Grand Rapids Auto Repair

Air filters are designed to protect your engine from getting contaminated with dust and dirt. Over time, the air filters may become dirty, affecting the performance of your engine. It is best to know the signs of a dirty air filter to have it repaired before it results in profound issues. Here are some of the common signs of a dirty air filter. Slow Acceleration If your car feels sluggish and slow to accelerate, there is a chance that the engine is not getting enough air. A dirty or clogged air filter reduces air passing or flowing to the engine, resulting in slow acceleration. The best remedy is to replace the dirty air filters with new ones. Unusual Engine Noises If you have been using your vehicle for a while, you probably know which sounds are expected and which ones are not. Usually, an engine produces subtle vibrations when turned on. Unusual sounds such as a popping sound or excessive vibrations could indicate that the clogged air filters are damaging the spark plug. Exces ... read more

A coolant flush is critical to the life of your vehicle. Like an oil change or tire rotation, a coolant flush is vital to the smooth operation of your vehicle. Getting it done on a regular basis is vital to keeping your engine cool and running well. Good coolant should be able to keep your engine free of grime and debris as it cycles through. If it fails in its mission, getting it flushed is your best solution. Your coolant should get flushed at least once every 50,000 miles for normal driving. If you have done a lot of driving in severe weather conditions, getting it flushed once every 30,000 miles would greatly benefit the life of your engine. The first thing that happens during a coolant flush is that a mechanic will inspect your radiator and see if there is any sludge buildup or residue. They will check the hoses to see if there are any loose ones that need to be tightened up. If any of your hoses have holes in them, they will be addressed as well. In some cases, you may need to ... read more

Hydraulic power steering systems rely on fluid that is sent up into the steering chambers through a hydraulic pump. This is what keeps your power steering active and always ready to use, and when it goes out, professional attention is needed. A power steering flush is just the type of maintenance needed to make your driving experience a safe one. This type of routine work clears out the contaminants while replacing old fluid with new fluid. During the process, your mechanic works to clear out any residue that's left while using a special chemical to clean out any debris or grime that's been left behind by the old fluid. Once completed, you will reap many positive benefits while enjoying good, quality power steering at its finest. You'll know when it's time to go for a power steering flush. An initial sign is when you start cranking your wheel really hard just to make a simple turn. In fact, driving becomes a serious workout to the point where you seem to be putting fa ... read more

There has been a major uptick in stolen catalytic converter units from Prius vehicles, particularly in model years 2004-2009, but up to 2015 models have been targeted. The reason for these targeted thefts is the precious metals that the catalytic converter units are made of. What Is So Valuable In The Catalytic Converter The Toyota engineers specifically designed the catalytic converter on the Prius for reduced emissions, and it is done with the use of a precious metal called palladium. Palladium operates in the catalytic converter and takes harmful gasses and changes them into less toxic vapors. Due to the scrap and resale value of the catalytic converter, thieves are simply jacking the car up a few inches, then disconnecting the catalytic converter, and making off with it before the vehicle owner has time to call the authorities to intervene. In most cases, this theft takes less than three minutes to complete. The Cat Shield is specifically designed to bolt to the ... read more

Emergencies seem to occur right before or after payday when money is scarce. Oddly enough, this is the time when your check engine light will appear on your car's dashboard. The check engine light is associated with your car's diagnostic system and designed to illuminate when malfunctions arise. Here's what you need to know about your check engine light and how to determine if your car is safe to drive. How to Determine if Your Car is Safe to Drive While the Check Engine Light is On .Whether or not your car is safe to drive while the check engine light is on depends on why the light came on. Does the Problem Require Immediate Attention? Your car's dashboard can tell you a lot about what's going on with your car. In addition to the check engine light illuminating, other system lights might appear, such as an oil can and other lights. You might also notice a light that indicates your car is overheating, such as the transmission temperature light ... read more