Broomfield Auto Repair

The power steering light is an orange, red or yellow dashboard signal that indicates a problem with the power steering system. This symbol is not hard to miss, as it is shaped like a steering wheel with an exclamation mark. Read on to learn more about what the power steering light could mean for your vehicle.   The reason for an illuminated power steering warning light varies depending on your vehicle's type of power steering system. The most common nature of the problem when it comes to hydraulic power steering systems is fluid leaks. When your car is running low on power steering liquid, it will trigger the warning.   A bright EPS light may also come on if your car has an electronic power steering (EPS) system. Since EPS has no fluid, there won’t be any fluid for you to monitor or maintain. Instead, the flaw may be due to an electrical fault. If you've recently removed or disconnected your car battery, you may have a battery problem that is affecting your ... read more

While a road trip may sound appealing, you'll need a lot of planning to take your pets along for the ride. Pets can be restless and behave in ways that can be unsafe when traveling, such as jumping on your lap while you're driving and hanging out of the window. However, taking a road trip with your pet need not be a hassle. Here are a few tips to make sure you and your pet are safe during the long drives: Take Practice Trips If your trip is a few months or days away, you can use that time to help your pet feel comfortable in your car and on long drives. If your pet is stressed or anxious in the car, you may want to try behavioral training. You can start with short drives and increase the duration gradually as you observe your pet's behavior. Pack Your Pets' Essentials As you pack your bag for the trip, consider packing a backpack for your pets. Be sure to include food and water, feeding bowls, toys, treats, medications, medical records, Kennel, plastic bags, groomin ... read more

Have you tried to start your car, but the engine refused to cooperate? The good news is that it may not mean your engine is kaput, but that it just doesn't have enough power to turn over. When this happens, the usual culprits are the battery or the alternator. Read on for some information that can help you weed out the problem and get you back on the road. An engine that won't start is more than likely a battery problem. Batteries have a life expectancy of 3–5 years, whereas an alternator will last for seven years or about 150,000 miles. One way you can tell if you have a bad battery is when the dashboard battery light comes on while starting your vehicle. If this happens, there's your warning; your battery needs replacing. When Your Battery is on its Last Legs Another way to know if it's a battery problem is when your vehicle won't start and you detect a clicking sound when you turn your key in the ignition. This is a dead giveaway that your battery is dea ... read more

Your vehicle's undercar contains a variety of systems working together to ensure that your vehicle drives smoothly. Keeping these undercar parts well maintained is important overall, so read on to learn more about what the undercar entails and the services needed.  Chassis The chassis is the front frame of your vehicle that supports all of the undercar systems, including tires, driveshaft, differentials, suspension, transmission, and the engine. A weak chassis will put other important systems at risk for damage or performance issues. If you have a problem with your chassis, our experts have the experience and the tools to repair defects and get your chassis back to pristine condition. Differentials The differentials in your vehicle are basically what transfer power from the engine to the wheels to get your car moving at different speeds. When you turn your vehicle, the outer wheels actually travel more than the inner wheels, meaning that a ... read more

Automobiles are a significant investment. If you want your car to last you for years, you must take care of it. While you may be thinking of car maintenance, good driving habits apply too. Lousy driving habits can significantly impact your car over time. It will likely break down and develop long-term problems if you're rough on your car. Below are some terrible habits to avoid doing if you want to keep your vehicle for a while: Flying Over Rough Terrain Potholes and speed bumps can do a number on your wheels, tires, suspension, and your steering. For example, you could risk knocking your wheels out of alignment and blowing out your tire. So next time you see a road bump, slow down and carry on with caution. Revving A Cold Engine If you didn't know already, engine oil needs to warm up before its lubricating properties kick in. Revving a cold engine can damage your engine components as it is not adequately lubricated yet. It would help to let your vehicle idle 30 seconds to ... read more

While it's always essential to make sure your vehicle is properly cared for, maintenance services are even more critical during the winter months. During this time of year, drivers have many problems to deal with, including wet, cold, and icy conditions and early sunsets, which can significantly impact safety on the road. Below is a complete list of things you should take care of to ensure your car stays safe and reliable on the open road. Top Off Your Wiper Fluid While windshield wiper fluid is often forgotten about, you may find yourself running out this season! To ensure you can see through your windshield at all times, have this fluid topped off. This will help prevent your windshield from accumulating salt, mud, snow, ice, or more! Check Your Lights While your windshield is important to visibility, so are your vehicle lights. Now is the time to do a walk-through around your car to ensure every bulb is working and lit bright enough so that you can see at night. Inspect You ... read more

With the continuous advancements in the automotive industry, automotive vehicles are getting better gas mileage than ever before. You don't even need a hybrid to own a car that averages 30-40 miles per gallon. While this is a great advantage, most vehicle owners notice a drop in their MPG over time. It's easy to brush it off if you are still attaining good mileage, but this decrease in numbers is often a sign of bigger problems within your vehicle.    What Are the Most Common Reasons for Decrease in Gas Mileage? Dirty Fuel Injectors - Fuel injectors are the parts that pump fuel to your engine. If they become leaky or dirty, less fuel will make its way to the engine, leading to a drop in performance and efficiency. Using the A/C Too Often - If you live in a mild climate area, you should consider rolling down your windows instead of relying on your climate control system.  Poor Driving Habits - If you love pressing hard on the gas and brake pedal driver, you m ... read more

Every car is prone to leak as it ages. One particular type of leak that can be very concerning is an oil leak because it can start major engine complications. The most obvious sign of an oil leak is a dark pool of oil below your car. In some cases, you might also smell the oil. The dilemma with oil leaks is that they can be harmful to the environment and hurt your engine. Since engine oil is in charge of lubricating your engine parts and minimizing friction, too low of engine oil can cause your engine parts to bump against each other. You might be wondering, "how does an oil leak happen in the first place?" Here's how! Scenario 1 - Damaged or Deteriorated Seals Your motor oil flows and makes contact with valves or seals. These parts can become worn over time or damaged, and they can make the oil trickle out. Scenario 2 - Cracked Oil Pan Your oil pan is situated close to the road surface, making it susceptible to damage. If you get into an accident, hit a bump or rubbl ... read more

As you can probably tell by the title of this blog, October is fall car care month! Most people only feel like they have to prepare their car for winter, but as we transition into fall, we'll have shorter days, fallen leaves, and increased possibilities of rain and fog. Not to mention, we're now entering the start of holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving that may require numerous road trips. There's no question that you're going to need your vehicle to be in tip-top shape for the fall season. Here are some essential maintenance tips to help you get ready for the seasonal changes. Check all vehicle fluids.  Engine oil, power steering, brake, transmission, windshield washer fluid, and antifreeze/coolant. Check all belts and hoses on your car, SUV, or truck for signs of wear and tear.  They should be free of cracks, brittleness, and fraying.  Test and clean your battery and replace it if necessary.  The connections should be clean, tight ... read more

Before we can discuss the various benefits of swapping out your old spark plugs for new ones, you should probably know what spark plugs do. Spark plugs are little metal pieces that allow the spark of electricity to ignite the combustion process needed to start your vehicle. Your spark plugs keep your car powered while providing a smooth and balanced air-fuel mixture by putting the engine's pistons to work. Because spark plug health is directly correlated to engine performance, you can imagine that you can't go anywhere without them, at least not efficiently.   If your spark plugs are due for a replacement, please do not neglect them. The primary benefit of getting this service is knowing your car will start without a hitch. Needless to say, that's not all that you can get out of a spark plug replacement. New and fresh spark plugs provide other advantages as well. Consistent production of optimal combustion. Fully functioning spark plugs will yield a fully functionin ... read more