AUTONET TV
Archive for July 2023Drivers that "T" Us Off (Bad Driving Practices)Posted July 30, 2023 11:14 AMWe've all seen drivers who do things that—let's be frank—really irritate us. They're inconsiderate, can put people in danger and make the road a much less friendly place. They really "T" us off. These are the bad drivers who fit their description to a "T."
Long Hill Auto Service Taking the Heat (Heater Hose Maintenance/Repair)Posted July 16, 2023 9:36 AMIf you have an internal combustion vehicle, you know it has a lot of hoses that carry various fluids. And if you have a heater in your vehicle, you'll have heater hoses. A heater hose connects to and from the engine so some coolant can be circulated through a little radiator called a heater core. In cold weather, that heater core acts as a heat exchanger to heat up your cabin. Even in the hot weather, the heater hoses can prove problematic. That's because they may remain pressurized even though you're not running your heater. Heater hoses are made out of tough materials since they must handle heat and pressure. But even the durable rubber, plastic and metal they are made out of can crack or leak from years of use. That means coolant can be sprayed out into the engine compartment or leak onto a driveway or garage floor. You may be able to see a puddle of coolant under your vehicle or perhaps smell the odor of the coolant under the hood. Some say it has a sweet smell. Another sign coolant may be leaking out of the heater hoses is your engine may be running hotter. You'll be able to tell by watching the heat gauge on your dash. Let's say your heat gauge usually points just slightly below halfway between the C and H (Cold and Hot) of the heat gauge. But now it is just slightly above. That's enough to tell you that the coolant temperature has gone up a little, a possible sign of trouble. This is a good time to swing by your service facility and have them take a look. If they catch the leak when it's small, it's a relatively simple matter of draining the coolant, replacing the hoses and replacing the coolant. Sometimes, though, a heater hose can suddenly burst and a lot of coolant can leak out quickly. That can, in turn, cause your engine to start to overheat. In that case, you may see your vehicle's temperature gauge shoot up pretty quickly. Then it's best to pull over and have your car towed to a repair facility since driving with no coolant can cause severe engine damage. Preventative maintenance is your best insurance against heater hose problems. A technician will periodically check for any signs of cracks or leaks. You should expect to replace a heater hose at least once during the time you own your vehicle. Long Hill Auto Service Got it Covered! (Timing Cover Maintenance)Posted July 9, 2023 11:15 AMYou may have heard at one time or another about something called a timing belt or timing chain in your engine. And you may know that if they fail… well, let's just say that there can be some major engine damage. So obviously, we want our timing belts and chains to be in tip-top shape. One part that helps keep them running the way they should is the timing cover. As you can probably guess, it's something that covers the belt or chain. The timing cover protects both belts and chains from dirt and road debris. Timing belts also need to be lubricated so their covers allow them to be lubricated as well. They have a gasket that insures a good seal for the engine. If that gasket breaks or develops a leak, then engine oil can escape, and loss of lubrication is never good for an engine component. Other symptoms of a failed timing cover are leaking coolant, a metallic sound coming from the front of your engine or your Check Engine light coming on. You might also notice a drop in power when you're going uphill. It's important that your timing cover be in good condition and functioning properly. Your repair facility will check out that part of your engine to make sure gaskets are in good shape and the cover is doing the job it's meant to do. Catch that leaking or broken timing cover in time and your engine will thank you for avoiding some serious damage and an expensive repair. Long Hill Auto Service The Daily Grind (Grinding Noise)Posted July 2, 2023 9:32 AMIf your vehicle makes a grinding sound when you turn the steering wheel, it's speaking to you. No, really, it is. So listen to what it's saying and you could avoid a much more costly repair down the road. A grinding sound coming from the front of your vehicle when you are turning can offer some very informative clues as to what's going on. One cause could be that there's a problem with the mechanical linkage that enables you to turn the wheels. Another is that the hydraulic system that makes turning the steering wheel easier may have its own problems. Think of it. Hydraulic power steering has many components that need to work in tandem. The power steering fluid may be too old and contaminated. Or its level may be low. That may be caused by a leak somewhere in the system. A technician can check things over to find out exactly what's happening. Other causes of grinding while turning can be problems with the suspension in the front. You may have a failing CV (constant velocity) joint. It could be your brakes are partially engaging while you are turning. That metal-on-metal sound is never a sign that things are working just the way they're supposed to. To a technician looking to pinpoint the problem with your vehicle, it's not a daily grind at all. Experience and training will help her or him zero in on what's causing the noise and get you back on the road. Maybe you can enjoy your sound system more after that distracting background noise has disappeared! Long Hill Auto Service | ||
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Reviews
The guys working there are super nice and friendly F. Ahmed, 10/19/2024 |
The staff here are great people. I would recommend checking them out before anyone else. Sebastian Mendoza, 10/02/2024 |
We were in town visiting family for a wedding celebration. I noticed vibration in the front end of our Honda Pilot, and at the advice of my brother (local resident), I asked if Bob could check it out Friday afternoon. Having a full schedule on Saturday, Bob slipped us into the schedule, made the repair, and got us on our way back to Florida. Great service/great communication/honest and friendly staff/fair pricing- strongly recommended! Barton Parker, 08/11/2024 |