Grand Rapids Auto Repair

A timing belt is similar to an engine belt, with the only difference being that the former has teeth. Before the existence of timing belts, timing chains, which can be compared to bicycle chains, were employed to connect the crankshaft with camshaft gears. The crankshaft and camshaft must operate perfectly during the four-stroke combustion cycle (exhaust, power, compression, and intake). Car engines using a timing belt can either be non-interference or interference engines. Timing belts generate less noise than metal timing chains and have steel or strong fibers running their length. They are also molded from neoprene or rubber. Like any other part in your vehicle, a timing belt might serve you for long, but it does not last forever. If you are unsure about how often you need to replace your timing belt, keep reading, and you will find out. The question of how often you need to replace your timing belt does not have a straightforward answer. We recommend that you begin by reading yo ... read more

You may be wondering why your car vibrates when you apply the brakes. There are different reasons for this. Find out what they are and how to fix them. Your Brake Rotors May Be Warped or Uneven Warped rotors will cause a pulsation in the pedal leading to discoloration of the pads on top of them. If this happens, it's best to take your car into an automotive repair shop for an inspection before any further steps toward replacing or repairing them. In most cases, unevenness causes a slight vibration only when braking at high speeds. However, too much unevenness can wear out pads faster than normal because there is surface area touching them at once. Heat Is a Big Problem Heat can affect the performance of your brakes in different ways: It can melt rubber hoses and seals, causing leakage. If your car is experiencing vibration when you brake, high temperatures may be the cause. Glazed Brake Pads If you have glazed brake pads, it means the surface of your brake pad has hardened d ... read more

A broken AC blowing warm air is sure not a problem in the winter time however in the summer we need the opposite. If you've ever wondered why your AC was blowing warm air then read on! Your AC blowing warm air could be a result of any of the following: Malfunctioning condenser Non-functioning compressor leaking refrigerant Malfunctioning electrical system Malfunctioning condenser The role/function of the condenser in an AC is to cool down the refrigerant so that it can continue to absorb the heat and humidity that the AC pulls. A broken or malfunctioning condenser means a breakdown in the entire functioning of the AC. In turn the AC will begin to blow out hot air. Non-functioning compressor As the main part of an AC, the compressor circulates the refrigerant through the entire AC system. If the compressor fails to carry out its function, the antifreeze fails to reach the condenser and thus it remains hot. You tend to notice compressor breakdowns after prolonged periods of n ... read more

When buying a car, does it matter if it's the right timing? The timing does matter because it can influence the price of the vehicle that you want. When you know what car you know in advance, you can follow these tips to ensure that you're getting the best value possible. End of the Month & End of the Year Dealership needs to meet a quota every month and often offer incentives for you to buy a car. There can be regional incentives too, depending on where you live. You'll want to visit the dealership towards the end of the month so that you can negotiate the price and reap in the incentives. The same applies to the end of the year and quarter. Dealerships are looking to get rid of the older models to make room for the newer ones. This means it'll be priced lower and there are usually a bunch of incentives buying it around this time. Weekdays are a good time too Dealers are not as busy during the week, so they can work with you one on one to find a car that suits ... read more

Your car contains many fluids, transmission fluid being a crucial one. This fluid aids in lubrication to keep your vehicle operating smoothly and efficiently. Therefore, regularly changing the transmission fluid is recommended to maintain a healthy car. Continue reading to know the recommended intervals to change your transmission fluid. How Repeatedly Do I Require to Change The Transmission Fluid? The frequency depends on the type of your car and transmission. Additionally, how you use your vehicle and where you drive it will determine how often you need to change your transmission fluid. However, according to most manufacturers, you need to change your fluid every 30,000-60,000 miles for manual cars. And every 50,000-100,000 miles for automatic vehicles. Many mechanics advise against waiting for the 100,000-mile mark. Therefore, it's best to change every 50,000 miles for automatic cars. And depending on how intense you use your vehicle, manual transmissions r ... read more