4) June 2024 (5) July 2024 (4) August 2024 (4) September 2024 (5) | CategoriesWarranty (1)Differential Service (3)Steering (13)Fluids (8)Maintenance (16)Fuel System (10)Headlamps (6)Parts (1)Wheel Bearings (2)Service Standards (4)Tire Pressure Monitoring System (1)Shocks & Struts (4)Tire Rotation and Balancing (4)Tires and Wheels (6)Automotive News (4)Air Conditioning (10)Diagnostics (1)Timing Belt (4)Battery (13)Exhaust (7)Fuel Economy (8)Service Intervals (2)Brakes (16)Safety (2)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (2)Alignment (6)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (2)What Customers Should Know (83)Auto Safety (5)Check Engine Light (4)Alternator (7)Transmission (5)Windshield Wipers (3)Dashboard (1)Cooling System (9)Drive Train (4)Customer Detective Work (1)Oil Change (8)Older Vehicles (1)Winter Prep (5)Safe Driving (1)Winter Tires (1)Tires (11)Inspection (4)Spark Plugs (2)TPMS (3)Water Pump (2)Suspension (1)Transfer Case Service (1)Brake Service (6)Trip Inspection (2)Cabin Air Filter (2)Fuel Pump (1)PCV Valve (1)Shocks and Struts (3)Engine Air Filter (1) |
What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
Just a word of thanks for the top notch done to Wema's Carolla and for the thoughtful communication with our Tanzanian exchange student. Not only did you fix her car, but also handled arranging towing, all in a narrow window of time. Wema is delighted to have her car back, running better than ever. Couldn't be more happy with your service!
My son limped his vehicle into Auto Surgeon's parking lot . The vehicle is on its last leg and we just needed to get it up and running for a few more weeks til my son graduates. The proper repairs were out of the budget so Bill came up with a solution that made sense for this vehicle, Bill didn't have to adapt for us but he did, and the price was more than fair. Don't hesitate to call Auto Surgeon for any repair.