Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Emission System

What Is It?

Your car's emission system keeps the engine running cleanly and efficiently in all sorts of operating conditions.  If your car's engine isn't performing up to par or the "Check Engine" light goes on, have it inspected immediately.  Failure to do so can reduce your mileage per gallon of fuel or cause your vehicle to pollute.

What Does It Do?

Your car's emission system controls the emissions, exhaust and pollutants using an array of sensors, computerized engine controls and the exhaust components.  The emission system substantially reduces harmful gases such a carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and prevents harmful gasoline vapors from escaping at the fuel tank.

Typical Wear and Tear

Some factors affecting the emission system include:

  • Driving and atmospheric conditions
  • Mileage
  • Vehicle age
  • Type of spark plug electrode material
  • Maintenance history
  • Poor spark
  • Bad fuel
  • Damaged or worn sensors
Are You Aware?

Good fuel economy, performance and low emissions are all interrelated for an efficiently-operating engine.

If you have any questions regarding your vehicle's emission system please call (530) 621-4591, we are here to answer all questions and educate you regarding your vehicle.

Visit our website www.theautoanalyst.com to view training videos.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Brake System

Brakes are a normal wear item for any car and eventually they're going to need replacement.  Avoid letting your brakes get to the "metal-to-metal" point, which usually means accelerating expensive rotor or drum replacement.

Several factors that affect wear include:

  • Driving habits
  • Operating conditions
  • Vehicle type
  • The quality of brake lining material
What does the brake system do?

When you push the brake pedal, the force generates hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder.  This pressure flows through the hydraulic lines and hoses to the wheel cylinders and calipers, forcing the shoes against the drums (drum brakes) and the pads against the rotors (disc brakes).  The resulting friction slows the vehicle and is relative to the amount of force applied at the brake pedal.  To view a video on brakes please visit our website www.theautoanalyst.com and the videos are on under the "About Us" column.

If you have not had the brakes inspected on your vehicle in the last 12 months, call today for an appointment (530) 621-4591.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Belts and Hoses

Your car's belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems, and the engine. don't take these routine replacement intervals for granted because they can bread down and leave you stranded.

The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft mechanically synchronized to maintain engine timing. Whether serpentine, V-belt or fan belt (the belts on the outside of the engine), they all transmit power from the front of the engine to accessories that need to be driven, such as the air conditioning, the charging system and fans.  radiator and heater hoses carry coolant to and from the engine, radiator and heater core.

Are You Aware?

The chances of a drive belt failure rise dramatically after four years or 36,000 miles for V-belts and 50,000 miles for serpentine belts.

Visit our website www.theautoanalyst.com to learn more about belts or call (530) 621-4591 we are here to answer any questions you may have.

Friday, August 8, 2014

CARING FOR YOUR CAR - Appearance

Appearance - Keeping a vehicle looking brand new is tough, even with today's long-lasting finishes.  Dents, dings, cracked glass and dirty upholstery are several items that age the appearance of a vehicle.  Fortunately, technology and advances in vehicle protectants have helped rectify these problems, making the fixes quicker and less expensive.

Why Do I Need This Service?

Caring for your car's appearance help you protect your investment.  Appearance problems left unattended, like breaks in glass or body damage, can lead to larger safety-related problems and more expensive repairs.

Are You Aware?

Frequent washing and polishing is the best way to protect your car's finish from the damaging effects of acid rain.

If you have any questions regarding this topic or any other topic please give us a call at (530) 621-4591 or visit our website www.theautoanalyst.com