Boulder Auto Repair

As we hit the warmer months, the perfect time approaches to pack the car and venture out, whether just for the day, or for that long-anticipated road trip. You look forward to carefree days: packed full of your favorite things to do, an escape from the grind at work, and the smell of sunscreen in the morning. When prepping your car, you want to assure it does not become an interruption to your plans. The warmer months are hard on cars. Winter has passed; temperature changes alone have placed stress on moving parts. Over winter, cold temperatures have temporarily thickened your fluids, placing more stress on your engine. Going into spring and summer, your car will meet heat, dust, increased driving, and crawling in heavier traffic to your destinations. Here are a few tips: 1) Have your A/C inspected. Ensure it will work continuously through the hot months. 2) Make sure your tires are properly inflated, rotated, and aligned. You will want to ensure ... read more

So, you’ve finally done it. You’ve picked your destination, planned your route, and all your friends are with you. You’re ready to pile into the car, and get out on the open road. But before you go, are you sure that your trusty steed is ready to make the journey there and back again? Your Pre-Road Trip Auto Care Checklist Item #1: Tires Tires are one of those things we never think about, until it’s nearly too late. If you’re going on a road trip, though, they’re the first thing you should check. Look at the tread, check the pressure, and while you’re at it, make sure your spare tire is up to snuff as well. You don’t want to get a flat, and then find out your spare won’t help. Item #2: Fluids It’s more than just your oil, though you should make sure you get a change if you’re close to the mileage marker. You also need to check your coolant, your brake fluid, your transmission f ... read more

You’ve certainly heard of preparing your car for the winter months — also called winterizing — but did you know that you also need to prepare your car for the warmer, summer months? This process is called “summerizing,” and no less of an authority than the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence recommends that you do this to your car! Prepping your car for warmer months is essential. The following, then, is a list of tips, tricks, and best practices to prepare your car for the upcoming summer weather: Make sure that your car’s cooling system is up to par. It’s not just a question of keeping you air conditioned in the sweltering summer heat — it’s a question of keeping your engine cool, and preventing it from overheating, in the sweltering summer heat.To that end, then, make sure that your mechanic c ... read more

You’re looking to travel the open road again and make some new memories. But you aren’t sure if your car is up for the task.  It’s been pulling to one side on straight, level roads, and your steering wheel is vibrating when you hit 50 mph.  It’s obvious something isn’t right with your car, but what could the problem be?  A trained auto mechanic can tell you right away that your car most likely needs a wheel alignment and balancing.  But what is the difference? Wheel balancing is a service that is performed more often than a wheel alignment.  When a car’s wheel gets off-balance and one part of the wheel is heavier than another part–even if that difference is only one ounce–it will cause vibrating.  Typically wheels in the front cause vibrations in the steering wheel and wheels in the back will cause vibrations in the seat. Unbalanced wheels will cause the tires to wear unevenly, eventually ... read more

While we often think to switch to snow tires during the winter, there are also advantages of using summer tires for car travel. This is particularly important if you are going on a road trip and are unfamiliar with the climates you will be driving through. Summer-performance tires are not made for use on snow and ice. They are designed to handle driving on slick, wet surfaces as well as dry ones. Tire designers balance these safety qualities with a smooth ride and noise reduction. What differentiates summer tires from snow and all season tires is grip. Compound, or the rubber that makes up treads, is what determines traction. A soft, sticky compound grips both dry and wet roads better. Summer tires loose this flexibility in the cold. The pattern itself, or the grooves in the tire, is what helps prevent hydroplaning. Shallow water can cause your car to loose contact with the road surface, resulting in a loss of control. The grooves on summer tires allow water to flow through them mor ... read more