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Archive for April 2023Alternator Facts (Failing Alternator)Posted April 30, 2023 11:28 AMIf you notice that your headlights are flickering at night, that's something to pay attention to. While there could be many different things that could cause that problem, one possibility is your vehicle's alternator. The alternator takes mechanical energy from the engine and turns it into electricity, in essence a generator. The current it makes charges the battery and supplies power to the vehicle's electrical systems. An alternator is made up of several different parts: a pulley, magnets, coil wires, brushes and a voltage regulator. While your vehicle is running, these parts get a good workout and, after time, they begin to wear out. Other symptoms of a failing alternator include your vehicle's lights dimming, the power windows going up and down more slowly than they used to, your power seats not moving quite as fast as before. Another sign of a worn out alternator is engine stalling. Vehicles with fuel injection require a certain amount of power, and when an alternator is going bad, your engine could stall because the alternator isn't cranking out enough of it. An alternator on its last legs can also fail to charge your battery properly. Sometimes your battery isn't getting enough charge from the alternator and will go dead. It also can be the opposite problem. The battery is getting too much power and will cause the battery to get hot. Your vehicle may give you a clue on the instrument panel. If you see any of these warning lights, take note: Check Engine, ALT, CHARGE or one that looks like a picture of a battery. If that light is on, it's time to have your service facility give it a look. As mentioned earlier, there are other components of your vehicle's electrical system that can fail, such as a worn out serpentine belt or a malfunctioning voltage regulator. A reputable service facility has diagnostic tools to pinpoint the causes of your problems. And when your issues are fixed, your electrical system will be back to its hard-working self. You'll get a real charge out of it! S T Foreign Auto Service On Board Diagnostics for Your EnginePosted April 23, 2023 7:33 AMStarting in 1996, S T Foreign Auto Service service technicians have been able to use a standardized diagnostic system to help determine what is wrong with a vehicle. This diagnostic system works in tandem with the Engine Control Modules for each vehicle's engine. The Engine Control Module is a computer that monitors and controls many engine functions. S T Foreign Auto Service Don't Stack the MatPosted April 16, 2023 11:56 AMIn the sloppy cold weather months, you might be tempted to pick up an all-weather mat and throw it on top of the mats you already have in your vehicle. After all, double protection is better, right? In this case, wrong. Here's why. It's important to keep the accelerator and brake pedals clear so they can function the way they are supposed to. Stacking mats in the driver's side footwell can make them sit up too high on the floor. That can, in turn, jam your accelerator pedal forward, causing your vehicle to unintentionally speed up; it may get stuck in that position. Same thing applies to the brake pedal. The mats can get caught underneath it and prevent you from stopping. Here are some other good practices when it comes to mats. It's best to get those designed for your vehicle. They are shaped to fit your specific car, truck, van or SUV. Ill-fitting mats can have the same untended consequences as stacked mats. Good mats will have either a Velcro-type fastener on the back of them or a hook that fits into a hole in the mat. That way, the mat stays affixed to the floor so it doesn't slip and cause problems. One more thing to keep in mind. If you have objects rolling around your vehicle, let's say under the driver's seat, just think about what happens when you jam on the brake. That object is thrown forward and can get caught in a pedal. You might find the accelerator stuck or the brake pedal inoperative. Your service advisor at S T Foreign Auto Service can recommend the right mat for your vehicle. The right mat may save your carpeting, the wrong one may cost you an accident. S T Foreign Auto Service No Strain, No Gain (The Basics of Oil Filters)Posted April 9, 2023 9:41 AMEver wonder what one of the best things is to ever happen to your vehicle's engine? It's the little thing that usually looks like a can, the oil filter. Just like your kitchen sink strainer filters out errant particles of food from clogging your drain, the oil filter cleans out small particles that could cause your engine harm. Your engine operates in a dirty, hot environment and gathers a lot of tiny contaminants like dirt, dust, little metal shards and unlucky bugs that get sucked in. Get those things circulating in your engine and those little particles can cause friction, which starts wearing out those finely machined metal parts. You know how important it is to change your oil regularly. It's vital that you change your oil filter at the same time to keep the oil as close to brand new as possible. Most oil filters look like a metal can with some holes in the bottom. Inside there are carefully chosen materials that can screen out the contaminants while at the same time allow the lubricating oil to pass through. Early oil filters had steel wool, metal mesh or actual screens. Then they tried fabric filters using material such as linen and cotton. Finally, a less expensive disposable filter using paper and cellulose did the trick. Cellulose or other synthetic media are used in most oil filters today. Cellulose is inexpensive and effective. Fibers filter out particulates and let the oil flow. The other synthetic media have the ability to screen out even tinier particles while not significantly restricting the oil from getting through. Engineers continue to work on even more advanced filter material. Choosing the right oil filter is something our pros at S T Foreign Auto Service can help you with because there are a lot of them out there. Factoring into that decision are your driving habits, how far you drive and the temperatures to which your engine will be subjected. While some filters will cost more than others, they may be worth it to extend the life of your engine. But most important is remembering to come have your oil changed at S T Foreign Auto Service regularly at the intervals recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. Just like you wouldn't want to have a plumber come over to fix a clogged kitchen drain, you certainly wouldn't want to have to pay for major engine repairs if they could be prevented by regular oil and filter changes.
The Little Valve that Could (PCV Valve Replacement)Posted April 2, 2023 10:59 AMIt's easy to get letters like PVC and PCV mixed up. PVC is a plastic that's used in a lot of things, especially plumbing pipes. And PCV is a valve that helps your engine burn off excess fumes rather than having them pollute our atmosphere. PCV stands for positive crankcase ventilation. When your engine ignites gasoline in the cylinders, some of the gases produced make their way into the crankcase, where oil is held to lubricate the engine. In earlier days, those gases would be vented out through a hose and go directly into the air. It was a waste of gasoline (since about three-fourths of the gases were unburned fuel) and a nasty source of pollution. So engineers devised a one-way valve that directed those gases back into the engine's air intake system to be burned again. After a while, the PCV valve can get clogged up with gummy oil. Not only does that reduce the recirculation of the gases, but it can also cause pressure in the crankcase to increase and possibly lead to an oil leak. Signs your PCV valve has failed are oil leaks around the engine compartment or under your vehicle and poor engine performance. Your fuel economy will get worse. If you notice those signs, we can check your PCV valve. At the same time a technician inspects the PCV valve, they'll also check the vacuum hose that runs back to the air intake. Plus, they'll make sure the vehicle doesn't have any other engine problems that might be contributing to your issues. Many technicians recommend replacing your PCV valve with each major tune-up, so you get ahead of any problems before they develop. Now that you're an expert on PCV, it may be time to check out those PVC pipes in your bathroom! S T Foreign Auto Service | ||
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