Boulder Auto Repair

Today we’re going to be talking about serpentine belts for our Boulder, CO customers. Let’s start by talking about the accessories that are driven by the serpentine belt. First is the alternator. That’s the vital device that makes electricity to power the family car and recharge the battery. Then there’s the air conditioning compressor that makes cool air for you while you’re driving around CO in the summer. The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in most Boulder auto owners’ vehicles. Those pumps provide critical pressure that assists your steering and braking. In many family cars, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt. The water pump is what circulates the coolant that protects your engine. In some cars around Boulder, CO, the water pump is driven by the timing belt. The radiator cooling fans on some family cars are also driven by the serpentine belt. S ... read more

A lot of us Boulder drivers like our vehicles to reflect our personalities. We’re picky about color and body style. We’ll customize anything from floor mats to window tints to license plates. One popular way for CO auto owners to customize a vehicle is to get new wheels. Wheels come in thousands of designs. Custom wheels can add personality, style or sass to a vehicle. Many of these customizations involve getting a bigger wheel. Fifteen or sixteen-inch wheels used to be the factory standard, But today, because a lot of Boulder drivers like the look of larger wheels, many vehicles are available with seventeen or eighteen-inch wheels. Optional wheel packages of twenty inches or more are also available in Boulder. If you want to upsize the wheels on your current vehicle, however, you should know it’s not a do-it-yourself project. There are essential factors involved in ensuring your wheel change doesn’t jeopardize the safety of your v ... read more

Diesel engines have been used extensively in Europe and Asia for many years. They haven’t been as common in Eldorado Springs because of the high sulfur content in our diesel fuel. But the government is now mandating lower sulfur content and, as a result, we are going to see more Boulder car owners driving diesel-fueled vehicles on the road, especially in passenger cars and SUV’s. Diesels are popular in Boulder because they get better fuel efficiency than gas-powered engines. They also last longer. Modern diesel engines are quiet and powerful. And if you associate diesel engines with black smoke, then you’re not up with the times. That smoke is a thing of the past. Diesels don’t produce any more pollutants than gasoline engines. The pollution standards for diesel-powered vehicles are as strict in CO as for other vehicles. Also, diesel engines can run on bio-diesel fuels as well as fossil fuels ... read more

Today at John’s Auto Care we want to talk with you about a very important safety issue. This automotive safety warning is coming from a very unusual source: fire fighting experts. You’ve probably heard of E-85 gasoline being offered in the Eldorado Springs area. Some newer vehicle models are specifically built to run on E-85 – the rest are not.E-85 gasoline has been developed to fight air pollution and reduce oil consumption. E-85 fuel is a mix of 85% ethanol, a grain-base alcohol, and 15% gasoline. So-called Flex-Fuel vehicles are designed to use either normal gasoline or E-85 gas. The result is lower harmful exhaust emissions to our local Eldorado Springs community. All gas engines can run with up to 10% ethanol and in fact a lot of gasoline sold in the Boulder, CO area does contain some ethanol. The problem comes when well meaning car owners without Flex Fuel cer ... read more

When it comes to preventive maintenance and car care, most Boulder motorists know how critical it is to check their brakes. But brakes are more than just brake pads and shoes. There are a lot of components in the brake system, and they all need to be in good working order. The pads and shoes are known as the friction materials in the brake system. They push together, providing friction, which stops the vehicle. It’s no wonder they have to be checked regularly for wear, and that brake pads and shoes need to be replaced periodically. Brake pads/shoes gradually wear out, but that doesn’t mean your braking gradually becomes less effective. The pads are engineered so that they maintain good braking until they wear too thin to provide adequate friction. At this point, they need to be replaced. But your braking system also has mechanical parts. These pistons and springs can also gradually wear out or get gummed up by oil, dirt and other road spatt ... read more