Los Altos Auto Repair

Hi Duke here today.  Today it is about POWER!  We all love power, and when it comes to your vehicle, the engine is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a power plant.  But it has another power source that is vital as well: the alternator.

The alternator generates the electricity that powers your lights, power windows, sound system, and navigation.  Maybe you've started seeing those electrical components behaving in strange ways.  Maybe your power windows are going up and down a little bit more slowly than they used to.  Or perhaps your engine doesn't start as easily or is misfiring.  

Other signs of a failing alternator are headlights that are either brighter or dimmer than usual.  If your battery keeps going dead, it could be that the alternator isn't recharging it.  

The alternator has to get its power from somewhere, and in vehicles with internal combustion engines, that power comes from a drive belt powered by the engine.  Sometimes that belt can fail.  If you hear a whining sound, it could mean the alternator bearings aren't turning as freely as they used to. You could even notice a burning smell.  Oh, and when you see your battery light illuminated on your dashboard (it looks like a rectangle with a - and + inside), it may be warning you that your alternator is not healthy.

Bring your vehicle in to us for a diagnosis if you notice any of these symptoms.  If your alternator is bad, we can recommend a new or remanufactured one to replace it.  Some new alternators are warranted for life and remanufactured units usually are guaranteed as well.  

It's important to your vehicle's health to have its alternator consistently output the right amount of power.  It may not be as well-known as the other power plant under the hood, but it's a vital part of helping your vehicle run the way it is designed to.  

I leave you with a powerful joke,

Did you hear what the foolish gardener did? The guy planted a light bulb and thought he’d get a power plant.

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
alliedautoworks.com

Brandy here today, and as a dog, I love the breeze in my face when riding down the road, even on a warm day.  For humans, maybe not so much.  So today we will talk about AC Condenser Replacement.  How cool is that?  Let's get barkin'!

It’s always more comfortable in your vehicle when you can control the temperature and humidity in the cabin. Air conditioning, which is standard on most newer vehicles, is a vital part of that comfort, and a key component of that system is the condenser.

The condenser converts the refrigerant gas into a liquid by cooling it down.  There are a few reasons the condenser can fail.  It can start leaking, usually due to faulty seals and tubes, or debris from the road can damage it, since it sits in a vulnerable spot at the front of your vehicle.  

Another way your condenser can be damaged is when bits of metal are released after your vehicle’s air conditioning compressor fails and are sent into the condenser. In both cases, you will need to have the condenser replaced, along with other components of the system.

Here are signs that your condenser needs replacing.  When you turn on your air conditioning, it won’t make the air as cold as you’re used to it getting.  Or it may not get cold at all. Since other things can cause those symptoms, it’s best to bring your vehicle in to us to have one of our technicians determine where the problems are.

They’ll check the system’s pressure and thoroughly inspect for leaks.  If the problem is the condenser, they’ll replace it, recharge the refrigerant, check for any additional leaks in the system, and give your air conditioning a final test to make sure it’s operating correctly.  

Keeping your air conditioning system working helps maintain your vehicle's value.  It not only keeps the cabin cool when it’s hot outside, but also helps the defroster work properly and controls humidity in all seasons and climates.  Now, that’s very cool.

Stay cool as a cucumber ~ proverb

Brandy

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
alliedautoworks.com

Cayenne here today on this warm Spring day.  Did you know that a dog's eyesight is perfectly adapted for hunting and navigation in low-light, dawn, or dusk conditions?  The fact is, dogs have a high number of rods and a reflective membrane called the tapetum lucidum, allowing them to see much better in the dark than humans.  When you drive your car at night, you need some help, and that is where headlights come in.  So today we brighten things up and talk about bulb replacement.  Let's get barkin'!

When you notice one of your headlights has gone out, it’s important for the safe operation of your vehicle to get it changed and working again.  Not only is replacing a headlight important for your ability to see in the dark, but it’s also vital that it be lighting your way and aimed correctly so oncoming drivers aren’t blinded.  

Changing a headlight used to be something a driver might try to do themselves.  But that was back when headlights were standard sizes and fairly easy to access on your vehicle.  That has all changed with new technology and designs in today’s vehicles.  Most lamps are now LEDs, and they come in different sizes, intensities, and shapes across different vehicles. Accessing those bulbs has also grown extremely difficult in some cases, and we recommend you have one of our professional technicians do it for you.

It's just as important that your brake lights and side marker lights work, too, as they contribute to the safe operation and visibility of your vehicle.  A technician will check what is causing a light not to illuminate, which could be a bulb or a problem with the electrical system in that bulb’s circuit.

Having all your lights working is not only a matter of convenience but also a matter of safety.  So don’t be in the dark when you don’t have to be. Let our technicians light up your life a little by making sure all your bulbs are working right.

Here is my joke for the week,

Why did the Dalmatian go to the eye doctor? He kept seeing spots!

Cayenne

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
alliedautoworks.com

Hey it's Duke today and I have a sticky situation.....my parking brake.  We've all been there.  You park your vehicle on a steeper-than-usual hill and worry it might roll down while you're running your errands.  So you decide you'll use the parking brake.  When you get back, you release the parking brake, hit the ignition, put it in gear and—uh, oh—you can feel the parking brake is still on.  It's stuck.  What do you do now?

Welcome to the world of infrequently-used parking brakes.  Yes, they do stick for several reasons. It's common for components to corrode and get locked up.  Sometimes, if you have applied it extra hard, it can jam.  It could be a rusty cable, or it could be a spring that doesn't return the brake to its disengaged position.  Some pieces just break when they're stressed for the first time in a while. A caliper or the pivot arm it's on can also stick.

There are a few things you can try to unstick it.  Carefully rock your vehicle by putting it first in drive and then reverse.  You have to be careful doing that, though, because sometimes you can damage the transmission.  You can try working the parking brake control a few times to see if that will loosen the corrosion.  If you can't unstick it, you can try driving slowly a short distance to a repair facility near you.  Sometimes it won't cause damage to the brakes but it depends on how tightly the parking brake was applied and what was stuck.  You may also have to have your vehicle towed to a repair facility.

In any case, once you've noticed these symptoms, have your vehicle's brakes inspected by a professional who can address the root cause.  Better yet, don't let your vehicle get into this condition; regular maintenance and inspections by a trained technician should prevent you from getting stuck somewhere due to a stuck parking brake.  You could use a "brake" like that.

I leave you with my sticky joke for the week,

"Why are millionaires sticky?  Because they are rolling in dough."

Duke

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
alliedautoworks.com

I love 4x4 vehicles; in fact, my owner owns a Jeep, and I get to ride in it because I love the wind in my face.  Hi Brandy here, and well, today we will bark about maintaining our beloved 4x4 vehicles so we can take those open road trips with our furry friends.  Let's get barkin'!

Some people love 4x4 vehicles, the true 4-wheel drive works of engineering, like Jeeps and 4x4 pickups that allow you to seemingly go anywhere on the planet. You can climb up a 40-degree rock trail with some planning and skill (always careful to protect the environment, of course), or you can get through the deepest snow.

But with that added capability comes additional complexity, drive-train components, and other systems that less capable vehicles don't have.  And that is why when it comes to 4x4s, you have to maintain them a little differently from those vehicles that spend their lives on pavement.  Here are some of the key things to keep an eye on:

• Transfer case—This transfers power from the engine to the wheels.  A transfer case contains fluid that needs to be changed at intervals recommended by the manufacturer.  Your service advisor will let you know how often that is and will keep track of your service dates.  You will need to make sure the transfer case seal is working properly.  Otherwise, transmission fluid could get in and cause costly damage.  Some transfer cases have an electric motor that shifts them through gears, and their connections are often exposed to the elements, making them vulnerable to damage and corrosion.  Proper maintenance will keep those connections working as they should
• Front and rear differentials—These also need the right amount of fluid and should be checked regularly.  Your service advisor can let you know when you need that fluid changed, as the owner's manual recommends.  It's important that the service is performed correctly with the proper lubricant so it works the way it is designed.
• Brake lines—Those 4x4s practically beg to go into wet spots. They are also great machines to conquer snow: road salt, brine, and all.  Moisture, salt, and brake lines are a recipe for corrosion, so brake lines need to be inspected regularly.  There are anti-corrosion sprays or white lithium grease that can retard corrosion.  Remember, getting there is half the fun, but not being able to stop is no fun at all.

So enjoy your 4x4 and what it can do that other vehicles can't.  Just remember that even though it's tough on the outside, it needs special care to keep it going.  Oh, and remember to take care of the environment when you go off-roading, too. 

I leave you with this,

JEEP, because I'm too lazy to ride a mountain bike

Brandy