General

If you’re old enough, you’ve heard the term “fan belt.” Back in the day, the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt driven by the engine. There are still belt-driven fans, although most are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most vehicles now have electric fans that draw fresh air across…

If you feel your vehicle vibrating when you’re braking, or if you don’t stop in as short a distance as you used to, it may be time to have your brakes checked. All newer vehicles have disc brakes in the front, and more manufacturers are using disc brakes all around (instead of an older technology…

We’re going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair.  Unfortunately, every profession has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else.  In the automotive world, industry associations and professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards. Yet some people are uncomfortable with automotive service and repair.  If we understand…

Question: I need new tires. How do I know which tires to get? MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE Answer: Let’s look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value. Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: Colorado weather conditions, Thornton terrain, Thornton temperatures, etc. Most new family vehicles in Colorado come…

Question: My water pump went out and it costs much more to replace than the ones I’ve had replaced in the past. My Thornton technician said it’s because of where it’s located. Why is that? MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE Answer: Some water pumps are driven by the serpentine belt and are bolted on out in the…

MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE Tech Question: I was driving on the freeway in Colorado and my vehicle engine started to get hot. I turned off my air conditioner and could go the short distance to my meeting and then found a shop in Thornton. It turns out that my water pump was leaking. It cost me…

Hello Thornton drivers! Let’s pretend you have three doughnuts right in front of you for our discussion of upsizing wheels and tires. Hey, don’t eat them now – you’re going to need them later. Many Thornton drivers want to accessorize their cars and make it theirs. One of the easiest ways to get a custom…

As engine technology advances, recommended oil change intervals have gotten longer.  High-quality oil in a well-engineered engine has led to extended intervals. Here’s the problem:  With longer oil change intervals, it’s important to follow them closely.  Back in the day of 3 months or 3,000 miles, if you went an extra month or an extra…

The PCV valve is a little, inexpensive part that does a big job for Thornton and our environment here in Colorado. PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from…

Many people hear the term “oxygen sensor” and figure it must have something to do with sensing oxygen. But they don’t really know much beyond that. Let’s break it down; your vehicle has an oxygen sensor in the exhaust manifold that measures how much un-burned oxygen there is in the exhaust. The sensor reports its…