281-354-8700 | 22321 E Martin Dr Suite B Porter, TX 77365
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Archive for January 2023Automotive Tips from Houston ADAS: Signs of an Alignment ProblemPosted January 29, 2023 12:06 PMWhen properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. Porter drivers often associate our wheels being “knocked” out of alignment with an event like an accident, hitting a pothole, curb or some other object. While these can certainly take your wheels out of alignment, the bumps and bounces of everyday Porter driving take their toll on wheel alignment as well. In addition, your vehicle can lose alignment over time with just normal driving. When your wheels are out of alignment, Houston ADAS in Porter can return your wheels to the vehicle manufacturer’s factory settings. Most owner's manuals suggest an alignment check every year or two. Give us a call.
Service Center Standard and ProceduresPosted January 22, 2023 9:40 AMAll TX pilots have checklists for every aspect of flying. They always use their checklists even if they only have two steps on them. They do this simply because a checklist is a great way to not forget steps. It is also how they can assure a predictable outcome. Let's say a customer has a cracked brake rotor. This is a dangerous condition that must be repaired. If the customer does not want to replace the rotor but instead just wants new brake pads installed, the shop must ethically refuse the partial repair. That can be an upsetting conversation, but understanding that Porter service centers operate under service standards and procedures is comforting. You want your service to be done right and to have confidence in your technician's recommendations. The TX automotive service industry and Houston ADAS want the best for you and for you to keep coming back. Houston ADAS
Don't Start with That (Bad Starter Motor)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMWe've all heard that expression, "That's a non starter." When it comes to your vehicle, that's not music to a driver's ears. That sickening sound when you start the ignition and instead of hearing the engine crank, you hear it slowly turn over and your dash lights go dim. There can be many reasons a vehicle won't start, so here's a little history of how the starter came to be an important component of modern vehicles. You have to move the engine's components to start it. The first cars had a crank that the driver would insert into the front, then start turning things over by hand. When the engine started, you had to release that crank immediately or risk a broken arm. Yes, it happened many times. So, they came up with a better idea: an electric starter, which was a big advance in automotive technology. With this system, an electric motor rotated a series of gears that turned the gasoline engine's crankshaft so its pistons and parts moved and the engine drew in air. While this happened, electricity went to the spark plugs and fuel headed to the cylinders. When the gasoline engine caught, the starter quickly disengaged. Hey, no more broken arms! Modern systems use the same principle, so when your vehicle won't start, here are a few things to look out for that might point to the starter. If the engine turns over s-l-o-w-l-y, it may mean the electric starter motor may just be wearing out and doesn't have enough cranking power. Bushings, brushes, wire windings and a special switch called a commutator may be going bad. If when you engage the ignition you hear a faint click, that could be a symptom one or more of the starter's components have failed. If you hear a loud click, it could mean that an electrical switch called a solenoid may not be switching the motor on. If you hear your engine start to turn over but then it stops and is followed by a grinding sound, some gears may not be meshing the way they should. There may be many more causes (bad alternator, relay, battery, engine, key fob), so this is when it's time to turn it over to your service facility. Sometimes they can send out their own tow truck or recommend a reputable towing company. But it's best not to let it get to this point. Starter problems often give you advance warning that there is a problem with "almost" not starting or "almost" not turning over. So when you see that very first sign, "start" on over to talk this one over with your service advisor. The opposite of a "non-starter" is a starter, and that is music to anyone's ears. Houston ADAS Serpentine Belt Service at Houston ADASPosted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMMost Porter folks occasionally have days when they've got a bunch of errands to run. Yesterday was my day off and I needed to fill the gas tank, pick up some groceries at my Porter market, swing by the ATM and get the kids from school. I could have made four trips . . . but that would have been totally inefficient. Instead I got unusually organized and planned my stops. I hit the ATM first and got gas next. Then I went to the supermarket and picked up the kids on the way home. I was proud of my wise use of time and money. Houston ADAS Too Hot to Handle (Vehicle Overheating)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMIn the hot weather, seeing steam coming from the engine compartment is something we all dread. No one wants that to happen to them. But if you know the signs of overheating and how to deal with it, you may be able to reduce the risk of damage to your vehicle, maybe even prevent getting stranded on the road. Besides the steam coming out of the engine compartment, here are a few signs of overheating. Your vehicle has a heat gauge that may have a needle that can go into a red zone or up to the "H" (for High) position. You may smell odors, perhaps a burning (could be hot oil) or a sweet smell (engine coolant leaking). When you encounter any of those signs, you know you have to do something to keep the engine as cool as possible to avoid potentially catastrophic damage. Turn off the air conditioning and turn up the heat. While that last part may sound odd, it helps draw heat out of the engine. If you can do it safely, pull off the road to a spot away from traffic. Turn off the engine so it can cool down for a few minutes. You may want to call for help at this point, then switch on the key to "accessory" position to see if the engine has cooled down to the normal range. You may have to have your car towed to a service facility or, if there's one nearby, you may be able to slowly drive to it. But keep your eye on the heat gauge and immediately stop if it starts to overheat again. The best hedge against engine overheating is regular maintenance. When the cooling system and other engine components are working like they should, your chances of an overheated engine are drastically reduced. Your service facility will keep their eyes open for leaking hoses, cracked belts, rusted pipes and other things so they don't fail at the most inopportune time. Houston ADAS The Third Brake Light (Third Brake Light Service)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMSo you thought you only had two brake lights. Look again and you'll see one in the center at a higher level than the two on either side of the vehicle. They're sometimes in the inside of the vehicle behind the back window, or they could be in the deck lid, on the roof or on the spare wheel carrier, But why is that third brake on your vehicle? Experts say it helps prevent rear end collisions. Tests done by installing the third brake light in taxis and fleet vehicles showed fewer rear end crashes in the ones that had the extra light. The third brake light was mandated in new passenger cars in 1986 in the US and Canada. The requirement was added to new light trucks and vans in 1994. Sometimes it's difficult to know if your third brake light is even working. Many vehicles have bulb warning systems that alert you to non-functional bulbs, but not all do. Your vehicle service facility will often check to see if all your turn signals, taillights and headlights are working during routine maintenance inspections, and they may notice that the third brake light is out. So, do you have to have it replaced? Not necessarily. Many areas only require one brake light to work in the rear of a vehicle. So even though new vehicles have to have the third brake light, you may not get a ticket if it eventually stops working. But you may be missing an opportunity to drive a safer vehicle if you don't get it fixed. In 1995, an insurance institute study found that 1986 model cars were involved in 5 percent fewer rear-end collisions from 1986-1991 than they would have expected without the extra light. Ask your service advisor for advice. Keep in mind that in these days of drivers distracted by everything from texting to putting on makeup while driving, you can reasonably conclude that anything that makes you more visible to the vehicle behind you adds one more—possibly life saving—safety margin.
Timing Belt Service to Save Big Bucks in PorterPosted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMYour engine is like a finely choreographed dance. All the parts have to work together. If the timing is off at the ballet, dancers crash into each other and fall down. It the timing is off in your engine, it may not run at all. One of the most intricate dances in your engine has to do with the combustion cycle. Call Houston ADAS at (281) 354-8700 for answers about your timing belt, or drop by our Porter, TX, service center on 22321 E Martin Dr Porter. It's critical that the values be timed to open and close at precisely the right time in the combustion cycle, or the engine will run poorly or not at all. Houston ADAS Free Money (Almost) (Fuel Saving Tips)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMYou spend a lot of money on a vehicle, probably the most money you'll spend on anything except a house. But the spending doesn't stop after you've bought it. It goes into things like insurance, repairs and fuel. One good piece of news is that you can cut down the amount you spend on fuel if you follow a few tips. Keep your speed under 50 mph/80 kph. Anything over that and your fuel economy will go down quickly the faster you go. Sure, you can legally drive faster than that, but practice this one tip and it can save you from 7%-14% on fuel. Use cruise control. The steady speed increases fuel economy by avoiding unnecessary braking and accelerating. If your vehicle is carrying unnecessary weight, unload it. If you can save 100 pounds/45 kilograms, it can save you 1% of your fuel. Don't idle. Let's say you're sitting in a parking lot with your engine running for 10 seconds. Any more and you're wasting fuel. Turn off your engine and start it when you have to get going. You may have noticed that many newer vehicles automatically turn the engine off when the vehicle stops. Avoid using a roof rack. A cargo box strapped on the top of your vehicle can reduce your fuel economy by 2%-8% in city driving, by 6%-17% on the highway and by 10%-25% at highway speeds over 65 mph/105 mph. Also, if you have roof rails on your vehicle with crossbars, you can save 1% of fuel simply by storing them somewhere else. Some vehicles like Chrysler's Pacifica minivan allow you to store the crossbars inside the roof rails to reduce drag. Keep tires at their recommended inflation. It can save you 3% of your fuel bill. Use the right motor oil for your vehicle. Using the wrong kind can cost you 1%-2% more money on fuel. Sure, many of those savings are small on their own. But add them up and you'd be surprised at how much you can save. Also, keep in mind that a well maintained vehicle will also save you fuel, so make regular maintenance trips to your vehicle service facility. Houston ADAS Sounds Like a Hot Rod (Noisy Exhaust System)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMDriving along, your exhaust system's rumbling so loud that people turn and stare at you pass by. You're wondering when the police are going to pull you over for illegal noise. Your mind immediately thinks, aha! A broken muffler. Well, your exhaust system is composed of many more parts than just a muffler. Your engine makes power because of thousands of tiny explosions from detonating fuel. Those explosions make a racket, so engineers came up with a system that acoustically dampens that sound in addition to getting rid of harmful exhaust. In the engine is the exhaust manifold that looks like several pipes that join up into one pipe. It directs exhaust to the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter converts harmful gases into less harmful gases using certain chemical reactions. Then comes the muffler that has baffles inside to quiet the sounds of your engine noise. Finally: the tailpipe. All of those pipes and parts are joined together by clamps and held up by brackets, and they ride over some pretty bumpy roads. They are also exposed to the elements, like salt, water, rocks and grit. Chances are that one of those clamps or brackets has been weakened by corrosion. When you hit a bump, bingo! The crack widens into a gap and there's a spot for the engine noise to come roaring out instead of being directed into the muffler's quieting chambers. You might be surprised to know that the exhaust system can rust from inside out. How? Moisture is one component of exhaust, and moisture on the inside can do the same kind of damage as moisture from the outside. It's a good idea to have your exhaust system looked at regularly by a technician. He or she can evaluate the condition of the metal and recommend when it might be time to replace parts before they break. Then you'll have a decision to make. Newer exhaust systems are made out of stainless steel that is much less prone to corrosion issues. Others are made of aluminized steel that also fights rust. You've probably already guessed that they can cost more, but the extra price up front may give you an exhaust system that will last much longer. Sure, with a repaired exhaust system, you won't have quite the head-turning vehicle you once had. You'll just have to live with all the quiet.
Diesel Maintenance for TXPosted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMAt Houston ADAS we hear from a lot of people who are excited about the new diesel engines that will soon be available in passenger cars and SUV's. But our TX friends are often curious about the preventive maintenance requirements. People may not know that diesel engines have long been used extensively in Europe and Asia. In fact, in some markets, there're nearly as many diesel powered passenger cars as there are gasoline. Houston ADAS Snake in the Engine (Serpentine Belt)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMThere's a belt that snakes through your engine. It's even named for a snake, the serpentine belt. It'll bite you when it breaks, possibly leaving you stranded. So, it's good to know a little about this snake-like belt. In early engines, there were lots of belts. They were used to convert the rotating power of the engine to turn a mechanical part. But engineers had an idea. Why not consolidate all those belts into one that ran a bunch of different parts simultaneously? Voila! The serpentine belt. It's found in the front or side of your engine unlike older belts which were often in a V shape, the serpentine belt has ribs on it which more effectively connect with the pulleys that power the other components. A serpentine belt may power the water pump, power steering pump, alternator, and the air conditioning: all from one crankshaft. Now, all that's fine when everything is working well and the belt is intact. But when a serpentine belt wears, gets loose, or breaks, it can affect many engine components at once. Not an ideal situation. If you hear squeals coming from the engine compartment, see a battery light, or the engine overheats, those could be signs that your serpentine belt needs replacing. The good news is that they usually last a long time, from 60,000-100,000 miles or 100,000-160,000 km. Still, they don't last forever, and your vehicle's manufacturer usually recommends replacing them when they've gone close to the expected maximum. It’s also recommended that you replace the pulleys and belt tensioner at the same time as they have the same service life. Regular maintenance and inspection of the serpentine belt is not only a good idea; it’s one of those things that you should not let "slip" by. Houston ADAS Give it the Boot (Ball Joint Boot Replacement)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMYour vehicle may be wearing boots right now and you might not even know it. They're called ball joint boots. They're actually protective, flexible things that protect parts of your suspension (called ball joints) from all the hazards the road can fling at them. If one of those ball joint boots fails and you don't get it replaced, the ball joints themselves could wind up failing, a repair that can be even more expensive. Ball joint boots not only keep things like rocks, salt, water and dirt out of your ball joints, they also help the ball joints keep their lubrication inside and working properly. To do that, the boots have to be made of a flexible material, sometimes rubber, sometimes a synthetic. They do take a beating, exposed to temperature extremes and debris, and eventually they can tear or crack just because of their age. Unless someone is keeping an eye on your ball joint boots, you may never know there's a problem. That's why when you regularly take your vehicle in to a repair facility for other things like oil changes and routine maintenance, a technician will inspect the ball joint boots to make sure they're still in top shape. If they're not, your service advisor will let you know. Take care of that soon and you may avoid having to replace the ball joints themselves or other suspension parts which may be much more expensive. Often it's best to replace boots on both sides of the vehicle since they frequently wear at about the same rate. If you want to make a fashion statement, some ball joint boots come in various colors other than run-of-the-mill black. And some aftermarket boots are made of a more durable material than the original equipment that came on your vehicle. Some drivers get a real "kick" out of flashy ball joint boots! Houston ADAS Passing the Test (How to Prevent Emissions Test Failure)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMVehicle emission testing has become ubiquitous in North America and for a good reason. Clean air quality is important for the environment and all of us. Since vehicle emissions are among the main causes of air pollution, emission testing can alert you to problems in your vehicle than can be fixed so it won't needlessly pollute. Emissions tests are looking for certain toxic gases internal combustion engines produce, such as nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, non-methane organic gases and formaldehyde. Emissions control systems reduce these gases if they are working properly. The best way to minimize pollution is to keep those vehicle systems working properly, and periodic inspection and maintenance is the key. So if you want to make sure your vehicle will pass an emissions test, it helps to know what might go wrong. Let's start on the easy one. Your gas cap could be loose, allowing vapors to escape into the atmosphere. The most common solution is to replace it. Or your air filter may be dirty. A dirty air filter may push your hydrocarbons pass the acceptable level. Now to the more complicated things. The mixture of fuel and air in your engine may be tilted toward the "too much fuel" side. That could cause problems for your vehicle's catalytic converter, a device that converts toxic gases from your exhaust into less toxic pollutants. Your vehicle has a closed system that prevents fuel tank vapors from escaping into the air; it's called the EVAP system. A technician can track down problems. Vehicle engineers have gone to great lengths to minimize the amount of pollution your vehicle produces. Your vehicle's manufacturer recommends how frequently those systems need servicing. Keep those systems in good shape and you're likely to pass emissions tests with flying colors. Neglect them and you might find your vehicle failing an emissions test. When that happens, you'll have to get the problems repaired before you can get back on the road. Houston ADAS Speak Up: Talking with Your Houston ADAS Service AdvisorPosted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMAbout 80% of the vehicles on Porter roads today are behind on their preventive maintenance schedules. That translates to about 160 million vehicles in the United States that aren't performing as well as they could be - thousands right here in TX. Some of the maintenance issues are minor. Others represent serious safety concerns. Houston ADAS Higher Mileage Service Intervals for PorterPosted January 16, 2023 4:07 AM
Studies have even shown that using high mileage fluids early will actually prevent some of the problems of high mileage vehicles. So once you hit around 50,000 mi/80,000 km, consider stepping up to high mileage formulations. The fluids cost a bit more than standard fluids in Porter because of the additional additives, but they can be worth their weight in gold in terms of preventing repair costs down the road. It does cost more for vehicle owner's to properly maintain a higher mileage vehicle in Porter - but it's much cheaper than a new car payment! Houston ADAS Positive and Negative (Battery Care)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMYou notice when your smartphone's battery starts to go weak on you. It runs out of juice faster than it did when it was new. Bet you pay attention to that pretty closely. Unfortunately, many of us don't pay the same attention to the battery in our vehicles. If your battery got you through the cold-weather months, you might be thinking you're all set until next winter. But you might be surprised to learn this: Hot weather is harder on a battery than cold weather. (Note: we're talking about a conventional vehicle here, not an all-electric, plug-in one.) The way your vehicle's battery holds a charge is that it has chemicals inside it, and they react with each other to produce electricity. A vehicle battery discharges electricity and then needs to be recharged. Unlike your smartphone that you plug in each night to charge, the way a vehicle's battery gets recharged is by using the mechanical energy of the engine. It's a pretty cool system that's been around for a while. An alternator changes the mechanical energy into electricity that then charges the battery. And your vehicle is designed to charge it just the right amount with a voltage regulator. If your battery constantly gets too much voltage, it could stop holding a charge. Another way a vehicle battery loses its ability to hold a charge is when it gets hot. In warmer weather, some fluids in your battery evaporate which can damage some of its internal components. Then, you've got a dead battery. Back to your smartphone for a second, it probably has a little indicator or maybe an app that shows you how healthy it is or how much charge it's holding. Well, your service repair facility has equipment that can test your vehicle's battery for the same things. If that test shows you need a new battery, then it's probably time to replace it. A technician can also check to see your battery is being charged at the correct rate. If you have a battery that is not sealed, a technician can check to see it needs more water added to it. The technician will also make sure dirt or other contaminants aren't acting as electrical conductors and discharging the battery. Plus, your battery's terminals may need cleaning. Most people just forget about their vehicle's battery until there's a big problem with it. Here's one rule of thumb: expect a battery's life to be about 5 years. Just like you wouldn't want your smartphone to leave you without any way to make phone calls or send texts, you wouldn't want your vehicle to leave you stranded with no way to start it, would you? When it comes time to make that new battery choice, your service advisor can offer you some good options, taking into account the climate you drive in, what you use your vehicle for and what your budget is. Hey, your smartphone's battery is all charged up. How about calling your service advisor for an appointment right now?
Them's the Brakes (Brake Rotor Resurfacing)Posted January 16, 2023 4:07 AMYour vehicle's brakes wear out. It's inevitable. You'll notice it when you step on the brake pedal and feel it harder to stop, or there's vibration when you are braking. Most modern vehicles have disc brakes that each use a brake pad that press on a disc (disc brakes!) called a rotor. The friction between them enables you to stop, and each time you do a little bit of the pad and the rotor wears down. The original brakes on vehicles used a rotor that was thick enough to last through at least two replacements of the pads. But vehicle manufacturers who want to save costs and weight now make them thinner, and sometimes the rotors have to be replaced after the first pad replacement. But not always. Vehicle manufacturers specify a minimum thickness to provide safe braking. Sometimes rather than having to have your rotors replaced, they can be put on a lathe and resurfaced. In other words, the surfaces of the disc can be slightly shaved off so the surface is flat and doesn't wobble. Whenever you bring your vehicle in to have the brakes checked, the technician will measure the thickness of the rotors to see if they can be resurfaced without leaving them too thin for safe braking. If they can, with the right tools and skill, the rotors can be resurfaced. If not, the rotors should be replaced. Discuss the options with your service advisor. Our service center can recommend replacements that are designed to help stop your vehicle as well as or better than the vehicle's original rotors. Either way, keep in mind that keeping your brakes in top condition can supply the margin of safety that may one day save your life or the lives of those around you. Houston ADAS | ||
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Fair price for a fair job. Good service with a friendly staff