Boulder Auto Repair

The price of gas in CO has got Boulder auto owners talking. It seems that Boulder folks who need a bigger vehicle to carry family and gear, or provide four wheel drive, are hit especially. That is why we thought it would be good to review some things that anyone can do to improve fuel economy. First let’s start with how we drive in the Eldorado Springs area. Boulder auto owners may not realize that they can really save money on gas by just changing a few driving habits. One of the biggest is jackrabbit starts – you know, flooring the gas as soon as the light turns green. That really wastes a lot of fuel. Building up your speed at a slower pace uses less fuel and is easier on your engine and drive train. And don’t drive with one foot on the brake. That’s also a drag on fuel economy, and it wears out your brakes faster too. Another thing Boulder drivers can do is drive slower – but only when it’s safe. Sometimes on th ... read more

Custom wheels are one way that Boulder folks express themselves and personalize their family car. But they aren’t as cheap and easy as sticking decals on your back window. There are several critical factors need to be considered, including cost, the fit of the wheel, modifications that will have to be made to the family car, how the new wheels and tires will affect the operation of the vehicle, your driving habits, and, of course, the style of the wheels. Most Boulder motorists start with the last factor: the style of the wheels. But that should be the last thing we choose. When considering custom wheels, you should first carefully consider your budget. Some wheels may require costly adjustments to your family car suspension system, brakes, or traction systems. You need to know what you can afford before you start shopping in Eldorado Springs or get your heart set on a particular type of wheel. There are t ... read more

Did you know that most of the cars driving around Boulder, CO carry more computer power than the Apollo 121 Lunar Module that landed on the moon in 1969? New cars sold in the Eldorado Springs area have as many as twelve networked computers and over five miles (eight kilometers) of wiring. In fact, for the last decade or so, auto computers have been controlling about 85 percent of your vehicle’s functions. Cars have sensors for manifold air temperature, coolant temperature, manifold air pressure, airflow, throttle position, vehicle speed and oxygen content. All of this electronic wizardry is pretty complicated. So how do Boulder drivers know when there is a problem? It’s simple; the Check Engine light comes on. The computer monitors all the sensors and uses that information to decide what to adjust such as the fuel mix, spark timing and idle speed. In addition, the computer monitors its own circuits. When it finds a fault, it turns on the Che ... read more

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Boulder motorists, family car auto makers publish two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Boulder motorists follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:Are most of your trips less than four miles around Boulder? Are most of your trips less than 10 miles in below-zero CO temps? Are most of your trips off-highway in CO? Do you drive often in dusty Eldorado Springs areas? Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Boulder? Do you drive in very hot or very cold CO weather? Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Boulder freeway on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute to Eldorado Springs or Lafayette? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Boulder surface streets?Let’s suppose your owner’s manual says the ... read more

Most Eldorado Springs car owners know that tires wear out and that the wear has to do with tread depth. Most of us have heard that “bald” tires are dangerous, but most of us picture a tire with no tread at all when we think of a bald tire. And when we take our vehicles in for preventive maintenance, the technician tells us they’re need to be replaced long before all the tread is worn off. Just how much tire tread wear is too much? And how can you tell? Tires are expensive and their condition is important to the safe handling of a vehicle, so it’s essential for Eldorado Springs motorists to know the answers to these questions. First of all, it’s essential to understand that there may be a legal limit to tread wear. If your tires are worn past this limit, you have to replace them to be in compliance with CO auto safety laws. That’s why measuring your tread wear is part of a vehicle safety inspection. In some jurisdiction ... read more