Engine Troubleshooting – Diagnosing Car Engine Problems

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Engine problems can be very irritating, but you don’t have to be at a loss if your vehicle breaks down on you. A quick and simple diagnosis may be all you need to get back on the road.

What to do if your engine doesn’t start.

First check the gas and make sure you have enough to start the car.
If there is gas then listen to the sound that is made when you try to start the car. If there is no noise. It may be electrical. Check your battery and wiring. If the lights dim when you try to start the car, you may need a new battery.

If the car just makes noise and doesn’t start then it could be your starter. If the engine starts, but then stops it could be a vacuum hose leak, or at the air valve or the fuel pressure regulator. If you own a classic with a carbonator it could be the choke.

Engine Overheats quickly?  The easy thing to do is to make sure your engine coolant is refilled to a proper level. You may need professional assistance  to check and adjust the ignition timing as it can be set wrong or to check if there are any mechanical problem in the engine.

Backfiring engines? Check for a broken or a burnt valve. A broken camshaft can also be a problem and should be repaired to avoid serious engine issues.

No increase in the car’s speed or acceleration.  You might need to replace the air filters or there may be water in the gasoline. Also check if your catalytic converter is choked.

Remember that diagnosing your car’s problem early will prevent severe failures and will increase the life of the engine.

Of course we are always available to help you, so feel free to call with any questions.

 

Car Repair Advice: What To Do With A Broke Down Car

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car repair

Photo from: Eric Peters Autos

Having a car is great. In Southern CA it can be hard to imagine life without one. That is why it can be specially troubling if it breaks down and you don’t have any idea how to repair it.  So let’s talk about the basics of simple auto-maintenance. This will keep your car running longer and with less problems.

Plus I will give you some tips that can help you if there is an emergency. That way you can be prepared just in case you ever breakdown on the road.

  • Bring a good battery charger with you wherever you drive so when your battery shut down, you can simply charge it.
  •  When you take your car to a shop ask as many questions as you can so you will know what caused your problem and what will help you avoid the same issue again in the future.
  • The life of your engine is in the oil, so make sure you change the oil regularly according to your manufacturers instructions.
  • Check your ties and rotate then so that they wear evenly. This will help them last longer and keep you from getting a flat.
  • Keep a record of all your previous repairs. It will help your mechanic to easily determine what might have caused any problems. Plus it helps keep your resale value higher.

Check out the full information and tips here

 

BMW Releasing Its First Electric Car On July 29

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Have you heard about the upcoming release of the 2014 BMW i3 electric car.  The i3 is first official mass-production electric car by BMW.

The car’s official date of unveiling is on July 29th. Here are some of its characteristics.

  • It’s roughly subcompact-sized and uses a rear-mounted electric motor to power the rear wheels
  • The styling is squat, upright and expected to be fairly futuristic.
  • Inside, the i3 will be fairly minimalist, and should be one of the greatest departures yet by an electric car from the more traditional layouts.
  • With a quoted 0-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds it’ll be among the quickest electric vehicles when it goes on sale.
  • BMW says battery range is 139 miles on the European test procedure, or between 80 and 100 miles real world.

Its estimated price, it’s somewhere in $42,000-$46,000. Stay tuned for a reveal of the i3 later this month!

Check out the full article here: www.autoweek.com

Mercedes-Benz Releases CLA 45 AMG Edition 1

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Presented as One of the world’s mightiest four-cylinder engines, Mercedes-Benz, has finally unveiled their CLA 45 AMG Edition 1. Though this vehicle has the same specs as the previously introduced model, it has more luxury, style and power for the true automotive enthusiast.

Here are some interesting updates for CLA 45 AMD Edition 1 Exterior

  • Graphite Gray side stripes
  • Gloss Black rear spoiler
  • Red accents on the grille, mirrors and wheels
  • 19 inches alloy wheels

Interior features:

  • ARTICO/DINAMICA sport seats
  • Leather/DINAMICA-wrapped steering wheel
  • Red contrast stitching
  • ARTICO-wrapped dashboard
  • Special AMG floor mats

The Mercedes-Benz website features these key highlights:

  • Hand-built AMG 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine
  • 355 horsepower, 332 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds***
  • New, fully-variable performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system
  • AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT (Dual-Clutch Technology) 7-speed sports transmission with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles
  • AMG speed-sensitive sports steering
  • AMG sport suspension with independent front and rear axles
  • AMG high-performance braking system
  • AMG sports exhaust system

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 is considered to be the best compact cars produced by the German vehicle manufacturer, and expectations are high for this vehicle.

You can check the original article at their website

Top 5 Safety and Fuel-Saving Features for Cars in Future

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Safety and fuel saving are two of the most important things to consider when buying a car.

Since the car-makers make their cars more hi-tech each year, we will look at 5 new safety and fuel saving features coming up.

Mercedes BenzCollision warning with automatic braking:  Collision warning works on radar and camera systems warn the driver of a front-end crash with beeping sounds. Along with automatic braking, the safety system can stop the vehicle or slow it down. It helps cars to keep a good distance from vehicles in front of them.

Advanced Cameras: Expect more car companies to add cameras that can detect animals or read wrong-way road signs or even notice traffic lights by 2015. And the next wave of automobiles? By 2016, auto-makers are likely to come out with systems that would automatically steer away the car from an obstacle.

Lane Centering: Lane-centering is a product of lane-keeping systems, which first appeared on commercial trucks a decade ago. Those systems either make a beep sound or vibrate the driver’s seat if the camera senses that a car is swerving out of its lane.

Adaptive Headlights: Adaptive headlights help a driver while turning. These headlights swivel in the direction the car is going to. Moreover, many cars have high-beam lights that dim automatically and sense oncoming traffic.

Stop-start: This device shuts off the engine at the traffic light and automatically starts the engine when the driver releases the brake. Nearly all gas-electric hybrid vehicles have it.

Read the original article at International Business Time