Boulder Auto Repair

For most of us, it is hard to remember life without power steering – cranking those great big steering wheels was quite the workout.  Now with Power Steering standard in all vehicles, we have to go to the gym to tone our arms. The heart of any power steering system is its pump. The pump pressurizes the power steering fluid that provides assist for steering. Most pumps are driven by a belt that is run by the engine – a few are electrically powered. A high-pressure hose passes fluid from the pump to the steering gear. A low pressure hose returns the fluid back to the pump. These hoses can develop leaks, so it is a good idea to inspect them at every oil change. Low or dirty Power Steering Fluid can damage the power steering pump. That is why a fluid level & inspection is always part always part of every oil change service we perform at John’s Auto Care. The fluid cleans, cools and ... read more

Every Boulder car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told that their engine air filter’s dirty. Here’s what goes into the determination of when to change the filter: First, your family car owner’s manual will have a recommendation of when to change the filter. Second, a visual inspection by your Eldorado Springs technician may determine that your filter it is visibly dirty and needs to be changed.Now, most air filters purchased in Lafayette, Louisville, or Boulder don’t cost a lot to replace. It’s just that CO people hate getting caught with an unexpected expense. On the plus side, though, changing a dirty air filter at John’s Auto Care can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change in Eldorado Springs. Think about a dirty furnace filter in your Lou ... read more

The push for fuel economy has two benefits: using less gas, and fewer emissions. Boulder cars and trucks run cleaner than ever. Boulder people may not realize that the first federally mandated pollution control device came out almost fifty years ago. Boulder folks that were around in the early 60’s may remember that the PCV valve came out on 1964 model cars. PCV stand for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. The crankshaft is connected to the pistons that power the engine. When fuel is burned in the family car engine, it pushes the pistons down and the crankshaft rotates and sends power to the transmission. Some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase. Now this gas is about 70% unburned fuel. If it were allowed ... read more

Whenever we talk about exhaust service, most people normally think about exhaust pipes and mufflers. Well, actually, exhaust service is a lot more comprehensive these days. For example, catalytic converters were mandated in 1976 and on-board emission control computers in 1990. Governmental emissions requirements have forced manufacturers to come up with much more sophisticated ways to comply with environmental regulations. Exhaust service has really become exhaust and emissions service. High-tech computer controlled emissions devices are now a big part of exhaust service. Because it is so sophisticated, your vehicle manufacturer recommends you have your emission system checked out by a qualified Boulder exhaust technician regularly to make sure everything is working right – usually every 6 months or 10,000 miles/16,000 kilometers. If your Check Engine light comes on, especially if it’s flashing, get your car looked at right away. Technicians ... read more

Richard Petty once told AutoNetTV, “You’ve gotta have good brakes. If you’ve got good brakes you can keep yourself out of a lotta trouble.” That’s why a regular brake inspection is on every Boulder car’s maintenance schedule. An inspection at John’s Auto Care will check your brake system and let you know if there are any problems. Of course, if you’re having trouble with your brakes, get your car into John’s Auto Care right away. Here are some symptoms to watch for:If you are experiencing any of these, it’s time to get your brakes checked. There are two types of brakes: disc and drum. Disc brakes have a rotor that’s attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle. Drum brakes are more common on back wheels. Both types have pads or shoes that press against the brakes and slow ... read more